Dreamwishdo.co.uk

 Tibet is a land of ancient Buddhist culture with its breath-taking landscapes known as 'Shangri La', 'the Rooftop of the World' – hidden away in the Himalayas, was once inaccessible to the outside world until recently.

June 2011
Over the centuries Tibetan pilgrims, would spend six months to a year on the road as they travelled to Tibet’s most sacred places, on a journey of discovery and spiritual fulfilment.  We are inviting you to join us in this tour of discovery.  Starting in Kathmandu, which is not only the capital of Nepal but the gateway to this amazing land.  We will begin our journey here, spend 3 days so as you can have an opportunity to relax, unwind and explore.  We then fly to Lhasa ("Place of the Gods") which is surrounded by colossal mountain ranges, it is the religious and political capital of the Tibetan world. Every Tibetan Buddhist aims to visit Lhasa at least once in his or her lifetime.  It is home to Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery which are three of the most important monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism.  One of the greatest building in Tibet, is Lhasa's Potala Palace, it is also the highest "Zong Shan" and the temple of the gods of Tibetan Buddhism.

We will drive through the windswept territory passing many villages and camps of Yak herders with the distance view of snow capped mountains visiting many sacred monasteries on route to Mount Kailash.  There is no public transport to this part of Tibet and pilgrims travel to the mountain by means of jeeps, trucks and land cruisers. And some still do it the traditional way – on foot.

The location of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar is in a remote part of Western Tibet. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bonpos have revered Mount Kailash as the most sacred pilgrimage destination in Asia. It is the holiest place for Tibetan Buddhists, for whom a pilgrimage is of great consequence.  At the base of the mountain lies Manasarovar, acclaimed by Hindus as the lake of the gods. Nearby is Rakshas Tal, known as the lake of demons.  It is said that a circle around Kalish the sacred mountain will wipe away all the sins (bad karma) of one's current lifetime; to circle 108 times will remove the sins of all one's lifetimes and be granted nirvana. The pilgrimage around the sacred mountain is called the Kailash Kor, for over a thousand years pilgrims flock to Mt Kailash to replace the Tarboche flagpole, a huge pole that stands on the Kailash kora, south of the mountain. The whole ceremony is led by a Lama from the nearby monastery and Tibetans and Buddhists gather here that day to attach their prayer flags they brought from home, to pray, and to help erect the flagpole, on the circumambulation of the sacred mountain.  
We plan to join pilgrims as the new flag pole is raised at Tarboche, and celebrate Saga Dawa Festival which is the most important festival of the Tibetan year - and Kailash is the most important place to celebrate. Marking the anniversary of the Buddha's Enlightenment and earthly death.

Come and join us on a journey of a lifetime, a true pilgrimage that will lift you out of your everyday self and leave you able to encounter something far greater, into a realm beyond.  There will be plenty of space for reflection, inner peace, and time to just be.

Day 01 Arrival Kathmandu
Arrive Kathmandu airport where you will be met and taken to your hotel.

Day 02 Temple visit in Kathmandu
After breakfast, proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath Temple and Budhaneelkantha. Evening at leisure in Kathmandu. Dinner and Overnight at hotel

Day 03 Fly Kathmandu to Lhasa
After breakfast, we will transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to board our flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport, the group shall be met and transferred to hotel in Lhasa.  The first day will be spent resting to acclimatize with the altitude because Kathmandu is at 1200 m above sea level and Lhasa is at 3650 m. So it needs some time to acclimatize with the altitude. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04 Lhasa - Visit Potala Palace, Drepung and Sera Monastery.
After breakfast visit Potala Palace - the winter palace of the Dala lama, which was originally built in the 7th century, it is the greatest building in Tibet, is both the highest "Zong Shan" and the temple of the gods of Tibetan Buddhism.  The Sera and Drepung Monasteries are 2 great monasteries of Tibet. Contrary to common knowledge, these great monasteries are not places of worship and rituals but are in truth monastic universities providing religious education to the monks from age 8 to up to 70 in some cases. Dinner and Overnight hotel.

Day 5 - Visit Jokhang Temple, Barkor market, and Norbulinka Monastery.
After breakfast Visit Jokhang Temple, Barkor market and Norbulinka Monastery, overnight Hotel.

