Deserts and dictators.
Yurts and nomads.
Silk Road cities, staggering yet underrated mountain ranges, Soviet detritus, and one of the world's greatest road trips.
This is Central Asia.
The ‘Stans.
Never well understood, but absolutely worth an attempt to understand.
Magical Landscapes and Silk Road Cities
Central Asia remains a place where adventure isn’t just possible: it’s unavoidable. The fabled Silk Road nations that divide Europe and Asia have been central to world history for millennia, but are seldom visited by tourists. Made up of five former Soviet states — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan — it's best known for being the central artery of the ancient silk route connecting China with Europe.
Central Asia remains a place where adventure isn’t just possible: it’s unavoidable. The fabled Silk Road nations that divide Europe and Asia have been central to world history for millennia, but are seldom visited by tourists. Made up of five former Soviet states — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan — it's best known for being the central artery of the ancient silk route connecting China with Europe.
If you're looking for something off-path in all ways literal and figurative, Central Asia makes a good travel candidate. Filled with incredible mountain landscapes, friendly people and quirky experiences of the Soviet hangover variety, Central Asia is hard to beat when it comes to raw, discover-the-world potential.
This ancient land is drenched in history and culture and with so few tourists daring to venture here, you'll have the sites, people and experiences virtually all to yourself!
Instead of visiting one country at a time, why not consider 'efficient travel' by visiting multiple countries at once? Join us for 21 days as we explore the major historical, scenic, and cultural highlights of Central Asia, taking advantage of excellent weather in March in order to experience places at their best.
Instead of visiting one country at a time, why not consider 'efficient travel' by visiting multiple countries at once? Join us for 21 days as we explore the major historical, scenic, and cultural highlights of Central Asia, taking advantage of excellent weather in March in order to experience places at their best.
HIGHLIGHTS
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布達拉宮 Potala Palace
大昭寺 Jorkhang Temple, 色拉寺 Sera Monastery 羊卓雍措 Lake Yamdrok Tso 卡若拉冰川 Karola glacier 珠穆朗玛峰 或 圣母峰 Mount Everet or Qongmolangma |
扎达土林 Zanda Earth Forest
佩库索湖 Lake Pelkutso 古格王朝 Ruins of the Guge kingdom 神山岗仁波齐 Mount Kailash 扎什伦布寺 Tashilunpo Monastery |
Kazakhstan
The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The complex, comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700m, the highest palace in the world. Also founded in the 7th century, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace, constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The beauty and originality of the architecture of these three sites, their rich ornamentation and harmonious integration in a striking landscape, add to their historic and religious interest. It is one of the World Heritage Site since 1994.
Still, the Potala Palace remains an iconic part of the region and a mecca for Buddhists around the world. The name Potala is a nod to a sacred mountain in India, where the Buddha of compassion is said to dwell. Year-round, thousands of religious pilgrims circle the perimeter of the palace with prayer wheels and beads to ask for blessing. Many have traveled thousands of miles by foot just to pay their respects.
The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The complex, comprising the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700m, the highest palace in the world. Also founded in the 7th century, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is an exceptional Buddhist religious complex. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace, constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The beauty and originality of the architecture of these three sites, their rich ornamentation and harmonious integration in a striking landscape, add to their historic and religious interest. It is one of the World Heritage Site since 1994.
Still, the Potala Palace remains an iconic part of the region and a mecca for Buddhists around the world. The name Potala is a nod to a sacred mountain in India, where the Buddha of compassion is said to dwell. Year-round, thousands of religious pilgrims circle the perimeter of the palace with prayer wheels and beads to ask for blessing. Many have traveled thousands of miles by foot just to pay their respects.
Kyrgyzstan
Not only is the country over 90% mountainous and studded with beautiful landscapes, but the traditional nomadic culture and people are warm and welcoming.
Karakol
Standing at a crossroads geographically, culturally and even culinarily, Karakol in eastern Kyrgyzstan has a multi-ethnic diversity that influences its people, food, markets, and general feel of the town. Only a few years ago, however, Karakol was seen only as a jumping off point for trekking in the nearby Tian Shan Mountains without much to do in the town itself except to visit the Dungan Mosque, Russian Orthodox Church and a cafe or two.
Tajikistan
Unlike their neighbors, Tajiks are of Persian rather than Turkic origin. For this reason, Tajikistan features cultural, physical and culinary differences from the rest of Central Asia.
