Registration

Tibet Hiking and Three Gorges Tour

"This trip may only last for 15 days,

but the experience of Tibetan culture and the

memories of beautiful mountain scenery

will last for a lifetime."

You should read this before Registration
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From Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery, this 80 Km trek was originally a route of pilgrimage for the Tibetans. Crossing two passes over 5,000m, and few rivers, trekking through deep valleys, forests and desert, it is certainly a interesting trek which presents an unforgettable overall scenery of the Tibetan plateau.

DAY-BY-DAY Itinerary for the Hiking Portion of the Trip :

Day 1: Drive to Ganden Monastery; Trek to Camp 1 (12km 4 hours)

We shall depart Lhasa around 8 a.m. after breakfast. Two hours drive takes us to the Ganden Monastery. Being the first Gelupa (yellow hat) monastery, Ganden Monastery was established in 1409 by Tsongkhapa who founded the Gelupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Many pilgrims do the kora around this holy place. We shall depart Ganden Monastery around 11:00 a.m. and will drive to the ancient village of Trubshi around 12:00 p.m. After lunch we shall start trekking and we shall arrive at Camp 1 at the foot of Shug La pass (5250m).

Day 2: Trek from Camp 1 to Camp 2 (17km 6-7 hours)

Today's trek is the most strenuous as we hike over the Shug La Pass ( 5250 m) and there is no place t set up camp on the pass. We start by hiking up grassland then ascend the rocky hills of the pass. This is where the thin air may affect your breathing and hikers need to travel at their own pace. As the altitude increases, you will find the hiking difficult because it becomes hard to breathe. The view from the top of the pass is spectacular. You then descent through a treacherous boulder path and can see a lake in the distance. Camp 2 is set up below the lake along a mountain stream. This is your longest day of hiking and definitely the most challenging as well as rewarding when you complete it.

Day 3: Trek from Camp 2 to Camp 3 (13km 6 hours)

Today we follow the stream down through its tributary and head towards the Chitu La pass (5,100 meters). After ascending this rocky pass we quickly descend and find a beautiful place to camp beside the campsite of native nomads.

Day 4: Trek from Camp 3 to Camp 4 (13 km 6 hours)

The trail gets wider and easier as we follow it through scrub forests in the main valley. Beautiful streams and lush forests surround us as we walk. Although the desert is close by, there are more than 15 types of scrub trees, blooming rhododendrons, and vast meadows along the way. After passing through this wondrous landscape we trek pass some small primitive villages. The night will be spent at the Camp 4.

Day 5: Trek from Camp 4 to Yamalung Hermitage (10 km 5 hours)

Here we shall make the four-hour hike to the Yamalung Hermitage. Yamalung is an ancient and holy Buddhist meditation site. Later, we take tractors via Samye valley along the babbling tributary stream to SamYe Monastery.

Important Notice

1. You must sign a waiver form before the trip. Unless you are very fit, you should have high altitude experience before going on this trip. During this hike most people will experience some form of high altitude sickness. This is not something that has a low possibility of happening. It is your own responsibility to bring your own emergency kit with medications for high altitude sickness and oxygen bottles for this trip.

2. Anyone over the age of 40 must have a written medical report from your family physician ( who may want to send you for evaluation with a cardiologist clearing you for this hike) clearing you for a strenuous hike at high altitude.

3. Anyone with a respiratory infection, be it sinus or lung, within 3 weeks of the trip will not be allowed to go on the hike. You must have cancellation insurance to cover this possibility. If you acquire an upper or lower respiratory infection while in Lhasa, the tour operator has the right to prohibit you from hiking. You can choose to remain in Lhasa or fly home at your own expense.

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Information About Your Train Soft-Sleeper Compartment
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About Tour Operator Tony
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Holiday in Lhasa

Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo and Princess WenCheng
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China Hiking Adventures Inc., hereafter referred to as the company, acts as agents for transport companies, hotels and other contractors and shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may be occasioned for any reason, including, but not limited to, any defect in a vehicle, the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying a passenger, acts of God, detention; delays or expenses arising from quarantine, strikes, thefts, pilferage, force majeure, civil disturbances, government restrictions or regulations; accidents by aircraft, boat, bicycle or motor vehicle, or in any hotel, inn, restaurant or accommodation; failure of any means of transportation to arrive or depart as scheduled or changes in transit, hotel, inn, guest house or camping services. The passenger understands that during the course of the trip certain risks and dangers may occur, including but not limited to the hazards of travelling in mountainous terrain, accident or illness in remote places without medical facilities, and the forces of nature. The passenger agrees to assume all risks associated with the journey and agrees that no liability will attach to the company or its outfitters, employees or agents, or to any member of the tour group in respect of death, personal injury, illness or delay of the passenger, or for any loss of or damage to the property of the passenger during the course of the trip, howsoever caused. The company reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure. In such a case, full refund of all payments will constitute full settlement with the passenger. The company reserves the right to decline, to accept, or to retain any person as a member of any party at any time.

Temperature in Lhasa

Month

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

The Highest [ºC]

6.8

9.2

12

13.7

19.7

22.5

21.7

20.7

19.6

16.4

11.6

7.7

The Lowest [ºC]

-10.2

-6.9

-3.2

0.9

5.1

9.2

9.9

9.4

7.6

1.4

-5

-9.1

Procedures for Registration :

1. Make sure you know the Tour Price.

To find out Tour Price
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2. Select from the departure dates :

Departure Date Schedule
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( Please contact us if you need to find out more departure dates.)

3. To continue, click on Online Registration Page ( You can use your credit card for Registration so as to obtain insurance coverage and more flight mileage points from your credit card company.) To register for the Tibet Hiking Tour, click on the banner below.

Send your cheque payable to "China Hiking Adventures Inc."

Address to (cheque must arrive 60 days before departure date) :

China Hiking Adventures Inc

P. O. Box 5967

Toronto, ON

Canada M5W 1P4

A word of caution :

1. You should use MS Window Explorer as browser during Registration. Do not use any other browser.

2. If at the end of the registration procedures your entry amount was repeatedly declined, you should immediately contact your bank. After your bank has pre-authorized it and then you will have no problem. Your bank is just trying to protect your asset.

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China Hiking Adventure Inc. licensed under the Canada Ontario Government Travel Agency Act TICO for your financial protection. Our TICO registration number is 50015540. To check us out you can phone TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) at 905-624-6241. This is the travel industry regulating body which maintains a bonding insurance to protect consumers' funds.

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For Cancellation Policy and Insurance

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4. Contact your own Travel Agent to arrange your travel to China.

Your Travel Agent should be able to help you to complete your China Entry VISA application.

or call your China Embassy to find our how to fill in and mail the application form yourself.

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Your Registration/deposit fee will be spent, on your behalf, for tour preparation.

Such as :

Hotel rooms

Meals

Local transportation

Tour guide services

Entry fees for sightseeing

After the date of 60 days before departure, your Registration fee will be spent on your behalf and there will be NO refund after this date. Your cancellation insurance will take over if any refund is required.

You will need your own money for local shopping at the markets, hiring a donkey, horse or yak ( 200 - 400 yuan per day ) if you become sick during hiking part of the tour and extra tipping the herdsmen, cooks, guides and bus drivers if you feel so inclinded.

In 2006, a couple who took this trip found that 3,000 yuan per person was a reasonable amount to take. ATM machines are available in Lhasa.

Note: when arriving in Beijing take a metered taxi only from the airport. Do not negotiate with unlicensed drivers. Metered taxis can be found after you exit the doors of the airport after picking up luggage.

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Tibet Hiking is an ECO Friendly Tour

Yaks carrying Propane Tanks for fuel

In the Name of Progress

View of the Great Wall

Old and New traditions in this photo

Old: plough powered by two yaks

New: plough powered by machine

On March 15 to 25, 2002 Tony hiked

the trail from GanDan to SamYe

to prepare for June Hiking Tour

Photos from Tony's March 2002 Pre-Hike tour
(click for photos)

Tibet is changing rapidly everyday

" In the Name of Progress "

Come to see old Tibet before it is gone !

In June 2002 our Group hiked

from GanDan to SamYe Monastery

Photos from hikers in the past
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Come! Join us to meet Modern Tibetan Women
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Temperature in Lhasa
Month	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
The Highest [ºC]	6.8	9.2	12	13.7	19.7	22.5	21.7	20.7	19.6	16.4	11.6	7.7
The Lowest [ºC]	-10.2	-6.9	-3.2	0.9	5.1	9.2	9.9	9.4	7.6	1.4	-5	-9.1