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Shishapangma [8046 meters] is probably the least known of the world’s fourteen 8000-meter peaks, despite being only 80 km. north east of Kathmandu. The mountain is hidden from Nepal, tucked behind the Langtang Himal and the main Himalayan ridge. The round trip to Shishapangma takes us five days, it is one of Tibet’s best kept trekking secrets, and it is also one of Tibet’s finest high alpine walks. This trek is one of the few treks that do not involve pass crossing, which makes it a bit easier than our other treks in Tibet, but none the less rewarding.
Here on the southeast side of Shishapangma, the monsoon from the Indian subcontinent manages to push over the Jugal Himal, bringing some rain most nights from June until early September. Most days are clear and we will have nourishing lush meadows and an outstanding display of wildflowers high into the mountains.
After finishing the trek we make our way towards Lhasa, in the towns of Shigatse and Gyantse where we explore monasteries and fully immerse ourselves in the Buddhist culture. Before we fly back to Kathmandu we spend a couple of days in Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet and an object of devout pilgrimage, it is still a city of wonders. The medieval push and shove of crowds, the street performers, the stalls hawking everything from prayer flags to jewel-encrusted yak skulls, and the devout tapping their foreheads to the ground at every step is an exotic brew that few newcomers can resist.
Day 1: Drive Kathmandu [1400M]- Nyalam [3780M]
Day 2: Rest day/ acclimatization
Day 3: Trek to Draabochhan [4110M]
Day 4: Trek to Shingdip [4560M]
Day 5: Trek to base camp [4980M]
Day 6: Trek to Draabochhan
Day 7: Trek to Nyalam [3780M]
Day 8: Drive to Lhatse [4050M]
Day 9: Drive to Shigatse [3900M]
Day 10: Drive to Gyantse [3950M]
Day 11: Drive to Lhasa [3660M]
Day 12: In Lhasa
Day 13: In Lhasa
Day 14: Fly Lhasa/Kathmandu
Gongkhar Airport is the main gate way to Lhasa. Chamdo airport and Nyangchu airport also provide air access into Tibet but are not very reliable because of bad weather.
From/to Kathmandu: From July till September Air China has daily flight from/to Kathmandu. During the low season there is only one flight per week (December till February).Contact us at info@holidaynepaltrek.com for flight details and fares.
From/to Chengdu: There are 2 flights from Chengdu daily. This connection offers a better connection into Tibet as Chengdu is connected with many cities such as Seoul, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Other connections are proposed for near future.
By Train
The Qinghai-Tibet (Qingzang) Railway connects rest of the mainland with Lhasa. Operation of this railway started in 2006. The Journey from Beijing to Lhasa is 2 days/48 hours. Besides Beijing there is rail connection between Lhasa and cities like Xining, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu.
By Road
There are 5 road routes common with tourist to enter into Lhasa, Tibet.
Contact us at info@holidaynepaltrek.com for more details about access into Tibet from different routes.
Adventure Mission Nepal always works for the comfort and satisfaction of the valuable clients. We assist you will all our knowledge and resources to make your trip into Tibet a life time journey. There are things you should know and pay attention before you start your trip to Tibet with us.
Travelling within Tibet can be done by trekking on foot or by jeeps that are arranged by AMN. There is a train service which started recently from Lhasa via Golmud to other cities of Tibet. You can also ride bikes into Tibet from Nepal or India with special permits. There are intercity flights between Tibet and China and within Tibet as well but many are seasonal.
Using SUV is the best way to travel because of the road conditions but small cars and vans can be used in good roads depending on the group size. If your group is very large we provide large buses. We suggest you to travel to Tibet and use SUV, 3-4 people on each for better experience.
Chinese Yuan or Renmibi (people’s money) is the money used in Tibet. You can exchange money at the Bank of China or it’s authorized when you are in Tibet. 1 USD is equivalent to approximately 6 RMB. It is better to have local money while travelling to Tibet as credit cards are accepted in very limited places.
