Hi:
We are two American students traveling from Lhasa to Zhangmu (Tibet-Nepal border) on the Friendship Highway. We leave Lhasa on August 7 and arrive at Zhangmu on August 11. There are only two of us and if, say, two more join along, the price goes down for all of us. Total cost of the land rover and English-speaking tour guide (required per new regulations) was 15,000RMB, roughly US$1000 per person for two persons. The trip has been booked through ChinaYak travel agency in Chengdu. Please email us ASAP if you are interested as you need time to get the necessary permits. We're traveling on the Tibet railway today but will check email in two days when we are in Lhasa.
This is the itinerary:
Day0 1 (Aug7):.Lhasa/Gyantse
In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. One the way , have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4441 m), which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet . In the afternoon visit Pelkor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby in Gyantse.Overnight at Gyantse
Day02 (Aug8): Gyantse - Shigatse
In the morning drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), which is the second largest city in Tibet.In the afternoon visit Tashilunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama. Overnight at Shigatse
Day03 (Aug9): Shigatse- Shegar
In the morning drive to Shegar (new Tingri). On the way, if the time is permitting, make an excursion to visit the Sakya Monastery ( 4.280 m). Overnight at Shegar.
Day04 ( Aug10): Shegar – Rongbuk
In the morning drive to Rongbuk, which is the highest temple in the world. In the afternoon we walk 7 km to the Base Camp and do some sightseeing there. Walking or drive by horse vehicle to Rongbuk. Overnight at Rongbuk guesthouse
Day05 (Aug11): Rongbuk – Zhangmu
Get across the 5,000 m high Nyalmo Tong La, With clear view the Shisha Pangma high over 8,000 m on one side and the other side the enormous Gaurisankar ranges stretch forward in the distance. Drive over the Thang-La Pass (5214 m) to Nylam. Afterwards visit the meditation cave of Milarepa. Along the zigzag road we drive down Nyalam (3.600 m) gradually and leave the landscape of the high plateau behind us and see the Himalayas covered in the sea of clouds. We will send you to the Nepal border, then end this trip.
Thanks!
Dinyar Patel
Duc Huynh
Hey there
Can we cut the abusive crap on this forum. There is simply no need to abuse other posters based on their choice of travel. For many people 7 days is ample time to complete the Lhasa - Overland - EBC - Nepal route. With proper planning you should be able to hit up all the major sites in this time. (You should have plenty of time to include Sayka in your plan) The road conditions from Lhasa to Nepal have greatly improved in the last year and about 70% of the route is paved. I have done this route a number of times in 5 days and happily had time to visit all the sites I wanted to.
Yes...this price is expensive but also bear in mind that it is ridiculously busy in Lhasa right now and many drivers have jacked up their prices. August is not the best time to visit Tibet for this reason. Some agencies are simply not booking basic overland trips this month as there simply is not enough vehicles.
CJ
Hi CJ,
Thanks for returning a dose of maturity to this forum. We planned most of this trip from the US and therefore had very little information to work from. 15,000RMB seemed like a heck of a lot but everyone told us that, with new security regulations following the flag-burning incidents, the cost is pretty inevitable, especially given that it is August. As you're living in Tibet, can you let me know if we have been "had" or whether this is a reasonable amount? We had booked this through ChinaYak, a tour company in Chengdu that was recommended to us.
Thanks,
Dinyar
CJ - you seem you're a very good person to ask about this. I have two more questions about this:
If we get a Tibet visa for seven days (apparently this is what the TTB is currently handing out), will this cover a trip to the border or do you have to get a separate visa anyway? If you have to get a seperate visa, is it valid if you've overstayed your one week Lhasa visa?
If we wanted to meet two friends coming up from Kathmandu to Lhasa (border situation permitting), would it be easy for us to jump in the same jeep back to Kathmandu with them?
Any advice appreciated.
Marcy
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