The Great Tibetan Marathon Tour
Marathon/Half Marathon/10K/5K
July 12 - 24, 2007
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| Optional Agra-Jaipur 4-night Extension Itinerary |
Itinerary
Thu 12Jul ~ Los Angeles - Hong Kong.
1320 Leave Los Angeles LAX on CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS CX/885, Boeing 747-400, non-stop! Lunch and Dinner served aloft. Flying time 14hrs35min.Crossing the International Dateline - loose one day.
Fri 13Jul ~ Hong Kong.
1900 Arrive Hong Kong (change planes).2255 Leave Hong Kong on CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS CX/753, Airbus A330, late night snack served, non-stop. Flying time 5hrs40min.
Sat 14Jul 0205 ~ Arrive Delhi, India.
Meet&Greet by our local hosts and transfer to yourTAJ PALACE HOTEL
a 5-star hotel located close to the airport and city center, with many restaurants, bars, swimming pool.Rooms reserved from previous night for immediate occupancy. Breakfast included at hotel. Day at leisure.
Lunch and Dinner on own.
Sun 15Jul ~ Delhi - Leh.
Early morning transfer to the airport.0630 Leave Delhi on JET AIRWAYS 9W/1609, Boeing 737-700, non-stop. Flying time 1hr15min.
0745 Arrive Leh, Northern India. Transfer to your hotel, a simple family run hotel built in Traditional Ladakhi/Tibetan style. All rooms have attached Western style bathrooms with hot and cold running water. Garden with view of the high snow capped mountain peaks. Day at leisure to adjust to the altitude (11,550 ft).
Lunch and Dinner at hotel. Welcome Drink hosted by Kathy Loper.
See www.great-tibetan-marathon.com for area and race info.
Mon 16Jul ~ In Leh.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at the hotel.Morning drive by jeeps to the Leh Palace, followed by a visit to one of the traditional Ladakhi/Tibetan private homes. Afternoon drive by jeeps to the lovely village of Sankar, located just above Leh. Visit the monastery then return to hotel on foot along the picturesque barley fields.
Tue 17Jul ~ In Leh.
Breakfast and Dinner at the hotel.Morning easy Rafting on the Indus River gliding along the magnificent Tibetan nature. From Nimu, continue by jeep to the historic, 1000-year old Alchi Monastery.
Lunch at the Alchi Garden Restaurant. Return to Leh by way of the Basgo village, one of the most fascinating areas of the Tibetan Plateau with view of monasteries, forts and palaces visible on the nearby high peaks.
Wed 18Jul ~ In Leh.
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Very early morning to join the Puja morning prayers at the large Thiksey Monastery just east of Leh. About a hundred "Yellow Hat" monks belong to the monastery, and as the sun rises, enormous horns are sounded from the roof of the monastery. Because of the eternal threat from invading armed forces, many Monasteries and palaces in Ladakh were built on mountain tops or other difficult to reach places. Thiksey monastery is no exception, and with its 12 levels, this 500-year old structure is one of the most impressive in Ladhak.
Back to the hotel for breakfast. Balance of morning at leisure. Afternoon short drive to the Hemis Monastery, in which courtyard the start of the Great Tibetan Plateau Marathon will take place on Saturday. Get familiar with the area before returning to the hotel.
Thu 19Jul ~ In Leh.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the hotel.Morning 3-hour easy walking tour to the Namgyal Peak high above Leh Palace, with refreshment stations set up along the way to familiarize yourself with the run route. Return via the Sankar Village. Afternoon at leisure. Visit the local Bazaar, walking distance from your hotel.
Fri 20Jul ~ In Leh.
Breakfast and Lunch at the hotel.Early morning 3-kilometer "pleasure run" from the Leh Monastery, during which you can get a feel for running in the thinner air of this altitude. Useful hints provided by the team of Danish doctors present for the event. Afternoon at leisure.
Special Pasta Dinner at a local restaurant.
Tuck in early!
Sat 21Jul ~ RACE DAY!
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0500 Full Marathoners are driven to the Hemis Monastery where the Marathon Race starts at 0700.
