• Potala Palace: Winter palace of the Dalai Lama
• Jokhang Temple: Spiritual Center for Buddhists in Tibet
• Sera Monastery: One of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, the hot attraction is monks debate.
• Drepung Monstery: Drepung used to be a seat of central government until the 5th Dalai Lama built Potala Palace.
• Namtso Lake: It is the "Heavenly Lake" which is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt-lake.
• Mt. Everest: The highest mountain in the world.
• Mt.Kailaish: the holist place and central of the world recognized by Hindu, Buddhist, and Bonist pilgrims
• Lake Mansarova: the resource of River Brahmaputra, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet
Day 1: Arrive at Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, lies on the Lhasa River's north bank in a valley of the Himalayas. Rising atop Red Mountain at an altitude of 3,700m, the red-and-white Potala Palace once served as the winter home of the Dalai Lama. The palace’s rooms, numbering around 1,000, include the Dalai Lama’s living quarters, as well as murals, chapels and tombs.
After arriving in Lhasa, local tour guide will welcome you at the airport/train station, then you will be transfered to hotel. Have a good rest and acclimatize the high altitude in the hotel.
Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 2: Lhasa City, Potala Place and Barkhor Street
Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is a dzong fortress in the city of Lhasa, in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It was the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959, has been a museum since then, and is a World Heritage Site since 1994.
The palace is named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.The 5th Dalai Lama started its construction in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel (died 1646), pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. It may overlay the remains of an earlier fortress called the White or Red Palace on the site, built by Songtsen Gampo in 637.
The building measures 400 metres (1,300 ft) east-west and 350 metres (1,150 ft) north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 metres (9.8 ft) thick, and 5 metres (16 ft) thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Thirteen storeys of buildings, containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues, soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 metres (980 ft) in total above the valley floor.
Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet". Chokpori, just to the south of the Potala, is the soul-mountain (Wylie: bla ri) of Vajrapani, Pongwari that of Manjusri, and Marpori, the hill on which the Potala stands, represents Avalokiteśvara
Barkor Street
Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.It's said that in 647, the first Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo (617 - 650) built the Jokhang Temple. Due to its magnificence, it quickly attracted thousands of Buddhist pilgrims. As a result, a trodden path appeared. That is the origin of Barkhor Street. Today even still many pilgrims hold the prayer wheels to walk clockwise there from dawn to dark. Also you can see some pilgrims walking or progressing body-lengths by body-lengths along Barkhor Street. Even some of them are teenagers or have experienced thousands of miles' walk to reach this sacred place. The way they express their piety could make you understand the holiness of religion.
For visitors, Barkhor Street is a magical place showing the original outlook of Lhasa. It was paved by hand-polished stone boards. Though it is not broad, it accommodates thousands of tourists every day. Varied shops stand on its both sides and thousands of floating stands are on every corner. Most of them offer the prayer wheels, long-sleeve 'chuba' (the Tibetan people's traditional clothes), Tibetan knives and some religious articles for sale. Furthermore, some shops sell 'Thangka' (the Tibetan scroll painting), which is a unique art of Tibet with the themes of religion, history, literature, science and customs. Surprisingly, there are some articles from India and Nepal in this street as well.
To sum up, Barkhor Street is a place full of religious atmosphere and a world of exotic articles. If you have been attracted by it, you should go there. Believe your eyes, and you will get a lot of surprise there.
The tour will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site - Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.
Then continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.
*Potala Palace
This amazing palace has the honor of being the highest ancient palace in the world, with its highest point reaching 3,750 meters (12,300 feet) above sea level, towering 100 meters (300 feet) above the city of Lhasa. It was built as the center of Tibetan government by the fifth Dalai Lama in 1645.
This 13-stories-high palace has over 1,000 rooms, and covers over 13 hectares (32 acres). The stone walls measure 3 meters (10 feet) thick on average.
*Johkang Temple
Included on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims.
*Barkor Street
Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.
Day 3: Monasteries in Lhasa, Drepung and Sera
Drepung Monastery
Situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, the 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). Covering an area of 250,000 square meters (299,007 square yards), it held 7,700 monks in total and possessed 141 fazendas and 540 pastures in its heyday, and is the largest-scale monastery among the ones of the same kind. 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'.
Sera Monastery
Located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa City, Sera Monastery is one of three famous monasteries in the city along with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. It is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsong Khapa's disciples built it in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when it was built.The monastery is magnificent and covers an area of 114,946 square meters (28 acres). Its main buildings are the Coqen Hall, Zhacang (college) and Kamcun (dormitory). Scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloth and unparalleled murals can be found in these halls. Colorful debates on Buddhist doctrines are held here and these employ a style distinctive from those at Lhasa's other famous monasteries.
In the morning, we are going to visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.
Afternoon, Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.
*Drepung Monastery
Situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries'.
Covering an area of 250,000 square meters (299,007 square yards), it held 7,700 monks in total and possessed 141 fazendas and 540 pastures in its heyday, and is the largest-scale monastery among the ones of the same kind. 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'.