Day 6 - Drive to Shigatse via Yamdrok-tso Lake and overnight stay at Shigatse.
On route you will see the spectacular Yamdrok tso, also known as the Turquoise Lake, over 72 km (45 miles) long. According to local mythology, Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is the transformation of a goddess. Then, in the late afternoon drive to Shigatse. Shigatse contains the huge Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama.  Dinner and Overnight at Hotel.

Day 7 - Sightseeing in Shigatse. After early breakfast, Visit the famous Tashillunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Drive and overnight stay in Lhatse via Shakya.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel

Day 8 - Drive and overnight stay in Dongba.

Day 9     Drive and overnight stay at Lake Manasarovar at Horchu.
After breakfast, drive to Hor Quo. We continue driving crossing Mayum La pass (5200 m) and arrive at Hor Quo. Today is the day of lifetime, as we will have the first sight (darshan) of Holy Mt. Kailash and Holy Lake Manasarovar.  

Day10     Religious ceremonies and drive around Lake Manasarovar and overnight stay in Darchen.
After breakfast, it is a day for Puja & Holy bath in the holy lake. We will have a picnic lunch on the bank of Holy Lake Mansarovar. P.M Drive to Darchen. Located beneath the majestic holy Mount Kailash, Darchen is a small village with couple of guesthouses. During the auspicious pilgrimage time, this place will be flooded with Pilgrims with hundreds of tents all around. Darchen, the beginning and end point of the Kora.

Day11    Drive to Tarboche and start trek to Diraphuk. Overnight stay in Dirapuk.
After breakfast, drive to Tarboche, the trek starting point of Kailash Parikrama.  The first day of our Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail leads us to few ups and downs till we reach our camp/guest house at Dirapuk. Camping on the nice grassy meadows with a view of Kailash.  Overnight in Camp.

Day12     Start trek and cross Dolmala Pass and overnight at Zuthulphuk.
Today our Kora leads to much higher side of the holy path just beneath the Holy Mount Kailash. The walk will bring us to one of the highest point at Drolma La, 5,200 m. before descending to the gradual field towards Zuthulphuk for the overnight stay.
After early breakfast, group will set off as the sun's ray’s break over the ridges above. After the footbridge the trail rises up a rocky slope. Take this gently but steadily. It soon reaches a level walk. The peak of Mount Kailash rises to the right and can now be seen linked to a long spur, which joins the eastern ridge. This is the top edge of the glacial valley from which the Lhachu ("Divine River") flows.

This day is the climax of this holy journey & is the most difficult day of our journey. One has to pass through Drolma La Pass - 5680m - highest altitude on this tour. Physically it is the most arduous day. At the pass is a large boulder depicting Tara, festooned with prayer flags. Here too Tibetans leave a memento of themselves such as a tooth, a lock of hair or even a personal snapshot.

After perhaps 30 minutes, we descend a steep, rock-strewn path to the valley below. Just below the pass is Lake Tu-je Chenpo Dzingbu (Gauri Kund) i.e. "The Pool of Great Compassion".

The walk now becomes very pleasant and relaxing.  The path follows the gentle slope of the valley over grassy fields and clear brooks for several Kilometres before it narrows and turns further south to merge with another valley before reaching Zuthulphuk, the "Miracle Cave" of Milarepa. Overnight stay in the Second Camp. Overnight in Camp.

Day13     Trek 6 km and drive and overnight stay in Lake Manasarovar (Horchu) via Darchen.
The morning can be spent exploring the caves and visiting the temples and shrine that has been built around Milarepa's cave. A married elderly couple supervises the temple, which is usually an active residence for over half a dozen Tibetan devotees, helpers, or relatives who continuously busy themselves with the tasks of maintaining the buildings.
One imagines Milarepa's disciples meditating here. Many of the caves contain meditation platforms, self-contained by dry stonewalls which divide them from their cooking partitions and entrance areas. It is well worth the short climb up to these caves before beginning the final stage of the trek. The winding gradual tracks finally ends our holy pilgrimage walk 10 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. Once we reach at the trek end point near Darchen.  

