 |
|||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||
Kunming to Kathmandu via Tibet
Prices From: $5164 AUD
Tour Code: PAKK
Countries Visited: China, Nepal, Tibet (China)
On arrival in Kunming you are transferred to your hotel, located right in the middle of town. You meet your tour leader and other group members at a pre-tour briefing, then head out for an optional group dinner. Local specialities are a highlight, with dishes such as ‘across-the-bridge' noodles and other similarly intriguing Yunnanese fare.
Day 2: Dali
Kunming is a vibrant and bustling city with a flourishing Muslim area, exciting markets, interesting temples and a strong ethnic minority influence. A half-day walking tour takes us to the more interesting parts of the city, including watching the locals practising taichi in the morning in People’s Square, and meandering through the Flower and Bird Market, where you are free to wander around and make your own discoveries. Departing Kunming, we catch an afternoon bus to Dali.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Dali is one of the favourite places for travellers in China. Resting near the banks of Er Hai Lake with the Cang Shan mountain range forming an impressive backdrop, the town’s cobblestone streets, ancient stone houses and laid-back charm make it a wonderful place to relax. Dali is home to the proud Bai people, a traditional minority tribe renowned throughout China for their craftsmanship. There is much to explore in our two free days in Dali. There is a chance to go boating on Er Hai Lake and travel across to the village of Wase, or spend a day catching a chairlift up and hiking in the mountains behind Dali (stopping at the occasional monastery along the way). We can also cycle to nearby villages or just stroll around town. Several small stone hamlets lie close to Dali and make for a highly rewarding half-day trip by bicycle or local bus.
Days 4-5: LijiangAfter a free morning in Dali, a spectacular local bus journey through rambling Bai and Yi hamlets, beneath towering mountains and over lush alpine passes, takes us to Lijiang, former capital of the famed Naxi Kingdom. The Old Town is a maze of cobblestone streets, narrow canals and decorative wooden houses, a wonderful place to wander around and imagine being in a bygone era. A walk up to the Wangu Pagoda on Lion Hill offers an impressive view of the rooftops of the Old Town. Our accommodation is located right in the middle of the Old Town and set up like a local Naxi house, but the rooms contain all facilities that one would expect at home! In the evening, you can witness a performance of the local Naxi orchestra (optional), a unique and entertaining musical experience (please check schedules in Lijiang to see if the show is on during your visit). We may need to repack our luggage in preparation for the trek. Extra luggage can be stored in the vehicle, but remember to pack all your valuables to carry into Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Days 6-7: Tiger Leaping Gorge
Another breath-taking journey on our private mini-bus takes us past the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to one of the world's deepest gorges and China’s most spectacular natural scenery. Part of the Yangtze River (known here as the Jinsha River) thunders through Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is in turn framed by 5000-metre-high mountains. In the gorge, a sheer cliff face rises from the raging torrents. A memorable walk in the gorge is a wonderful way to take in its awesome beauty, with overnight stays in the local villages such as enchanting Ben Di Wan. The facilities in the village accommodation are extremely basic, as we are visiting a remote area frequented only by adventurous travellers. Please note that this walk is geared towards travellers who like to enjoy some physical activity, but it is not an extreme trek for advanced mountain walkers. The walk can be quite challenging for some people, depending on weather conditions, and good footwear, preferably hiking boots, is essential. It is necessary to bring warm clothing, especially for the evenings, and, in general, for the cooler months. The degree of difficulty on the particular trail that we take will vary greatly, depending on the time of year. Our tour leader may not be able to advise us of the actual trekking itinerary until the last minute.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
After completing a morning walk we reunite with our mini-bus and drive to Zhongdian, a town set on a high plateau with a distinctly Tibetan feel. Home to a range of minority groups from western China, it encapsulates much of the region's fascinating qualities. Yaks are seen grazing on vast alpine plains and the farmhouses are built in a distinctive local style. Due to Zhongdian’s high altitude (3200 metres), it is advisable to bring warm clothing. (Please note that sometimes due to bad road conditions caused by poor weather, it may not be possible to travel to Zhongdian. If that is the case, additional time will be spent in Lijiang.) The highlight of Zhongdian is a visit to the Songzanlin Monastery, restored since the ravages of the Cultural Revolution and once again a place of homage for Tibetan Lamaism. We also visit a Tibetan family and gain an understanding of their unique way of life.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
We fly back to Kunming and say goodbye to our fellow travellers in Yunnan before transferring on to another flight bound for Chengdu. Here we are looked after by a local guide for two days. The capital of Sichuan province is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. In such a food-loving country, that is no mean achievement. We visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of the Sichuan province, but very difficult to spot in the wild. We also have plenty of free time to explore the city. The Wenshu Temple is a large Buddhist complex situated near our hotel. There is a large statue of Chairman Mao in the middle of the city and the tranquil Renmin Park is well worth a visit, with its beautiful gardens and interesting teahouses.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
