April 2015, Two UK Trekkers Did Tsuphu to Yangpachen Trek
Tibet trekking review is presented by Linda and Luke from UK in ealry April, 2015. Here below is the bird view of the trekking and cultural tour itinerary. Follow this link to read further about their Tibet trekking experience.
April9 took afternoon train from Yichang to Chongqing city, train leaves after 5 pm (thus you do have enough time in Yichang for connection)
April 10 Day01- Arrival at Lhasa by flight from Chongqing CA4420, 1:05pm-3:45pm or similar flight if late booking, have a good rest in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Snow Heaven Hotel (Xueyu Tiantang International Hotel) or Tibet Ganggyan Lhasa Hotel
April11 Day02 (B+D) Lhasa
Sightseeing in Lhasa, visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Market.
Accommodation: same as above
April12 Day03 (B+D) Lhasa
Sightseeing in Lhasa, visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. O Accommodation: same as above
April13 Day04 (B+L+D) Lhasa / Tsurphu Monastery
Driving from Lhasa to Tsurphu Monastery, takes about 2 hours, and the altitude will up to 4480m. Today you will be spent acclimatizing further and visiting this Tsurphu Monastery. Overnight at Tsurphu monastery.
April14 Day05 (B+L+D) Tsurphu Monastery / Leten, trekking 4 hours, 11km
A spectacular first day of trekking up a green valley crisscrossed with mountain streams. Be on the look out for various species of mountain goats. Several small nomadic communities camp here for the summer herding months, and you may have a stop into a yak-hair tent for a cup of salt butter tea or some fresh yak milk! Crest the ridge top four hours later, emerging onto a high plateau with a scattering of rock-enclosed huts, and look for a flat area for camping. From day one, the scenery is breathtaking,classic Tibetan beauty.
April15 Day06 (B+L+D) Leten / Bartso, trekking 5-6 hours, 15km
Have your first small pass, the Damchen Nyingtri, bear to the left at the cairns at the crest, and descend into a magical valley of lichen-coated boulders, meandering streams and expansive, powder-blue sky. Three hours later, you will cross the Lasar La and descend into the Yangpachen valley, with its wide open plateaus, spiky grass hummocks and tundra-like parched, cracked patches of earth, and head towards Bartso. The views of Brize (translated as female yak herder) and Tarze (horse keeper) are superb, and you will feel safe in the care of the local mountain god, Nyenchen Tanglha. Camp near Bartso, a drokpa (nomad) village of five or six houses, surrounded by the juniper used for incense all over the Tibetan world.
April16 Day07 (B+L+D) Bartso / Dorje Ling Nunnery, Trekking 4 hours, 15km
Leaving the village of Bartso behind, head towards a wide trail leading across the valley and over another ridge, from where you will be rewarded with views of Nyenchen Tanghlha (7111m), the holiest mountain in central Tibet. Emerge at Tajung village, and then climb gently up rolling hills where young nomadic boys and girls picnic on the plateaus as they watch their yaks and sheep graze. The vistas are, again, just amazing! Mid-day, you should reach the small Djore Ling Ani Gompa (nunnery),near which you will set up camp. It is possible that these nuns, some of the friendliest in Tibet, will drag you into the gompa s tea-house and pass around a heaping plate of yak meat (use the bowie knife provided to hack a piece off) before getting into the requisite photo session.
April17 Day08 (B+L) Dorje Ling Nunnery / Yangpachen Monastery / Yangpachen Hotsprings / Lhasa, trekking 4 hours, 14km
Today walking for three or four hours, following the ox-bow Nyango Chu River snaking its way through the grassy valley, and head for Yangpachen Gompa. This old Kagyupa monastery, with Tibetan mastiffs keeping guard, overlooks part of the Trans-Himalaya range. Landcruiser will wait for at monastery, pick up to have a hot springs at Yangbachen, then drive back to Lhasa. check in Ramche Hotel (which is near Jokhang Temple and Ramche Temple)
April18 Day09 Lhasa airport dropping off, end the trip.
