6 Days Mystical Tibet Tour

Day 1

Arrival Lhasa
Arrival at Lhasa, you will be met at Gongar airport and transferred to the hotel for some good rest and acclimation.
Meals: No meals
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Day 2

Lhasa
Taking a visit to Lhasa, a trip to Potala Palace is a must as it is the largest monastery of its type in the world and the highest elevation palace of the world, which the altitude is up to 3700 meters. Then move to Jokhang Monastery, where monks receive their official training and education. The surrounding Jokang Monastery of is Barkhor Street. Walk along this street of eight corners which will afford us a window into Tibetan culture and an opportunity to buy colorful ethnic handicrafts rarely seen outside of Tibet. 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Day 3

Lhasa
After breakfast, enjoy your one day city tour today that starts with a visit to Drepung Monastery, then continue your tour to Norbulingka and Sera Monastery.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Day 4

Lhasa    Gyangtse    Shigatse
Today, you will drive to Shigatse in the morning, on the way, take a view for the beautiful Yamdrok Lake, and visit Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Pagoda. Stay overnight at Shigatse.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shigatse

Day 5

Shigatse    Lhasa
Today, after a visit to Tanshilumpu Monastery in the morning, you will be driven back to Lhasa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Day 6

Departure Lhasa
The time before transfer to the airport is free on your own arrangment. Bid Lhasa a fond farewell as board the flight or get on the train to your next stop.
Meals: Breakfast


Service Ends

Day 1

Arrival Lhasa
Arrival at Lhasa, you will be met at Gongar airport and transferred to the hotel for some good rest and acclimation.
Meals: No meals
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Lhasa is the capital of Tibet. Located at the foot of Mt. Gephel, Lhasa altitude is 3,490 m and the air contains only 68% of oxygen compared to sea level. Traditionally, Lhasa is the seat of the Dalai Lama, and the location of the Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace. In Tibetan Buddhism the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is regarded as the holiest centre in Tibet.
 

Day 2

Lhasa
Taking a visit to Lhasa, a trip to Potala Palace is a must as it is the largest monastery of its type in the world and the highest elevation palace of the world, which the altitude is up to 3700 meters. Then move to Jokhang Monastery, where monks receive their official training and education. The surrounding Jokang Monastery of is Barkhor Street. Walk along this street of eight corners which will afford us a window into Tibetan culture and an opportunity to buy colorful ethnic handicrafts rarely seen outside of Tibet.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Tips: When you enter into a temple or monastery in Tibet, please take off your hats at the entrance to show your respects and follow the clockwise direction for visiting. No smoking, do not touch the Buddha statues, turn the Buddhism scriptures or toll the bell.

The awe-inspiring Potala Palace, perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city. The palace which consists of the Red Palace, the White Palace and some attached buildings was a complex of political and religious function. Now it is a huge treasure house for materials and articles of Tibetan history, religion, culture and arts.

Located at the center of the old Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Built in 647 by Songtsen Gampo, it has a history of more than 1,300 years. The temple is the fine product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architecture techniques. Visitors will be treated to the sight of various exotic and sacred sculptures. Jokhang Temple also houses many invaluable cultural relics. Every year, the Great Prayer Festival is held here.

Barkhor Street is a famous commercial and commodity-distributing center in Lhasa, consisting of more than 120 handicrafts shops and more than 200 stalls. It is a good choice that should never be missed by tourists coming to Lhasa, for you can buy anything Tibet-related, from sacks of incense, chunks of yak butter to monk outfits. Barkhor is the road that pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. When walking along Barkhor Street, you should move in the clockwise direction.

Day 3

Lhasa
After breakfast, enjoy your one day city tour today that starts with a visit to Drepung Monastery, then continue your tour to Norbulingka and Sera Monastery. 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa
 
Located 5 km from Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is considered one of the three great monasteries in Tibet. It was first built in 1416, and held 7,700 monks in its heyday. In Tibetan language, Drepung Monastery means monastery of collecting rice.

Norbulingka means Jewel Garden. First built in 1751, it borrowed architectural style from the inland areas of China while maintaining local ethnic and religious features. Norbulingka served as a traditional summer palace and residence starting with the 7th Dalai Lama, and now it is the largest garden in Tibet.

In the afternoon, the Sera Monastery will be a good choice as well. It is the last of the three principal Yellow Sect monasteries built in Lhasa. The setting itself is very beautiful with cobbled alleyways, temples and colleges. The highlight of visiting Sera Monastery will be watching monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills.

Tips:
During the family visiting, if you will take a seat, please cross your legs, do not stretch your legs forward and face your sole to others.
When you are offered a cup of wine by the host, please use your ring finger to dip a little of it. Then flick it in the air to express respects to the heaven, the earth and the ancestors before sipping the wine. The host will fill the cup, and you take a sip of the wine again. After the host fills your cup for the forth time, you have to bottom it up.

 

Day 4

Lhasa    Gyangtse    Shigatse
Today, you will drive to Shigatse in the morning, on the way, take a view for the beautiful Yamdrok Lake, and visit Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Pagoda. Stay overnight at Shigatse.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shigatse

Located 250 km southwest of Lhasa at an altitude of 3,840 metres, Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet, with a population of 80,000. It used to be the traditional capital of the area known as Hou-tsang on the Nepal border.

Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. It is located 100 km southwest of Lhasa and surrounded by Mt. Kampala, Mt. Nyinchenkhasa, Mt. Chetungsu and Mt. Changsamlhamo. The holy lake is a pilgrimage site for Tibetans. Every summer, groups of pilgrims trek there to pray and receive blessings. Befitting its religious importance, the turquoise blue lake has indescribable scenic beauty, prompting the Tibetans to compare it with a fairyland in Heaven.

p.s. From November to March of the next year, water of Yamdrok Lake will freeze due to the weather condition.

Located 100 km east of Shigatse, Palkhor Monastery is a monastery with the characteristics of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture. It enjoys a high status in Tibet Buddhism history because it houses three sects - Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelugpa together. According to Tibetan calendar,

Saka Dawa Festival will be held on April 15th to commemorate Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. During the festival, about 500 Lamas chant sutras and the loyal pilgrims gather in the monastery to commemorate Sakyamuni.

Palkhor also features its Kumbum in Tibet. Deemed as the symbol of the monastery, the spectacular 'stupa' consists of hundreds of chapels in layers, housing about a hundred thsoud images of various icons, in total there are about 33,000 statues.

Day 5

Shigatse    Lhasa
Today, after a visit to Tanshilumpu Monastery in the morning, you will be driven back to Lhasa by coach.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, Tashilumpu Monastery is one of the six big monasteries in Tibet. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second ranking person in the Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, after the Dalai Lama. The monastery houses the tombs of Panchen Lamas and a 22.4-meter statue of Maitreya Buddha. Tanshilumpu remains popular among the Tibetans, as they carry on coming here on pilgrimage.

Day 6

Departure Lhasa
The time before transfer to the airport is free on your own arrangment. Bid Lhasa a fond farewell as board the flight or get on the train to your next stop.
Meals: Breakfast

Tibet is not a relaxing holiday destination, but if temples, religion and ancient culture are your things, you will find Tibet is just the place for you after these days visit. Now, it is time to say goodbye. Choosing train to leave is also a very good idea.

Service Ends

 

Full price of this tour (per person in US$):

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Optional Local Specialties & Night Shows: