During the month of August over 10,000 people will cross high passes of more than 4000 m (13123 ft) by foot, horse and jeep to make their way to Nakchu Racecourse, to run their horses, eat, drink and enjoy themselves during the annual horse festival holiday. This racecourse, at 4500 m(14763 ft), is undoubtedly the highest located racecourse in the world. Crowded along the hillsides are white tents housing monks, pilgrims, nomads, and city dwellers who come from Lhasa and all over Hor, the urban and farming communities of northern Tibet. During this time of festivities and dance, everyone dresses in their finest and most colorful clothing and adorns themselves with chunks of gold and turquoise jewelry. After the races, we will camp by Lake Namtso-Chukmo, Tibet's largest saltwater lake, which is also considered one of its most sacred. Seventy km long and 30 wide, it takes pilgrims 18 days to complete a korla, or a circumnavigation, around the lake. Lake Namtso-Chukmo is also home to migratory birds between April and November; if we are lucky, we may be able to see the rare black-necked crane.

Day 1 Chengdu :
We will meet you at the airport in Chengdu. The rest of the day is open for you to either take a rest or stroll around the city to buy souvenirs or necessities. Chengdu is a prosperous and lively metropolis famous for its delicious spicy food and attractive tea houses.

Day 2 Chengdu to Lhasa :
We will take a morning flight to Lhasa. Since we have just made a sudden ascent from the lowland Sichuan Basin to an altitude of over 3,700 meters(12,139 ft), we will take the afternoon off to acclimatize to the new environment.

Day 3 Lhasa :
Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet, still maintains its spirituality and mystique despite the growing population of Han Chinese and rapid development of the city in recent years. You are certain to notice the contrast among its inhabitants, however. Pilgrims kowtowing at Jokhang Temple and hip youngsters in discos boogieing to Celine Dion exemplify the duality of Lhasa. The early morning is the best time to appreciate the spiritual face of Lhasa.

We will begin our tour by visiting the Potala Palace, Tibet's greatest architectural achievement and spiritual symbol, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather from the far corners of the world. At Jokhang Temple, we will listen to the monks recite sutras, the philosophy and teaching of great lamas and rinpoches from the time of the Buddha. In the late afternoon, we will head to the pilgrim circuit around Barkhor bazaar to buy Tibetan crafts - provided you have enough energy left from the spiritual tour during the day time.

Day 4 Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery :
Drepung Monastery has an enormous hall with thousands of silk-bound scriptures covering 1,800-sqm(5,906-sqft) of wall space. Here we will witness thousands of lamas chanting en masse, with their passionate voices reverberating through the ancient halls as the flames of yak butter candles flicker under their breaths.

Sera Monastery, one of the three main temples of Gelukpa Sect, is located at the foot of Mt. Purbuchok. Each afternoon, the monastery's 300-strong lamas hold a debate session in the garden, at times engaged in a heated discussion over spiritual questions.

Day 5 Lhasa to Nakchu(naqu) :
Under good road conditions, the 315 km(197 mi) journey from Lhasa to Nakchu should take approximately 6 hours. Though the journey is long and at times ardurous, there is no such thing as an ugly road in Tibet. We will pass beautiful temples and shrines and encounter herdsmen and pilgrims as we traverse deep valleys and drive across rugged passes. We should reach Nakchu Grasslands by dusk, providing us with a wonderful opportunity to watch the sun go down while sipping hot tea and eating tsampa (the staple Tibetan food) with the nomads.

Day 6-7 Nakchu :
Grab your horse or your camera, (we do not suggest both) and enjoy a long day of festivities and races at the annual Horse Racing Festival, which is held in August each year. Rows of tents cover the vast green grassland, hosting more than 10,000 spectators from afar. In addition to the various equine events, such as shooting on horseback and cross-country racing, the festival also provides an opportunity to watch regional folk dances. In the evening we will gather around the campfire for more singing and dancing.

Day 8 Nakchu to Dangxiong to Lake Namtso-Chukmo :
After breakfast, we will leave the racecourse and drive south for 6 hours to arrive at the Lake Namtso-Chukmo in Zhaxi Peninsula. The lake basin, located at an altitude of 4,718 m(15,479 ft), can be cold in the evening but our cozy sleeping bags and campfire should keep us warm and comfortable all night long.

Day 9 Lake Namtso-Chukmo to Lhasa :
We will get up early to explore the peninsula and its bird sanctuary, where we may get a glimpse of the rare black-necked crane. There are many caves to explore, including those along a 100-meter mani stone wall. We will return to Lhasa in the late evening.

Day 10 Lhasa to Chengdu, tour ends :

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