A flight at dawn takes us over snow-capped mountains to Lhasa, capital of the autonomous region of Tibet. This is one of the most spectacular flights in the world, as we cross over high mountain peaks before arriving in the high Tibetan Plateau. On arrival at Gongkar Airport we are met and driven by coach to the fabled city of Lhasa, which lies at 3650 metres above sea level.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
In Lhasa we have two days to explore this once-isolated city, with its monasteries and markets bulging with pilgrims and traders. This includes an organised tour to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Sera and Drepung Monasteries. Free time to explore the city is subject to the Chinese authorities and the ever-changing political climate, although there are never any problems with filling in the days to great advantage in such a fascinating city. In your free time you may wish to visit the Norbulingka Summer Palace or the interesting Tibet Museum.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Today we travel for about seven hours as we take to the Friendship Highway; a spectacular road, which traverses high mountain passes and crosses plateaus, connecting Lhasa with Kathmandu. Please note that the road conditions are very poor in Tibet, so we should be prepared for bumpy journeys. We first travel through Tibet’s richest farming areas, then cross the Brahmaputra River as it winds its way down to the Bay of Bengal. Running here at an altitude of 3939 metres above sea level, it is the highest major river in the world. We cross the river on a solid suspension bridge and wind our way to Kamba-la and enjoy a view over the huge Yamdrok Tso Lake. After the lake, we climb again to Karo-la (5010 metres) before descending to the historic town of Gyantse, a small village and home to the Kumbum Monastery, where we find interesting Buddhist murals.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
In the morning we explore Gyantse, a town renowned for the exploits of Colonel Younghusband in the 1920s. We walk down the newly rebuilt main street, along with the Nepali Kumbum stupa. In the afternoon we take a three-hour drive across the Tibetan Plateau. Shigatse is the second largest city of Tibet with a population of some 40,000 people. The Tashilhunpo Monastery is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the most important incarnation for Tibetan Buddhists, after the Dalai Lama. This impressive religious centre contains a giant statue of Buddha in the Temple of Maitreya as well as an ornate tomb, which is the final resting-place of the fourth Panchen Lama. Its huge size ensures it is almost a town in itself. One of Tibet's most active monasteries, it is currently being restored to its former beauty.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Our adventure continues with an eight-hour drive over rough, dusty roads to Shegar. In the morning we cross the Gyatso-la with stunning views of the Himalayan peaks to the south. Although the scenery is desolate, the country is dotted with busy villages and ruined monasteries. Amongst these villages is the major town of Lhaze, which makes a convenient halfway stop, where we have a local-style lunch break. Shegar is a small village of 1500 inhabitants with an interesting fort.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
We leave early in the morning from the hotel, branching off onto a small road that leads to Everest Base Camp. The day will be quite long (approximately six to seven hours driving), but extremely rewarding. The initial part of the journey involves climbs in a series of zigzags to the top of the Pang-la pass (5150 metres), where we stop to take photos of Mount Everest before descending to the Rongphu Valley. We continue to the famous Rongphu Monastery and then on to the Base Camp itself, situated at 5040 metres above sea level. The views of Everest from here are sensational with the towering North Face dominating the horizon. This is certainly a major highlight on our incredible journey. We retrace our steps back to the relative comfort of our hotel in Shegar.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today we travel for 225 kilometres, taking between seven to eight hours. From the hotel we pass through a check-post and continue to Tingri, where we enjoy more views of the world's highest peaks, including the 8000-metre giants: Everest and Cho Oyu. From Tingri the road ascends to reach the Lalung-la (5050 metres), where the scenery is again fantastic. The panorama also includes the 8000-metre-high Xixapangma. From the top of the pass we descend nearly 3000 metres to the small town of Nyalam, before continuing to the border town of Zhangmu. As you near the border, the road is cut into the cliffs high above the valley floor. If you don’t like heights, sit on the left-hand side of the vehicle! At Zhangmu you say farewell to your Tibetan guide and driver.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today, after finalising departure formalities, you exit from China and enter Nepal. Descending steeply down the zigzag road, you reach the Nepalese immigration and customs at Tatopani. During the monsoon season there may be landslides, which may cause sections of the road near the border to be closed. Should this be the case, porters then carry our luggage as we walk across the border to our Nepalese vehicle. It is then a 4½-hour drive to Kathmandu. There is much to see in the Nepalese capital and a tour takes us to the city’s two outlying temples, Pashupatinath and Bodhnath. The rest of our time is free to further explore Kathmandu and the surrounding valley. There are fascinating temples in the city’s Durbar Square, whilst the neighbouring towns of Patan and Bhaktapur are both worth a visit.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts
Your tour ends after breakfast and you are transferred to the airport for your flight home. Alternatively, you may wish to extend your travels in Nepal and take the chance to enjoy some of the country’s magnificent trekking opportunities.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Tour Grade:
| Start Date | End Date | Price |
| 10 Oct 2008 | 01 Nov 2008 | $5164 |
| 27 Mar 2009 | 18 Apr 2009 | $5164 |
| 17 Apr 2009 | 09 May 2009 | $5164 |
| 01 May 2009 | 23 May 2009 | $5164 |
| 15 May 2009 | 06 Jun 2009 | $5164 |
| 05 Jun 2009 | 27 Jun 2009 | $5164 |
Tour Fact Finder
Back - Tours in this country - Peregrine home - Search again
