08 days Lhasa-Namtso-Yamdrok Tso-Gyantse-Shigatse-Ganden Monastery
Tibet cultural travel experience is far beyond visiting the Tibet must see cultural highlights of Potala Palace, Barkhor Bazaar and Jokhang Tempe which are reputed as the “window of Tibet”.
In this 8 days tour of Lhasa-Lake Namtso & Yamdrok- Gyangtse- Shigatse- Lhasa- Ganden Monastery, you will experience the local culture of Native Tibetan people in Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse, as well as in some country side area such as Darktse, Yangpachen, etc. Also you will never miss Namtso lake, Great site!
Tibet Golden Tour - Classic Tibet Travels Rough Schedule
Day 01 Arrival by train or air, transfer to Lhasa, check in hotel, rest for acclimatization
Day 02 In Lhasa, visit Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar, Sera Monastery
Day 03 In Lhasa, visit Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery
Day 04 Lhasa-Namtso-Lhasa (about 500km round-trip Nomad life experience)
Day 05 Lhasa-Yamdrok-Gyangtse-Shigatse (more than Tibet cultual discovery in center of Tibet)
Day 06 Shigatse sightseeing then back to Lhasa,
Day 07 one day highlight tour of Ganden Monastery and countryside nearby
Day 08 Leave Tibet for next Stop
Golden 8 days Tibet tour Day to day Tour itinerary
Day01 Arrival by train or air, transfer to Lhasa, check in hotel, rest for acclimatization
Upon your arrival at Lhasa Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station, your guide and driver will pick you up with your name sign, and then they will transfer you to Lhasa city safely. Your guide will give a brief introduction for your tour and clear to you with the more detailed arrangements for the tour in the following days. Have a good rest in your hotel for acclimatization, at around 8 pm, you may have a very light walking near your hotel to test your body. Accommodation: 3 stars standard and centrally located hotel (or any kinds of accommodations as per your idea)
Day02 In Lhasa, visit Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar, Sera Monastery
On this second day morning we will take a very easy visit to Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. Jokhang temple, the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques, is the most revered shrine in all of Tibet and is constantly bustling with devoted worshippers. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. In the afternoon we will visit is Sera Monastery, a fifteenth century sprawl of golden roofs and whitewashed walls. This well preserved monastery locates 5 km to the north direction of central Lhasa city. Sera may not be as grandiose as Drepung, but is more serene surrounded by many small temples. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous. Please be aware of the activities always begin in the afternoon except Sundays. After this visit to Sera, we can extend further to Pabonka Monastery which is a one-hour walk from the Sera Monastery return-off and it is well worth the effort.
Day03 In Lhasa, visit Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery
A trip to Tibet is a big loss if without experiencing the vital Potala Palace. Potala Palace is a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. We will visit those rooms, halls and chapels Another visit is to Drepung Monastery, once the world's largest monastery, housing 10,000 monks, it lies hidden in rocky ridges just beyond the city. Drepung Monastery is about 8km west from central Lhasa. These white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. After couple of hours here, we will walk downhill easily for around 10 minutes and get to Nechung Monastery. Nechung Monastery, the seat of State Oracle, is an eerie place associated with possession, exorcism and other pre-Buddhist sites.
Day04 Lhasa-Namtso-Lhasa (about 500km roundtrip Namtso)
Namtso Lake, one of the 4 famous holy lakes in Tibet, is amazing and traveling here is needed experience. Namtso is around 250 km to the northwest of Lhasa city, 75 km to the northwest of Damxung County which the Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes through. On the way getting close to this great natural scenic spot, we will also have grand view of the huge Grassland in northern Tibet-Chianthang Gransland, where are going to see many Tibetan Nomads with their beloved Tibetan yaks, horses, cows, goats. And we are going to see also many trains coming into Lhasa from mainland China. We will stop anywhere great to shoot pictures. After the busy tour, we will drive back to Lhasa via Yangpachen Geothermal where we could enjoy the bath in the hot Spring (as per our wish, normally our guests just stopped here for a moment and take a few pictures and then drive back to Lhasa).
Day05 Lhasa to Lake Yamdrok Gyangtse Palkhor Monastery & Kumbum pagoda, then to Shigatse
After breakfasts in Lhasa, we will drive to visit Lake Yamdrok, then descending down to Gyantse, where we will visit Pelkhor Monastery, Kumbum Pagoda and Gyantse Zhong, the government office before 1959), and after lunch, drive to have overnight stop in Shigatse. Accommodation: Shigatse Manasarover Hotel or Gangjian Hotel, or Shandong Mansion or Taixing Hotel, etc, similar one (Tibetan style)
Day06 Shigatse sightseeing then back to Lhasa, 280 km, 4-5 hrs safe drive
Today, our highlight will be the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery which is to the northwest of the city. And also we are going to experience the Shigatse local free Tibetan Market where we could do some easy shopping on our own. Then our guide and driver will accompany with you for your lunch arrangements, then we may have 1 hour nap and then leave Shigatse for Lhasa via the China Nepal friendship highway.
Day07 Lhasa-Drak Yerpa Meditation Caves (Guru Rinpoche Trail, to walk where he walked)-Ganden Monastery-Jiama Village Countryside view-Lhasa
Day08 Leave Tibet for next Stop