8 Days Winter EBC Exploration

Attractions; Jokhang temple, bustling Bakhor street and Drepung monastery Today is your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have little headache which is very common for travelers because of the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity during the first few days is recommendable. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is one of the most sacred temples in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since from early days. After that you have time to walk around the Bakhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa. During the old days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed into tourist gift shopping center. You will be impressed by the crowds of local pilgrims doing prostration in front of the temple, especially it is more during the winter months. Drepung monastery is one of the world's largest monasteries that houses more than 10,000 monks. It was the resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace. Destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots of things to see. Walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lanes through the monks’ apartments which are more like a typical village. Continue acclimatizing and alleviating jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa

Attractions: Potala palace and Sera monastery. Today we will visit Potala palace in the morning, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7th century and later in 17th century rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama. Since then it was home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Walking though the long steps is quite challenging but it is worthwhile to leave your footprints in the spiritual palace on God’s compassion, which listed in the world heritage in 1994. The amazing day will be ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery. It was built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who is a disciple of Tsongka pa. A few different monastic colleges in Sera are homes of several hundred monks from different parts of Tibet. The famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening everyday in the afternoon except Sunday. Continue acclimatizing and alleviating jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa

Attractions: Yamdrok lake, Mt.Nyechen Kangsar glacier, Gyantse Kubum stupa and Pelkhor Choede monastery. We start drive towards south west, through the zigzag road climb up the Kampa la pass (4700m), from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdrok lake with its turquoise color and snow capped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the back, then continues drive along the lake for few kilometers get us to the lunch stop at Nagar tse. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying the many magnificent valleys and exquisite Tibetan villages that pass through; en route we will stop at Karo la (5150m) to see the holy mount Nyenchen Kangsar glacier. Arrival at Gyantse, we visit Kumbum stupa and Palkhor Choede monastery with number of local pilgirms coming from all over Tibet, this magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, it is not only well known for its architecture but also its old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls, late afternoon drive to Shigatse which is only 90km. Overnight in Shigatse.

Attractions; Rongbuk monastery and Mt. Everest base camp. Today we will drive straight to EBC by crossing several passes along the way, you will have the first views of mighty Himalayans from the pass of Gyatso la(5400m) after Lhatse and distant view of Mt. Everest from its viewing point soon after climb down Gyatso la, shortly after the border check point at Shegar, turn off the Friendship Highway and drive toward south in the valley, cross over the Gawu la pass[5250m] through zigzags road, from the pass you will amaze the spectacular Himalayan Ranges and its mighty peaks beyond 8000m, Mt.Makalu(8463m), Mt.Lotse(8516m), Mt.Everest(8844m), Mt.Cho Oyu(8201m) and Mt.Shishapama(8020m) from Left to right, climbing down through numbers of switchback bends lead to the dry valley of Tashi Zom and then finally the day’s destination - Everest Base Camp located in the Rongbuk valley. Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world and it consist both monks and nuns. Afternoon you have an option to do a short trekking from the tent guesthouses community to E.B.C, it will take you about 2 hours or more per your physical condition (6Km). Or you can take the dedicated minibus instead. We suggest you to bring your own sleeping bags for the night if available as the local tent guesthouses reuse the blankets for several weeks due to the poor facility. As during the winter months, there is very cold climate at the EBC and will be windy during the night, so if you want you can drive down to lower altitude, either to Tashi Zom or Shegar. Note: before leaving Shigatse, your guide needs some time to obtain the ATP from the local PSB. ATP is also known as Alien’s Travel Permit and it is a permit that should be issued for the border check at Shegar

Attractions; Rongbuk monastery-world highest monastery, Himalayan ranges. As we awake the next morning, a striking view of luminous peaks is highlighted by the sun and it is bittersweet to say goodbye to this landscape that we have gotten to know so well. Then we drive all the way back to Shigatse and relax in Shigatse hotel, take a hot shower in the hotel and have a good rest. Overnight in Shigatse

Attractions; Tashi Lhunpo monastery, Brahmaputra river. Today we will visit the Tashu Lhunpo monastery in the morning, Tashi Lhunpo monastery was built by the 1^st Dalai Lama-Gedun Drup in 1447 and later it became the seat of the Panchen Lama lineages, there you will see tombs of 7 passed Pachen Lamas lineages and it is a real pleasure to pass through the busy coobled lanes twisting around the aged buildings that used as monks apartments. And then we will drive back to Lhasa in the afternoon, along the northern friendship highway, the road cuts through numbers of villages, then we will arrive in Lhasa later in the afternoon and you have some time to explore around the Bakhor to shop gifts for your families and friends at home. Overnight in Lhasa