Wilderness Travel 2017 Catalog of Adventures

Magical Tibet JOURNEY ACROSS THE ROOF OF THE WORLD

ORIENT FRANGENBERG

HIGHLIGHTS • Explore the remote world of the Tibetan Plateau, with its soaring peaks and cobalt skies • Visit the holy lake of Yamdrok Tso, a pilgrimage site • Encounter Buddhist pilgrims, Tibetan farmers, yak-herding nomads • Walk the kora (sacred circuit) around spectacularly located monasteries • View the icy ramparts of the stupendous North Face of Everest from Rongbuk Monastery • Enjoy a traditional Buddhist festival— Saga Dawa or Shoton—on each departure • Explore Kathmandu’s bustling bazaars and gold-roofed temples DETAILS • 16-day trip begins in Lhasa, Tibet, and ends in Kathmandu, Nepal • 15 nights comfortable hotels and rustic lodges • All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner DATES Jun 7-22, 2017 Saga Dawa Festival Aug 19-Sep 3 Shoton Festival TRIP COST $6295 (12-14 members) $6595 (9-11 members) $6995 (6-8 members) Single supplement: $890 Internal airfare: $330 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rugged road travel with light walking, altitudes between 11,800-16,900 feet

Experience Tibet’s mystique from once-forbidden Lhasa, the holy city, to the snowy ramparts of Everest. PHOTO: HUNG CHUNG CHIH

On our magnificent overland adventure, we carve an arc across the soaring Tibetan Plateau from 8th century Samye, the oldest Buddhist temple in Tibet, to the sheer North Face of Mt. Everest, where the dazzling glaciers of the world’s highest peak seem almost close enough to touch. Along the way, you’ll find Tibet’s immense magic revealed in places like the Barkhor market, where we mingle among pilgrims and swashbuckling Khampa traders, and in remote fortress- monasteries where flickering yak-butter lamps illuminate ancient Buddhist frescoes. At journey’s end, we cross a high pass to descend into Nepal and explore the bazaars of Kathmandu. Days 1-4 Lhasa, Tibet We join pilgrims who gather at the altars of the Jokhang, Tibet’s most sacred temple, and explore the majestic Potala Palace, once the residence of the Dalai Lamas. At sprawling Ganden Monastery (13,700'), we’ll be welcomed in to watch the monks in the great prayer halls and walk the kora (sacred circuit). In Lhasa, we witness a traditional Buddhist festival: Saga Dawa (June departure) or Shoton (August departure).

JON ARNOLD

Days 5-12 Tibetan Plateau / Everest Base Camp From Samye, our journey brings us to Gyantse, with its mandala-shaped stupa, and to turquoise Yamdrok Tso, one of Tibet’s three holy lakes. Shigatse’s gold-topped Tashilhunpo is a vast and active monastery and pilgrimage site. After our explorations at this fascinating place, we head to Rongbuk Monastery (16,500'), below Everest Base Camp, to gaze upon mighty Everest, where the legendary British mountaineers Mallory and Irvine disappeared into the mists of history. Days 13-16 Lalung La / Zhangmu, Tibet / Kathmandu, Nepal Crossing the Lalung La (16,600'), we feast our eyes on massive Shishapangma (26,397') piercing the sky, and then make our descent along the southern flanks of the Himalaya into Nepal. Our final explorations in Kathmandu’s bustling city bring us to some of the city’s treasures including Bodhnath temple and Durbar Square, with its elaborate architecture. Depart on Day 16.

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