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Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Lhasa (3,650m/12,000ft)
You will be met at Gonggar Airport by your Tibetan guide with a "khata"
(a traditional ceremonial white scarf for good luck) and a warm greeting
- Tashi Delek.
A 1.5-hour drive along the beautiful Lhasa River leads you to Lhasa, lying at an altitude of 3,650 meters
(12,000ft). It’s advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa’s altitude.
Day 2: Sightseeing in Lhasa
(Drepung and Sera Monastery)
About 8km west of central Lhasa is the Drepung Monastery,
once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks, remain an important monastery till this day. Today's
sightseeing begins with scenic views on the hillside.
After lunch you will visit SERA
MONASTERY, you are introduced to the important aspects of Buddhism.
If you are lucky, you are able to witness the monks debating
assembly. Late afternoon and evening, you will be busied wandering around
the famous Barkhor Street or observing the crowd at the balcony of
a bar. Enjoy a Tibetan dinner and a traditional Tibetan dance show.
Day 3: Sightseeing in Lhasa
(Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple)
On this day you will get more acquainted with the mystiques of Lhasa. In the morning after breakfast, you will set off to view
the majestic Potala Palace towering above city of Lhasa. We
specifically arrange the famous Potala Palace to be on your third
day in Lhasa because there are a lot of steps to climb. Trust us,
you will get out of breath without proper acclimatization. You will
immerse yourself in array of intricate Tibetan murals, temples,
sculptures and tombs of eight past Dalai Lamas. The POTALA PALACE
was first built in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 13th century..
After lunch, you will visit the most sacred shrine in Tibet -
Jokhang Temple. Surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkhor - a maze of
narrow cobbled streets with stalls of Tibetan merchandise and
souvenirs.
Day 4:
Excursion to Namtso (4,720m/15,485ft)
On the way to Namtso, you will get a magnificent view of the highland pasture and nomadic settlements of Northern Tibet - Naqqu.
You will also see the Nyenchen Tanglha snow mountain ranges with peaks over 7,000 meters lying across northern Tibet.
En route, you will pass Nagela Pass (5,109m/17,027ft). After several sneak peeks of Lake Namtso from between the mountain ranges,
you will reach Namtso at 4,720 meters (15,485ft). With an area of 1,940 square kilometers, Namtso Lake is the second largest
and highest salt-water lake. In the lake, there are three islands, which are ideal habitat for all kinds of aquatic life.
One of the islands is made of calcareous sandstone. It is characterized by the stone pillars, natural stone bridges and the
stalactite caves. It is regarded by Tibetans as one of Tibet's three holy lakes (the other two are Yamdrok and Manasarovar).
Water is
clear and sweet tasting.
Day 5: Tsetang and Yarlung Valley
In the morning, our driver will drive you from Lhasa to Tsedang - the capital of Shannan Prefecture.
Tsedang is located by Yarlung which is dubbed "the cradle of Tibetan Civilization" with the magnificent view of Yarlung
Tsangpo river. You will visit Samye Monastery which was among the first monasteries built in the 7th century with
buildings of three different styles: Tibetan, Han and India. Overnight at Tsedang.
Day 6:
Yarlung Valley to Lhasa
Visit Yumbulakang Palace, the first castle built for the Tibetan King and Trundruk Monastery and then drive back to Lhasa.
Day 7: Lhasa to Shigatse via Yamdrok and Gyantse
In the morning, you will depart Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse.
En route, we will pass the spectacular Khamba La pass (4,794m/15,728ft) from which we’ll get stunning views
of the snowy summit of Nazin Kang Sa (7,252m/23,792ft) looking across the waters of the Yamdrok-tso Lake.
Follows the breathtaking lake bank to Gyantse. Visit
Pelkhor Tsode Temple which is famous for its arrays of buddhas, hence
the nickname "10 thousand Buddha Temple". We then continue westwards over another high pass,
the Karo La (5,045m/16,551ft), from which you can see a huge spectacular glacier tumbling down to within a few hundred
meters off the road. After passing through beautiful
valleys and colorful Tibetan villages we arrive in the town of Shigatse.
Day 8:
Tingri / Rongbuk Monastery / Base Camp
You will transverse along the Friendship Highway amidst picturesque landscape, passing small town of Lhatse and
Gyamtso La pass at 5,220m (17,126ft). As the route opens into plains, many monasteries and camps of nomadic herders
become visible en route to Tingri where you will continue on a 110km winding dirt road to Mt. Everest Base Camp.
Overnight at Base Camp. No running water available. Basic noodle dishes and bedding will be provided.
Sunrise and sunset view of Mt. Everest are not to be missed. You will see the brightest starry sky you have ever
seen if you are lucky.
Day 9: Back to Shigatse
After watching sunrise from the eastern face of Mt. Everest (Mt. Qomolangma as locals call it ever since nobody
else knew about it), you will visit Rongbuk monastery, which is said to have the best view of Mt.
Everest. Then you will follow the same route back to Shigatse. Relax at Shigatse
and stroll around local markets if you want.
Day 10: Shigatse
to Lhasa via Yurlong Tsangpo River
After visiting Panchang Lama's adobe and and past residence
- Tashilunpo Monastery, you will follow the beautiful Yurlong Tsangpo River back to
Lhasa. Day
11: A
free day in Lhasa
A day of leisure in which you are free to explore Lhasa further, revisit
your favorite monastery or simply sit in a café overlooking the
Barkor, watching the pilgrims as they circumambulate the Jokhang,
or stopping to peruse the merchandise at the stalls lining the
route.
There is also the option of an additional tour to places such as the
Tibetan Medical Centre, Ganden Monastery and Tsurphu Monastery.
Day
12: Depart Lhasa
You will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight home.
For further enquiry please feel free to mail us at: enquiry@AccessTibet.com |
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