During the month of August over 10,000
people will cross high passes of more than 4000 m
(13123 ft) by foot, horse and jeep to make their way
to Nakchu Racecourse, to run their horses, eat, drink
and enjoy themselves during the annual horse festival
holiday. This racecourse, at 4500 m(14763 ft), is
undoubtedly the highest located racecourse in the
world. Crowded along the hillsides are white tents
housing monks, pilgrims, nomads, and city dwellers
who come from Lhasa and all over Hor, the urban and
farming communities of northern Tibet. During this
time of festivities and dance, everyone dresses in
their finest and most colorful clothing and adorns
themselves with chunks of gold and turquoise jewelry.
After the races, we will camp by Lake Namtso-Chukmo,
Tibet's largest saltwater lake, which is also considered
one of its most sacred. Seventy km long and 30 wide,
it takes pilgrims 18 days to complete a korla, or
a circumnavigation, around the lake. Lake Namtso-Chukmo
is also home to migratory birds between April and
November; if we are lucky, we may be able to see the
rare black-necked crane.
Day 01 : Chengdu
We will meet you at the airport in Chengdu. The rest
of the day is open for you to either take a rest or
stroll around the city to buy souvenirs or necessities.
Chengdu is a prosperous and lively metropolis famous
for its delicious spicy food and attractive tea houses.
Day 02 : Chengdu to Lhasa
We will take a morning flight to Lhasa. Since we have
just made a sudden ascent from the lowland Sichuan
Basin to an altitude of over 3,700 meters(12,139 ft),
we will take the afternoon off to acclimatize to the
new environment.
Day 03 : Lhasa
Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet, still maintains
its spirituality and mystique despite the growing
population of Han Chinese and rapid development of
the city in recent years. You are certain to notice
the contrast among its inhabitants, however. Pilgrims
kowtowing at Jokhang Temple and hip youngsters in
discos boogieing to Celine Dion exemplify the duality
of Lhasa. The early morning is the best time to appreciate
the spiritual face of Lhasa.
We will begin our tour by visiting the
Potala Palace, Tibet's greatest architectural achievement
and spiritual symbol, where hundreds of thousands
of pilgrims gather from the far corners of the world.
At Jokhang Temple, we will listen to the monks recite
sutras, the philosophy and teaching of great lamas
and rinpoches from the time of the Buddha. In the
late afternoon, we will head to the pilgrim circuit
around Barkhor bazaar to buy Tibetan crafts - provided
you have enough energy left from the spiritual tour
during the day time.
Day 04 : Drepung Monastery and Sera
Monastery
Drepung Monastery has an enormous hall with thousands
of silk-bound scriptures covering 1,800-sqm(5,906-sqft)
of wall space. Here we will witness thousands of lamas
chanting en masse, with their passionate voices reverberating
through the ancient halls as the flames of yak butter
candles flicker under their breaths.
Sera Monastery, one of the three main
temples of Gelukpa Sect, is located at the foot of
Mt. Purbuchok. Each afternoon, the monastery's 300-strong
lamas hold a debate session in the garden, at times
engaged in a heated discussion over spiritual questions.
Day 05 : Lhasa to Nakchu(naqu)
Under good road conditions, the 315 km(197 mi) journey
from Lhasa to Nakchu should take approximately 6 hours.
Though the journey is long and at times ardurous,
there is no such thing as an ugly road in Tibet. We
will pass beautiful temples and shrines and encounter
herdsmen and pilgrims as we traverse deep valleys
and drive across rugged passes. We should reach Nakchu
Grasslands by dusk, providing us with a wonderful
opportunity to watch the sun go down while sipping
hot tea and eating tsampa (the staple Tibetan food)
with the nomads.
Day 06-07 : Nakchu
Grab your horse or your camera, (we do not suggest
both) and enjoy a long day of festivities and races
at the annual Horse Racing Festival, which is held
in August each year. Rows of tents cover the vast
green grassland, hosting more than 10,000 spectators
from afar. In addition to the various equine events,
such as shooting on horseback and cross-country racing,
the festival also provides an opportunity to watch
regional folk dances. In the evening we will gather
around the campfire for more singing and dancing.
Day 08 : Nakchu to Dangxiong to Lake
Namtso-Chukmo
After breakfast, we will leave the racecourse and
drive south for 6 hours to arrive at the Lake Namtso-Chukmo
in Zhaxi Peninsula. The lake basin, located at an
altitude of 4,718 m(15,479 ft), can be cold in the
evening but our cozy sleeping bags and campfire should
keep us warm and comfortable all night long.
Day 09 : Lake Namtso-Chukmo to Lhasa
:
We will get up early to explore the peninsula and
its bird sanctuary, where we may get a glimpse of
the rare black-necked crane. There are many caves
to explore, including those along a 100-meter mani
stone wall. We will return to Lhasa in the late evening.
Day 10 : Lhasa to Chengdu, tour ends
:
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Tour Cost & Inquiry
]----------------------Top^
Cost Includes :
Accommodation on twin sharing BB Basis, Sight seeing
Tours, Monastery entrance fees, English Speaking Tibetan
Guide, Private ground Transfer, Travel Permit, Tibet
China Fees.
Cost Excludes :
Airfare Kathmandu -Lhasa-Kathmandu and other part
from China, , Travel insurance, Lunch & Dinner
staff tipping.
