World’s Third Pole: Tibet Panorama

Route:

Lhasa – Shigatse – Rongbuk Monastery – Gyirong County – Saga County – Burang County – Zanda County – Shiquanhe (Sênggê Zangbo) – Gêrzê County – Coqên County – Wenbunan Village – Nyima County – Baingoin County – Namtso(Lake Nam) – Lhasa

Summary:

Tibet, as the roof of the world, is full of mysterious and novel scenery, especially in Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, where there are beautiful sheep Yamdrok Lake, mighty Himalayas which can be seen in the Rongbuk Monastery and the classic Everest sunset. Of course, the ruins of Guge Kingdom is also essential.

Highlights:

1. Yamdrok Lake, Karuola Glacier and Gyangze Ancient Castle
2. Jipu Grand Canyon, Rongbuk valley, Gosainthān(Xixabangma Peak)
3. Hor, Manasarovar Wetland, Mount Gurla Mandhata(Naimona’nyi), Ghost Lake, folk-custom and rurality of Burang County
4. Zhada Soil Forest, the ruins of Guge Kingdom, temple mural paintings and charnel cave
5. Trari Namtso, Tangra Yumco, Wenbunan Village, scenery of Northern Tibet

Itinerary

Day 1: Lhasa (altitude about 3600m )

Lhasa arrival, transfer to hotel.
Overnight: Lhasa

Day 2: Lhasa – (270km) – Shigatse (altitude about 3800m)

Activities: Get up early to go to Shigatse.
Photography: Yamdrok Lake, Karuola Glacier and Gyangze Ancient Castle.
Overnight: Shigatse

Day 3: Shigatse – (360km) – Rongbuk Monastery(altitude about 5100m)

Activities: Departure from Shigatse, drive to Rongbuk Monastery.
Photography: the Himalayas, sunset of Mount Everest.
Overnight: Rongbuk Monastery

Day 4: Rongbuk Monastery – (260km) – Gyirong County (altitude about 4200m )

Activities: Get up early in Rongbuk Monastery to shoot Everest Sunrise, and then go to the Everest camp, Rongbuk Glacier and Gyironggou.
Photography: sunrise of Mount Everest.
Overnight: Gyirong County.

Day 5: Gyirong County – (102km) – Saga County (altitude about 4500m )

Arrangement: Everest sunrise, Rongbuk valley, Lake Paiku, Gosainthān(Xixabangma Peak).
Photography: villages around border, Jipu Grand Canyon, scenery of Rongbuk valley, and Gosainthān(Xixabangma Peak).
Overnight: Saga County

Day 6: Saga County – (555km) – Burang County (altitude about 3700m )

Activities: Get up early to Zhongba to shoot, and then drive to Burang County.
Photography: sunrise of the wilderness, Hor, Manasarovar Wetland, Mount Gurla Mandhata(Naimona’nyi), Ghost Lake, folk-custom and rurality of Burang County.
Overnight: Burang County

Day 7: Burang County (166km) – Zanda County ( altitude about 3800m )

Activities: Zanda County has a famous the ruins of Guge Kingdom, which is major historical and cultural site protected at the national level. With closing to Zanda County, there are numerous earthy mountains, winding tens of miles, which forms a unique geomorphic structure.
Photography: the ruins of Guge Kingdom.
Overnight: Zanda County

Day 8: Zanda County – (200km) – Shiquanhe (Sênggê Zangbo) (altitude about 4350m )

Activities: Get up early to drive to the Shiquanhe (Sênggê Zangbo).
Photography: Zada soil forest, ancient grid dynasty ruins, visit the temple murals, possession of corpses.
Overnight: Gar County

Day 9: Shiquanhe (Sênggê Zangbo) – (480km) – Gêrzê County (altitude about 4460m )

Arrangement: After breakfast, departure from Shiquanhe (Sênggê Zangbo) to Gê’gyai County, and then arrive at Yanhu Township by Xiongba Township. In the afternoon arrive at Gêrzê County. Photography: shoot along the way.
Overnight: Gêrzê County

Day 10: Gêrzê County – (250km) – Coqên County (altitude about 4700m )

Activities: Departure from Gêrzê County and drive to Dawa Lake where you can see wild animals in the roadside, and then drive from Dongco to Coqên County in the afternoon.
Photography: Dawa Lake, wild animals, the scenery along the way.
Overnight: Coqên County

Day 11: Coqên County – (300km) – Wenbunan Village (altitude about 4600m )

Activities: After breakfast, deparetire from Coqên County to Trari Namtso (altitude 4600 meters ). Trari Namtso is the third largest lake in Tibet, and Coqên in the Tibetan meaning is “Great Lakes”, so it is named Trari Namtso. Next, drive to Tangra Yumco, and then arrive at Wenbunan Village.
Photography: Trari Namtso, Tangra Yumco, Wenbunan Village, scenery of Northern Tibet
Overnight: Wenbunan Village

Day 12: Wenbunan Village – (180km) – Nyima County (altitude about 4500m )

Activities: Get up early to shoot colorful clouds and beautiful scenery of Ali(Ngari). Departure From Wenbunan Village, arrive at Tangqung Co (Dangqiong Cuo), which opposites in Wenbubei Village in the lakeside. It is as peace and quiet as Wenbunan Village. After staying a moment in Wenbubei Village, drive two hours to Nyima County, which is the youngest county in Tibet.
Photography: sunrise of Wenbunan Village, Tangqung Co (Dangqiong Cuo), Wenbubei Village.
Overnight: Nyima County

Day 13: Nyima County – (360km) – Baingoin County (altitude about 4700m )

Activities: After breakfast, drive to Siling Lake and Baingoin Lake to shoot. After lunch, go to Baingoin County.
Photography: Siling Lake and Baingoin Lake.
Overnight: Baingoin County

Day 14: Baingoin County – (170km) – Namtso(Lake Nam) (altitude about 4700m )

Activities: After breakfast, departure from Baingoin County, drive to the world’s highest and largest holy lake— Namtso(Lake Nam). With entering into the Tibetan pastoral areas, shoot cattle and sheep to peacefully graze in the roadside. Before sunset, drive to Namtso(Lake Nam) to shoot.
Photography: lake, cattle and sheep, sunset, grassland.
Overnight: Namtso(Lake Nam)

Day 15: Namtso(Lake Nam) – (210km) – Lhasa

Arrangement: Get up early to shoot the sunrise, and then go down the hill to have breakfast. Next, drive to Damxung county, pass through the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, cross the Nyainqentanglula over 5200 meters, and then arrive at Lhasa with the end of this happy photography trip.