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Map of Saga Dawa Route / Map of Kailash Trek

Celebrate Saga Dawa

Pilgrimage to Holy Mt. Kailash
May 21 to June 17, 2009

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience with the Himalaya spread out before you. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 A full day tour introduces some of the wonders of Kathmandu.

Day1 Arrival in Chengdu, the bustling capital of Sichuan Province. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Chengdu is home to some of the best (and spiciest!) food in the world. It is also a city of temples, gardens and teahouses. An early morning visit to the Breeding and Research Center to see the magnificent Giant Pandas and Red Pandas at their most active. In the evening discover a little of Sichuan's rich cultural heritage at a tea-house performance of opera, acrobatics, puppetry and 'changing faces'.

Day 3 Fly to Lhasa (3658m).The one hour flight to Lhasa is spectacular. From Gongkar airport it is about 11/2 hours' drive to Lhasa, first along the Yarlung Tsangpo then into the Kyi Chu Valley.

Days 4-6 Colorful and historic, the holy city of Lhasa lies in a small valley 3700 meters above sea level. During our time in the heart of Tibet, with a relaxed pace to allow for the effects of altitude, explore this fantastic city on the roof of the world. We visit the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, the huge monastic universities of Drepung and Sera- - still active institutions; and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit.

Day 7 Leaving Lhasa behind it is a long, yet spectacular drive to Gyantse. From the top of the Kamba Pass (4794m) the views of the turquoise lake, Yamdrok-Tso are unforgettable. The road winds down towards it and we travel along its shores, stopping at the small town of Nangartse for lunch, before climbing again to the Karo La (5054) and the glaciers of Mt Nojin Kangtsang, reaching Gyantse in the late afternoon. Once of major importance as a trading center on the routes between India, Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and China, its imposing fort, Gyantse Dzong, dominates views of the town. It is also the site of Pelkor Choede and the fascinating Gyantse Kumbum.

Day 8-9 From Gyantse we follow the Nyang-chu valley towards Shigatse, Tibet's second largest town. It is also the site of Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama and one of the most important monasteries of the Gelukpa order.

Day 10 Sakya, once the political power of Tibet is the last stop before we set out to fully experience the splendor, enormity and isolation of western Tibet as the camping section of our trip begins.

Day 11-13 Western Tibet - magnificent valleys, herds of grazing yak, goats and sheep, passes topped by prayer flags and few permanent settlements mark our journey towards Tibet's ancient heartland.

Day 11 Drive to Saga 4600m, 8 hrs. camp
Day 12 Drive to Paryang 4750m, 8 hrs. camp.
Day 13 Drive to Lake Manasarovar 4560m, 8 hrs Camp.

Day 14-17 En-route to Guge the dramatically situated gompa and hot springs at Tithapuri are closely linked to Padmasambhava and are traditionally visited in conjunction with a Kailash kora. The road into Tholing, once the most important monastic complex in western Tibet, is one of the most awesome sights in a region of awesome sites. Below stands the first capital of Guge while the skyline comprises a vast sweep of the Ladakh Himalaya. Guge's later capital at Tsaparang is of even greater significance in the history of Buddhist art, its fantastic wall murals displaying evidence of close links with Ladakh and Kashmir.May 27 Drive to Tirthapuri 4320m. Camp

Day 14 Drive to Tirthapuri 4320m. Camp
Day 15 Drive to Tsada 3650m. Guge GH
Day 16 Drive to Tsaparang / Tsada. Guge GH
Day 17 Drive to Darchen 5 hrs. Camp

Day 18 Saga Dawa Festival

Day 19-21 The giant snow-topped pyramid of Kailash stands apart and distinct from those around it, dominating the landscape. Along with Lake Manasarovar it was the heart of ancient Zhangzhung and soul-mountain of the pre-Buddhist Bonpo. To the Bon it is called Yungdrung Gu Tse (Nine-Storey Swastika Mountain) and is the place where their legendary founder, Tongpa Shenrab descended from heaven to earth. In the 11th century however Naro Bonchung 'lost' both Kailash and Lake Manasarovar to Milarepa in a contest of magical powers. To complete a kora (circumambulation) is the goal of every Tibetan; a single kora cleans the sins of a lifetime whilst 108 guarantee enlightenment.

Day 19 trek Dira Phuk 5210m 5 hrs. Camp
Day 20 trek Drolma-La 5636m; trek Zutrukphuk 4810m 9 hrs. Camp
Day 21 trek Darchen 4675m 3 hrs. Drive Chiu Gompa 4560m. Camp

Day 22-26 Having completed our kora we retrace our steps as far as Saga before turning south via Paiko Tso (lake) to the small town of Lao Tingri, our base for venturing into Qomolangma National Park. Some of the most stunning views of the mountain are from the tiny Rhongphu monastery (5000m) seven kilometers below Everest Base Camp. At Nyalum we reach the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and the road descends sharply towards the Nepal border, some 40kms and 2000 meters below. Moisture returns to the air, the colors change, trees appear, lush green vegetation and the Bote Khose river thunders below as we spend a final night in Zhangmu.