*Sera Monastery
Located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa City, Sera Monastery is one of three famous monasteries in the city along with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. It is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsong Khapa's disciples built it in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when it was built.
Day 4: Lhasa – Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse, also named Xigatse, means 'the fertile land'. It sits in the plain at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, where Tibet's most fertile land is to be found. Shigatse is of great importance for its location in this area. It is 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) away from the world's highest peak Mount Everest, 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) away from the Sakya Monastery and also on the only path to Tibet's holy lakes. Thus it is quite an important base for people heading for those places.
Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Lake is a freshwater lake in Tibet, it is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It is over 72 km (45 mi) long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. The lake has an outlet stream at its far western end and means turquoise in English due to its color.
Around 90 km to the west of the lake lies the Tibetan town of Gyantse and Lhasa is a hundred km to the northeast. According to local mythology, Yamdok Yumtso lake is the transformation of a goddess.
Driving from Lhasa to Shigatse, today we will visit Yamdrok Lake, Korola Glacier on the way. Then we will visit Perklor Kumbum Monastery in Gyantse. Finally we drive to Shigatse.
Karola Glacier is a beautiful glacier perched between Ngarzhag County of Shannan and Gyantse County of Shigatse. Within only 300 meters from the highway which connects Lhasa and Gyantse, Karola Glacier can be seen easily when your car pass by. Many tourists will take a short stop here to admire its authentic beauty. Backing to the south face of Mount Noijin Kangsang, Karola Glacier is made of an ice cap with slow slope and two hanging-glacier typed glacier tongues. Mount Noijin Kangsang is one of the four greatest snow-capped mountains in Tibet. In its ravines, there are over 100 glaciers which cover a total area of 118.82 square kilometers. Among these glaciers, Karola Glacier is the biggest one occupying 9.4 square kilometers and reaching to 5,560 meters high. Contrasted with the blue sky, soft clouds and colorful prayer flags, the scenery of Korala Glacier is really amazing.
Day 5: Shigatse-Everest
MT.Everest
Mount Everest, also called Mt. Qomolangma, is the highest peak in the world. Its Tibetan meaning of 'Goddess the Third' adds more mysterious color and magic power to the subject. As a result, it has intrigued all kinds of people since it was first discovered. Pilgrims trek long distances to present a pious worship, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude and the common visitors also yearn for a reverent look at this holy peak.
Mount Everest is the dominant peak of Himalayas, the northern brae in Tingri County of Tibet and the southern in the Nepal. The area has 4 peaks above 8,000 m. (26,247 ft.) and 38 peaks above 7,000 m. (22,965 ft.), hence the laudatory title 'the Third Pole of the Earth'.
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery as one of the six Gelug monasteries is the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. Founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, it is an important monastery in Tibetan history and culture. Located at the foot of Drolmari, western side of Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, it means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory" in Tibetan. Covering an area of nearly 150,000 square meters, the monastery is the largest temple in Shigatse, which has about 57 halls and 3600 rooms. Among them, the Coqen Hall can hold 2000 people chanting at the same time. Featuring an interesting sprawling amalgam of traditional Tibetan monastic style, those halls, chapels and other structures are connected by precipitous steps and narrow cobblestone alleys. The interplay between the golden roofs and the white, red and black exterior walls creates a striking composition.
Driving from Shigatse to Everest and we will visit Tashilunpo Monastery.
Tashilunpo Monastery: One of the few monasteries in Tibet to weather the stormy seas of the Cultural Revolution, Tashilhunpo remains relatively unscathed. It is a pleasure to explore the cobbled lanes twisting around its aged buildings. Covering 70,000 sq metres, the monastery is now the largest functioning religious institution in Tibet – home to around 950 monks – and one of its great monastic sights. The huge golden statue of the Future Buddha is the largest gilded statue in the world.
Day 6: Everest-Saga
Rongbuk Monastery
Rongbuk Monastery is located in the Shigatse Region, southwest of the mysterious Tibet Autonomous Region, and to the north of the oblate Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Seen from here, Mt. Everest appears like a lofty pyramid surrounded by mountains that touch the sky. On sunny days, a pile of thick clouds, just like a white flag floats lightly above the peak, which is known to be the miracle of 'The Highest Flag Cloud in the World'. Nowadays, with the golden travel boom to Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery is gradually becoming a highlight for the tourists in its own right.
Rongbuk Monastery was built by a local lama in about 1899. The altitude is 5,000 m. (16,404.2 ft.) more or less, which is the highest among all the temples in the world. It is a five-tier building, but only 2 floors are in use now. In the frontispiece of the main hall, were sacrificed the statues of Sakyamuni and Geru Rinpoche. And the mural paintings inside are especially worthy of appreciation.
Driving from Everest to Saga, today we will visit Rongbu Monastery and Everest Base Camp.
Day 7: Saga to Darchen, via Lake Manasarova
Lake Manasarovar
Lake Manasarovar also called Mapam Yumtso, is a high altitude freshwater lake fed by the Kailash Glaciers near Mount Kailash in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The lake is revered as a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Visit Lake Manasarova, then drive to Darchen.
