Glimpse of Tibet Tour (Fly in Fly Out)

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 Tibetan traditional welcoming and blessing scarf which consist meaning of good luck. You will be pick 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 Yarlong 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 venders selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods and religious items. If you like you can also ask your tour guide 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 the life in Lhasa in a lazy afternoon.

Day 3: Lhasa
After breakfast, you are driven to visit the Norbulingka Park, the former summer palace of 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 Lhakang Temple. You will have you best picture shot of Yamdrok lake at the higest alivation enroute to Gyantse, Kampa La above below 4800meters.

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 seems small and have been ingnored by many toursit but this temple has the greatest master Atisha’s life’s last years. This temple is of Drolma or Tara, a famous female bhodisattava.

Yamdrok Lake: After an hour 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 to Gyantse you certain will be tired. Driver and guide will drove you to the hotel where its booked. Take rest and have dinner. Overnight in Gyantse.

Day 05: Drive To Shigatse.
Today after breakfast, You will drive 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 lhakangs, 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 original.

Pelku Chode: Pelku Chode is the Monastery inside the same compound of Kumbum. After finished with sightseeing of Kumbum and Pelku Chode, you will drive to Shigatse. It about 95kms from Gyantse. On arrival to Shigatse you will be drive to Hotel. Oernight in Shigatse.

Day 06: Tashilunpo 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. Shigaste is Tibets 2nd most important city and Tashilunpo was the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Tashilunpo 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 Tashilunpo can be clearly seen from most points in Shigaste. 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.

Yumbulakhang Palace: Yumbulakhang is oldest palace in Tibet. Is is also the oldest monumental strcutre in Tsedang. Palace was believed to be that King Nyatri Tsenpo desecended from heaven to built this palace in 2nd century BC. Myths says 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 quaters.
Tandruk Monastery: Not very far from Yumbulakhang, Tandrk Monastery is situated at the road side. Tran means roc and druk means dragon in Tibetan. The monastery got is name from the legend that it could only be built after Songtsan Gampo had turned into a roc 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 extensionswere 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 Gelupa (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 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