Boating on Brahmaputra by Tibetan Gowa

Tibetan Gowa

Brahmaputra River

Tibetan Gowa

Boating on Brahmaputra by Tibetan Gowa (TB01)

This trip features the traditional Tibetan Boat ‘Gowa’ – a yak skin boat to cruise Brahmaputra River.
Wood is scarce in much of rocky, dry Tibet; so Tibetan people traditionally use leather from yaks to make boats known as a ‘Gowa’. The yak leather is stitched into large pieces, which are then stretched across bowed crossbeams and tied with leather straps. The capacity of a bigger one holds about 10 people; the smaller one can hold 2 or 5 people. The Gowa can be controlled by a single boatman and because it itself is light can be carried by just one man. This is a special experience, as nowadays few of these yak skin boats exist any more in Tibet.

Day1: Arrive in Chengdu:
After arrival in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People’s park.

Day2: Chengdu to Lhasa:
Fly to Lhasa, the guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to Lhasa city with about 1h30 driving (100 km). On the way, we’ll visit to Nie Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the mountain face. Afternoon an easy walking visit to Luophuk lingkar – the summer palace of Dalai Lama.

Day3 & Day4: Lhasa:
During these two days, we visit the ancient palaces of Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazar, and Sera, Drepung, Nechung monasteries.

Day5: Lhasa to Gangkar:
Satrt from Lhasa, detour to Yamdrok Lake that is one of four holy lakes. The other 3 lakes are Lhamo La-tso, Namtso and Manasarovar. It is revered as a talisman and is said to be part of the life-spirit of the Tibetan nation. The largest lake in southern Tibet, it is said that if its waters dry, Tibet will no longer be habitable. This Turquoise like lake to Tsetang across Karo la pass and Kampa la pass at 5050m then to Chushui, wherewe heading east along Brahmaputra Rriver downstream to Gangkar Chode, where we set up our first camp by Brahmaputra River

Day6: Gangkar to Dorje Drak:
Departure in the morning, locad up gear in the Tibetan Gowa, following Brahmaputra River downstream to Dorje Drak, where Dorje Drak monastery is located in, and it was one of the primary Nyingma monasteries in Tibet. It was destroyed in the 1960’s last century, and later partially reestablished.

Day7: Dorje Drak to Ngadrak:
Keep taking the gowa along the Brahmaputra river downstream to Ngadrak, where one Karma Kagyu traditional monastery is on the east bank of the Drak-Chu, about 6 km further inland. It comprises one assembly hall adjoined by 5 chapels, and a monastic residential area, where the caretakers of the Drakyul cave nearby.

Day8: Ngadrak to the holy caves of Drak Yangdzong:
Departure on foot, climbing a white limestone cliff, many carved relief images are visible near the caveentrances, depicting Padmasambhava, Sakyamuni Buddha, Milaripa, animal figures…etc, the cave is about 4500m above the sea level, visit to the caves of “Shinje Drup Zho”, ”Shinje Rolpei Drub” & ”Jago Rangjung Drupuk”; return to the camp by Brahmaputra river.

Day9 & Day10: Ngadrak to Samye, then to Tsetang
This the third day being in the Gowa, which is also the last day of traveling by Gowa. Reach at Surkar, near Samye, arrive at Samye monastery by tractor. Samye monastery, Located in the quiet piedmont area of the Tsetang region, it is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Samye monastery is built with the shape of a huge Mandala. Surrounded by a circular wall, it is a representation of cosmos. The different buildings are arranged according to a complex symbolism, around the Utse, the central hall, housing the hall of prayers. This monastery is sacred because of its magnificent architecture, long-term history, and special status within Tibetan Buddhism. Regarded as a shining pearl of Tibetan Buddhist architecture, it is a place many Buddhist believers long to visit. In Tsetang, we are going to visit to Yamsang monastery, Yongphuk Lhakang.

Day11: Tsetang to Chengdu:
Drive from Tsetang to Lhasa Gangkar airport, by flight from Lhasa to Chengdu, after arriving in Chengdu, transfer to Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, one of the most important centers in the world for the conservation of the Giant Panda.

Day12: Chengdu to the airport for departure:
After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timing will depend on the flight schedule).