Duration : 07 Nights / 08 Days
Destination Covered : Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa - Lake Namtso - Lhasa
DAY 01 : Arrival In Lhasa (3680m)
Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, it usually takes abt 1.5hrs; from Lhasa Railway Station, abt 20mins. After transferred to the hotel, the rest of the day you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not to shower if you can help it.
Stay overnight in Lhasa, 3★/4★
Other service: Free Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all time on first & last day, Free Lhasa Airport transfer on first & last day at times
DAY 02 : Lhasa Sightseeing
Our guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel in the early morning and then drive to visit the Drepung Monastery which is located at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples.
After lunch, you are going to visit the Sera Monastery which is located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa City; Sera Monastery is one of three famous monasteries in the city along with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. One of the main attractions of Sera Monastery is debating. As a part of their study, lamas must participate in debates to further their comprehension and proceed to more advanced levels of study. The debating usually is held at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon except for Sunday.
Stay overnight in Lhasa, 3★/4★
Attraction: Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery
Meals: Breakfast & Welcome Dinner
DAY 03 : Lhasa Sightseeing
Today's tour will begin to visit the famous world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa; Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m (12,359.55ft) at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is the most sacred temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After you visit the temple you have time to walk around the Barkhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as you ll as the crowded central market of Lhasa since from a long time, in the early days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed to the tourist gift shopping center.
Stay overnight in Lhasa, 3★/4★
Attraction: Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 04 : Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse (3840m), 360km, Approx 7hrs
From Lhasa to Gyantse is about 264km, en route you will pass by Khamba-la Pass (4794m), from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdrok Lake with its turquoise color and snowcapped Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. About two hours away from Yamdrok Lake is Karola Glacier. It isn’t a big glacier, but the white glacier is spectacular from the highway, and it is close enough (about 300 yards) to walk to from the highway. Arrival at Gyantse, you visit Kumbum stupa and Palkhor Choede monastery, this magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, it is not only you ll known for its architecture but also its old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls. Then head to Shigatse via the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where colorfully decorated yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to till the land.
Stay overnight in Shigatse, 3★/4★
Attraction: Yamdroktso Lake Karola Glacier Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 05 : Shigatse – Lhasa, 280km
Option A: Drive From Shigatse – Lhasa, Approx 05 hrs
Option B: Train From Shigatse – Lhasa, Approx 3hrs
n the morning, visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery which is founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, the monastery's structure was expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas.
For the trip back to Lhasa from Shigatse, we have two solutions which will be decided by Great Tibet Tour.
Option A: Drive from Shigatse – Lhasa
Option B: Train from Shigatse – Lhasa
For Option B, the guide will accompany you to take a taxi to Shigatse Railway Station and take the train from Shigatse to Lhasa. And upon your arrival in Lhasa, we will arrange you to be dropped off at your hotel. The taxi & train fare are included by GTT.
Stay overnight in Lhasa, 3★/4★
Attraction: Tashilhunpo Monastery
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 06 : Lhasa- Namtso(4718m) ,250km, Approx. 5 Hrs
In the morning, we drive to the holy Namtso lake along the Qinghai-Tibet. On the way to Namtso, you will have a far view of NyenchenThanglha Snow Mountain. Enjoy the view of the vast grassland and spectacular natural scenery.
You'll arrive at Namtso Lake after pass NagelaPass(5150m), it covers a total area of more than 1900 square kilometers, being the second largest salt lake in China. At an elevation of 4718 meters, it is also the highest altitude salt lake in the world, the furthest depth being more than 33m. Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Nagela Pass, you can see the stunning view of holy Namtso Lake. If the weather is good, you will have a chance to enjoy the marvelous sunset view of the lake.
Stay overnight at Namtso Guest house
Attraction: Namtso Lake
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 07 : Namtso- Lhasa,250km, Approx. 5 Hrs
In the morning, enjoy the sunrise of the lake at the shore and do leisure trek around Tashi Island. After that, we will go back to Lhasa. On the way, you will visit Yampachen Hot Spring (The price includes the entry fee, but excludes bathing Fee, $8-$15/person for different pools). Yampachen lies just south of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, famous for Yampachen Hot Springs, at an altitude of 4290–4500m making it the highest altitude set of hot springs in China. Both indoor and outdoor swimming pools have been set up here, in which visitors can enjoy a bath.
Stay overnight in Lhasa, 3★/4★
Attraction: Yampachen Hot Springs
DAY 08 : Lhasa Departure
Tour ends today. Tour guide and driver will drop you to the Lhasa airport or railway station for your next stop.
Meals: Breakfast
Other service: Free Lhasa Airport transfer on first & last day at times, Free Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all time on first & last day
