Tibet 6-Day 5-Night City Tour

Description

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Lhasa
Upon arrival at the airport, your tour guide will meet and greet you and will locate you on the bus where your exciting trip begins. Tibet, a historical region often referred to as “the roof of the world,” housing some of the unique cultural, historical and religious presences. Tibet is located on a high plateau, the Plateau of Tibet, surrounded by enormous mountain masses; it is remarkable that civilization was able to be established there. Upon arrival in Lhasa, your local tour guide will meet and greet you at the airport. Shortly after, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in; Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure for acclimatization, and explore the Tibetan plateau or local bazaar at your own pace.

Day 2 Lhasa (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, visit the excellent museum and World Heritage Site, the “Potala Palace”; a winter palace of the Dalai Lama since origination in the 7th century, the site was built over the renowned “Jokhang Temple,” erected by the late king Songtsen Gampo. The “Jokhang Temple,” is one of the oldest temples in Tibet history, is considered the most sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism. It, along with the “Potala Palace,” has since been rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the late 17th century. Walk through the streets of Barkhor (built in 1416 by Tsongapa’s disciple—Jamyang-Choje, is the middle square of Jokhang Temple), and experience the saintly sensation this sacred and historical place provides you; Experience the sacred site and get a great photo opportunity from both at-far and up-close to capture this magnificence of a site.

Day 3 Lhasa (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, we will visit the “Drepung Monastery,” also known for as “Rice Heap Monastery.” Founded in 1416 by Tsongkhapa’s chief disciples, it is renowned as the largest monastery in Tibet, and also is known as a member of the “great three” Gelug university monasteries of Tibet. Then, we will move on to the Sera Monastery. The main highlight of the Sera Monastery is watching the crowd of monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day except Sunday, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills – an impressive sight to behold, as the monks are very animated in their debates about the various attributes of Buddhist scriptures.

Day 4 Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, we’ll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you’ll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier as seen from the Karola Pass. Later on, we’ll be able to visit the Karola Glacier before continuing along the southern Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you will be able to see the famous Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most remarkable architectural wonders in Tibet. Late in the afternoon, we will continue to Shigatse where we will spend the night.

Day 5 Shigatse-Lhasa (Breakfast)
After breakfast, we will get an early start today to visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, which was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama. After attending this ancient monastery, one of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism, we will head back to Lhasa in the afternoon.

Day 6  Lhasa-Home (Breakfast)
Today you will have free time until your tour guide escorts you to the Lhasa train station or airport for your departing train or flight from Lhasa.