Day 01: Arrive at Lhasa
Altitude: 3,650 m | Overnight at a Hotel.
Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to the hotel. The rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude.
Day 02: Guided City Tour of Lhasa. Overnight at a Hotel.
Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street.
Potala Palace: This is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it.
Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-story timber complex with a golden top, with a combination of the Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photographers.
Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to learn Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicrafts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka, religious musical instruments, gold and silverware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or family, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.
Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the ‘Three Great Monasteries’ (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name ‘Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means ‘Collecting Rice.
Day 03: Drive to Tsedang
Altitude: 3,580 m | Distance: 290 km/10 hours | Overnight at a Hotel.
Today we will drive a 290 km drive to visit Samye Monastery, then drive to Tsedang, the capital of Shannan Prefecture, located in Yarlung Valley.
Samye Monastery: Located in the quiet piedmont area of the Shannan Region, the Samye Monastery is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. With these unique features, this splendid temple has become an attraction for visitors from near and far.
Day 04: Guided Tour of Tsedang. Overnight at a Hotel.
Today, you will visit Yumbulangkang Palace, Trandruk Monastery.
Yumbulakang Palace: Lying 12km southwest of Tsedang Country, it is regarded as the first palace of Tibet’s history and one of the oldest buildings in Tibet. The castle is divided into front and rear precincts. The front is a 3-story building while the rear is dominated by a tall tower, like a castle, standing on the top of the Watchtower, you will get the panoramic view of the entire valley.
Trandruk Monastery: Located 5km south of Tsedang, Trandruk Monastery is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. According to legend, the monastery could only be built after Songtsen Gampo turned into a roc and conquered an evil dragon. The name “trandruk” means roc conquering a dragon.
Day 05: Drive to Gyantse
Altitude: 3,900 m | Distance: 350 km/8 hours | Overnight at a Hotel.
Today we have to drive to Gyantse. On the way, we will pass over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and tourists will have a visit to Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier.
Yamdrok Lake: Which is one of the 3 most sacred lakes in Tibet. It is a lake of 72 km long, fed by numerous small streams and surrounded by snow-covered mountains. The two long arms of water, making it look like a scorpion from the sky. According to legend, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.
Karola Glacier: At 5,560m above sea level, and with an area of 9.4 sq km, this imposing glacier is visible from the highway which links Lhasa and Shigatse. The glacier has been divided into black and white layers due to smoke pollution from motor vehicles, which gives a distinctive color to this great glacier.
Day 06: Drive to Shigatse
Altitude: 3,900 m | Distance: 100 km/3 hours | Overnight at a Hotel.
Today we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery, then drive to Shigatse for overnight.
Pelkor Chode Monastery: Founded in 1418, Pelkor Chode Monastery is the main monastery in Gyantse of Tibet. The highlight inside is the Kumbum, which has 108 chapels in its four stories. As an important center of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism, In 1904, the Gyangtse town and the Pelkor Chode Monastery were attacked by the British army, although most of the damage was later restored, bullet holes from this attack still remain in the monastery.
Day 07: Drive to Lhasa
Altitude: 3,650 m | Distance: 280 km/8 hours | Overnight at a Hotel.
Today we will visit Tashilumpo Monastery and then we will drive back to Lhasa.
Tashilunpo Monastery: As one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa sec, Tashilunpo Monastery is the major attraction in Shigatse and regarded as the Tibetan Buddhist center of Rear Tibet. Founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, the monastery was expanded by successive Panchen Lamas. Covering an area of nearly 300,000 square meters and accommodating 800 lamas, the Tashilhunpo monastery is a must-see spot for travelers and Buddhist followers and plays a very important role for Tibetan Tourism.
Day 08: Transfer to the International Airport for Your Final Flight Departure.
Today our guide will send you to the train station or airport for your next destination. Your lifetime Tibet tour is completed now.