Most of the big towns of Tibet such as Lhasa, Gyantse, Tsedang, and Shigatse have different options of accommodation ranging from budget hotels with basic facilities to 4 star luxury hotels. In small town and villages the hotels are basic and sometimes with just a kitchen and a dormitory style rooms with people having to share with other travel companions. Tibet is for adventure not for luxury, if you have this in mind you won’t be surprised to see the remote nature of Tibet.
Guides in Tibet are not very fluent in English but we try to find the best among them. If you are travelling as a big group or want to join a fixed departure trip you can have a tour leader from Nepal who is experienced about Tibet and its heritages and fluent in English or language of your choice (German, Spanish, French).
The one good thing about Chinese coming into Tibet is they brought some good descent restaurant otherwise in Tibet the food choice is limited to barley, meat (mutton or yak) and dairy products, with very few spices or vegetables. The Chinese ethnic group Hui has some restaurant in Tibet which are cleaner because the Hui people are Muslim and strictly follow the Halal food laws. You can figure them out with the Green Muslim flag sign. If you are camping we provide quality food prepared by our camping crew.
It is wise to take consult your guide regarding places where you can take photographs. Places such as airports, bridges and government establishments are areas where you might not be allowed to take pictures. You might get fined or even get your cameras seized if you are caught photographing restricted areas. Most of the temples and monasteries allow photography but some might ask for a fee for using Camera inside the premises. Tibetans are shy in nature so don’t like being photographed but taking permission might help.
Cell phone network coverage is getting wider in Tibet nowadays. Even the nomads can be seen riding motorbikes and carrying cell phones. You can get sim cards in many places around Lhasa and other big cities. Cyber café’s with telephone and internet services are available even in small towns and villages. WI-FI is common in big hotels only; the small ones might charge you for using this service.
All of Tibet is in High altitude zone more than 4000m from sea level. Most of the travelers suffer from mild symptoms. Some mild symptoms include headache, breathlessness, fever, a loss of appetite, unrest, stomach disorder but once you start getting acclimatized the symptoms will go away. Proper acclimatization is very important so you must spend few nights in the towns before going up in the high passes. Use of Diamox and check up by a physician is advised if you have any doubts. Contact our trekking specialist for queries about high altitude sickness at info@holidaynepaltrek.com.
Tibet has tipping culture and drivers and guides are happy to receive tips. You can tip as you wish and for restaurants you can tip 10% of your total bill amount.
AMN tries its best to operate trips smoothly and without any discomfort to our valuable guests but many things is not under our control and most of the things are controlled by the Chinese authority. Weather in Tibet is also not predictable. AMN and its partner agencies will not be responsible in change of travel programs due to Political reasons and weather conditions. AMN and its partner in Tibet will not be for cancellations because of sickness of the guest before arrival, no show or cancellation of Flight. We recommend you to have a comprehensive insurance which cover cancellation, rescue and other unseen incidents.
Tibet is free of caste system and sexual discrimination. Even the womens have the same right and in some cases are dominant than males in the society. Tibetans are friendly and help people in need so there are no special precautions to be taken but it is wise to be safe as personal experiences can be different.
We feel very proud for being able to provide a nice travelling experience of Tibet for senior travelers. The hotels, guides and drivers AMN uses are well aware of the need of senior travelers. By tradition Tibetans show great respect to their elders and with guests they are very careful and respectful. Medical attention and supply of medicine is easily available in places where we operate trips for senior citizens.
Tibet offers limited entertainment for children. Children travelers are always immediately accepted by local kids and their families and in the process make new friends advise to consult with pediatrician before planning a trip to Tibet, to avoid any altitude related sickness for your child.
