Shaulu –
Natang Trek / TBT – 08 |
Shalu to Nartang Trek in
Tibet starts at the historic Shalu Monastery, passes through
several villages as well as uninhabited dry canyons, and
then ends at Nartang Monastery. It is the shortest trek
route in Tibet, just about 15 hours walking; you can divide
into 2 or 3 days according to your personal physical
condition. The optional walking season is from the beginning
of April to the end of October. Not far away from
Friend-ship Highway, Shalu to Nartang trek follows the
ancient trade route between the two great Buddhist
monasteries. This two-three days trek is a good opportunity
to get an experience of trekking in Tibet. While you trek
through the route, you can feel the caravans laden with
scriptures and treasures that once passed this way.
Situated 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Shigatse and
built in 1087, Shalu Monastery is a perfect combination of
Han and Tibet architectural styles. In 1320, this monastery
was administered by Master Purdain Renqen Zhuba, a renowned
religious scholar who compiled the Tenjur sutra, one of the
classic works of Tibetan Buddhism. It is said that about
3,800 monks were drawn to his teaching. Therefore, the
monastery became a holy site for many worshipers. Nartang
Monastery, located 15 km west of Shigatse in Tibet, was
founded in 1153 by one of the disciples of Atisha. It was
the fourth great monastery of Tsang with Shalu Monastery,
Sakya and Tashilhunpo. Nartang was first famous for its
scriptual teaching and monastic discipline. After the
fourteenth century it gained great eminence as the oldest of
Tibet's three great printing centers (the other being the
Potala and the Derge). |
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Featured
Pictures (Tibet) |
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Brief
Itinerary |
Day |
Activities |
01 |
Arrive in Lhasa (3660 m). Rest of
the day free to acclimatize. |
02 |
Visit
Potala Palace, Sera Monastery &
Norbulinka. |
03 |
Visit Drepung
Monastery,
Jokhang Temple &
Barkhor Market.
|
04 |
Drive to Gyantse
(3950 m) via
Yamdrok Tso.
Transfer to
hotel. Visit
Kumbum Stupa and
Phalkor
Monastery |
05 |
Drive to Shalu
Monastery (3980
m). Start trek
to Upper
Lungsang (4,060
m, 6 hours
approx, 14 km).
|
06 |
Trek Upper
Lungsang to Ngor
Monastery (4
hours approx, 8
km). |
07 |
Trek Ngor
Monastery to
Nartang
Monastery (5
hours approx, 18
km), then drive
to Shigatse. |
08 |
Visit Tashilunpu
Monastery and
drive to Tingri
(4300 m). |
09 |
Drive to Zhangmu
(2300 m). |
10 |
Drive to
Kathmandu (1400
m). |
|

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. |
Day 02:
|
Visit Potala Palace, Sera Monastery
& Norbulinka.
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. |
Day 03:
|
Visit Drepung Monastery, Jokhang
Temple & 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. |
Day 04:
|
Drive to Gyantse (3950 m) via
Yamdrok Tso. Transfer to hotel.
Visit Kumbum Stupa and Phalkor
Monastery
In the morning, your guide and
driver will accompany you to Gyantse
(250 km, 5 hours approx.), a town
lying to the south of Lhasa City.
On the way there, you will visit one
of the holiest lakes in Tibet, a
pilgrimage site, The Yamdrok Yumtso
Lake, which is compared as “the
fairyland in heaven” by Tibetans.
You will also have view of the
Karola Snow Mountain. Before check
in to the hotel, you will visit a
special
monastery, The Phalkor Monastery,
the only monastery that houses monks
from different rders (Gelupa,
Sakyapa and Kahdampa) in
harmony. Phalkor also features its
Bodhi Stupa or Kumbum Stupa, which
consists of hundreds of chapels in
layers, housing about a
hundred thousand images of Buddha,
so it is called Myriad Buddha’s
Stupa as well. Then, we check in to
the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel. |
Day 05:
|
Drive to Shalu Monastery (3980 m).
Start trek to Upper Lungsang (4,060
m, 6 hours approx, 14 km).
Drive to Shalu Monastery from
Gyantse by 49km asphalt road. Visit
Shalu Monastery,which is the seat of
Buton Rinchendrub(1290-1346) who was
the great codifier of the tibetan
translations of the Indian Buddhist
canon. Then start trekking in the
afternoon to Upper Lungsang.
Overnight at Camp. |
Day 06:
|
Trek Upper Lungsang to Ngor
Monastery (4 hours approx, 8 km).
Trek through the farming fields to
the Ngor village, the Ngor monastery
is renowned for its Sanskrit library
and Newar-style murals. There were
once five assembly halls, 18
colleges and 400 monks, but
presently there are only 25 monks.
Overnight at Camp. |
Day 07:
|
Trek Ngor Monastery to Nartang
Monastery (5 hours approx, 18 km),
then drive to Shigatse.
Trekking from Ngor to Nartang by
passing several villages, saddles,
and one electric utility. After
arriving at Nartang Monastery, our
driver will pick you up to Shigatse.
On reaching, check in to the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel. |
Day 08:
|
Visit Tashilunpu Monastery and drive
to Tingri (4300 m).
In the morning, visit Tashilunpo
Monastery. It is the seat of Panchen
Lama. Each year, there is a display
of a gigantic thangkas of Buddha
will on its Thangka Wall. Beside the
trove of thangkas, its murals and
other religious and artistics
treasures certainly will impose an
indelible impression upon visitors.
You will also pay a visit to the New
Palace of Panchen. Then, drive to
Tingri (4100 m). The distance
between Xigatse and New Tingri is
270 km and it takes 6 hours approx.
by land. On reaching, check in to
guest house.
Overnight at Guest House. |
Day
09: |
Drive to Zhangmu (2300 m).
Drive to Zhangmu for night, and make
a visiting in Nyalam town on the
way. Nyalam is a small Tibetan town
near the Nepal border. It is 35 km
from Zhangmu town in the same
county, which is the point of entry
of Nepal. Nyalam is situated at
3,750 m above sea level. A town of
stone building and tin roofs, it is
nickmaned "The Gate of Hell" by the
Nepalese trader because the trail
between Nyalam and the Nepalese
border was so treacherous to
negotiate.
Overnight at Guest House. |
Day 10: |
Drive to Kathmandu (1400 m).
Today is the end of your trip. As
the day breaks, you we will cross
the Friendship Bridge and return
Nepal. You will express your fond
farewell and thanksgiving to your
Tibetan crew and go through all the
necessary border paperwork. Then you
will meet our Nepalese guide on the
other side and by nearly five hours
scenic drive you can reach
Kathmandu. |
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Note: Airfare, taxes and schedules are
subject to change without prior notice. |
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Cost
Include |
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All necessary
airport transfers |
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|
Twin sharing
accommodation on breakfast basis in hotels |
-
|
All
sightseeing with English speaking local
Tibertan
guide |
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All
activities & excursions as per itinerary |
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Monument
Entrance fee. |
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|
All
Applicable surface transfer by private non
AC vehicle |
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|
All
applicable permits in Tibet |
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Cost
Exclude |
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Any
international airfare and airport taxes |
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|
Nepal entry
visa fees |
- |
Tibet/China
visa feed |
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Meals
(Lunch/Dinner) except during trekking |
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Insurance and
Tips |
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Bottled
drinks |
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Emergency/Rescue in any form |
- |
Expenses of
personal nature such as bar bills, laundry,
telephone calls etc |
- |
Any cost
arise due to flight cancellation, landslide,
road blockage, political disturbance etc |
- |
Any other
arrangements not mentioned in the above cost
include section |
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