An overland tour to Lhasa

Four days of travel from Kathmandu to Lhasa – traveling across over one thousand km of desert, snowy mountains, small cities, monasteries, barley fields, beautiful turquoise man-made lake. And never under 3,000 meters above sea level.

First day we travel for about 300 km from about 1335 meters above sea level (Kathmandu) to a place called Tingri (5050 meters above sea level). Damned cold. Tips: stay near the stove, wear heaps of layered clothes and don’t stay out too long or at all for that matter. But you should see the night sky there (never seen so many gorgeous stars so close in my life!) and the morning view of the snowy mountains around you.

Then we moved from one town to another traveling on a loooong stretch of good and not so good (read: heavily bumpy) road. Of course, the car broke down a couple of times but who’s counting (I did, actually). Imagine being on the road for about seven-eight hours per day for four days? Yes, good companion who can talk and laugh on just about anything is crucial. And the ability to sleep wherever you can (bad for insomniacs like me).

We were very lucky to arrive at the Toshishunpo monastery in Shigatse just in time to see the monk dances. They only perform three days in a year and we arrived there on the third day. The show lasted four hours and we did not move until the end. Amazing vibe and colors. Not to mention those heavy earrings worn by the Tibetan elderly.

Tips: careful on catching the altitude sickness, warm thick clothes, sleeping bag, water, snacks, walkman (or ipod ☺), and lower your expectation on toilets ☹ Oh and better read more on Tibet and Buddhism before you arrived there.