
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 :