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Namtso
Trek / TBT – 06 |
Namtso lake is a popular
excursion destination among travellers to Tibet, many people
prefer to make a trekking there. Situated at an altitude of
4718 m it is a extremely beautiful lake with turquoise blue
water. The 70 km long and 30 km wide salt water lake has the
Nyechen Tangla mountain range (7000 m peaks) on its back
ground to enhance its beauty. The wide open spaces around
the lake, dotted with the tents of local nomads are
intoxicating. The 190 km drive from Lhasa to Nam Tso lake
involves the high Yangpachen pass (5630 m), making proper
acclimatization a must. Never take this trip lightly because
it is short. The best season for trekking in Nam Tso Lake is
late May to October, however you must be prepared at all
times for wet weather, snow and cold winds. It is a very
remote region and all the supplies must be carried
ourselves.
Our trip starts with a sensational Trans Himalayan flight
from Kathmandu to Lhasa. We explore different cultural and
other heritage sites of Lhasa and start the trek. After the
trek we drive for overland journey to Kathmandu. En route we
visit the magnificent Gyantse fort and Kumbum monastery in
Gyantse and Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse, cros s high
passes and visit nomad camps , see the world's highest peaks
and conclude our trip in Kathmandu. |
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Featured
Pictures (Tibet) |
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Brief
Itinerary |
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Day |
Activities |
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01 |
Arrive in Lhasa (3660 m). Rest of
the day free to acclimatize. |
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02 |
Visit
Potala Palace, Sera Monastery &
Norbulingka. |
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03 |
Visit Drepung,
Sera, Jokhang
Monasteries and
Barkhor Market.
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04 |
Drive to Reting
Monastery.
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05
/ 08 |
Trek from Reting
to Joktso La. |
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09 |
Drive from
Joktso La to
Damshung. |
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10 / 12 |
Trek from
Damshung to
Namtso. |
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13 |
Camp at Namtso.
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14 |
Drive back from
Namtso to Lhasa.
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15 |
Departure |
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Day
01: |
Arrive in Lhasa (3660 m). Rest of
the day free to acclimatize.
Fly to Lhasa, about 1 hour flight
offer panoramic Himalayan views
including Mt. Everest. And other
mountains ranges. Pick up from
Gonggar airport, after finished
immigration formalities it takes
about 1 hour 30 minutes drive along
93 km road leading to Lhasa. It is
advisable to rest in Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 02:
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Visit Potala Palace, Sera Monastery
& Norbulingka.
Tour starts from the religious
Potala Palace built in the 7th
century by the famous Tibetan king-Songtzen
Gampo. The present one was
built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the
17th century. It became known as the
"Winter Palace" by the 1750, when
the 7th Dalai Lama built the
Norbulingka Park as his summer
residence. fter that, you will visit
Norbulingka Park. In 1752, the 7th
Dalai Lama built the first palace in
this
summer palace for successive Dalai
Lamas to carry out their political
and religious activities during the
summer season. Today
Norbulingka has become a public park
for picnicking, relaxing and
entertainment. Later, visit Sera
Monastery which is dedicated to the
Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch
of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by
Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of
Tsong Khapa's disciples
built the monastery in 1419 during
the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The
monastery was named Sera which mean
wild rose in the Tibetan
language, because the hill behind it
was covered with wild roses in bloom
when the monastery was built.
Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 03:
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Visit Drepung, Sera, Jokhang
Monasteries and Barkhor Market.
Full day sightseeing takes you to
Drepung Monastery. "Drepung" means
"the hill of rice', because this
white Monastery looks like a big
hill
of rice in Tibetan. This monastery
occupies an area of 150,000 square
meters with 7700 lamas and becomes
the largest monastery in
Asia. After that, you will visit
Jokhang Temple, situated in the old
section of Lhasa. King Songtzen
Gampo built this temple in the
mid-7th
century A.D. Now it is the most
sacred place in Tibet. Pilgrims come
here to pay homage from all over
Tibet. Take a leisure walk at
Barkhor Street, located in the heart
of Lhasa circling the Jokhang
Temple. It means a pilgrim's inner
circuit, and is the earliest street
of old
Lhasa city.
Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 04:
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Drive to Reting Monastery.
Drive to Reting. The Reting
Monastery is 45km northeast of Lhasa.
Reting Monastery was founded by
Atisha's chief disciple Dromtönpa in
1056 in the Reting Tsampo Valley
north of Lhasa as the seat of the
Kadampa lineage. He brought some of
Atisha's relics with him. It was the
first major monastery of the Sarma
revival. Tsongkapa (1357 – 1419)
reformed the Kadampa School which
then became known as the Gelug
School and Reting became an
important Gelugpa monastery, the
seat of the Reting Rinpoche.
Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 05/8:
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Trek from Reting to Joktso La.
The next four days you will be
trekking from Reting to Joktso La.
Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and
absolute tranquillity, far away from
the hectic and noise of citylife.
Stay overnight in camps on the way.
Overnight at Camp. |
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Day 09:
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Drive from Joktso La to Damshung.
Drive to Damshung. The rest of the
day is free. Have a rest and get
prepared for the next part of the
trek.
Overnight at Camp. |
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Day 10/12:
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Trek from Damshung to Namtso.
The second part of your trek starts,
from Damshung to Namtso. On the way
you will pass through crags and
woodlands and encounter the drokpa,
seminomadic shepherds of the region.
Their colourful camps dot the way.
Learn about their fascinating
lifestyle and ancient customs. On
the way you will already have
fantastic views of the sparkling
Namtso Lake. On the first day you
will pass by Kyang-Rag Monastery. It
is clinging to the cliff face, a
glistening white hermitage. While in
the beginning the landscape is
heavily forested you will pass the
tree line towards the end of the day
and reach flower-spangled meadows in
the tundra zone. The path will
follow a stream upstream towards the
Kyang La pass. Soon after passing
there at 5,330m altitude you will
have splendid views of Namtso lake:
bright strips of land leading into
the cobalt-blue, scintillating
water.
Overnight at Camp. |
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Day 13:
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Camp at Namtso.
A day of rest at Namtso, and the
possibility to explore the area.
Overnight at Camp. |
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Day
14: |
Drive back from Namtso to Lhasa.
Bid farewell to Namtso Lake and
drive back to Lhasa today. It is a
drive of 235 km and takes 5 hours
approx to cover by land. Check in to
your hotel.
Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 15: |
Departure
Drive to airport and fly to
Kathmandu or to Chengdu for onward
journey to China. |
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