9-day Experience to Qiangtang Grassland from Tsurphu to Yangpachen

Tour Code: THT004
Tour Route: Lhasa (Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung, Sera Monastery)-Tsurphu Monastery-Leten-Bartso-Dorje Ling Nunnery-Yangpache Monastery-Yangpachen Hotspring-Lhasa

Tour Summary
Tsurphu to Yangpachen trek begins at Tsurphu Monastery. This rugged walk crosses several alpine valleys like Leten valley, Bartso valley before emerging into broad and windswept Yangpachen valley. This trek combines alpine tundra and sweeping mountain panoramas with visits to monasteries and a nunnery, nicely balances cultural and wilderness activities. 
Tsurphu to Yangpachen trek is an excellent 4 days trek for those who want to get a close contact with the nomads and get to know about their lifestyle. In spite of their permanent winter homes, they spend much of the year camping with their animals. These nomads have vicious dogs and the trekker is much fully depending upon self-sufficient for food, shelter and fuel. The end point of this trek, Yangpachen Monastery is perched on top of a small hill on the left side of road to Shigatse, overlooking a broad sweep of trans-Himalaya peaks. From Yangpachen Monastery, it is 15km road journey to Yangpachen, from where there are many minibuses back to Lhasa.

Services Outline:
Best time to Trekking: Late April to late October
Sleeping: Hotels in big city or town, Camping or farmer guest house during trekking.
Staple food during trekking: Beef, milk, coffee, Tibetan tea, noodle, fresh vegetable, Tibetan Snack.
Luggage carriage: Horses and Yaks, 2 yaks and 1 yak porter served for 2-4 travelers
Guide: Local Tibetan Trekking Guide
Equipment provide by CITS: Camping stove, tent, sleeping bag, Mattress, cookware, canned gas fuel.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Lhasa
Lhasa airport picking up, have a good rest to adopt to high altitude in the afternoon.                 
Overnight at Lhasa.

Day 2-3 Two full days Lhasa Sightseeing(B)
The first two days you are in Tibet will be put towards sightseeing inside Lhasa, to visit fabulous and typical Buddhist and historic sites, such as Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple,Barkhor street, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery.
In Potala palace, you can explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, figures of the Buddha   You will visit 3 important monasteries in Lhasa, the first and foremost is Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, attracts pilgrims all over Tibetan Area, built during songtsen gonpo's reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D. the other two Monasteries Sera and Drepung Monastery locate in suburb of Lhasa, are hosted by hundreds of Monks, learning, praying, studying, living there. The famous Monks debiting is held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon.  
You will also explore the circular pilgrim route barkhor while traveling at Johkang Temple, to contact local folks here, and if possible purchase some traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition tibetan clothes etc.
Overnight at Lhasa

Day 04 Lhasa/ Tsurphu Monastery[4500m] (79km, 2-3hrs drive) (B)
It takes several hours to drive to Tsurphu Monastery from Lhasa, include 2 hours bumpy road from the main road to Tsurphu, so the 4WD is necessary. the altitude will be up to 4300m and need a half a day to acclimatize for the following trekking. Visit Tsurphu Monastery after lunch, overnight at local guesthouse.

Day 05 Tsurphu Monastery/Leten(trekking 4 hours, 11km)(B,L,D)
The first day trekking is only 4 hours, 11km, walk along a green valley crisscrossed with mountain streams. Be on the lookout for various species of mountain goats disguised in gray rocks. Several small nomadic communities camp here for the summer herding months, and you may have a stop into a yak-hair tent for a cup of salt butter tea or some fresh yak milk! Crest the ridge top four hours later, emerging onto a high plateau with a scattering of rock-enclosed huts, and look for a flat area for camping. From day one, the scenery is breathtaking, the landscapes are classic Tibetan beauty.
Camp at Leten


Day 06 Leten/Bartso(trekking 5-6 hours, 15km)(B,L,D)
Today, you will walk along a long big valley, up to the highest spot Lasar La(5300m).
Have your first small pass, the Damchen Nyingtri, bear to the left at the cairns at the crest, and descend into a magical valley of lichen-coated boulders, meandering streams and expansive, powder-blue sky. Three hours later, you will cross the Lasar La(5300m) and descend into the Yangpachen valley, with its wide open plateaus, spiky grass hummocks and tundra-like parched, cracked patches of earth, and head towards Bartso. The views of Brize (translated as female yak herder) and Tarze (horse keeper) are superb, and you will feel safe in the care of the local mountain god, Nyenchen Tanglha. Camp near Bartso, a drokpa (nomad) village of five or six houses, surrounded by the juniper used for incense all over the Tibetan world.