Unlike their neighbors, Tajiks are of Persian rather than Turkic origin. For this reason, Tajikistan features cultural, physical and culinary differences from the rest of Central Asia.
Turkmenistan
From a red tape and visa perspective, Turkmenistan is the trickiest of all Central Asian countries to navigate. But don’t cross it off your list immediately, for we will take care of the visa application and your perseverance is likely to be rewarded by its rich culture and unique landscape.
Ashgabat
Turkmenistan’s striking capital, Ashgabat, is a world of fountains, marble boulevards and gold statues. Look closer, and you’ll notice many of them depict the same man: the country’s former leader, Saparmurat Niyazov. After gaining independence shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Niyazov (1940-2006) used the income from the country’s rich natural gas reserves to transform Ashgabat into a show city. Walking the streets of the capital, it feels as if you’ve stumbled onto the set of some dystopian movie. There’s little traffic, and fewer pedestrians. You’ll see a handful of locals dressed in vibrant traditional attire.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Standing at the edge of a collapsed, blazing natural gas crater in the Karakum desert is one part hellishly hot, another part downright cool.
From a red tape and visa perspective, Turkmenistan is the trickiest of all Central Asian countries to navigate. But don’t cross it off your list immediately, for we will take care of the visa application and your perseverance is likely to be rewarded by its rich culture and unique landscape.
Ashgabat
Turkmenistan’s striking capital, Ashgabat, is a world of fountains, marble boulevards and gold statues. Look closer, and you’ll notice many of them depict the same man: the country’s former leader, Saparmurat Niyazov. After gaining independence shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Niyazov (1940-2006) used the income from the country’s rich natural gas reserves to transform Ashgabat into a show city. Walking the streets of the capital, it feels as if you’ve stumbled onto the set of some dystopian movie. There’s little traffic, and fewer pedestrians. You’ll see a handful of locals dressed in vibrant traditional attire.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Standing at the edge of a collapsed, blazing natural gas crater in the Karakum desert is one part hellishly hot, another part downright cool.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is the cultural highlight, home to glittering silk road cities like Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva, with their mosaic-laden madrasas, cobalt-domed mosques and souks thronging with traders. Elsewhere, it’s about experiencing untouched landscapes and the people who've lived in them for generations.
Classic Silk Road Cities: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva
Get your fill of Silk Road snapshots and history along Uzbekistan's Silk Road route: Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. Samarkand is most architecture-loaded. While Bukhara is like living history. People still live in many of its old buildings, and merchants still bargain in the same market areas, much as they might have a thousand years ago. If Ashgabat is a movie set, Bukhara is a museum. Uzbekistan’s fifth largest city contains over 140 monuments and historical buildings. UNESCO listed the entire old center as a world heritage site. Boasting 5000 years of human history, Bukhara is the religious and spiritual heart of Uzbekistan, if not the whole of Central Asia. You can spend hours losing yourself among the ancient buildings in the historic center, the most striking of which is surely Po-i-Kalyan, the Grand Mosque, whose name translates to “The Foot of the Great.”
Uzbekistan is the cultural highlight, home to glittering silk road cities like Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva, with their mosaic-laden madrasas, cobalt-domed mosques and souks thronging with traders. Elsewhere, it’s about experiencing untouched landscapes and the people who've lived in them for generations.
Classic Silk Road Cities: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva
Get your fill of Silk Road snapshots and history along Uzbekistan's Silk Road route: Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. Samarkand is most architecture-loaded. While Bukhara is like living history. People still live in many of its old buildings, and merchants still bargain in the same market areas, much as they might have a thousand years ago. If Ashgabat is a movie set, Bukhara is a museum. Uzbekistan’s fifth largest city contains over 140 monuments and historical buildings. UNESCO listed the entire old center as a world heritage site. Boasting 5000 years of human history, Bukhara is the religious and spiritual heart of Uzbekistan, if not the whole of Central Asia. You can spend hours losing yourself among the ancient buildings in the historic center, the most striking of which is surely Po-i-Kalyan, the Grand Mosque, whose name translates to “The Foot of the Great.”
Mount Kailash is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. In ancient texts, it is referred to as the center of the world.
