Trekking in Tibet is a perfect way to explore Tibet and a wonderful experience of a lifetime that you can’t get anywhere else on earth. By trekking Tibet, you can enjoy the unique scenery in secret places of Tibet and have a full insight of Tibetan culture.
Tibet Trekking Types and Routes
Tibet trekking can be classified into Tibet pilgrimage trek, Tibet culture trekking and sightseeing trek. For instance, Mt. Kailash Trek is a typical pilgrimage trekking tour in Tibet. It is also a tour of hiking Tibet.
The inaccessible remote mountain areas of Tibet create lots of possibilities of trekking routes for adventure travelers. There are several popular trekking routes in Tibet, such as Mt. Kailash Trek, Tsurphu to Yangpachen Trek, Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trek, Shalu to Nartang Trek, Lake Manasarovar Kora,Ganden to Samye Trek, Nyenchen Tanglha Traverse, Everest Advance Base Camp Trek, etc.
Not far away from Friend-ship Hwy, Shalu to Nartang trek follows the ancient trade route between two great Buddhist monasteries, the Shalyu and the Nartang, while you trek through the route, you can feel the caravans laden with scriptures and treasures that once passed this way. The route passes through several villages as well as uninhabited dry canyons. It is also the shortest Tibet trekking route, just about 15 hours walking, you can divided into 2 or 3 days according to your personal physical condition. The optional walking season is from the beginning of April to the end of October.
Transfer to Lhasa downtown after arriving in the Lhasa Gongar airport or the Lhasa train station. Have a rest in Lhasa to acclimatize the high altitude.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Go sightseeing inside Lhasa in the first two days in Tibet. Visit fabulous and typical Buddhist and historic sites, such as Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple,Barkhor street, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery.
In Potala palace, explore the grandest of this myriad chapel, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, figures of the Buddha.
You will visit three important monasteries in Lhasa, the first and foremost is Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, which attracts pilgrims all over Tibetan Area, built during songtsen gonpo’s reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D. The other two, Monasteries Sera and Drepung Monastery, locate in suburb of Lhasa, are hosted by hundreds of Monks, learning, praying, studying, and living there. The famous Monks debiting held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon.
You will also explore the circular pilgrim route barkhor while traveling at Johkang Temple, contact local folks, and if possible purchase some traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition Tibetan clothes etc.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Today we will drive to Tsedang, the capital of Shannan Prefecture, located at Yarlung Valley. It’s reputed as “the cradle of Tibetan Civilization””. You go to visit Yumbu lhakhang ,the first imperial palace on the rocky hill for a first Tibetan king and you could have nice view the whole valley from there.
Then visit Samye Monastery which is the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, built in the 8th century. A unique monastery layout was designed in the form of giant mandala,a representation of the Buddhist universe. The main temple in the center represents Mt. Meru, the mythical mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. The four continents in the ocean around Mt. Meru are represented by the four temples at the cardinal points, each flanked by two smaller temples to symbolize islands in the ocean.
Stay overnight in Tsedang
Today, we have to drive from Tsedang to Gyantse. On the way, the group will pass over the Gampala pass (4790m), and tourists will enjoy stunning Karola Glacier andhave a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountain and in the distance you have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .
We head westward along the lake and drive towards Gyantse. Gyantse was historically Tibet’s third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum.
Stay overnight in Gyantse
Drive to Shigatse first to issue the Alein’s Travel Permit. Then Drive to Shalu Monastery. Visit Shalu Monastery, the seat of Buton. Rinchendrub(1290-1346), who was the great master of the Tibetan translations of the Indian Buddhist. Then start trekking in the afternoon to Upper Lungsang. on the way, you will pass Ripu hermitage,flood plain, Phunup village, showa-la pass.
Camping
Trek through the farming fields to the Ngor village. The Ngor monastery is renowned for its Sanskrit library and Newar-style(a tribe in Nepal) murals. There were once five assembly halls, 18 colleges and 400 monks. Cross the Char-la pass(4550m), there was once a trade link between Shalu and Sakya Monastery, but now has disappeared. Need to trek cross a steep slope of raw expanses of rock.
Camping
Trek from Ngor to Nartang by passing several villages, saddles, and one electric utility. Transfer to Shigatse after arriving in Nartang Monastery.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse in 4 hours. On the way, visit the largest Monastery in west Tibet, the Tashilunpo monastery, as the last but famous historic sites for your Tibet tour. Tashilunpo monastery is one of the six great Gelukpa institutions and was founded in 1447 by a disciple of Tsongkapa, Genden drup who was the first dalai lama. Jamkhang Chenmo contains the world’s largest gilded copper image (26m high) of future god Jampa.
Drive along the Friendship Highway back to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Transfer to the Lhasa airport/Train station to end the service. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay longer in Tibet, you can extend your trip to other parts of China like Gyantse,Shigatse, Everest Base Camp,etc. – If you need, please contact us.