16 Days China Adventure from Kashgar to Lhasa via Nagri

Welcome to Kashgar! Kashgar was a cultural center of the Uygur nationality in ancient times, a place of strategic importance in the westernmost border area, and a city famous for its historical interest and contacts with other countries. You will be met by at the airport and then transferred to the hotel for check in. Have a good rest!

After breakfast we will visit the famous Sunday Market, We will have to buy some food,drink and fruit in advance as we’re challenging ourselves to experience the most difficult route in the world! We'll drive about 4 hours to Zepu county. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and have a good rest to save as much energy as possible. In the following 3-4 days, we will need to prepare each meal on our own and have picnic lunch. There could be no decent restaurant on the way.

Adventure start! Today we'll drive to Hongliutan across several Daban Mountains. With dream travel, overland tourists experience four seasons in one day at Hongliutan, as locals say:  Wearing a coat in the morning, a shirt at noon and eating water melons by a burner. First is Kudi Daban,there is a saying to describe the difficulty--"Even Monkeys can't climb over". So we can image its slope. There is a Military Check Point, we have to stop for checking about half an hour. From Kudi Daban, we drive about 80km to Mazar Daban,which is the longest Daban in this route. Mazar means Graces in Uyghur language. Mazar Road can access to the famous K2, which is the border with Pakistan, it is also the best place to enjoy the splendid view of K2.

Afterwords we'll meet one of the highest altitude points along the road,4930m above sealevel-Heiqia Daban. You may have to prepare some pills to avoid any uncomfortable reactions. We'll arrive in site in the 30mins afterwards, and have a simple dinner and good rest. 

Get up in the early morning and have a simple breakfast which prepared yesterday. Today will be the hardest day for you. As we' ll across the highest and most dangerous point-Jieshan Daban with the sea level of 5245m, fighting! Drive about 300kms on the good road which was rebuilt recently. We'll arrive in Hero Valley to have lunch. There are many soldiers devoted their young life in building the road from Xinjiang to Tibet, which is also their resting place. Please note the altitude of Hero Valley is 5140m. Then we'll pass by Lomcuo Lake to Jieshan Daban(5300m), which is a border between Tibet and Xinjiang, which means well Tibet land. From Jieshan Daban to Duoma, the road may not be very good, so just have a good rest when you are not feeling good. In this wildeness, we should keep our eyes open for the Tibetan wild Ass or Kiang. Here, if lucky enough,we'll see not just the few but herds of them.

After breakfast we'll drive to Shiquanhe which is the capital city of Nagri. Nagri is located in the western part of Tibet. It is the place of great mountains, beautiful lakes and vast grasslands. Shiquanhe River the main source of the Indus, originates from the Kailash. On the way we visit the Pangong-tso, a long and narrow lake, situated on the border of Indian and China. It is where the Himalayas, the Gradise, the Kulun Mountains and Karakoram Mountains pass by. Nagri is extremely important for both Hindus and Buddhists. Mountain Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Nagri are the "Sacred Mountains and Holy Lake" of the Buddhism and are therefore the spirituel center of Buddhists meet. Mt. Kailash means: The spiritual centre of Buddhists as well as Hindus and Bon followers and it is also known as Gang Rimpoche in Tibet. Gang Rimpoche means "treasures of the snow mountains" or the "sacredness of snow". It is believed to be the place where Shakyamuni Buddha conducted the rites to save the souls of the dead. Circling round the Mt Kailash at any time is considered extremely auspicious and beneficial for pilgrims, however, the best time to circumambulate is believed to be April 15. It was on this day that Buddha Sakyamuni was born, became the Buddha, and also passed away and reached the state of nirvana. The road to Shiquanhe is very bad, while we'll drive along the beautiful Dangong-ko which means the swan lake with long neck, situated on the border of India and China. Fresh air with fantastic view. 

Then we drive to Tsaparang, the oldest center of Guge Kingdom. A group of four temples surround the lower part of the fortress walls, one fifth of which lie above the remains of the city, the former Summer Palace of the kings. You will be greeted by the view of vast grassland and great snow mountain. Visit Ruins of Guge Kingdom, which situated on a mountain in Zhabran Village, at a distance of around 18 km west of the county town of Zhada. 

