Kailash Saga Dawa Festival

Itinerary

Day 1 Chengdu

As group members will arrive at different times there are no arranged activities on Day 1 until our group meeting in the early evening followed by dinner. Please see the notice board in the hotel foyer for details of this meeting.Chengdu is also a city of temples, gardens and teahouses filled with people chatting and playing cards and Mah-Jong - a taste of old China.

Days 2-5 Lhasa

An early morning flight brings you to this historic city situated in a small valley, 3700m above sea level. Lhasa rose to take an important role in the administration of the country over 1300 years ago. At this time, the grand temples of Ramoche and Jokhang were built to house the Buddha images and religious artifacts brought into Tibet as dowries from China and Nepal. Although little of the 7th-Century Lhasa survives, the 1600s saw a second stage of renovation and development, which included the building of the Potala Palace (included in our tour). Perched on Red Hill overlooking the town, this massive structure dominates the landscape with grace and dignity - a true architectural wonder. The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet and also the most active. Prostrating pilgrims circle the temple endlessly, day and night, some of them traversing the extremes of the Tibetan landscape by foot to celebrate and express their faith. Nearby are the huge monastic universities of Drepung and Sera are still active institutions. We will begin our time here with a tour of the Jokhang and make a kora (circumambulation) of the Barkhor, the holiest devotional circuit, which surrounds the Jokhang and houses a market bazaar where people bargain for Buddha images, yak skulls with ruby eyes, woodcarvings, carpets, prayer wheels and the odd goat's head.

Day 6 Gyantse

Day 7 Shigatse

It is a short drive to Shigatse (approx 2 hours), Tibet's second-largest town, and the seat of the Panchen Lama who ranks second in importance to the Dalai Lama. The huge complex of Tashilhunpo is visited daily by hundreds of devotees, armed with yak butter to feed the lamps, who prostrate themselves around the stupas or walk up to the chapel that houses the 26m-high, gold-plated statue of the future Buddha. We will tour the monastery in the afternoon. Then perhaps join the pilgrims on their evening kora (circumambulation) around the perimeter of the monastery.Shigatse bazaar also buzzes with life. Stalls, selling everything from slabs of yak butter to yak wool, prayer wheels and rosaries, line the streets and Tibetans vie with each other to win a sale. Be tempted by the antiques, jewelry and fur hats with elaborate gold brocade designs or perhaps visit the carpet factory where hand-woven carpets are made to traditional designs.

Days 8-10 Saga-Paryang- Darchen

Days 11-13 Kailash & Lake Manasarovar

Days 14-16 Paryang to Lao Tingri

Retrace the route as far as Saga before turning south. Cross the grasslands, skirt the shores of beautiful Paiku Tso (lake) and the towering mass of Xixiapangma (8012m) to the small town of Lao Tingri.

Day 17 Rombuk & Everest Base Camp

Day 18 Nyalam

Days 19-20 Kathmandu

Trip Details

Accommodation	Hotels/guesthouses (11 nts), basic guesthouses (8 nts; 4 nts extremely basic).
Departure	June 8, 2008
Group Size	Min 4, Max 14
Included Highlights	Saga Dawa Festival at Mt Kailash, Entrance to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Entrance to Pelkor Choede, Entrance to Tashilhunpo Monastery, Mount Kailash kora, Lake Manasarovar, Entrance to Everest National Park.
Meals Included	No meals are included.
StartFinish	Chengdu to Kathmandu
Transport	Flight, private bus, 4WD vehicle, foot.
Brochure Intro	An incredible overland journey across the roof of the world to Asia's most sacred mountain, Kailash, with a side trip to the legendary Everest Base Camp before descending to Kathmandu. Amble through colourful bazaars, see Mt Everest from many different angles, and circumnavigate Mt Kailash, which is said to bring good luck to whomever completes the circuit.

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