Chengdu - Lhasa - Ganden Monastery - Drak Yerpa - Lhasa
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Trip Rating:
Tour Code: TCT-CTT-07A
Tour Type: Private Tour with private guides & vehicles
Highlights: Welcome to Chengdu---home of giant pandas. Upon arrival, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Rest of the day will be free for you to relax.
Highlights: Today you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, followed by a trip to the Wenshu Temple, then wander around Jinli Old Street for shopping.
Chengdu Panda Base: Which is 10km from Chengdu downtown, and takes 35 drive to get there. The panda based was founded in 1987 with with 6 giant pandas that rescued from the wild. Through 2015, it has had 161 panda births, and its panda population has grown to 108. Located in the base, the Giant Panda Museum is the world’s only museum that focuses entirely on the critically endangered giant panda.
Wenshu Temple: Located in the northwest of Chengdu, the Wenshu Temple is a famous Buddhist temple in China. The present temple grounds were built in 1697 of the Qing Dynasty. Wenshu is the Chinese word for the future Buddha Maitreya, whose presence was found during the construction of the original temple in the form of persistent lights. Here you can find a fine cup of green tea and the best vegetarian food in the city. A tourist district called Wenshufang is around the temple, it is great place for food, souvenirs ,etc.
Jinli Old Street: Originally built in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Jinli Street is 350m long and a concentration of Chengdu nightlife, snacks and folk culture. There are many cafes and bars here - including Starbucks. They blend modern elements with the old buildings harmoniously. It is enjoyable to sit on a wooden or bamboo chair with a cup of delicious coffee. When night falls, the whole street is decorated with beautiful red lanterns on the each eave of the ancient buildings.
Recommended paid add-on Sichuan Opera show (RMB260=USD43/per): As one of the oldest and most interesting opera forms in Southwestern China, Sichuan Opera is an important part of Chengdu culture and a perfect combination of local dialect along with the customs, folk music, and dances from other regions. Besides the normal singing, and martial arts, Sichuan Opera has many unique features that set it apart, features such as fire breathing, changing faces, and juggling pottery. When enjoying the performance, visitors always amaze at different facial make-ups that are changed fast and mysteriously.
Highlights: Today you will be free until be escorted to airport for the flight to Lhasa. Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude.
Tips:
As the altitude of Lhasa is up to 3,500meters, so it is recommended to avoid strenuous activities or alcohol drinking for the first few days, taking NO shower upon new arrival is advisable. New commers usually have different level of high altitude sickness symptom, the best treatment is to drink more water, have enough rest , if neccessory you can ask the guide to bring you some oxgen bags to better acclimatize. These measures will help you to overcome or prevent the sickness.
Elevation: 3500m
Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Potala Palace: Which is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it.
Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-storey timber complex with a golden top, with the combination of Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photograpers.
Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to lear Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicarfts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka, religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or famiy, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.
Tips:
1) Some visitors might feel a bit hard to breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly.
2) Some places are not allowed to take photos, please kindly inquire your guide for details.
3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare and bargain for the unique souvenirs
4) During the summer time, the musical fountain show at the Potala Plalace Square is 19:30—22:00PM.
5) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day.
Elevation: 3500m
Highlights: Today you will visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and enjoy the debate.
Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means 'Collecting Rice..
Sera Monastery: Which is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. From of Mon ~ Fri, every afternoon, you ll be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery.
Tips:
1) Today's road condition is good. The tour involves some easy walking and climbing
2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day.
Highlights: Today our guide will meet you and drive you to visit Drak Yerpa, afternoon you will proceed to visit the ancestral Monastery--Ganden Monastery. Then drive back to Lhasa.
Drak Yerpa: Located on a hillside in the Yerpa Valley, 16 km northeast of Lhasa, Drak Yerpa is dotted with more than 80 meditation caves. It is described as the "life tree" or spiritual axis of Lhasa. Before the Cultural Revolution is was the home of several hundred hermits, monks, and nuns. but many was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution (1968-76) , hence the decline of the valley as countless relics and temples were destroyed throughout Tibet. The cliffs were riddled with burrows and caves, some of which were so high up on the fact of the abrupt hill that it would have been risky to climb them.
Ganden Monastery: Located 47 kilometers from Lhasa, Ganden Monastery known as one of the 'Three Great Temples', together with the Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. Ganden Monastery stands at an altitude of 3,800m (12,467 feet) above sea level, it is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its great significance in religion, art, politics and culture, and is now being well preserved by the government. The the famous Buddha Painting Unfolding Festival is conducted here every year, which has attracted countless visitors and pilgrims.
Tips:
1) Today's road condition is good. The tour involves some easy walking and climbing
2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day.
Highlights: Today you will be escorted to airport for the flight to next city, the lifetime Tibet tour ends.
All Tibet travel permits
Meals as listed in itinerary
Accommodation as listed in itinerary
Domestic flights/trains if listed in itinerary
Lisenced local English-speaking tour guides
Private transportation with experienced drivers
Entrance ticket fees for attractions listed in itinerary
Oxygen for emergey usage (Only for the groups going to Everest or Kailash area)
China Visa
Personal expense
Travel insurance (Recommended)
International flights to and out of China
Tips and gratitude to tour guides and drivers
Meals if not specified in the itinerary (Average meals cost is USD5-8/per)