Mandala Magic Tibet Nepal Tour

NEPAL TO TIBET OVERLAND ADVENTURE - 14 Days
Follow the old Silk Road to the ‘forbidden city’

Khatmandu - Gyatse - Shigatse - Lhasa - Bangkok

Fly to Katmandu to explore this fascinating city before embarking on an 8 day overland bus and jeep trip to Lhasa – Land of the Gods, Tibet. Visit the Base camp of Mt. Everest, a once in a life time dream. Be awed by a spectacular journey, crossing Himalayan passes and traversing the highest plateau in the world. The mountain views are breath-taking as you pass turquoise lakes, waterfalls and glaciers. Stop along the way to explore/experience lavishly decorated monasteries, villages, cities and architectural wonders and encounter the colorful people of this ancient and mysterious land. See nomads driving herds of yaks, fields of barley, numerous ruins dotting a lunar type landscape before entering the ‘forbidden city’ – Lhasa. Here we visit the Potala Palace and the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism – the Jokhang – with pilgrims and devotees. Enjoy the scenic flight out of Lhasa over majestic mountains, passing close to Mt Everest (fabulous views, weather permitting) to return to Nepal.

Fly from Nepal to Thailand and spend a relaxing day to allow all that you have seen and experienced to filter in and settle into your memory. Be still, reflect and rest before returning home.

