The Town of Nagchu ( Nagqu)by the Qinghai-Tibetan Highway is a political, business, cultural center of northern Tibet accessible by a network of roads. The annual Horse-race Festival held at the town is a window of highland culture and folklore activities. Nagchu Horse Race Festival is the most important folk festival in Tibet. People who gather for the annual horse race festival in Nagchu town construct a tent city. Dressing themselves and their finest horse, thousands of herdsmen participate in the thrilling horse race, archery and horsemanship contest.Other folk activities and commodity fairs are also held. In 2006, the festival falls on 10-16 th Aug. The monastery of Nagchu has the finest location at the foot of two wedge-shaped hills with views across the turquoise waters to the huge snowy Nyenchen Taglha Mountains

• Day 01/Aug 05 : Chengdu - Tsedang ( 3,500m/11,667ft )
  Flight to Gonkar airport of Lhasa .Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by the Tibetan guide and drive to Tsetang (87km/58miles, 2 hrs)- the capital of the Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Check in hotel and take rest for the acclimatization. Accommodation in Tsedang Hotel of the top end in Tsedang***.
  
  Day 02/ Aug 06: Tsetang-Lhasa (Alt. 3,658m/12,193ft, 183km/122miles, 4 hrs) (B/D)
  AM visit Yumbulakhang Palace & Trandduk temple, PM drive to Lhasa ; visit Samye Monastery en route. Check in hotel and take rest for the day.
  Accommodation in Dhud Gu or Kyichu or Gorkha Hotel (middle range)
  
  Day 03/Aug 07: At Lhasa (B)
  Lhasa is the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region and the center of Tibet's political, economic, cultural and religious activities. There are many historic sites and famous relics in the city proper and its suburbs, among which the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Gandan Monastery are world famous. Today, in the morning you will visit the Potala Palace and in the afternoon, Sera Monastery and Norbulingkha Palace. Accommodation in Dhud Gu or Kyichu or Gorkha Hotel (middle range)
  
  Day 04/Aug 08: At Lhasa (B)
  AM visit Drepung Monastery, PM visit Jorkhang Temple & Barkhor street.
  Accommodation in Dhud Gu or Kyichu or Gorkha Hotel (middle range)
  
  Day 05/Aug 09: Lhasa - Nag Chu. (4500m/14985ft, 338km/225miles). (B)
  Drive to Nagchu-located on the famous North Tibetan plateau. The northern highland in Tibet is a vast region flanked by the great Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges on the one side and the Gangdise Nyenchen Tanglha mountain ranges on the other. Accommodation: Best available guesthouse or lodge
  
  Day 06/Aug 10: Horse Racing Festival (B)
  Today, you will attend the Horse Racing Festival. The festival, held in August, the best time of the year, is attended by tens of thousands of herders coming on horseback from as far as hundreds of kilometers away.. Accommodation in best available guesthouse.
  
  Day 07/Aug 11: Nag Chu-Tashi Dor (B)
  In the morning, attend the festival and proceed to Tashi Dor, situated in the south-eastern corner of the Namtso –the holy lake of Tibet. Namtso Lake with a surface area elevation of 15,475 ft is revered as a holy or celestial lake. It is both the highest and biggest salt water lake in the world.. Accommodation in the best available guesthouse.
  
  Day 08/Aug 12: Tashi Dor-Lhasa (B)
  Take some walks or excursions of the lake and return to Lhasa via Tsurpu Monastery which lies 44 miles before Lhasa. Tsurpu Monastery is the seat of Karmapa branch of Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism.
  Accommodation in Dhud Gu or Kyichu or Gorkha Hotel (middle range)
  
  Day 09/Aug 13: Lhasa-Gyantse (13467ft, 160miles, 6 ? hrs) ( B)
  Drive to Gyantse which is a beautiful Tibetan town on Lhasa-Kathmandu Highway. You have a scenic drive along the bank of Yamdrok Tso Lake and enjoy spectacular views of the mountains and Tibetan plateau. Accommodation in Gyantse Hotel.
  