Day 27 From Kodari, the Nepalese side of the border, the road continues its winding descent, hopefully unhindered by landslides, towards Kathmandu. Rich in cultural and artistic heritage blending the traditional and the modern, Kathmandu is a vibrant, chaotic, colorful city. The markets, bazaars and narrow streets are home to holy men, sacred cows, bicycles, street sellers you name it, it's here.

Day 28 Departure

Please note that the published itinerary is a statement of intent and to be used as a guide only. The guide in charge of your trip will alter the schedule if conditions necessitate.

PRICES:
Land Cost: $3250 per person, single supplement $400
Plus Airfare (subject to change) : Kathmandu/Lhasa: $315 or Chengdu/Lhasa $230 + $15 serv fee
International Flight: We offer discounted prices through our consolidator. Please inquire.

Includes:

Accommodation, dbl occ
Escorted throughout
Entrance fees of monasteries and view spots
Transportation by Land cruiser
All meals while camping
Yaks & Yak men for trekking
Cook & cooking equipment for trekking
Sleeping Tents and mattresses
Government taxes
Tibet Permit

Does Not Include:

Internatiopnal Flight
Airport tax Insurance (highly reccommended, we use Travelex)
Extra cost in the event of landslides; road blockage
Visa fees
Expense of personal nature such as phone calls, laundry
Personal items for trekking, such as sleeping bags
Tips

Accommodation in Chengdu/Kathmandu, Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse is on a twin share basis with either shared or private facilities. Days 11-21 camping. All camping equipment is supplied including 2-man tents, kitchen, dining & toilet tents. Transport in Nepal is by private vehicle.

Transport in Tibet is by private 4WD landcruiser. Landcruiser drivers have generally made the trip many times, speak varying amounts of English and will always know the best places to stop for photos. Food In Kathmandu restaurants of every style and price-range abound. Chengdu is famous as the home of Sichuan Hotpot. In Lhasa there is also quite a variety, although not as extensive as Kathmandu. Elsewhere in Tibet the variety is much more limited. All meals are provided while camping, prepared by our cook.

Guides and drivers You will be met at Gongkar airport on arrival and accompanied in Tibet by an English speaking guide. All guides in Tibet are licensed and controlled by the Tibetan Tourist Board and vary enormously in fluency and knowledge. We recommend that you take a guidebook with you to supplement the information provided by your guide. For this trip we suggest you consider 'The Tibet Guide' by Stephen Batchelor (Wisdom Books), 'Tibet' (Odyssey Guides) or Lonely Planet 'Tibet'.

Extend your trip If you wish to stay longer in Kathmandu after your trip, we can book extra nights accommodation for you, please advise us when you make your booking. Or if you wish to indulge yourself, relax and recover from the rigors of the journey consider spending a night or two at Dhulikhel, only 1 hour drive from Kathmandu. Dhulikhel commands stunning views of the mountains and is surrounded by small Newari villages. All rooms have private balconies and facilities and there is a rooftop restaurant area as well. If pre-booked you can be dropped here on the way from the border to Kathmandu on the last day of your trip. We also operate trekking trips throughout Nepal as well as 2 and 3 day excursions to Chitwan National Park and white water rafting trips. We would be happy to supply details - or browse our website for ideas.

Visas and Permits Single entry visas for Nepal are available on arrival at Kathmandu airport and all land borders. The visa is valid for 60 days and costs $30. One photo is required. The visa may then be extended by 90 days. For stays of 3 nights or less the visa is free, but 1 photo is still required.

Joining from Chengdu: You should obtain a tourist visa in your home country or Hong Kong prior to arrival in China. This visa should be valid for the entire time that you will be in China (including Tibet). On your visa application you should mention Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guilin as places you will visit. Do not mention Lhasa or Tibet on your visa application will be refused.

Joining from Kathmandu It is only possible to enter Tibet from Nepal with a visa issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. In order to apply for your visa you must provide us with a photocopy of the front page of your passport 14 days prior to your trip. The visa will be issued once you arrive in Kathmandu - it takes one full day. The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu issues visas on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only so you must plan yourarrival to allow for this. Chinese Visa Cost:$63 for US passport holders. Travel Permits are required for Tibet. We will apply for your permit on your behalf.

Flights Air China operates between Chengdu and Lhasa 3-5 times daily, depending on demand. Air China operates between Lhasa and Kathmandu on Tuesdays and Saturdays and flights fill quickly. While your ticket will not be issued before your travel permit, seats may be booked well in advance. Your full name, nationality and passport number are necessary to make the booking. Kathmandu has daily flights to Bangkok & Hong Kong on Thai and to major European cities on KLM, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Qatar and Gulf Air. There are 2 flights weekly to Hong Kong and to Osaka via Shanghai on Royal Nepal Airlines.

Photo on this page courtesy of Gao Li Qiang.

(888) 367-6147 - Intl (415) 381-5861
P.O. Box 446 Mill Valley, CA 94941