	DAY 1	NEPAL – TIBET TOUR Proposed departure date May 2008 Friday 2 nd May departing Melbourne Arrive back on 16 th June 2008 Approximate dates – may change a day or two with air flights. COST OF 16 Day NEPAL – TIBET TOUR A$ 5,650 INCLUDES : Return international flight Melbourne to Kathmandu, Nepal International flight Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal All transfers to and from hotels. Breakfast daily – set, basic breakfast. Taxis to and from sights. A local English speaking guide as required. Jeep or bus over the Himalayas to Lhasa Entrance fees to monasteries, temples & monuments as per itinerary. Accommodation on twin share basis. Chinese visa/Tibet travel permit Please note that this is a flexible itinerary and may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, cancellations, road damage or severe weather conditions. Contact - Enquiries VISAS and PASSPORTS - We organise all your visas and travel permits for you. You are required to have a passport valid for 6 months beyond the expiry date with at least 2 blank pages. FOOD- Food in India is truly a sensational. The tantalising aroma of roasting spices and a huge variety of breads, vegetable and meat curries to wickedly tempting sweets delight the palette. We eat local Indian, Tibetan and Nepalese food but go to restaurants where western type food is available. ACCOMODATION - Accommodation generally is comfortable twin share, to add to and enhance your experience, therefore not 5 star (unless stated). Some are refurbished palaces or historical buildings. We endeavour to ensure rooms have their own bathroom and toilet. Hotels are chosen for their location – in the cultural heart of the town, close to everything that you need such as shops, restaurants, money changers; internet etc.Each has something special to offer and most have lovely courtyards and garden settings, and include restaurants. Staff are friendly and helpful. If you choose to have your own room add extra $600 TOUR GRADINGS- Our tours suit travellers of all ages with average fitness and mobility. Some are more suited to those with a keen interest for exploration and adventure and involve long road or rail journeys, some walking and at times more basic accommodation. We are with you all the way to support and ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. GENERAL INFORMATION- We supply a detailed list of what to pack, information on money, health precautions and climatic conditions, things to be aware of and other general information specific to each tour. We offer free information meetings and have a ’get together dinner’ to meet other members of our groups before departing. After each tour we have a group dinner party to share photos, laughs and our experiences. Copyright Mandala Magic 2005 SOMETHING SPECIAL Take a swim in the sacred hot springs said to have powerful healing properties. Many pilgrims from all over Tibet come here to be healed. Contact - Enquiries TESTAMONIALS Kim Smith 2006 First and foremost, I am so glad to have had my first India experience with you guys. I felt safe and provided for, and felt totally looked after ~ and yet had time to myself for personal unique experiences. If there were hitches, we didn't know about them! Both Gary & Karen’s patience and understanding of individuals is wonderful. Everyday was filled with colour, excitement, history. I felt spellbound my many sights and sounds. Our group of travellers were wonderful! We bonded extremely well, yet all I think had a wonderful personal experience that will last a lifetime. Thank you Karen and Gary, You and India will always have a piece of my heart. Amber Collings 2005 "Gary and Karen Scott offer a unique opportunity to see the real India. They take you on a journey like no other, to places and experiences off the tourist track that you would not experience anywhere else. Their wealth of knowledge about the country, its history, its culture and religion is amazing and they engage you in their love of the Country. It was definitely a once in a lifetime trip and I’m planning my next one with them in 2008! "
	Depart Melbourne for Kathmandu, Nepal. Transfer from airport to Hotel in Thamel a concentration of shops, restaurants, bars and other touristy facilities. Settle in.
	DAY 2
	KATHMANDU: Visit Bodanath Stupa originating from the 5 th century and situated on the Khatmandu-Lhasa trade route, a place for pilgrims for centuries. Each segment of this huge structure represents the five elements the base – earth, the dome – water, the sphere – fire, the parasols – air and the pinnacle – ether. The famous red-rimmed, blue Buddha eyes gaze out from each of the four sides atop the huge white dome that is splashed with yellow. The surrounding market sells all sorts of Tibetan goodies.
	DAY 3
	KATHMANDU Sightseeing in the numerous winding alleyways of this fascinating city. Visit Durbar square, heart of the old city and home of the living Goddess - Kumari. She is selected at the age of 4 or 5 and is seen as a living embodiment of the Hindu Goddess Durga until she reaches puberty. Until that time her feet must not touch the ground. She lives a secluded life of a princess, viewed by the public only a few times in a year. In Durbar Square, many of the temples are for Maru Ganesh frequently worshipped as the remover of obstacles – a good god to visit before traveling.
	DAY 4