0630 Half Marathoners, 10K and 5K runners are driven to their respective starting points along the route.
All racers end at the Spituk Monastery, where box lunches are provided and from where frequent jeep transportation is available to drive you back to your hotel.
1900 GALA DINNER at the banks of the mighty Indus River, where huge tents are set up for the occasion for the final banquet. A fine time to reflect on the race and on the experiences on the Great Tibetan Plateau.
Sun 22Jul ~ Leh - New Delhi.
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer to the airport.0825 Leave Leh on JET AIRWAYS 9W/1610, Boeing 737-700, non-stop. Flying time 1hr15min.
0940 Arrive Delhi.
Transfer to your...
TAJ PALACE HOTEL
Afternoon Old Delhi Sightseeing visiting the impressive Jama Mosque, then by bicycle rickshaws through the old chaotic city to experience the seething dream world of small boutiques, shops, and street sellers that make up the bazaar of Old Delhi.1800 Farewell Cocktail hosted by Kathy Loper.
Lunch and Dinner on own.
Mon 23Jul ~ In Delhi.
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.Optional Full Day Excursion available to Agra's Taj Mahal. (Must be booked at time of tour reservation, cannot be added later!).
Dinner on own.
Tue 24Jul ~ Delhi - Hong Kong - USA.
Early morning transfer to the airport.0700 Leave Delhi on CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS CX/752, Airbus A330, breakfast and lunch served aloft, non-stop. Flying time 5hrs30min.
1500 Arrive Hong Kong (change planes).
1615 Leave Hong Kong on CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS CX/882, Boeing 747-400, dinner and breakfast served, non-stop. Flying time 13hrs15min.
Tue 24Jul 1430 ~ Arrive Los Angeles LAX.
Agra-Jaipur 4-Day Extension
personally escorted by Kathy LoperMon 23Jul ~ Delhi - Agra.
Breakfast at the hotel in Delhi.0800 Leave Delhi by motorcoach for drive through India's busy countryside.
1300 Arrive Agra, home of the famous Taj Mahal.
HOTEL MUGHAL SHERATON
a 5-star resort-hotel with beautiful gardens and pool.Balance of afternoon at leisure.
Lunch and Dinner on own.
You are lucky!!! This is Full Moon Night...
and there is nothing more fascinating than to see the Taj Mahal during Full Moon. So we are allowed a short visit this evening to gaze upon the white marble by the light of the full moon.
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Tue 24Jul ~ In Agra.
Early morning Sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal with thorough explanation of this "monument to eternal love". Compare its ambiance at sunrise with that of the moonlight experience. Followed by a visit to the adjacent Agra Fort. Return to the hotel for a late breakfast. Balance of day at leisure for shopping.Lunch and Dinner on own.
Wed 25Jul ~ Agra - Jaipur.
Breakfast at the hotel.0900 Leave Agra by motorcoach for drive via Fathepur Sikri, an abandoned Mughal palatial complex with its red sandstone ruins.
1500 Arrive Jaipur, the Pink City.
HOTEL RAJPUTANA SHERATON
a Rajasthan-style 5-star hotel close to city center.Lunch stop en route (own account).
Dinner on own.
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Thu 26Jul ~ In Jaipur.
Breakfast at hotel.Morning city tour to visit the Palace of Winds, then an elephant ride up to the impressive Amber Fort. Afternoon visit to the City Palace and Observatory, ending with a visit to Jaipur's famous Market.
Lunch and Dinner on own.
Fri 27Jul ~ Jaipur - Delhi.
Breakfast at the hotel.0900 Leave Jaipur by motorcoach for drive to arrive at
1500 in Delhi.
TAJ PALACE HOTEL
Collect your heavy bags which you have left at this hotel while going to Agra/Jaipur. Balance of afternoon at leisure.Lunch stop en route (own account).
Dinner on own.
Sat 28Jul ~ Delhi - Hong Kong - USA.
Early morning coffee and pastries at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.0700 Leave Delhi on CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS CX/752, Airbus A330, breakfast and lunch served aloft, non-stop. Flying time 5hrs30min.
1500 Arrive Hong Kong (change planes).
1615 Leave Hong Kong on CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS CX/882, Boeing 747-400, dinner and breakfast served, non-stop. Flying time 13hrs15min.