Early in the morning we will drive to Tarchen and the road condition is very good. Moving towards about 150kms, we will arrive in the Lake Manasarovar. The lake is 4,588 meters above sea level and covers an area of 330 square kilometers. The depth of the lake is 81.8 meters. It is situated between two snow-covered mountain ranges where the scenery is extremely beautiful. It is an important part for the Tibetan pilgrims to orbit and take a bath in the lake. You can relax around the lake shore for a while and experience the natural beauty of the lake. In the summer time, flocks of swans will gather on the lake, bringing grace and life to the area. You can also see so many Tibetans and Hindus praying and circuling around the lake shore for the whole day, snow capped mountains on the background and hundreds of swans gathering on the lake, attracting hundreds and thousands of tourists from all over the world. In late afternoon, you will reach Tarchen, where is the beginning of the Mt. Kailash Kora.

Traditionally pilgrims undertake 52 km trekking circuit around Mount Kailash, commencing at Darchen (4574m) and crossing the Dolma-la pass on the second day of the three day walk. Darchen is the starting and completion point for the general circuit of the sacred mountain. A few kilometers after leaving Darchen, there is a valley called "Sarshung" where porters are waiting for their clients. They will help the clients to take every necessary things on yaks and horses. After two hours, you come upon a grassy plain populated by nomads. There you can refresh yourself in nomadic tent and drink some soft drinks. For this turn in the valley it is another two hours at least before reaching Drirapuk(4920m). You need to camp or can have a rest in monastery's guest house made from cement with a few good facilities than others in Drirapuk. At the opposite side of Drirapuk, there you can see small monastery with its guest house.

The second day is the hardest and most tough circuit with the Dolma-la pass lying 6.4km ahead but 762m above Drirapuk. The peak of Dolma-la pass is about 5630m above sea level, so it is better to set off early in the morning as the sun rays break over the ridges above. After taking a rest at the peak of Dolma-la pass, you will decending staircase bringing you to Lhachu valley floor, taking about one hour from the pass. From here it is still four hours trekking to today's final destination with no shelters on the way. It is better to walk on the rightside of the river and finally get to Dzultripuk (with miracle cave of milarepa). It is advisable to get there before other groups because limitted number of rooms are available there in Dzultripuk. Take a good rest in the guest room and prepare for next morning's departure.

In the early morning visit Zutrulpuk Temple (altitude 4790 m). M ~ arepa's Cave (Milarepa Cave) in a north-facing room Zhacang, the door is not always open. You may need to find the Lama Temple, the best spot, with a small donation. the way back is very easy. Going out of the canyon where the creek enters Baga plains, river banks become very steep, passes through some of the colorful stones, from red to yellow, from black to purple. This band called Trangser Trangmar (golden and red stone walls). Then Guaixiang the right path, along the foot has been returned to El Tajin. After the first two days of the trek, it is really easy on the third day. Drive to Lake Manasarovar once you finish the Kora. 

Drive from Manasarovar to Saga with rough road wriggles between Himalayas and Gangdis Mountain. It is a hard day of long time drive. Our destination is Saga Town, an army town with a Chinese garrison which patrols the whole length of the Sino-Nepal border. Saga means "happy land" in Tibetan language. Saga straddles the Dargye Tsangpo river above its junction with the Brahmaputra River. It is one of the border counties of Shigatse Prefecture, too. The border line is approximately 105 kilometers long. In the east, Saga County connects to Angren County and Nyelam County. In the south, it connects to Gyirong County and the Kingdom of Nepal. In the west, it connects to Zhongpa County. In the north, it connects to Coqin County of Ngari Prefecture. In addition, Saga County is available in the north of Himalaya Mountain Range and the southwest of Gangdisê Mountains, the upper reach of Yarlung Zangbo River. G219 National Highway is available throughout Saga County. Saga County is proud of more than 1000 years history and well known for a type of dancing in Tibet. The dancing is said to be created for Princess Wencheng when she got married with Songtsen Gampo.

