Arriving in Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Pham Minh Tri and more than 100 fellow travellers reflected on how fortunate they had been after a challenging journey through Nepal.
The group had narrowly escaped the devastating flash flood that struck Nepal on August 26 after their departure was delayed by approximately one hour.
Four vehicles carried the pilgrimage and sightseeing group (Photo: Provided by the group).
Delayed departure proved lifesaving
Speaking to Dantri, Tri said most members of the group were Vietnamese. The month-long pilgrimage had been planned several months in advance.
A key destination was Mount Kailash, one of the most sacred sites in Tibet, standing at more than 6,700 metres above sea level.
On August 23, the group arrived in Kathmandu and spent several days visiting well-known landmarks in the Nepalese capital.
According to the itinerary, four coaches carrying more than 100 travellers were scheduled to leave Kathmandu at 7 am on August 26 for Bandipur, a historic town, before continuing towards China.
However, the departure was delayed by about an hour because several participants were late boarding the vehicles.
"If we had left on time, we could have been caught in the area where the flash flood struck near the road to Bandipur. Vehicles could easily have been swept away by the powerful current," Tri said.
About an hour into the journey, drivers received reports of a serious incident near the Nepal-Tibet border. Concerned about safety, tour organisers decided to turn back and return to Kathmandu.
At the time, the travellers were unaware of the scale of the disaster but calmly followed instructions from tour leaders.
After returning to Kathmandu, the group visited Sanga Suspension Bridge, around 20 kilometres from the city centre.
"When we later saw images of the disaster, everyone was shocked. We realised how lucky we had been. At first, we thought it was just a normal flood, but nobody expected it to be so severe," Tri recalled.
The Gyirong border crossing and several roads connecting Kathmandu with Rasuwa suffered extensive damage from landslides and flooding, forcing the group to remain in the capital while alternative arrangements were made.
During the wait, helicopters flew continuously overhead, transporting injured victims to hospitals and delivering rescue personnel and supplies to affected areas.
"We were not overly worried because Kathmandu remained safe. My main concern was that the border crossings into Tibet might remain closed and force the pilgrimage to be cancelled," Tri said.
A more difficult route
After three days in Kathmandu, the group was allowed to continue into China, although the journey became far more challenging.
With the Gyirong crossing severely damaged, the group was redirected through Zhangmu.
"The road to Zhangmu is rough and many sections remain in poor condition. The area was heavily affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2015, and repairs are still ongoing," Tri said.
As the group approached the border, conditions worsened. Landslides and flood damage had left sections of the road impassable, while repair crews worked to restore access.
Coaches were only able to travel to a point about 12 kilometres from Zhangmu. From there, travellers hired pickup trucks to transport luggage across passable sections.
Pickup trucks were hired to carry luggage and belongings as the group crossed the border area (Photo: Provided by the group).
In areas where vehicles could not proceed, the group had to continue on foot.
"The journey was much harder than the usual route through Gyirong. Under the circumstances, everyone accepted the difficulties because there was no alternative," Tri said.
After more than 10 hours travelling through mountainous terrain, the group completed immigration procedures and entered Tibet.
"Seeing the images of the flood near the Nepal-China border was heartbreaking. Many victims had no chance to escape when the water surged through with tremendous force," he added.
A stretch of road leading to Zhangmu border gate for the group’s onward journey into Tibet (Photo: Provided by the group).
The group has now reached Lhasa and is acclimatising to the high altitude before beginning its pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Members are expected to return to Nepal within the next 10 days.
Rabi Chandra, a Nepalese tour guide accompanying the group, said several major highways, including the Kathmandu-Chitwan, Kathmandu-Pokhara and Kathmandu-Lumbini routes, had been damaged by flooding.
"Travellers planning to visit Nepal should consider postponing their trips until road conditions improve. Otherwise, they may need to rely on domestic flights, significantly increasing travel costs," he said.