Hindus regard the peak as Shiva's symbolic 'Lingam' and worship Mt Kailash, which is the Sanskrit name for the mountain. Bonpos believe the sacred mountain to be the place where the founder of the Bon religion landed when he descended from the sky. Tibetan Buddhists believe Kang Rinpoche, which means Precious Snow Mountain, is a natural mandala representing the Buddhist cosmology on the earth and the Jains believe this is the place where their religion's founder was spiritually awakened.
Hindus regard the peak as Shiva's symbolic 'Lingam' and worship Mt Kailash, which is the Sanskrit name for the mountain. Bonpos believe the sacred mountain to be the place where the founder of the Bon religion landed when he descended from the sky. Tibetan Buddhists believe Kang Rinpoche, which means Precious Snow Mountain, is a natural mandala representing the Buddhist cosmology on the earth and the Jains believe this is the place where their religion's founder was spiritually awakened.
那一世，我轉山轉水轉佛塔呀，不為修來世，只為途中與你相見。" - 六世達賴喇嘛倉央嘉措詩作
到了西藏, 不去阿里, 有点可惜;
去了阿里, 不去轉山, 留下遺憾;
围绕神山转一圈，可以洗清一世的罪孽,
转十圈，可以免受轮回之苦转百圈，今生可以成佛
and many more!
Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage 西藏阿里转山
（15D14N）16 Jun - 30 Jun 2020
THE ITINERARY
Day 1 - 16/6 Arrive at Chengdu airport, pick up and transfer to hotel. Relax and rest early.
Prepare to fly to Lhasa next morning at 3656M
Meals on our own. Hotel : TBA-Stay Hotel nearby airport
Day 2-17/6 Arrive at Lhsa airport in the morning, pick up and transfer to hotel in Lhasa བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལགས།།
Acclimatization Day
Meal : Nil Hotel : Tangka Hotel
Day 3-18/6 Lhsa -Potala Palace -Jorkhang Temple - Sera Monastery
Visit the arc of Tibet, the world culture heritage - the Potala Palace
See pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple
Enter inside Jokhang Temple, to see the holist statue of Buddha
Walk around Barkhor Street with pilgrims, explore the old market
See the Three sand Mandalas in Sera Monastery.
Meals : Breakfast, Hotel : Tangka Hotel
Day 4-19/6 Lhsa-Gyangtse-Shigate Distance: 360km (6 hours)
Gangbala Pass to view Yamdrok Lake
View Kharola Glacier, Manak Dam Lake, hanging prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass
Far view of Gyangtse Fortress
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Shigatse Gesar Hotel
Day 5 – 20/6 Shigatse-Tingri-Everest Distance: 340km (6 hours)
Tsola Pass (4600M), Gyatsola Pass (5248M)
View the panorama of Himalaya at Kyawula Pass (5180m)
Drive along the New zigzag road to Everest Base Camp
Getting closer to Mt. Everest peak
View sunset of the golden Everest peak if time and weather permit at the lodging area
Meals : Breakfast , Guest House : Rongbuk Monastery
Day 6-21/6 Everest-Saga Distance: 368km (6 hours)
Wake up to the views of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits
View of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt. Shishapangma 8012m
View the beautiful Turquoise Lake Pekutso (4590m)
Meals : Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Saga Mulinsen Hotel
Day 7-22/6 Saga-Zhongpa-Paryang-Darchen Distance : 495KM (8 hours)
The Stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise and Himalaya range
Visit holy Lake Manasarova and Gongzhu Lake
Arrive at the southern foot of Mt. Kailash.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Himalaya Hotel
Day8-23/6 Darchen-Zanda Distance : 270KM (4.5 hours)
Explore unique landscape of "earth forest" in Zanda County of Ngari Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel: Tuling Hotel
Day 9-24/6 Zanda-Guge Kingdom - Darchen Distance : 270KM (4.5 hours)
Explore unique landscape of "earth forest" and well-preserved Guge Kingdom site.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Himalaya Hotel
Day 10- 25/6 1st day of trekking-Darchen-Zherak Puk (Trek 13KM)
Trek Distance: 13km Trek Time: 6hrs
Around 13km trek from darchen-Zherak PukMonastery along the Lachu valley and rivers
See both west and north face of mountain Kailash today.
Meal : Breakfast, Guest House : Monastery Mt Kailash
Day 11-26/6 2nd day of trekking-Zherak Puk-ZutulPuk
Trek Distance: 18km Trek Time: 9hrs
Trek over Dromala pass, the highest pass of the Kora. Meet the locals prostrating in the Kora path.
