Expansive Grassland View of Northern Tibet-Tsurphu to Yangpachen

Location

North Tibet

Start - Finish

Tsurphu-Yampachen

Passes

Lhasar La (5300m)

Grade

Medium

Season

Apr to Oct

Trekking Time

4 (One Way)

Tour Map

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Overview

This is a four-day trek from Tsurphu to the Shamarpa main seat, Yampachen Monastery. It invovles crossing the 5300-m Lhasar La, one of the several passes straddling the Tsurphu range. It is an excellent choice for those who want to get a close look at the life-style of the nomads. Although they have permanent winter homes they spend much of the year camping with their animals.

Tsurphu Monastery, sited in the upper reaches of the Drowolung Valley, was an impressive complex, one of the most handsome of Central Tibet. This is one of the two main strongholds of the Karma Kagyu school in Tibet.

Itinearary Day by Day

Day 1 Fly into Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Airport Pickup

Details:

Taking the flight into Tibet. Upon your arrival, local guide will meet you and transfer you to Lhasa. On the way, you can enjoy the heart-beating highland view along the Lhasa River. The rest time is free for relax and adjustment.

Day 2 Lhasa Sightseeing

Today's Highlights:

Potala Palace; Jokhang Temple

Details:

Today, our highlights are Potala Palace and Jokhang temple. The cardinal landmark of Lhasa, Potala Palace, is a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. Potala Palace is a place where you can appreciate the Tibetan culture, religion and art of architecture as well.

Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple to pray for their now and future. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Around the temple is the Barkhor Street, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet. We can have a visit after the Jokhang visit. Out there, we can visit a handcraft product store.

Day 3 Lhasa Sightseeing

Today's Highlights:

Drak Yerpa; Sera Monastery

Details:

This morning, our tour begins with a 20km-drive out of Lhasa to one of the holiest cave retreats in Tibet, the Drak Yerpa hermitage. In old times, some ascetics and kings have sojourned here for meditation. Among them, the most famous ones are Guru Rinpoche, Atisha, Lhalung and King Songtsen Gampo. Here we could visit some meditation caves once used by those famous figures, like Lhalung-puk (monk Lhalung), Dawa-puk (Guru Rinpoche) and Chogyal-puk (Songtsen Gampo).

Sera is one of the greatest Gelugpa monasteries. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect, covering an area of 114,964 square metres. The structure is imposing, picturesque in disorder, and splendid in green and gold. It is a typical Tibetan architecture. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous.

Day 4 Lhasa to Tsurphu Monastery

Today's Highlights:

Tsurphu Monastery

Details:

Today we will drive about 70km to Tsurphu Monastery. After visiting Tsurphu Monastery, we will perpare for our trekking next day.

This Tsurphu-Yampachen trekking covers 55 kms and can be done in 4 days.

Time Chart

Day  Place                              Hours    length   ascent   descent
1      Leten                             3-4        11km     500m
2      Bartso                            5-6        15km     300m     600m
3      Dorje Ling Nunnery        3-4        15km     150m     150m
4      Yangpachen Monastery 4            14km     mostly level

Day 5 Tsurphu-Leten

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Leten

Details:

Today's trek begins by heading west or up the valley. We will pass some nomad tents and valley junction. Leten is also called the 'highest village in the world', several families live here permanently, braving the severe climate with their livestock.

Day 6 Leten-Bartso

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Bartso

Details:

Today we will reach the highest pass of this trekking-Lasar la, so getting refresh is very important. It will cost 3 hrs from Leten to Lasar-la. Then another 3 hours walk to Bartso. This nomad village of 5 homes with a permanent sources of water is a good place to camp.

Day 7 Bartso-Dorjeling Nunnery

Today's Highlights:

Dorjeling Nunnery

Details:

Look northwest from Bartso to the opposite side of the valley. Clearly visible, a wide trail winds up from the valley to the top of the ridge. Ford the valley stream and make for this trail, 25 minutes' walk over marshy ground from Bartso. It is another half-hour to the summit of the ridge. From the top you'll see a sallde north of an intervening valley. On the far side of this saddle is Dorjeling Nunnery.

Day 8 Dorjeling Nunnery-Yangpachen Monastery

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Yangpachen Monastery

Details:

First, we will use 1 1/4 hr, reach the large river of the Lhorong Ma Chu. Another 3 hrs walk to Yangpachen Monastery. It is a 15km road journey to Yangpachen. The hot-spring here ,7km west of Yangpachen, is great to ease your aching limb.

Day 9 Yangpachen-Namtso Lake-Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Namtso Lake

Details:

Today we will drive to Namtso Lake, the highest lake in the world. They Nyenchen Tanglha range, with peaks of more than 7000m, towers over the lake to the south. After visiting the lake, we will drive back to Lhasa

Day 10 Leave Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Tour ends; Transfer to the airport

Details:

Tour ends today, will transfer you to the airport or train station to your next destination. Hope you have had a wonderful time in Tibet.

Tips for This Tour

1. There is no guesthouse when trekking, a good tent is necessary;
2. Bring enough food for 4 days if you don't have a cook;
3. Don't bring too much luggage, an easy walk is necessary;
4. Don't move too fast when ascending, especially on day 2;
5. Start early every day and have more rests;
6. Drink lots of water;
7. No alcohol;
8. Avoid catching cold and bring some medicine;
9. Most important is taking it easy;
10. Cold in night, bring enough clothes to keep warm;
11. Heavy sunshine in daytime, bring sunglasses and sunblock. If necessary, bring a walking stick
12. If you want to have a bath in the hot spring, don't stay in the water for too long. It is not good for a long time bathing in Tibet.

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