Nakchu Horse Festival

Nakchu Horse Festival; this twelve days tour combines four nights in the spectacular capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, with a seven nights tour of Tibet. First few days we spend time visiting Palaces, Temples, Stupas in Kathmandu. Afterwards we fly to Lhasa taking 75 minute excellent mountain flight over the Himalaya. Join a festival of Nakchu Horse riding. During the month of August over 10,000 people will cross high passes of more than 4000 m by foot, horse and jeep to make their way to Nakchu Racecourse, to run their horses, eat, drink and enjoy themselves during the annual horse festival holiday.

This racecourse, at 4500 m, is undoubtedly the highest located racecourse in the world. Crowded along the hillsides are white tents housing monks, pilgrims, nomads, and city dwellers who come from Lhasa and all over Hor, the urban and farming communities of northern Tibet. During this time of festivities and dance, everyone dresses in their finest and most colorful clothing and adorns themselves with chunks of gold and turquoise jewelry. After the races, we will camp by Lake Namtso-Chukmo, Tibet's largest saltwater lake, which is also considered one of its most sacred. Seventy km long and 30 wide, it takes pilgrims 18 days to complete a korla, around the lake. Lake Namtso-Chukmo is also home to migratory birds between April and November; if we are lucky, we may be able to see the rare black-necked crane.

What you will see during festival?
- Thousands of Tibetan nomad spectators.
- Beautiful horse racing and yak racing.
- Competators with Well dressed ethnic Tibetan attire.
- Yaks and horses are well decorated with Tibetan styles.
- Buying and selling of horse attracts thousands of Tibetans far away
  from other parts of Tibet.
- Tradition dancings and performance of Tibetan operas.
- Well trained Tibetan Herdmen displays horse riding skills.
- The grasslands are dotted with tents with full of Tibetan spectators forming a small town for a week.

 

Itinerary:

Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu /day at leisure/hotel
Day 02 Full day sightseeing/Hotel
Day 03 Fly to Gonggar /Transfer to Lhasa /Hotel  
Day 04 Visit Potala, Sera and Norbulinka /hotel
Day 05 Visit Drepung, Jorkhang & Barkhor /hotel
Day 06 Lhasa to Nakchu(naqu)315 km(197 mi) about 6 hours.
Day 07 Horse riding festival/camp
Day 08 Drive to Namtso Lake/ Camp
Day 09 Drive to Lhasa/hotel
Day 10 Fly to Kathmandu/hotel
Day 11 Day at leisure/hotel
Day 12 Drive to airport.

Cost include:
Kathmandu
- International airport pickup and drop service
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu
- Welcome and farewell dinner

Tibet
- Accommodation in twin sharing room on bed and breakfast basis
- Air ticket; Kathmandu to Lhasa, Lhasa to Kathmandu
- Transportation by 4500 model Land-cruiser / Mini coach as per group
  size
- Sightseeing with Tibetan guide as per itinerary
- Monastery entrance fees
- Tibet visa and travel permit
- Oxygen bag indide the Jeep
- Fully catered (meals included) camping trek supported by tibetan crew
  & Tibetan guide

Does not include:
Kathmandu
- Food
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Nepal entry visa fee per person US$30 only / re-entry visa fees

Tibet
- Insurance & emergency rescue charges
- Extra porter & transport charges in the event of landslides
- Personal clothing & accessories including sleeping bags
- Others not specified in above cost inclusions list

Highlights

Fact About this trip:

4 Nights in Kathmandu
7 Nights in Lhasa

Highlights on this tour:
Visit Kathmandu and sightseeing around the valley, visit Lhasa and all the sightseeing places, Namtso Lake, Horse riding festival, wonderful Tibetan Landscape and people and probably the best mountain flight over the Everest and Himalaya.

Season:
August

Tour Grade:
MODERATE 

Group Size
From 2 persons

Trip Cost:
On request

Festival Date:
During  AUGUST