From Lhasa to Kathmandu

A Photo Cultural Journey with photographer Lewis Kemper

On the Roof of the World. Locked away for centuries, Tibet has always held a unique place in the human imagination, conjuring an unearthly realm beyond our reach. We begin our photography journey of Tibet with four wonderful days in the magical environs of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, its skyline dominated by the majestic ramparts of the Potala Palace.

Leaving Lhasa we photograph the turquoise waters of Yamdruk Lake on our way to Gyantse to explore the Kumbum chörten. Continuing via Shigatse and the monastery at Tashilhunpo (home of the Panchen Lamas) we reach the North face of Everest in time to see the setting sun light up the mountain. We will spend the full moon night at the base of Everest before ending our tour in the colorful bustle of Kathmandu.

Outline Itinerary – 2010

Day 1, September 13: DEPART USA

Day 2, September 14: ARRIVE CHENGDU
You will be met on arrival and transferred to our hotel.

Day 3, September 15: TO LHASA
In the morning, our group will take the sunrise flight from Chengdu to Gongkar, home to Tibet’s international airport. If the weather is clear, this sunrise flight from Chengdu to Tibet will offer magical panoramic mountain views, including the 24,783’ Minya Konka and the mighty Namche Barwa, 25, 439’. Upon arrival at Gongkar, we will be met and transferred to our hotel in Lhasa.

Day 4, September 16: EXPLORING LHASA
The goal of many intrepid travelers and explorers, the “forbidden city” of Lhasa will reveal its unique character and many mysteries as we visit many of its most significant historical and cultural sites. Today’s itinerary includes visits to two of the area’s most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, Drepung and Nechung.

Days 5 & 6, September 17 & 18: EXPLORING LHASA
Looming over Lhasa and the Kyi-chu Valley is the monumental Potala Palace, former home of the Dalai Lamas. A visit to this amazing historical site is certainly a highlight of any trip to Tibet, and today we will explore the many chapels, halls and tombs of the Red Palace. In addition to the Potala, we will also visit Sera Monastery, located to the north of Lhasa, which is perhaps most famous for the renowned and always lively sessions which take place in the Debating Courtyard. We will make a pilgrimage to the Jokhang, Tibet’s most sacred religious temple. The roof of the Jokhang, with its wonderful golden gables and carvings, offers a magnificent view of the Potala. The Barkhor, the maze-like warren of shops and stalls that surrounds the Jokhang, will beckon us to join the Tibetans who travel here to pay homage to the Jokhang as they circumambulate the sacred shrine.

Day 7, September 19: TO GYANTSE
After an unforgettable four days in Lhasa, we set out towards Gyantse and Shigatse.  On the road to Gyantse, we will stop at Yamdrok-tso, one of Tibet’s four great sacred lakes.  In Gyantse we will visit the monastery of Pelkor Chöde, home to one of Tibet’s most indelible sites, the Kumbum (the Temple of the Hundred Thousand Buddhas).

Day 8, September 20: TO SHIGATSE
We leave Lhasa, heading over high mountain passes and alongside the sacred lake Yamdrok-tso en route to Gyantse. After visiting the amazing Kumbum chorten we drive across fertile green fields encircled by the dun-colored hills of Central Tibet to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, and home to Tashilhunpo monastery, residence of the Panchen Lamas.

Day 9, September 21: TO SHEGAR
This is a travel day, as we leave the hustle and bustle of Shigatse and head out across the starkly beautiful Tibetan Plateau towards our destination, the town of Shegar.

Day 10, September 22: TO RONGBUK & EVEREST
A pre-dawn departure brings to Pang La, a 17,000 ft high pass offering a panoramic view of the Himalaya, in time for sunrise photography. Descending down from the pass we reach the one-of-a-kind destination: base camp at the north face of the mighty Everest, at 29,017’ the world’s tallest mountain peak. As we adjust to the elevation of base camp (16,700’), we will have the opportunity to explore the photogenic Rongbuk Monastery and catch the last rays of the setting sun on Everest.

Day 11, September 23: TO ZHANGMU
After sunrise on Everest, we leave the majestic north face of behind as we head to Nepal. We begin the precipitous drop in elevation, 9,000’ in total, as we reach the frontier town of Zhangmu, elevation 7,500’.

Day 12, September 24: TO KATHMANDU
We rise in the morning, with porters and baggage in tow, as we clear customs and cross the Friendship Bridge into Nepal. We then drive to legendary Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city, where we will visit Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka and the bazaars of old Kathmandu. Tonight we will enjoy a splendid Farewell Dinner.

Day 13, September 25: DEPART KATHMANDU
We will be transferred to Kathmandu’s airport for flights to our respective Asian transit cities for connecting return flights to the USA.

Day 14, September 26: RETURN TO USA
You depart your Asian transit city, arriving in the USA the same day.

Lewis Kemper

Lewis Kemper has been photographing the natural beauty of North America, and its park lands for over 29 years specializing in nature and outdoor photography. His work has been exhibited and published in magazines, books, and calendars worldwide.

Lewis teaches photography for many organizations including Palm Beach Photographic Centre, Santa Fe Workshops, Lepp Institute and BetterPhoto.com. He is the author of The Yosemite Photographer's Handbook, and The Yellowstone Photographer's Handbook. His work has been published in numerous books including publications by The Sierra Club, The National Geographic Society, Little Brown, APA Insight Guides, Sequoia Communications, Prentice Hall, Hyperion Books, Companion Press, Cachuma Press. Currently Lewis is a contributing editor to Outdoor Photographer and PC Photo magazines.

Lewis photographs in color using 35mm and 4 x 5 cameras. He has been named to Canon USA’s elite group of photographers, The Explorers of Light. Canon USA has selected 62 photographers to represent Canon and its photographic products.

For more on Lewis, please visit his website.

Call us toll free at 1-800 MY INDIA (1-800-694-6342) or email us to request a detailed day-to-day itinerary.