  Day 10/Aug 14: Gyantse-Shigatse (12,785ft, 57miles, 2 ? hrs) (B)
  After breakfast, you will visit the Pelkor Chode & Kumbum Monastery of Gyantse and drive to Shigatse. En route, visit Shalu Monastery. At Shigatse, visit Tashilumbo Monastery. Accommodation
  

  Day 11/Aug 15: Shigatse to Xegar (13,285 ft, 140 miles, 6hrs)
  Drive to Xegar via Lhatse that involves of crossing two high passes, Yulung La (16,236 ft) and Gyatso La (17,226ft). Take Sakya Monastery detour, from 10 km before Lhatse. At Xegar, time permitting, take Shegar Dzong Hike. Overnight Qomolongma Hotel **
  
  Day 12/Aug 16: Xegar-Rongbuk Monastery. (16,600ft, 42miles, 3 hrs) (B/L/D)
  After breakfast, drive to Rongbuk Monastery via Pang La ( 16,800) that offers the spectacular views of the Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung Kang and Cho Oyu. Upon arrival, check in the monastery accommodation and take the excursion to Everest Base Camp. Accommodation in guesthouse.
  
  Day 13/Aug 17: Rongbuk-Nyalam. (12,332ft, 226miles, 7hrs). (B)
  Return to the highway and continue westwards to Nyalam via Old Tingri, a purely roadside Tibetan town with inns and guesthouses. The drive is a long and exhaustive but compensates you with the finest views of the Himalayas and Tibetan mountains and crosses two high passes, Lalung La ( 16,800 ft) and Thong La (16, 793 ft) before you reach Nyalam, the last Tibetan town that lies some 20 miles ahead of Nepal border. Check in guesthouse and take rest for the day. Accommodation in best available guesthouse.
  
  Day 14/Aug 18: Nyalam-Dhulikhel (4662ft, 90 miles, 6hrs) (B)
  From Nyalam onwards, the road drops off from the Tibetan plateau to the mossy gorge of cascading waterfalls. Its about one and half hour drive to Zhangmu, where you go through the immigration and custom formalities. At the Friendship Bridge, switch to Nepali transport and drive to Dhulikhel, a beautiful hill resort town 28 km before Kathmandu. Accommodation in Dhulikhel Lodge Resort.
  
  Day 15/Aug 19: Dhulikhel-Bhaktapur--Kathmandu (28km/19miles, 45 minutes). (B)
  Dhulikhel has a remarkable sunrise view in the morning that you will not like to miss, unless you are exhausted after a long overland journey. After breakfast, drive towards Kathmandu , via sightseeing of Bhaktapur -the best preserved medieval Malla Principality. Accommodation in Soaltee Crowne Plaza or Radisson*****
  
  Day 16/Aug 20: Kathmandu (B)
  Sightseeing of Patan-the city of arts and crafts, a traditional Bungamati village of Newars which has remained untouched by the modernization of Kathmandu despite being so close from, Swayambhunath-the 2000 years old stupa which is associated with the story of evolution of Kathmadnu Valleyand Kathmandu Durbar Square which comprise the old Royal Palace complex, Kumari Temple of the Living Goddess of Nepal and numerous other ancient and medieval temples, each adorned with the finest wood and stone works. Accommodation in Soaltee Crowne Plaza or Radisson*****
  
  Day 17/Aug 21: Kathmandu (B)
  Transfer to airport for your international flight back home.

USD______ /person (1-3pas)
USD______ /person (4-8 Pax)
USD ______/person (9-12 or more)
Single Supp: USD _____

Please Note: Trans Tibet Tours reserves the right to substitute any of the mentioned hotels in the itinerary with properties of the same or similar class should the circumstances require us to do so.

What's Included in Tour Prices:
Four star international standard hotel accommodations, double occupancy in Beijing, Xining and Lanzhou. Best hotels in Repkong and Labrang.
Ground transportation (arrival, departure airport transfer and during tours)
Transfers and luggage (1 piece of 45 pounds per person) handling
All sightseeing and activities listed in the itinerary
All meals specified in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking tour guide
Private and clean vehicle with air-conditioning

What's Not Included in Tour Prices:
International airfare
Gratuities to guides and drivers
Items not listed and/or specified as included in the itinerary