Glimpse of Tibet Tour (Fly in Fly Out)
Duration: 07 Nights 08 Days
Tour type: Private escorted tour with Tibetan tour guide, private vehicle with experienced driver
Departure: Flexible
Tour code: CTT-06
Max Altitude: 5030m
Lhasa, Shigatse, Tsedang, Gyantse are all located in central Tibet. Lhasa- Gyantse-Shigatse-Tsedang Tour Route which is known as the best cultural tourist route in Tibet covers the most majestic cultural museum, the most ancient palace, the most characteristic pagoda and numerous prosperous monasteries.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Lhasa Arrival
Day 02: Lhasa
Day 03: Lhasa
Day 04: Drive to Gyantse via Yamdrok Tso Lake.
Day 05: Drive To Shigatse.
Day 06: Tashilunpo Monastery and Free Market. Return To Lhasa.
Day 07: Drive to Tsedang via Samye
Day 08: Drive to Gongkar Airport/Railway Station to Beijing/Shanghai/Chengdu/Xi’An/Xining/Kathmandu.
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 debates!
Day 04: Drive to Gyantse via Yamdrok Tso 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.
Drolma Lhakhang Temple : Drolma Lhakang temple is situated west of Lhasa about 25kms. It is also on the way to Gongkar Airport. This temple might seem small and have been ignored by many tourists but this temple has the greatest master Atisha’s life’s last years. This temple is of Drolma or Tara, a famous female bodhisattva.
Yamdrok Lake: After an hour driving from Lhasa, you will reach the foothills 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 05: Drive To Shigatse.
Today after breakfast, You will drive Kumbum and Pelaku 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, 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.
Pelaku Chode: Pelaku Chode is the Monastery inside the same compound of Kumbum. After finishing with sightseeing of Kumbum and Pelaku 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 06: Tashilhunpo Monastery and Free Market. Return To Lhasa.
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 the sightseeing and strolling around the free market, you will drive back to Lhasa taking the north route. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 07: Drive to Tsedang via Samye
Today after breakfast you will drive to Tsedang via Samye Monastery.
Samye Monastery: Samye Monastery was founded in the 8th century during the reign of King Trisong Detsen with the help of the Indian Buddhist masters Padmasambhava and Shantarakshita, whom the king had invited to Tibet to help spread Buddhism. Padamasambhava is credited with subduing the local spirits and winning them over to Buddhism. The first Tibetan monks were ordained here after examination, and are referred to as the Seven Examined Men. Over the centuries Samye has been associated with various schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Padmasambhava's involvement makes Samye important in the Nyingma school, but it was later taken over by the Sakya and Gelugpa schools. Today, Tibetans of all traditions come to worship here.
Yumbulagang Palace: Yumbulagang is the oldest palace in Tibet. It is also the oldest monumental structure in Tsedang. Palace was believed to be that King Nyatri Tsenpo descended from heaven to build this palace in the 2nd century BC. Myths say it is the founding of Tibetan civilization. Yumbulakhang is constructed at the perfect crest of the hill divided into three different components; The tower, the chapel and monks quarters.
Tandruk Monastery: Not very far from Yumbulakhang, Tandrk Monastery is situated at the road side. Tran means rock and druk means dragon in Tibetan. The monastery got its name from the legend that it could only be built after Songtsan Gampo had turned into a rock and conquered an evil dragon. It’s said that renowned figures in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, such as Padmasambhava and Milariba, had practised Buddhism nearby after it was built and the remaining relics are Sacred land for the devotees.
Trandruk was built during the reign of Songtsan Gampo, and later extensions were designed by Juequjian of it. It’s said Princess Wencheng stayed and practised Buddhism here at one time and left some relics. Trandruk later converted to Gelugpa and experienced large-scale reconstruction and later it belonged to Gelugpa (one of the Sects of Tibetan Buddhism). Overnight in Tsedang.
Day 08: Drive to Gongkar Airport/Railway Station to Beijing/Shanghai/Chengdu/Xi’An/Xining/Kathmandu
After breakfast fast transfer to Airport for your flight to the next destination.
What's the price included?
- Private professional English-speaking Tibetan tour guide.
- Private transportation.
- All necessary Tibet travel permits.
- All accommodations with Breakfast, based on Double/Single/Triple-occupancy according to your requirement
- Deluxe/Standard/Budget accommodation according to your requirement
- Airport/train Station pick up & Drop
- Admission fees, Monuments entrance fees and activity expenses according to the itinerary.
- Service & government taxes.
- Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance
What's the price excluded?
- China visa/Tibet Visa
- All air tickets and train tickets to and from Tibet.
- Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary.
- Meals not listed in the itinerary.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
- Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.
- Single room supplement
Useful Information
Tibet Cultural Tour
- Tibet Shangri La Tour - 3 nights & 4 days
- Glimpse of Tibet Tour - 7 Nights 8 Days
- Lhasa Tsedang Tour - 5 Nights 6 Days
- Tibet Shangri-La Tour (5 Days) - 4 Nights 5 Days
- Classical Tibet Tour - 7 Nights 8 Days
- Central Tibet tour - 6 Nights 7 Days
Find Your Travel Mate
to cut down the cost
Come in a group and get special discounted price.
You will be regularly updated if anyone join into the program that you are intrested in.
Click here
to Write us