You can see beautiful Kora Lake when walk downhill.
Meal: Nil, Guest House : Monastery Mt Kailash
Day 12-27/6 3rd day of trekking -Zutulpuk-Darchen-Bayang-Zhongba-Saga-Trek 7KM
Trek Distance: 7km Trek Time : 3hrs Distance : 495KM
Trek 7km to Zongto where we will take a bus to Darchen, then to Saga
Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones
Meals : Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Saga Mulinsen Hotel
Day 13- 28/6 Saga-Shigatse Distance : 428KM (7 hours)
Visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Shigatse Gesar Hotel
Day 14- 29/6 Shigatse-Lhasa Distance : 270KM (4.5 hours)
Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa town after free and easy
Meals : Breakfast Hotel : Tangka Hotel
Day 15- 30/6. End of the tour, hotel to airport and fly to Chengdu . Kale shoo (Goodbye) Tibet
Chengdu fly back to sweet home Singapore
Meals: Breakfast
* The Organisers reserve the right to cancel, postpone or amend the itinerary due to unforseen circumstances such as extreme weather conditions or terrorism or other activities that may affect the safety of the team members.
Prepare to fly to Lhasa next morning at 3656M
Meals on our own. Hotel : TBA-Stay Hotel nearby airport
Day 2-17/6 Arrive at Lhsa airport in the morning, pick up and transfer to hotel in Lhasa བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལགས།།
Acclimatization Day
Meal : Nil Hotel : Tangka Hotel
Day 3-18/6 Lhsa -Potala Palace -Jorkhang Temple - Sera Monastery
Visit the arc of Tibet, the world culture heritage - the Potala Palace
See pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple
Enter inside Jokhang Temple, to see the holist statue of Buddha
Walk around Barkhor Street with pilgrims, explore the old market
See the Three sand Mandalas in Sera Monastery.
Meals : Breakfast, Hotel : Tangka Hotel
Day 4-19/6 Lhsa-Gyangtse-Shigate Distance: 360km (6 hours)
Gangbala Pass to view Yamdrok Lake
View Kharola Glacier, Manak Dam Lake, hanging prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass
Far view of Gyangtse Fortress
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Shigatse Gesar Hotel
Day 5 – 20/6 Shigatse-Tingri-Everest Distance: 340km (6 hours)
Tsola Pass (4600M), Gyatsola Pass (5248M)
View the panorama of Himalaya at Kyawula Pass (5180m)
Drive along the New zigzag road to Everest Base Camp
Getting closer to Mt. Everest peak
View sunset of the golden Everest peak if time and weather permit at the lodging area
Meals : Breakfast , Guest House : Rongbuk Monastery
Day 6-21/6 Everest-Saga Distance: 368km (6 hours)
Wake up to the views of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits
View of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt. Shishapangma 8012m
View the beautiful Turquoise Lake Pekutso (4590m)
Meals : Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Saga Mulinsen Hotel
Day 7-22/6 Saga-Zhongpa-Paryang-Darchen Distance : 495KM (8 hours)
The Stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise and Himalaya range
Visit holy Lake Manasarova and Gongzhu Lake
Arrive at the southern foot of Mt. Kailash.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Himalaya Hotel
Day8-23/6 Darchen-Zanda Distance : 270KM (4.5 hours)
Explore unique landscape of "earth forest" in Zanda County of Ngari Prefecture, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel: Tuling Hotel
Day 9-24/6 Zanda-Guge Kingdom - Darchen Distance : 270KM (4.5 hours)
Explore unique landscape of "earth forest" and well-preserved Guge Kingdom site.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Himalaya Hotel
Day 10- 25/6 1st day of trekking-Darchen-Zherak Puk (Trek 13KM)
Trek Distance: 13km Trek Time: 6hrs
Around 13km trek from darchen-Zherak PukMonastery along the Lachu valley and rivers
See both west and north face of mountain Kailash today.
Meal : Breakfast, Guest House : Monastery Mt Kailash
Day 11-26/6 2nd day of trekking-Zherak Puk-ZutulPuk
Trek Distance: 18km Trek Time: 9hrs
Trek over Dromala pass, the highest pass of the Kora. Meet the locals prostrating in the Kora path.
You can see beautiful Kora Lake when walk downhill.