Day 07 Bartso/Dorje Ling Nunnery(Trekking 4 hours, 15Km)(B,L,D)
Leaving the village of Bartso behind, head towards a wide trail leading across the valley and over another ridge, from where you will be rewarded with views of Nyenchen Tanghlha (7111 m), the holiest mountain in central Tibet. Emerge at Tajung village, and then climb gently up rolling hills where young nomadic boys and girls picnic on the plateaus as they watch their yaks and sheep graze. The vistas are, again, just amazing! Mid-day, you should reach the small Djore Ling Ani Gompa (nunnery), near which you will set up camp. It's possible that these nuns, some of the friendliest in Tibet, will drag you into the gompa's tea-house and pass around a heaping plate of yak meat (use the bowie knife provided to hack a piece off) before getting into the requisite photo session.

Day 08 Dorje Ling Nunnery/Yangpachen Monastery/Yangpachen Hotsprings/ Lhasa, trekking 4 hours,14km(B,L)
Today walk for three or four hours, following the ox-bow Nyango Chu River snaking its way through the grassy valley, and head for Yangpachen Gompa. This old Kagyupa monastery, with Tibetan mastiffs keeping guard, overlooks part of the Trans-Himalaya range. Landcruiser will wait for at monastery, pick up to have a hot springs at Yangbachen, then drive back to Lhasa.
Overnight in Lhasa

Day 09 Lhasa airport dropping off
Lhasa airport/Train station dropping off, end the service. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay longer in Tibet, you can extend your trip to other parts of China like Gyantse,Shigatse, Everest Base Camp,etc. – if you need, please ask us.


Tour Includesions and Exclusions

Services Included:
1. Airport/train station - Hotel – Airport/train station Transfer.
2. Meals, mentioned in Itinerary with B,L,D
B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- 7 outdoor meals on trekking where there is no village and restaurant, staple food: Beef, milk, coffee, Tibetan tea, noodle, fresh vegetable, Tibetan Snack.
- Our door Cooking: Travelers are kindly required to book with our tour guide together, and do as possible as they can.- All Breakfasts
3. Transportation in Tibet
- Train station pick up and Airport drop off, Private Mini Van
- Lhasa City transportation, Private Mini Van or taxi according to group size
- Lhasa to Tsurphu Monastery: Private 4WD
- Yangpachen Monastery to Lhasa: Private Mini Van or Car
- Luggage carrying on trekking: Yaks or Horses(2 Yaks for 2-4 people)
4.  All hotel and camping accommodations:
- Comfortable Hotels or Guest House in Lhasa
- Tibetan Family Guest house or our door tent during trekking
5.  Guide: Local Tibetan English-speaking Tour Guide
6.  All sightseeing and entrance fees listed in itinerary
7.  All Necessary Permit
8.  Travel Insurance only for accident
9.  Neccessary Oxygen Supply
10. Government Tax

Services Excluded:
1. Single room supplement
2. Tips for the guide and driver
3. Meals are not marked in Itinerary, usually lunches and dinners beyond trekking.
5. International and domestic airfare, en route stopovers
6. Train fare come in and out going Tibet.
7. Passport fees, visa fees
8. Items of a personal expense such as alcoholic beverages, shopping laundry,etc
9. Bank charge of the payment

Hotels to Stay

Price Quotation(USD/P.P)

Remark:
Price Quotation is based on Travel Season in Tibet:
Shoulder Season:April,May, Early June,November;Peak season: Late June to October

If you are interested in this tour, please complete the tour inquiry form below to get prompt reply.