Writer: Chin Mei Yap

Actually Tibet is a place suitable for travel, it’s even safer compare to Malaysia. However, it’s not recommended to travel free and easy, it’s better to go with a tour guide. The scenery looks like a drawing, it’s so refreshing.

It should be noted that Tibet is a plateau area and the altitude is high which will cause the air to be thinner compare to other places. I felt very hard to breath on the first day we arrived, headache and also because I have anemia. Thus, every step I take, I feel like asthma and my heartbeat increase very fast so I must walk slowly and talk slowly from the moment I step in the plateau land. After a few days, I kinda adapt to the air here.

The temperature here is quite contrast, and it is cold in the morning and evening. After 12 o'clock in the afternoon, the ultraviolet light is even stronger! So be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses, and do enough sun protection. There are more sand and dust here, so remember to wear a mask.

[Things to take note]

✅Mask

✅Sun protection (Hat, sunglasses, sunblock)

✅Anti-highland medicine “Diamox”/Rhodiola

*Full itinerary is at the bottom*

[Full itinerary]

Day 1

Chengdu > Lhasa (3650 meters above sea level)

Take flight to Lhasa from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (took around 2 hours)

Go to the city from Gonggar Airport in Lhasa which is around 100 kilometers (1.5 hour by car)

Day 2

Lhasa: Potala Palace > Jokhang Temple > Barkhor Street

Visit the world’s highest ancient palace-style complex [The Potala Palace], The residence of the Dalai Lama and the center of Tibetan political and religious power. You need to climb 1080 steps before boarding the Potala Palace.

Day 3

Lhasa: Sera > Drepung Monastery

You can choose to get up early to have a walk along the [Lhasa River]. After breakfast, visit the Drepung Monastery which is one of the six temples of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Every year, at the end of June and early July, there will be a grand ceremony of some Buddhist festival in the Tibetan calendar. It is also a famous Snowdon Festival. In the afternoon, visit one of the six main temples of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery are collectively known as the three major temples of Lhasa.

Day 4

Lhasa: Yamdrok Lake > Khari La Glacie > Gyantse (Palkor & Zongshan Ruins) > Shigatse

(Around 380 km/around 8 hours)

Go to the world’s tallest freshwater lake [Yamdrok Lake]. All the way to the anti-British hero town [Gyantse], this is an ancient city with more than 600 years of history. See [Zongshan Anti-British Site] from far and visit the one and only three major sects in Tibet which also known as the 100, 000 pagodas [Palkor] with exquisite murals and carvings. Then drive to Tibet’s second largest city, Shigatse and visit the Panchen Master’s soul. The Tashilhunpo Monastery which is one of the six major temples of the Yellow Church. It is also the residence of the Panchen Lama of the past. It used to be the center of political power after the Tibetans. The temple is dedicated to the 28-meter high statue of the largest bronze Buddha in the world [Zhongba Buddha] (ie Maitreya Buddha)

Day 5

Shigatse > Tingri > Rongbuk > Everest Base Camp Tibet

(Around 380 km/around 9 hours)

In the morning, drive to the base camp of Mount Everest, and take the route of [Lahu] and [Tingri]. When you reach [Xie Geer], you can see the majestic appearance of Mount Everest and then reach the highest temple in the world [Fubu Temple], which is the best angle to look at Mount Everest. Going to [Everest Base Camp] and gazing at an altitude of 8,848 meters, it is the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. In the evening, I live in the tent area of Everest Base Camp. When the night ridges cover the land, try to walk out of the tent to look at the bright moonlight and the shining stars.

Day 6

Everest Base Camp Tibet > Shigatse

(Around 380 km/around 9 hours)

Regardless of whether you slept or slept well last night, you should get up early and meet the dawn of Everest! When the peaks are still asleep in the dawn, Everest has been wearing a charming morning glow. In addition, there are also Rabjikang Peak (altitude 7367), Zhuoyou Youfeng (altitude 8201) and Lhotse (altitude 8516). With the nostalgia for Everest, I returned to Shigatse.

Day 7

Shigatse (Tashilumpo Monastery Shigatse&Namtso)

(around 550km/around 8 hours)

After breakfast, follow the Yarlung Zangbo River and head toward Tianhu [Namucuo]. After crossing the Naranga Mountain at an altitude of 5,190 meters above sea level, it will reach the Namtso Lake at 4,718 meters above sea level. The vast lakeside is set in a crystal clear pearl on the grasslands of the Wanli.

[Writer]

Chin Mei Yap