9 Days Lhasa & Tsedang & Gyantse & Shigatse Culture Tour

Highlights: 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: 

The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650m above sea level. Take time out to relax and acclimate to the high altitude after arrival at your hotel. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for the first few days. It is advisable that you not take showers. For first time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom. Drink more water, have fresh fruit and plenty of rest will help to prevent the sickness. Have a good rest tonight, and get ready for tomorrow's journey. 

Elevation: 3500m 
Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street. Evening is a welcome dinner for the entire group. 
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 just take the climbing 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. 

Distance: 290km    Drive: 10hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: Today we will drive 290 km drive to visit Samye Monastery, then drive to Tsedang, the capital of Shannan Prefecture, located in Yarlung Valley.

Samye Monastery: Located in the quiet piedmont area of the Shannan Region, the Samye Monastery is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. With these unique features, this splendid temple has become an attraction for visitors from near and far.

Highlights: Today, you will will visit Yumbulangkang Palace, Trandruk Monastery.

Yumbulakang Palace: Lying 12km southwest of Tsedang Country, it is regarded as the first palace of Tibet's history and one of the oldest buildings in Tibet. The castle is divided into front and rear precincts. The front is a 3-storey building while the rear is dominated by a tall tower, like a castle, standing on the top of the Watchtower, you will get the panoramic view of the entire valley. 

Trandruk Monastery: Located 5km south of Tsedang, Trandruk Monastery is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. According to legend, the monastery could only be built after Songtsen Gampo turned into a roc and conquered an evil dragon. The name "trandruk" means roc conquering a dragon.

Distance: 350km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 3900m 

Highligths: Today we have to drive to Gyantse. On the way, we will pass over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and tourists will have a visit of Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier. 

Yamdrok Lake: Which is one of the 3 most sacred lakes in Tibet. It is a lake of 72km long, fed by numerous small streams and sourrounded by snow covered mountains. The two long arms of water, makeing it look like a scorpion from the sky. According to legend, Yamdok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.

Karola Glacier: At 5,560m above sea level, and with an area of 9.4 sq km, this imposing glacier is visible from the highway which links Lhasa and Shigatse. The glacier has been divided into black and white layers due to smoke pollution from motor vehicles, which gives a distinctive colors to this great glacier. 

Distance: 100km    Drive: 3hrs    Elevation: 3900m 

Highlights: Today we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery, then drive to Shigatse for overnight.

Pelkor Chode Monastery: Founded in 1418, Pelkor Chode Monastery is the main monastery in Gyantse of Tibet. The highlight inside is the Kumbum, which has 108 chapels in its four stories. As an important center of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism,  In 1904, the Gyangtse town and the Pelkor Chode Monastery were attacked by British army, although most of the damage was later restored, bullet holes from this attack still remain in the monastery.

Distance: 280km    Drive: 8hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: Today you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery, then be driven back to Lhasa.

Tashilunpo Monastery: As one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa sec, Tashilunpo Monastery is the manjor attraction in Shigatse and regarded as the Tibetan Buddhist centre of Rear Tibet. Founded by the First Dailai Lama in 1447, the monastery was expanded by successive Panchen Lamas. Covering an area of nearly 300,000 square meters and accommodating 800 lamas,  Tashilhunpo monastery is a must-see spot for travelers and buddhist followers and plays a very important role for Tibetan Tourism. 

Highlights: Today our guide will send you to train station or airport for your next destination. Your lifetime Tibet tour is completed now.