Outline:

Tour Length: 6 Days & 5 Nights

Best Time to Visit: All the year round

Physical Demands: Easy - suitable for all level of fitness, family with kids and senior groups

Main activities: Sightseeing

Trip Overview

Enjoy thisTibet tourwhich covers the major tourist sites like the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Bakor Street and Sera monastery in Lhasa. Tourists will also be able to visit one of the four sacred lakes in Tibet - the Lake Namtso, which has an altitude of 4718m. Its stunning beauty is surrounded by magnificent views of the Nyenchen Thanglha snow-capped mountain range, which is a home to the Tibetan nomads that live in harmony with their animals and their natural environment.

At a Glance

Day 1 Arrival in Lhasa

Day 2 Lhasa Tour - Potala Place, Johkang Temple, Barkor Street

Day 3 Lhasa Tour - Drepung and Sera Monastery

Day 4 Lhasa to Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours )

Day 5 Namtso Lake back to Lhasa via Yampachen (230km,5 hours )

Day 6 Depart from Lhasa

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa

Upon arrival in Lhasa, tourists may view the YarlungTsangpoRiver / Bhamaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on their way to hotel.

After arriving in Lhasa, tourist can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude or feel free to go to Potala Square, enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Day 2: Lhasa City, Potala Place and Barkhor Street

The tour will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site - Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.

Then continue to visit Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.

Day 3: Monasteries in Lhasa(Drepung and Sera)

In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416 by Jamyangchoge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace served as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

Afternoon, Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419 by Jamchenchojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Day 4: Lhasa to Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours)

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso. On the way, tourists can see Nyenchen Thanglha( snow mountain ranges )and lots of nomads tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated around the mountain side. Namtso Lake is the Heavenly Lake which is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt lake. You can do a very relaxing trekking around the lake side and Tashi Island.

To spend a night at lake shore is fantastic to see the stars.

Day 5: Namtso Lake back to Lhasa via Yampachen (230km,5 hours )

Enjoy the clear morning at the lake shore; tourists can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Drive to Dumxung to have lunch.

In the afternoon, you may enjoy Yangpachen hot spring (Optional) and have both indoor and outdoor swimming pool filled with hot springs water. Finally, head back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 6: Depart from Lhasa

Transfer tourists to the airport or train station.

Visa and Permit:

To enter Tibet, a visa for China is necessary; the standard tourist visa is valid for 30 days. Independent travelers in Tibet are not allowed. Therefore one still needs to be part of an organized tour, at least with a tour guide and Tibet Travel Permit. Tourists can ask Tibet travel agency for help, we recommended Tibet Vista(www.tibettravel.org), a localTibet travel agencyoffering various kinds of Tibet tours, they have rich experiences in Tibet tour and Tibet Travel Permit. Their Contact:inquiry@tibettravel.org