Shishapangma day by day trekking itinerary
Day 01 Drive Kathmandu - Nyalam [3780m]
We leave Kathmandu early in the morning, driving for 123km through the beautiful Nepalese countryside to Kodari on the Nepal - Tibet border. After completing the border formalities at both the Nepalese and Chinese immigration posts we drive up a series of incredibly steep switchbacks, which passes through a mossy gully with cascading waterfalls to Nyalam on the Tibetan side of the border.
Day 02 Rest Day/Acclimatisation
We spend a day resting in Nyalam today in order to acclimatize before heading up higher. A short way out of town there is a small temple, Nyalam Pelgye Ling, which is associated with eleventh- and twelfth-century poet-lama Milarepa.
Day 03 Trek To Draabochhan [4110m]
On this our first day of trekking, we head out of Nyalam and up along the Tshongde Phu river valley. After a couple of hours we have the choice to head directly up to Draabochhan or make a detour to the lake Tara Tsho. The pilgrimage route up to Tara Tsho is a long climb of two - three hours on a steep trail. The lake is quite large, though it remains hidden until you are fairly close. The shoreline is speckled with hundreds of small stone offering piles and larger Cairns with prayer flags. Tara Tsho has neither inlet nor outlet, it is said to be 40 meters deep. According to local legends, the lake manifested from a piece of ice brought here by a lama returning from Mount Kailash. We spend the night camping at the herders' camp at Draabochhan.
Day 04 Trek To Shingdip [4560m]
Today we start out by climbing to the top of a ridge; the climb is about one hour. From the summit we walk parallel to the ridge, along some nice hills thick with dwarf rhododendrons. We end up in Shingdip a beautiful meadow camp with a large boulder near the junction of converging moraine valleys. The south base camp is only two hours away, but it is nearly 450 meters higher in elevation, so we stop here for the night.
Day 05 Trek To Base Camp [4980m]
From Shingdip, we take a cross-country route west towards the Base camp. Again today climb to a ridge and follow it for some time, with Jugal Himal towering across the valley to the south of us. We reach the base camp by a little glacial lake after two hours of walking. Shishapangma is out of view from the base camp, but we have plenty of time to head further up towards advanced base camp and explore around base camp, there is good views of Shishapangma on a boulder-plateau one hour above base camp.
Day 06 Trek To Draabochhan [4110m]
We walk all the way down to Draabochhan today; all the way we will have outstanding views of Jugal Himal. We will walk through the beautiful alpine meadows and the dwarf rhododendrons on the hills. After a long descent we once again use the herders' camp in Draabochhan.
Day 07 Trek To Nyalam [3780m]
We again reach lower and more fertile ground in the Tshongde Phu river valley, and soon we once again find ourselves in Nyalam.
Day 08 Drive To Old Tingri, o/n in Tingri Leopard Guesthouse
Today's drive takes us from the lush, green lower hills into the dry, arid landscape of the Tibetan Plateau. We cross several high passes including the Lalung La [5050m] from which, [weather permitting], there is a breathtaking panorama of the Himalayan range including Mt Everest - a fitting backdrop to the vastness of the Tibetan Plateau. We stay overnight in the town of Old Tingri.
Day 09 Drive Old Tingri to Rongphu-Everest B.C-Lhatse
We drive along the tough road between Old Tingri and Rongphu, 70km about 80mins, get to Rongphu Monastery from which we take horse carriages to Everest Base Camp, take sun rise and sun set pictures, then in the afternoon, we drive in the northeast direction to Shegar, continuing along the Friendship Highway, we pass by lonely monasteries and the camps of nomadic herders and finally gets to Lhatse, on in Lhatse Shanghai Hotel (private room with shower, bath)
Day 10 Drive Lhatse to Shigatse [3900m], visit Tashilhunpo Monastery and Local free market
This morning we will drive 150km to get to Shigatse city around 10:30 am, and we will have time to visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet.In the afternoon, we will take walking tour for the Shigatse Local free market, and some free time on your own arrangements. o/n in Hotel
Day 11 Drive Shigatse Gyantse-Lake Yamdrok Tso-Lhasa
After early breakfasts, we will leave Shigatse for Gyantse where we will visit the famous Pelkhor Monastery and Kumbum Pagoda. after lunch in this small town of Gyantse, the spectacular day's drive today will take us over the Karo La [5045m] where we are treated to the awesome sight of a huge glacier tumbling down to within a few hundred meters of the road. Beyond the small, developing town of Nagartse, the road follows the bank of a beautiful turquoise lake, the Yamdrok-tso, for about 20 Km. We then cross the Khamba La [4794m.] and continue on to Lhasa, where we check in Hotel.
Day 12 In Lhasa: Potala, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar
Today what we will visit in Lhasa is the vital Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple with her vicinities. Potala palace is Lhasa's most important landmark and she a wonder of Eastern architecture. Your first site of this massive structure will be a magical moment which will be remembered for your rest life time. It has been a palace since the fifth or sixth century and was once the home to the Dalai Lama. Well another visit we will take is to Jokhang Temple which locoates at Barkhor Bazaar. This temple is the most revered shrine in Tibet and is constantly bustling with devout worshippers. We will also be given the opportunity to shop in Barkor Bazaar, the crowded central market in ancient section of Lhasa where is the residence of many local people.
Day 13 Guided sightseeing tour in Lhasa
After breakfasts in hotel, we will drive to west Lhasa city section (about 11km) and give a visit to the Drepung Monastery, which was once the world's largest monastery. Housing 10,000 monks, Drepung monastery lies hidden in rocky ridges just beyond the city. Surprisingly much of the building was left untouched throughout so many hundred of years.
In the afternoon, the site we will visit is Sera Monastery, a fifteenth century sprawl of golden roofs and whitewashed walls. This well preserved monastery is located just a few miles North of Lhasa and is home to several hundred monks. Its famous debating activities are happening 3-4pm quite regularly every working day, we will not give it a miss.
Day14 Leave Tibet for next destination
Your personal driver and the guide will see you off to airport or train station, your Tibet tour with us ends. And hopefully it will leave you unforgettable memory in your whole life.