Meal: Nil, Guest House : Monastery Mt Kailash
Day 12-27/6 3rd day of trekking -Zutulpuk-Darchen-Bayang-Zhongba-Saga-Trek 7KM
Trek Distance: 7km Trek Time : 3hrs Distance : 495KM
Trek 7km to Zongto where we will take a bus to Darchen, then to Saga
Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones
Meals : Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Saga Mulinsen Hotel
Day 13- 28/6 Saga-Shigatse Distance : 428KM (7 hours)
Visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hotel : Shigatse Gesar Hotel
Day 14- 29/6 Shigatse-Lhasa Distance : 270KM (4.5 hours)
Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa town after free and easy
Meals : Breakfast Hotel : Tangka Hotel
Day 15- 30/6. End of the tour, hotel to airport and fly to Chengdu . Kale shoo (Goodbye) Tibet
Chengdu fly back to sweet home Singapore
Meals: Breakfast
* The Organisers reserve the right to cancel, postpone or amend the itinerary due to unforseen circumstances such as extreme weather conditions or terrorism or other activities that may affect the safety of the team members.
LAND COST: $2100 USD
Max Size: 20 excluding host
1) Early Bird (Deposit made by 1 November 2019) $2000 USD
2) Group Signup (2 participants and above): $2000 USD
(Promotions above are non-stackable.)
SGD 500 deposit will be collected to confirm your slot.
Balance to be made latest by February 2020.
What does your package include?
All Tibet travel permits
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Accommodation of shared basis
Transportation with experienced driver
Licence Tibetan Chinese-speaking tour guide
Entrance ticket fees for attractions listed in the itinerary
Porter Service during Kailash trekking
Oxygen for emergency usage (Only for the groups going to Everest or Kailash area
Day 4,6,7,8,9,12.13 meals included (according to itinerary)
What is excluded
China Visa – Singaporean Visa waiver 15Days
Personal expense
Personal Travel insurance (Recommended)
Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver
International and Domestic Flights to and out of Singapore-Chengdu-Lhasa
Meals that not specified in the itinerary (Average meals cost in Tibet is RMB130-150/per day)
Step 1: Deposit of SGD 500 via ATM/Bank transfer to ADVENTURES UNLIMITED, DBS CURRENT A/C - 0039351950.
Step 2: Whatapp proof of payment receipt to 91020550 (IMPORTANT: PLEASE INDICATE "2020 06 16 THE KORA"
Step 3: Receipt for payment will be issued and further instruction will be provided.
Step 4: Pre trip briefing will be arranged and you will be added into a dedicated whatsapp chat for this trip 2 months before the trip.
Step 5: Balance payment to be made latest by FEBRUARY 2020.
Refund Policy
Deposit (non-refundable)
Until 12 weeks prior to departure – 100% Refund of balance paid
10 weeks prior to departure – 50% Refund of balance paid
8 weeks prior to departure – 0% Refund of balance paid
Recommended flight
Details will be given to confirmed participants.
Others:
1. This event is organised by Adventures Unlimited (TA02844), a licensed travel agent registered with the Singapore Tourism Board.
2. Insurance
From 15 July 2015, a travel agent is required to inform and ask attending participants if it is their wish to purchase travel insurance that includes coverage for business insolvency of travel agencies when:
– they are buying a leisure travel product/package; or
– their travel product/package costs at least S$1,000 (including GST) per person; or
– they are paying a deposit or payment of at least S$500 per person.
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THIS EVENT IS BACKED BY ADVENTURES UNLIMITED's TRAINING GUARANTEE. We train you to get ready for this trek, or your money back* * Terms and conditions apply Find out more information about our Training guarantee here. |
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A word about trekking in high altitude places
At Adventures Unlimited, we take our participant's health and safety concerns seriously. Instances of acute mountain sickness (AMS) can affect your heart, lungs, muscles, and sensory system. If one's condition is extreme and he/she has little access to treatment, difficulties can prompt swelling in the cerebrum and lungs, bringing about unconsciousness or even death. Learning to anticipate, minimise and treat AMS when dealt with symptoms is vital in the mountains. At Adventures Unlimited, we bring our medical and monitoring equipments whenever we embark on a trip. We do not soley rely on our foreign partners and operators to supply them. Please click here to read and understand Adventures Unlimited's approach in dealing with acute mountain sickness. |
