Tibet Cultural Tour

Detail Itinerary

• Day 1Kathmandu to Lhasa (3,650m/11,972ft) Today you will be embarking on an amazing adventure. Your flight leaves Kathmandu at midday and you will be arriving in Lhasa in the afternoon. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the local area. We will have a welcome dinner tonight where you will be familiarized with the itinerary and be introduced to local cuisine. Overnight in Lhasa.
• Day 2Full Day sightseeing in Lhasa Today you will have a full day tour of Lhasa. We visit the beautiful Potala Palace, once the seat of the Tibetan Government and also the winter home of the Dalai Lama. It is a magnificent architectural wonder some 13 stories high and is the iconic sight in Lhasa. From here there are wonderful views over the entire city and you can visit the private quarters of the Dalai Lama. We also visit the Norbulingka Palace, this was formerly the summer home of the Dalai Lama. Here you will see the largest man made garden in Tibet. After this we visit the Tibet Museum which houses a collection of artifacts relating to the cultural history of Tibet. Overnight in Lhasa.
• Day 3Full Day sightseeing in Lhasa Today we continue our sightseeing tour of Lhasa. We visit the Drepung Monastery which is one of the three most important monasteries of the Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It was once home to some 10,000 monks but is now reduced to a few hundred. We also visit the Sera Monastery which with it’s white washed walls and golden roofs is another of the important monasteries of the Gelugpa and is an impressive sight. We visit the Jokhang Temple, a 1300 year old temple that is the spiritual heart of Tibet. As a very important spiritual pilgrimage place you can see pilgrims prostrating themselves outside. The golden Buddha here is the most revered in all of Tibet. The Barkhor Bazaar (market) nearby is the heart of Lhasa with it’s open air stalls, shops and crowds of pilgrims. Overnight in Lhasa.
• Day 4Samye Monastery, Chim Phu Caves and Yambulakhang Palace Today we visit the Samye Monastery which is located on the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. This monastery was founded in 770AD by Guru Rinpoche and it has a rich history as Tibet’s first Buddhist Monastery at over 1200 years old. From here we visit the Chim Phu caves located above the monastery. These caves have been used for hundreds of years by monks and lamas who undertake silent meditation in this peaceful place. Our last stop is the Yambulakhang Palace which is situated on a rock outcrop above the Yarlung River Valley. It is a beautiful place and commands great views over the entire region. At the end of our day we return to Lhasa where we stay overnight.
• Day 5Namtso Lake day trip (4 hrs each way) Today we have a lovely day trip to Namtso Lake, which is the world’s highest saltwater lake and is at an altitude of 4718m. It’s deep blue waters mirror the surrounding Himalayan Ranges. The name “Namtso” means “heavenly lake” and it certainly is a good description for this heavenly place. After spending some time at the lake we drive back to Lhasa where we spend the night.
• Day 6Lhasa to Gyantse (3,950m / 12,956ft) 5-6 hours Our road trip starts today with a drive to Gyantse. We cross the Khamba La Pass (4794m) and stop to visit the stunning Yamdrok Tso Lake, nestled between the grey and green mountains this is one of the 3 sacred lakes of Tibet and shines a deep turquoise color when the sun is shining. We view the beautiful Nazin Kang Glacier (7252m) before crossing the Karo La Pass (5045m) enjoying the stunning mountain and glacier views before arriving at Gyantse. On arrival we visit the Khumbum Stupa and the Palkor Choede Monastery next to it. This is a very famous giant architectural stupa and is the only Nepalese styled stupa in Tibet. It was started in the 14th Century by the 1st Panchen Lama and is an important place for the Sakyapa (yellow hat) order and pilgrims. We also visit the Gyantse Dzong or Gyantse Fortress, a stunning sight located high on a hill above Gyantse city on a rocky hilltop. Overnight in Gyantse.
• Day 7Gyantse to Shigatse (3,900m / 12,795 ft) 2 hours Today we drive to Shigatse which is the second largest city in Tibet. Here we visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery which was founded by the first Dalai Lama in 1447 and is the seat of the Panchen Lama. It holds great significance and is one of the 6 major monasteries of the Gulugpa tradition in Tibet. After some sightseeing in Shigatse the remainder of the day is free for rest and acclimatization. Overnight in Shigatse.
• Day 8Shigatse to Lhasa (3650m / 11,972ft This morning we leave Shigatse and head back to Lhasa. We go a different way back through the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley, often referred to as the cradle of Tibetan civilization. We can marvel at the sand dunes in the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley and the mountain vistas that accompany our journey. Overnight in Lhasa.
• Day 9Departure Day Lhasa - Kathmandu Today is the end of your journey with us, you will be transferred to Lhasa airport in time for your journey back to Kathmandu.