This particular tour is especially well-suited for families, with an easy pace that accommodates both children and older travelers.
It features many of Tibet's best sights without being too physically demanding.
Discover and visit Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist and Nyingma monastery in Tibet, founded in 779 by Guru Padmasambhava.
Explore Tsedang, home to Tibet’s earliest palace, built for the first king in the 7th and 8th centuries. Be stunned by Yamdrok Lake, the ornate Kumbum Monastery in Gyantse, and the stunning Namtso Lake, nicknamed the “Sky Lake” for its incredible beauty.
Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar airport, your adventure begins,
our guide and driver will greet you at the exit gate, holding a sign with your name on it. "Tashi Delek" will probably be the first Tibetan words you will hear upon arrival. It is a traditional gesture of welcoming our guests, followed by the offering of a white scarf which is called a Khata in Tibetan.
Drive around 70kms from the airport to the old city of Lhasa which will take 45 minutes to 1h depending on the traffic. Along the way, you will have glimpses of the Yarlung River/ Brahmaputra River and a close view of the majestic Potala palace.
Check into your hotel, the first day is crucial for the travelers to have a good rest at their hotel, and acclimatize to the environment.
Breakfast will be served at your hotel from 7:30 am to 10.30 am.
Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel to visit the sacred Jokhang temple located in the heart of Lhassa's old city (just a short 5 minute walk.)
This temple is a very important location spiritually but also a commercial hub central to Tibet's culture and history. It was the center of Tibet in its early years.
Barkhor Street is approximately a 15-20 minutes walk around the Jokhang temple. Join local pilgrimages as they circumambulate clockwise with their prayer wheels in their hand.
The street is filled with many shops and now has become a shopping hub.
Walking around Barkhor Street will be a pleasant and captivating experience, you will be able to see many Tibetan local devotees on their prostration and a colorful array of cultures of people from different parts of Tibet.
After lunch, visit the Sera monastery, there is usually a debate session of monks which starts around 3 pm in the monastery courtyard. This dynamic exchange of Buddhist philosophy is an interesting highlight of Tibetan monastic life.
Conclude the day at the Sera monastery built in the 15th Century by The Jamchen Choji Sakya Yeshi who was a disciple of Tsongkapa the founder of Gelukpa sect, one of the four major schools in Tibetan Buddhism.
Begin your morning with a visit to the Potala Palace: as refreshing as a brisk walk alongside the lake with a cool breeze and breathe.
After checking in at the gate, stairs and steps will take you higher towards the iconic Red and White Palaces. The White Palace is dedicated to administrative affairs, while the Red Palace is a sacred space for religious practices.
Potala Palace was originally founded by the 33rd King of Tibet Songtsan Gampo in the 7th Century and later rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th Century.
Take time to rest during the visit, every stair is worth the effort for the beautiful bird eye view of Lhasa you will get and the palaces rooms, and chambers.
Get into a beautiful 3 hour drive from Lhasa to Samye monastery, with a stop at Dorji Drak monastery en route. Adjacent beside a rocky hill, Dorji Drak offers stunning views of a lake on the other side of the hill.
It will be a quick and pleasant visit, Continue with a one hour drive to Samye monastery, Tibet’s first Buddhist monastery and a cornerstone of the Nyingma tradition. Founded in 779 by Guru Padmasambhava during the reign of King Trisong Detsen, Samye is located in the Chimphu Valley near Hepori Hill, along the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
This big Monastery's unique layout takes the shape of a giant Madala, in its center lies the main temple representing the legendary Mount Meru. In its corners, there are 4 stupa/chortens- white, red, green, and black.
Have lunch at the monastery restaurant or in a restaurant nearby.
Afterward, journey to Tsedang to visit Yumbu Lhakhang, Tibet’s first palace, built for the first king, Nyatri Tsenpo. Recently renovated, this historic site offers breathtaking views of the Tsedang Valley, a perfect finale to the day’s exploration.
Enjoy a 5 to 6 h drive from Tsedang to Gyangtse. Your first stop is the holy Yamdrok Lake, known as Yamdrok Yumtso in Tibetan, approximately 110 km from Lhasa via the Gambala Pass (4,790m) a 2, 5 to 3-hour drive.
This turquoise-blue lake has an incredibly beautiful view of the mountains and is enclosed by an ever blue sky. The length of the lake is 72km and runs parallel to the main road leading to our next destination.
Continue with a one hour drive to Karola Glacier.
Karola Glacier is one of Tibet's three major continental glaciers located at the boundary of Nangarze County.
If time permits, you may take a tranquil walk around Gyangtse Fort or complete a quiet and peaceful kora in the evening lasting about an hour.
Begin your morning at the Gyangtse Kumbum Pelkor Chorten, a remarkable stupa built in 1427 by the Gyangtse prince. Its name, Kum-bum means one hundred thousand holy images.
This stupa is a unique three-dimensional mandala designed to portray the Buddhist cosmos. It features nine levels and 77 chapels.
Journey to Shigatse, where we will stop by for lunch before heading to the monastery. Tashi Lunpu monastery was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447, it is the traditional monastic seat of several Panchen Lamas. A Kora around the monastery will take around one hour, and you will get beautiful bird-eye views of the old and new city of Shigatse.
Travel from Shigatse to the stunning Namtso Lake revered as the "Sky Lake" for its incredible beauty.
It is perched at an elevation of 4718m. This vast salt lake, the largest in the Tibet Autonomous Region, lies between Damxung County of Lhasa Prefecture and Baingoin County of Nagqu Prefecture.
After visiting Tashi Dor monastery at Namtso, Set out from Namtso to Lhasa on a scenic 4-hour drive (250 km). Go through the Lagenla Pass at 5,190 meters. This road trip of 4 hrs offers a spectacular view of the snowcapped Nyenchen Thangla mountain ranges. In the valleys and on the grassland, Tibetan nomads are living their simple lives in tents with their yak and sheep grazing nearby.
After arriving in Lhasa, we will give you enough time to rest and prepare yourself for the evening home dinner.
On this 9th day, you can walk around in the heart of Lhasa, through the markets, to hunt for unique souvenirs, take pictures of the city's charm...
In the evening, join us for an intimate home-cooked dinner hosted by our team.
We have a special cook in our team who will prepare authentic Tibetan dishes, not too greasy nor too spicy. We will also teach you how to make Yak momo, a local delicacy. For this memorable evening, share stories of your Tibetan adventure, connect with our team, and offer insights on how we can enhance your journey.
As your Tibetan adventure draws to a close, your guide and driver will ensure a seamless departure, picking you up from your hotel and escorting you to your flight or train on time. This is the time we always hope in our hearts that you had a wonderful time during your visit, and that your journey with us has been unforgettable, filled with authentic moments and warm hospitality that met your expectations.
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