Across the Roof of the World

Itinerary

Day 1 Kunming

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. If you arrive early spend some time walking through the stone forest. You can marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and intricate formations. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape creates countless labrynthine vistas and is a typical example of karst topography.

Day 2-3 Lijiang

The old town of Lijiang is a World Heritage Site and home to the Naxi minority. Old men smoking pipes and women in their traditional costumes can be seen throughout the town, as can examples of the Naxi script, a form of pictograph that is little changed after hundreds of years. The best way to spend a day in Lijiang is to get lost in the small pedestrian lanes that meander throughout the town. Every twist and turn reveals picturesque old buildings, local arts and crafts, fast flowing canals and beautiful arched bridges. You can also spend an afternoon resting in a pavilion in Black Dragon Pool Park, gazing at the reflection of Jade Dragon snow Mountain and listening to the local Naxi music.

Day 4 - Zhongdian (Shangari-la)

Tibetan Prayer flags, monasteries and Tibetan script provide a spiritual magnetism to the peaceful town of Zhongdian. Cycle the surrounding countryside and wander the picturesque Old Quarter.

Days 5-7 Lhasa

An early morning flight brings us to Lhasa, probably the most spiritual capital city on earth. At its heart lies the spiritual centre of Tibet - the Jokhang Temple. It is so important to Buddhists that over the centuries they have travelled in their millions through some of the most extreme, inhospitable and beautiful landscapes on the planet to pay homage. Inside we join the pilgrims as they visit temple after temple, the dark rooms and corridors lit by butter lamps and the atmosphere enhanced by the low chanting of the monks. This historic city is situated in a small valley, 3600m 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 the 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. 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, 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 which are still active institutions. Begin 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. Visit the Potala Palace and Sera Monastery leaving plenty of time for your own explorations of this wonderful city.

Day 8 Gyantse

Today we enjoy a scenic drive (approx 8 hrs) from Lhasa to Gyantse. The road snakes up to the Khamba La Pass (4,900m) from where there are dramatic views. The road then winds down to the Yamdrok Yamtso, one of Tibet's largest and most sacred lakes. Shaped like a scorpion, it is an intense blue and makes for a very impressive sight. Our route continues past many small villages and fields of barley, as well as over the Karo La Pass (5,045m). Gyantse is a lovely place with a friendly and relaxed small-town air. There are opportunities to visit the spectacular Kumbum Stupa and the Palkhor Monastery, explore the town, climb up to the fort, or just spend the day watching and meeting the friendly local people.

Day 9 Shigatse

Take 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, they prostrate themselves around the stupas or walk up to the chapel that houses the 26m-high, gold-plated statue of the future Buddha. 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. Then perhaps join the pilgrims on their evening kora (circumambulation) around the perimeter of the monastery.

Day 10 Sakya

It is a 4-5 hour trip to Sakya, the base of the once politically powerful Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It’s huge fortified walls are testament to the turbulent past of the region. There is time in the late afternoon or early morning to explore the monastery and the ruins of north Sakya across the river.

Day 11 Rombuk and Everest Base Camp

Take an exhilarating drive to Rombuk - 5000m and a mere 7km below Everest Base Camp. The view from here is utterly spectacular! Rombuk is the highest monastery in the world (4920 m), and its guesthouse offers very basic accommodation, but the views on all sides more than compensate. You can lie in bed and watch the moonlight illuminate the mountain. The monastery here was first built in 1902 by Newant Tenzing Norbu, the 5th incarnation of Lama Sagwa Dorge, and originally housed more than 500 monks. Today, only about 50 monks and nuns remain, sharing the same prayer hall but with separate residences. The nuns here are great fun and will be delighted to have you join their evening prayers.The energetic can make the 7km hike to Base Camp for a closer view of this magnificent mountain.

Day 12 Nyalam - Zhangmu

Today is a long driving day (approx 9hours), finishing in Zhangmu, a small town on the Tibetan/Nepalese border. The road snakes down a steep mountainside on both sides of the road and is an active trading centre for Chinese, Tibetan and Nepalese goods.Zhangmu, clings precariously to the cliff face 10km above the Friendship bridge, which marks the physical China-Nepal border. The small town has become the major trading post between the two countries and is always packed with trucks transshipping their goods. The vivid colours and frenzied activity is a real assault on the senses.

Days 13-14 Kathmandu

After breakfast on day 13, we head for the border just 10 km away. After completing Chinese immigration, drive down to the bridge where we say goodbye to our Tibetan guide and drivers. Completing Nepal immigration it is only 132kms to Kathmandu, but it can be a slow trip (Approx 4-6 hours(. The first section of the road is narrow and winding as it continues down the ravine which is occasionally blocked by landslides. Arriving, hopefully, in Kathmandu in the early afternoon we'll have time for shopping and sightseeing before going for dinner together.Day 14 you are free to depart at any time.