Day14     Drive and overnight stay in Dongba.
After breakfast, drive to Nyalam. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel Dongba

Day15     Drive and overnight stay in Nyalam.
After breakfast, drive to Nyalam. Dinner and Overnight at Hotel Nyalam

Day16     Morning drive to Zhangmu, and then drive and overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Drive downhill to Zhangmu & Friendship Bridge where transportation awaits for our final leg of journey to Kathmandu. After reaching Friendship Bridge, Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 17 Fly back to your home with memories of Mount Kailash & Holy Lake Mansarovar
After breakfast, free for souvenir shopping and other independent activities. In time transfer to International Airport to board your onward flight.

Please fill up the on line contact form as completely as possible and hit the submit button. We will response to you as soon as possible with full costs.

If you require flight costs please state where you will be wanting to fly from.

The Rates includes-
•    3 nights accommodation at Hotel Himalaya on BB Basis on Twin Sharing
•    Day 02 Sight seeing tour of Pashupatinath and Boudhanath
•    All arrival and departure transfer and drive as per  the Itinerary
•    Lhasa in Tibet hotel 3 star
•    Lhatse in Lhatse Hotel
•    Shigatse Mansarovar
•    Guest House or 2 men tent during camping as per itinerary.
•    Tibet visa, special permits and entrance fees
•    Transportation in Tibet by Toyota Land cruiser (4-person in each jeep)
•     Supporting truck for Luggage and Nepali staff.
•     Full back up staff from (guide, cook and other supporting staffs.)
•    Insurance for staff and Tibet Alien Travel Charges.
•    Camping equipments (tents, mattress)
•    Yaks and Yak men to carry our supplies during the Parikarma
•    Oxygen cylinders, Mask and Gamow bag (high altitude chamber)
•    all Meals during the trip;

The Rates do not include-
•    Personal Insurance & emergency rescue by Jeep or Helicopter charges
•    Extra porter & transport charges in the event of landslides NPR 800 per pax      
•    Personal clothing & accessories
•    Other personal expenses
•    Personal Yak to ride during Parikarma of Mt Kailash
•    Personal, medical and evacuation insurance Laundry and tips any other expenses which are not mentioned above


RISK AND LIABILITY:
•    Dreamwishdo Ltd will make every effort to ensure that your journey is smooth and as pleasant as possible.  However, please be reminded that all programs in Tibet are strictly conducted under the rules and regulations of the Tibet Tourism Bureau.  
•    Therefore, Dreamwishdo or its local agent in Tibet shall be responsible for any changes in the itinerary due to unavoidable circumstances including but not limited to:  Government restrictions, landslides, road blockages, flooding, snowfall, political disturbances, flight cancellations, illnesses or accidents.  
•    Any additional costs that are a result of such circumstances will be born by the traveler/s
•    We advice to client to have full insurance against Medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, lost or damage baggage, air delays etc.

What we provide to our clients:
•    Sleeping bag, down Jacket, Oxy-meter, Gamow bag and Oxygen
•    We don't charge extra for the Parikarma. If you wish to take help of a yak or horse, the cost will be approx US$ 120 for Yak and yak herder.

Document: Minimum three months valid passport and two copies of passport size photograph

Fitness:
This is not a trek or expedition but a tour; therefore no specific level of fitness is required. Anybody can join this tour if they think themselves fit and have strong willpower. People suffering from cardiac or respiratory problems should consult to their doctor. Morning and evening walks, jogging, stretching, meditation and regular exercise make the journey comfortable for all.

Food and Beverage:
We will serve delicious continental /Indian food; Breakfast and Dinner in Campsite serve by Nepali trained staff. Pack lunch will be provided for daytime. We will serve Mineral Water for drinking purpose.

Clothing and Necessities:
As the temperature varies greatly between day and night (from max. 20 degrees Celsius to min. -16 degrees Celsius) one should prepare accordingly.

Bring the following items with you:
Woolen gloves, Balaclava, Sun hat, Thermal wear, Water bottle, Woolen socks, Towel, Light Jacket, Sunglasses, Sun cream, Torch with extra batteries/bulbs, Muffler, Mask, Raincoat, Paper Soap, Sweater, Shirt/T-shirt & Trekking shoes

Insurance:
Full travel, insurance coverage for medicine evacuation, lost of belongs, and trip cancellation is strongly recommended.