Lhasa Gongga Airport (Google Map)
Lhasa Gongga Airport (Google Map)
Day 1 Arrive at Lhasa (-/-/-)
Transfer via: Flight arrive Lhasa arranged by you
Be met at Lhasa airport /station, and then transfer to your downtown hotel. The left time is free for you to have a rest for acclimatizing the high altitude.
Day 2 Lhasa (B/L/-)
Today you will have a full day tour to explore Potala Palace, Tibet Museum, Jokhang, Barkhor Street in Lhasa city.
As the day’s most important highlight, Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. It’s the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19mat the topmost point. This ancient architectural complex is considered a model of Tibetan architecture. Today the Potala Palace is a state museum, a popular tourist attraction, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was also recently named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”.
Except visit the Potala Palace, you will also have a tour to The Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Located in central Lhasa, with an area of 25,100 square meters, the Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. It was built to commemorate the marriage of the the Tang princess Wencheng to King Songtsen Gampo, and houses a pure gold statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni brought to Tibet by the princess. Several centuries later, it becomes one of Tibet’s holiest shrines. Followed by the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street is essentially a pilgrim circuit that proceeds clockwise around the periphery of the Jokhang Temple. It is also a hive of market activity, an astounding pilgrim jamboree, and a wonderful introduction to Tibet.
Day 3 Lhasa (B/L/-)
After breakfast, start today’s tour to Drepung Monastery, which is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse Mountain, five kilometers from the western suburb of Lhasa. It was built in 1416, covering an area of 250,000 square meters. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice.
Followed by the tour to Drepung Monastery, we continue to visit Sera Monastery which was founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe who was a disciple of Tsongkhapa. The “Buddhism Scriptures Debating” in Sera is very famous. Then go ahead to Norbulingka which means “Jeweled Garden”. It was constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama and later served the whole governmental administration. The last destination of today is the Carpet Factory where you can get a general idea how carpets are produced.
Day 4 Lhasa to Shigatse (B/L/-)
This morning will drive you from Lhasa to Shigatse, via from Yamdrok Tso. Then have a stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yamdrok Tso. Yamtso Tso Lake where you will enjoy the vista of its pincer-shaped expanse of turquoise water, with the mysterious Mt. Donang Sangwari on the peninsula beyond, and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7,191m) in the distance, and Gyantse Kumbum.
Then continue to Shigatse. After checking-in, you will have another tour to Tashilunpo Kloster which is the largest monastery in Shigatse area. The buildings in the Tashilunpo Kloster stand closely together in terraced rows, offering a grand and majestic view. It represents the Tibetan super architecture art in the Last Tibetan spirit and attracts thousands of Buddhists and tourists from domestic and abroad to travel and worship every year.
Day 5 Shigatse to Lhasa (B/L/-)
Today, you will be transfer back to Lhasa. While in the morning, accompany with the guide, you will have another tour to The Palgor Chorten. Located at the foot of Dzong Hill, about 230km south of Lhasa and 100kmeast of Shigatse, the Palgor Chorten is very different from other monasteries. Built as a Tibetan monastery, its structural style is very unique, reputed as the lord of Tibetan stupas.
After finishing this tour, drive back to Lhasa. After back to Lhasa, the left time is free for you.
Day 6 Lhasa (B/-/-)
Transfer via: Flight departure Lhasa arranged by you
It’s free for you to explore Lhasa city before transfer you to the airport for catching flight to the next destination.
