Detail Itinerary
Day 1: Lhasa Arrival
Welcome to the roof of the world! Your Tibet journey starts with warm greetings from Tibet tour Operator.com with Khaada/Mala/White Scarf from your l tour guide. Khaada is a Tibetan traditional welcoming and blessing scarf which consists of the meaning of good luck. You will be picked up at the airport or train station, then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa city at the comfort of your own private vehicle. During the hour-long drive to your hotel in the city, enjoy the breathtaking view along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Tibetan features can be seen along the way, including Big Buddha engravings on the hill near the road, colorful prayer flags and friendly Tibetan people. Overnight at Lhasa.
After you arrive at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore around Lhasa and acclimatize yourself to this high altitude city at the top of the world. The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650m above sea level.
Day 2: Lhasa
After Breakfast Take the challenge of climbing up to Potala Palace (3,650m above sea level) and get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas. Great photographic opportunities along the way up as you will have a great view of the traditional Tibetan architecture. Hear the story of the Dalai Lamas and see chapels that the Dalai Lamas studied, rested and worked in. Pass former Dalai Lamas’ graves which are decorated with beautiful treasures.
Continue your tour to Jokhang Temple, which is within walking distance from Potala Palace. It is considered the spiritual center of Tibet. You will see many pilgrims worship within or nearby the temple. Enter the first floor of the temple and absorb the religious atmosphere, you will see pilgrims are donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha. While learning about more Buddhas and Lamas than you can possibly remember you will gain a feeling for the vast history of Tibetan Buddhism. You might also hear red-robed Lamas praying. Walk up to the roof of the temple, take some pictures of the gold roof and enjoy the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa while observing pilgrims praying in front of the temple.
Finally, join locals in a traditional pilgrimage route by taking a relaxing walk in a large circular path around Jokhang Temple at Barkor Street. The street is filled with pilgrims taking part in religious activities and street vendors selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods and religious items. If you like you can also ask your tour guide to take you to visit a Thangka workshop to marvel at the fabulous Thangka art work. There are cafes along the street as well. You can relax and enjoy life in Lhasa on a lazy afternoon.
Day 3: Lhasa
After breakfast, you are driven to Norbulingka Park, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Explore the beautiful gardens and experience one of the most holy sites in Tibetan Buddhism while soaking up the rich history. Next, come to Drepung Monastery, which was once the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery housing 10,000 monks in its heyday. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks.
Your tour ends at Sera Monastery, where you will get the chance to experience “Buddhism Scriptures Debating”. These debates are unique to Sera and are quite famous. Enjoy the debatesDay 04: Drive To Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake.
Today after breakfast you will leave for Gyantse. Enroute you will enjoy the beautiful Scorpion shaped Yamdrok Lake. Before that you will visit the Drolma Lhakhang Temple. You will have your best picture shot of Yamdrok lake at the highest elevation enroute to Gyantse, KampaLa above 4800 meters.
Yamdrok Lake: After an hour or so driving from Lhasa, you will reach the foothill of Kampa la. From the view point of Kampa La, you will have your best view of Yamdrok Lake. Though you will not see the scorpion shaped lake (view map) but you will see the sky blue water also snow capped in winter. You will drive along the Yamdrok lake for about an hour to Gyantse. On arrival in Gyantse you will be tired. Driver and guide will drive you to the hotel where it's booked. Take a rest and have dinner. Overnight in Gyantse.
Day 04: Drive To Shigatse.
Today after breakfast, the driver will first drop you and the guide at the Kumbum and Pelku Chode. These are the very important sightseeing spots of Gyantse.
Kumbum: The first Kumbum was founded in the year 1427 by a Gyantse prince. It has nine lhakhangs or levels, is 35 metres (115 ft) high surmounted by a golden dome, and contains 77 chapels which line its walls. Many statues were destroyed during the cultural revolutions and have been replaced by clay images. But it lacks the artistic merits of the original.
Pelku Chode: Pelku Chode is the Monastery inside the same compound of Kumbum. After finishing with sightseeing of Kumbum and Pelku Chode, you will drive to Shigatse. It is about 95kms from Gyantse. On arrival in Shigatse you will be driven to Hotel. Overnight in Shigatse.
Day 05: Drive To Xegar Via Sakya Monastery.
Today after breakfast you will do the sightseeing of Tashilhunpo Monastery.
Tashlunpo Monastery: Tashilunpo Monastery was founded in 1447 and is the largest Yellow Hat sect monastery in Tibet. Shigatse is Tibet's 2nd most important city and Tashilhunpo was the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Tashilhunpo contains chortens, temples and the Panchen Lama?s palace. At its peak, Tashilunpo had more than 4,000 monks in its 4 monasteries. Upon the death of a Panchen Lama, it was the 4 abbots of these monasteries that would lead the search for his infant reincarnation.The monastery is a striking red, white and black Tibetan structure with a golden roof. Within the monastery there is a 5 story temple, which contains a 26 meters (86ft) sitting statue of the Maitreya Buddha. The statue was cast from 6,700 ounces of gold and over 115,000 kg of copper, making it the biggest copper Buddhist statue in the world. The massive Thangka wall at Tashilhunpo can be clearly seen from most points in Shigatse. The wall is used for displaying enormous Thangkas - religious painted banners - for only a few festival days each year. After sightseeing you will drive to Xegar.
Sakya Monastery: The seat of the Sakya or Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, it was founded in 1073, by Konchok Gyelpo (1034-1102), originally a Nyingmapa monk of the powerful noble family of the Tsang and became the first Sakya Trizin. Its powerful abbots governed Tibet during the whole of the 13th century after the downfall of the kings until they were eclipsed by the rise of the new Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight in Xegar.
Day 06: Drive To Rongbuk
We drive to Dza Romgbuk Monastery, crossing Pang La (5120m/16,794 ft) that rewards you with excellent views of several 8 thousanders like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Mount Everest. The journey mostly goes through dirt roads, passing through several picturesque villages. Upon arrival, check in a guesthouse or monastery accommodation and after refreshment; take an hour walk trek to the Everest Base Camp (5200m/17,333ft). Enjoy an unobstructed view of Mount Everest, from bottom to the top. Walk or take ox cart ride back to the monastery overnight. Basic guesthouse accommodation.
Day 07: Excursion around Everest Region and same day drive to Tingri.
Everest Base Camp Excursion (5030m) A 2 Hrs. Trek from the Rongbuk Monastery Will Lead You to the Base of the Highest Peak on Earth - The North Face or Mount Everest (8848m) or Mount Qomolangma in Tibetan. Explore the Base Camp and The Later In the Afternoon to Tingri. O/N at Guest House.
Day 08: Drive To Kerung.
You will cross two high passes Lablung La ( 5, 124m) and Tong La ( 5, 120m) and have the last views of Mount Everest, Sishapangma and Cho Oyu. Then the road drops to Kerung.
Day 09: Kerung- Border-Kathmandu.
At the Kerung Border, see off Tibetan Guide and driver and continue to Kathmandu with the Nepali counterpart. We stay in a deluxe hotel in Kathmandu that we deserve after traveling in rugged Tibetan terrain with limited facilities.