What our guest are saying
In December 2011, my husband and I did a 3 trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal followed by 3 days at Chitwan National Park with Everest Trail Walker P. Ltd. (Kuman Gurung). We’re in our mid-sixties and began to question our decision when various friends and family members said that it’d be way too cold and difficult at that time of the year. Actually November and December are excellent months to trek in Nepal as it is normally dry and sunny. Kuman is an excellent choice as he did all the planning, gaining of licenses, arranging for lodging and planning of the length of our trekking days. We liked that he not only planned, but accompanied our group of 6, along with two other wonderful assistants (porter and guide). One needs to understand that Nepal is a third world country, and electricity and warm water become an issue all over the country. Our days were very warm---how I wished I’d brought a short sleeved shirt---and the nights are cold. We hadn’t anticipated that we’d spend much of our time climbing up or down----but Nepal translates to the Himalayas so that’s what you do. (much is rock steps which can be difficult for some) The vistas make stopping often to rest a treasure,----it is beautiful---so beautiful. You are remote and everything is packed into the area---your meals come mainly from the gardens and are delicious! Kuman is willing to tailor the trip’s destination and length to your ability and time frame. He provides one with a most memorable experience, and you come away with a true appreciation of the country and people. He also arranged our stays in Katmandu and 3 days in the Chitwan National Park. You begin and end your trek in Pokhara and we recommend the Temple Tree Resort and the Moon Dance restaurant as a great way to end your trek. Thank you Kuman for making our adventure in Nepal so perfect!Namaste to Kuman and Lokenra,
I write as the expedition leader of a team of 6 (3 Canadians and 3 Americans) who recently traveled for 1 month in Nepal and Bhutan using the guiding and coordinating services of Everest Trail Walker P. Ltd., in particular Kuman and Lokendra. This was the second expedition which these gentlemen looked after us, the first being in 2010, another month long expedition which featured trekking through the Everest region, a jungle adventure in Chitwan and an extended whitewater rafting trip on the reverred Sun Kosiriver. Our October- November2013 trip featured trekking the Annapurna region, trekking for a week in Bhutan and whitewater rafting 2 rivers - the Kali Gandaki and the BhotoKosi rivers.
Needless to say, the care and expert attention provided by Kuman and Lokendra was exceptional. Every aspect of our trip was handled flawlessly and with good humor and insight of the Nepalese culture and traditions. Over the last 15 years, I have lead many trekking and rafting expeditions around the world and without any qualification I give the highest marks to both Kuman and Lokendra. Not only did we get full value for our money, but it was done with genuine TLC by both these wonderful gentlemen. Even when things went off track ( which in the 3rd world - in truly remote environments - can happen in technicolor - in this case a National Strike of workers) alternate arrangements were undertaken with ease and care - maintaining our schedule and achieving our expedition objectives.
I obviously think highly of Kuman and Lokendra and strongly recommend Happy Holidays as 'the go to' trekking/expedition/rafting company in Nepal.
In this regard, if you require further amplification of my comments I would be pleased to endorse this recommendation via email or telephone. Clearly, if Nepal offers a Tourism Award for best guides/guiding companies, Happy Holidays would be a first prize winner!Dear Kuman,
Happy New Year and Namaste. It has been more than a month since the Team Tim returned home from the experience of a lifetime—organized by you and your company. It was such an amazing trip with so many different aspects to it. We started our adventure in Nepal where you and I first met, then quickly off to Bhutan, and eventually back to Nepal and home. The trip you organized for us contained so many different elements--- hiking, rafting and learning about the cultural aspects of the two countries. It was an organizational nightmare, but everything ran so smoothly under your direction. Tim, Viv and I commented about how smooth the transition was between each activity and country. It really was one of our best adventures.
I was so impressed with the way in which the guides took such very good care of us. They were all so happy to teach us about Buddhism, their country and their politics. I thought it very special how you joined us on the trekking part of the trip. You also went that extra mile when we rafted in Nepal. You followed our route and met us at each stop along the way to feed us, take pictures, carry our “stuff”, or whatever else our team of 6 needed. We all became family ----Lakendra, you, and the 3 Canadian and 3 American travellers.
I know that you and Tim had thousands of emails between you as you planned this extensive trip. Tim you knew from his last trip. He was thrilled that you had opened your own office and that he was able to have you and Lakenda organize and guide the trip respectively.
I would be privileged to serve as a reference for you if a potential client requests it. You receive a five start rating from me.
Thanks again,