8 Days Xining & Lhasa & Shigatse Tour

Highlights: Upon arriving in Xining, your local guide will meet you and drive you 3 hours to visit Qinghai Lake, stay overnight at Qinghai Lake. 

Qinghai Lake: Located 130km from Xining and 3205m above the sea level, Qinghai Lake is the largest salt water lake In China. The lake is surrounded by amazing mountains and endless beautiful grasslands, you can enjoy the great views by walking, riding or biking. The lake is the paradise for birders, during summer time, the birds will be up to 100000. 

Highlights: Today you will drive back to Xining city, and visit the famous Ta'erMonastery, then embark your lifetime Qinghai-Tibet Train to Lhasa. Enjoy the fantastic plateau views along this highest railway in the world. 

Ta'er Monastery: As the birthplace of the Tibetan Buddhism master – Tsongkhapa Ta'er Monastery is one of the most famous 6 monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and a very important institute to learn Buddhism, Astronomy and Medicine. There are many Buddhist ceremonies organized here in each year. The 3 treasures of Ta'er Monastery are murals, barbola and butter sculptures. 

Highlights: Today after the amazing views along Qinghai Tibet railway, your train will arrive in 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: 

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 

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. 

Distance: 350km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: This morning you will be drive to Gyangtse and finally reach Shigatse for hotel check-in. After passing the Kamba-La Pass (4794m), you’ll get to the beautiful Yamdrok Lake for great highland lake view and the distant view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang(7191m). Continued is a 1.5 hour’s drive to visit the Karo-la Glacier (5050m). Then you will get to Gyangtze and visit the famous Palkor Monastery. Finally in the later afternoon you will reach Tibet’s 2nd largest city---Shigatse.

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. 

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.

Tips: 

1) The road condition from Lhasa to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake is rough road around mountains. 

2) The altitude is over 4,000m in some places and it is long drive, so if necessary, you may ask the guide to stop somewhere for a break and stretch your body.

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.