Morning we will drive to visit the Lake Peiku, is a lake at 4,591 meters above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau, 18 kilometers south of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The lake is 27 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide at its narrowest. It is surrounded by mountains reaching 5,700 to 6,000 meters. Streams fed by glaciers cascade to the valley floor, but most sink into alluvial deposits before reaching the lake. Then we will drive to Rongpuk (Everest Base Camp).

Everest Base Camp is either of two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest (It could also be any Everest base camp on a given route, but this is less common since the two main routes became standardized). South Base Camp is in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres, and North Base Camp is in Tibet at 5,150 metres. These camps are rudimentary campsites on Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent. South Base Camp is used when climbing via the southeast ridge, while North Base Camp is used when climbing via the northeast ridge.

Early in the morning, we will drive to Lhatse. It will take about 10hrs. The road follows north of the Pelgu-Tso, and then follows a narrow gorge before climbing to a pass and dropping steeply down to a ferry crossing over the Yarlung Tsangpo. Continues to across the plain with stunning Himalayan views. Peiku-tso is located 40km to the east of Jirong county town and 250km from the Tingri County. It's just on the way to Ngari, between Zhangmu and Saga. With the elavation of 4,590 meters above sea level, Peiku-tso lake is the biggest lake in Shigatse area. It's a light salty lake with an area of more than 300 square kilometers. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, it's bright turquoise all year around. Drive to Shigatse to visit Pachen Lama's seat palce, the great Tashilumpo monastery, a very big and complex monastery in Tibet. Have a look at the Local Market.Tashilumpo Monastery was founded in 1447, which is recorded hightest Lama in the Gelukpa tradition, and the seat of sucessive Panchen Lamas in the Shigatse Prefecture. 

In the morning drive to Gyangtse, the fourth largest city in Tibet (after Lhasa, Shigatse and Chamdo) notable for the Kumbum Stupa of the Pelkhor Monastery. And then head to Lhasa the cultural capital of Tibet as well as the administrative center for the Tibet Autonomous Region. In the older parts of the city, especially near the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, expect to be enchanted by spinning prayer wheels, colorful flags and traditionally clad Tibetans going about their Buddhist business.

The Kumbum was built after 1418 and was an important centre of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. This religious structure contains 108 chapels in its four floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals, the last of its type in Tibet. Many of the new clay statues are of less artistry than the destroyed originals - but they are still spectacular.

After breakfast, we will go to the Potala Palace, a golden feather upon the roof of the world, which Tibetans proudly claim to be the prime miracle since the creation of this world. It is visible from any distance, with the golden roof shinning in the sun. Spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and the many Buddhist icons within. In the afternoon we will go inside of the Jokhang Temple. The Jokhang Temple, like most of the larger temple structures have numerous individual temples within it dedicated to specific enlightened beings, protectors, high lamas, or saints. Images, both sculpted and painted, are everywhere. Every inch of wall and ceiling is brightly painted with images of clouds, beings, mandalas, or decorative patterns. Colorful silk banners, three stories high, are hang in various places. Color, pattern, and images crowd in around you. The central image inside the building is a 30-foot high gilded image of Maitreya Buddha. Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor area of Old Lhasa. The streets smelled of yak butter and incense while hordes of pilgrims shuffled along the main Kora (circumambulations) around Jokhang Temple. If someone just walked at a normal pace, one kora would take about 15-20 minutes.

In the morning after breakfast, have a tour for Drepung Monastery, the ever largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, Buddhist debates often occur there. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given its name which, in the Tibetan language, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks there. 

In the afternoon, visit Sera monastery, which was built in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called "the court of wild rose". There still more than 200 lamas are living in. Catch the famous debate session of the monks before returning back to Lhasa downtown.

Today is the last day of your tour. You will be transferred to the airport based on your schedule. Say goodbye to Tibet! Wish you a pleasant journey home and hope to see you again in your next China trip!