Day 8: Darchen-Drirapuk
Trekking Day one, take bus from Darchen to porter’ place, then start trek along Lachu valley to Drirapuk Monastery.
Day 9: Darchen-Drirapuk
Trekking Day two, go through Dormala Pass(5630m), then walk down hill to Dzutrpuk.
Day 10: Dzutripuk-Darchen Lake Manasarvor
Lake Manasarovar
Lake Manasarovar also called Mapam Yumtso, is a high altitude freshwater lake fed by the Kailash Glaciers near Mount Kailash in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The lake is revered as a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Trekking Day three,trek to Darchen.
Day 11: Darchen-Saga
Trek from Darchen to Saga.
Day 12: Saga-Sakya/Saga-Kyirong Valley
Itinerary 1: Drive from Saga to Sakya
The tour is also available for tourists who start in Lhasa and end in Kyilong border, so if the group has members to exit Tibet from Kyilong, we will see them off at the Sino-Nepal border, thus the itinerary from the Day 11 will be done with a small detour like following, with one extra destination Kyilong Valley, which is considered the most beautiful green valley at the foot of of Himalaya Mountain Range.
Itinerary 2:
*Saga to Kelong Valley, the border of China and Nepal. (some guests exit China in the afternoon).
* Kungtang Lhamo pass(5236M)
* Beautiful Border line Snow-capped mountain and evergreen forest.
* Deep gorges and waterfalls
* Experience the Sharpa tribe and Nepali culture.
* Visit Kepuk Village and Suspension Bridge ( 280M deep)
Day 13: Sakya to Shigatse/Kyirong -Sakya
Itinerary 1: Drive from Sakya to Shigatse,visit Sakya monastery
Itinerary 2: Drive to Ancient Sakya from Beautiful Kelong Valley.
Day 14: Shigatse to Lhasa/Sakya to Lhasa
Itinerary 1: Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa
Itinerary 2:
* Ancient Sakya town
* Sakya monastery with amzing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues.
* Follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa
* Platform to view the vast Yalong River bed.
* Visit Water Mill making Tibetan Incense material (in Summer, if time permits).
* Drive from Sakya to Lhasa via Shigatse
Day 15: Depart from Lhasa
The tour guide and driver will drop you off at airport/train station and end the wonderful journey.
- All necessary travel permits for Tibet
- Tourist bus/minibus transportation with experienced local driver during tour
- Tourist bus/minibus transportation between airport/train statin and Hotel at designated period of time
- Experienced Local Tibetan private guide
- Hotels in Lhasa, Shigatse, Tingri and Gyantse twin sharing accommodation with breakfast (B.B), Dorm bed or tent with humble accommodation in other remote place.
- One welcome or welfare dinner
- All admission fee of tourists sites listed in the itinerary
- Oxygen bottles provided during the tour days in Tibet
- Chinese visa
- Lunches and Dinners, Breakfast at other remote places where using guest house dorm bed or big tent.
- Tips to driver and tour guide
- Single room supplement if clients request a private room in hotels
- Yaks and porters cost during the trekking, if need, please pay the service in local
1, Pick-up information: Lhasa Konggar International Airport at 10:00am or 13:00pm.The tour guide will meet you with a sign of Everest Travel.
Besides the complimentary pick-up time or the guest do not want to wait, a pick-up service can be offered at ¥400 per time.
2, For those who arrive or leave on the specified date, complimentary pick-up and drop-off service at train station is offered.
Otherwise, pick-up and drop-off service can be offered at ¥250 per time for train station and ¥400 per time for airport.
1,Drop-off information: From hotel to Lhasa Konggar International Airport at 8:00am or 12:00pm.
Besides the complimentary pick-up time or the guest do not want to wait, drop-off service can be offered at ¥400 per time.
2, For those who arrive or leave on the specified date, complimentary pick-up and drop-off service at train station is offered.
Otherwise, pick-up and drop-off service can be offered at ¥250 per time for train station and ¥400 per time for airport.
1,At least 15 days in advance to confirm the order and submit the required scanning documents (passports, visas and non-tourist visas). If there is a temporary increase in the number of traveler, please contact the customer service in time.
2,Train ticket booking services from Beijing/Shanghai/Xining/Xi'an/Chengdu to Lhasa is offered. Railway ticket handling fee is charged according to market price.Fees are charged at market prices. Please contact us.
3,50% discount for child aged 4-6 (not occupying bed) and 70% discount for child aged 7-11(occupying bed). Child over 12 gets no discount.
4,Please consult the customer service whether the Sino-Nepal border is open before booking this tour if you choose the itinerary 2!!
Cancellation policy Penalty
more than 16 days before departure ¥200
9-16 days before depature ¥400
9days(including 9 days)before departure ¥600
Tickets and accommodation during the tour can be cancelled, and other expenses will not be refunded.
100%
Order very good
Tour good