	KATHMANDU –ZHANGMU/NEYLAM (153 kms aprox. 6 hours) Depart Thamel, Khatmandu by bus to Kodari on the Nepal/China border. We will stop for breakfast on the way. Lovely views over rice paddies and river valleys. At Kodari we fill out forms before walking across the Friendship Bridge into China. Travel uphill 1 hour to Zhangmu 2500m to complete travel formalities for Chinese emigration. Zhangmu clings to the hillside 10 ks inside the Chinese border over the Friendship Bridge. Change transport to jeep. Time permitting we travel 60km to Neylam an old trade point on the India – Tibet route. Overnight guesthouse accommodation.
	DAY 5
	NEYLAM – TINGRI/LHATSE (285kms aprox 8 hours) Drive to Neylam pass 3800m and view Jugal Himal. We may stop on the way to see the cave of the famous yogi Milareapa. Continue upward to Lalunga pass 5050m. Outstanding views of Mt. Xixapangma 8013 one of the highest mountains in Tibet and Mt Makalu 8464m, Mt Lhotse 8516m, Mt Cho Oyo 8201m and Mt Everest 8848m. Arrive at New Tingri town to rest and further acclimatize.
	DAY 6
	Depart in the morning for the base camp of Everest. This will take about 3 hours and weather permitting you will be able to take some fabulous photos. This is a real highlight of the trip.
	DAY 7
	XIGATSE – GYANTSE (90ks) Morning visit to Tashlumpo Monastery exploring the different chapels. Tashilumpo is the biggest Gelugpa monastry in the Tsang region of Tibet and was founded by Gedrun Drup (first Dalai Lama) a disciple of Tsong Karpa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect. Built in 1447 and expanded by each successive Panchen Lama. Tashilumpo houses the huge golden statue of the Maitreya Buddha, erected by the 9 th Panchen Lama in 1914. It took four years to build this 26m high statue made of 275 kilos of gold and precious gems such as turquoise, pearls, amber and coral. In another chapel is the 4 th Panchen Lama’s funeral stupa , built in 1662 standing 11 meters high and covered in solid silver and gold. Depart for Gyantse on the northern bank of the Nyang Chu river. In the 15 th century it served as the capitol of this region. Visit PhalkorMonastery a center for 3 different sects of Buddhism – Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Bhuton. Climb the Khumbum Stupa built around 1400. It is the 2 nd largest stupa in the world (9 stories high) and shows fine examples of Newari, Tibetan and Nepalese artistry. It is honeycombed with 77 chapels – superb wall paintings and many statues. It has 100,000 images and is thus called the, ‘100,000 image Pogoda’ - Khumbum. Circumambulate to the top with magnificent views of the Gyantse and the nearby fort ruins.
	DAY 8
	GYANTSE – LHASA (260 kms aprox 8 hours) Cross the Karo La Pass 5010m and then the Kamba La Pass 4794m. Drive alongside the turquoise lake, Yamadrok Tso, the sacred lake which is the biggest and most beautiful in Tibet. Unlike other Tibetan lakes this is sweet water. Cross the Brahmaputra River. Arrive Lhasa passing the Potala Palace to stay in your Hotel. Lhasa the capitol of Tibet means, ‘land of the Gods’ and lies on the north bank of the Kyichi river at an altitude of 3650 meters.
	DAY 9
	LHASA Morning sightseeing tour of Sera Monastery. Sera means ‘hailstone’. Sera sits at the foot of Wundu Hill north of Lhasa and was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, another disciple of Tsongkarpa. This is a Gelugpa Sect monastery. Afternoon visit the Jokhang Temple situated in the Barkhor – the old part of Lhasa. It was built in the mid -7 th century and was extended by successive rulers to become the giant complex it is today. The Jokhang is Tibet’s spiritual center and the holiest destination for Tibetan pilgrims. An evening walk (Kora) around the Jokhang temple with Tibetan pilgrims is an unforgettable experience. This area is the hub of innumerable shops, street stalls and peddlers selling all sorts of Tibetan artifacts and jewellery.
	DAY 10
	LHASA Morning sight seeing tour of the majestic Potala Palace one of the world’s most famous architectural works. It sits on top of Red Hill in Lhasa and was built over many centuries dating back to the 7th initially. Divided into two sections – the white and the red palace, the Potala served as a winter residence, a place for worship and meditation for the different Dalai Lama’s from the 5 the to present day (now in exile in India). The palace holds some very impressive 3 dimensional mandalas created in gold and decorated with precious stones. Afternoon tour of Drepung monastery set in the foothills, 5 km west of Lhasa. Founded in 1419 by Jamyang Choje it was home to about 7,700 monks and the largest monastery of Tibet. Drepung holds many Buddhist relics, sculptures, impressive statues and intricate works of art.
	DAY 11
	Morning transfer from hotel to Gonggar Airport. Complete immigration/departure formalities and board flight aprox. 10am. Flight takes aprox. 1hr10 minutes arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal time 9am. During the flight you pass over the Yarlang Tsangpo River, Lake Yamdrok and can see Mt. Kanchenjunga 8586m, Mt. Makalu 8463m and Mt Everest 8848m, weather permitting. Transfer to Hotel and rest up. Day to self to explore the street markets of Khatmandu.
	DAY 12
	Kathmandu - Bangkok Transfer to airport and fly to Bangkok, Thailand. Transfer to Hotel.
	DAY 13
	Bangkok, Thailand Day to self to: Enjoy the luxury and comfort of this Hotel. Drift by the pool take a spa or read in the foyer, fill out your journal and relax. Gym available if you want to work out. Explore the different restaurants or soak in a hot bath. Or Discover the markets, boutiques, gem stores and shopping centres to shop and shop and shop……………..and shop some more.
	DAY 14
	Bangkok - Melbourne Depart Bangkok for Melbourne. Arrive about midnight. Take a good book.