9 Days Xining & Lhasa & Tsedang Tour

Highlights: Upon arriving in Xining, your local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel.Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own. 

Highlights: Today you will be driven 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 the train runs along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you will see land of snows, deserts, immense grassland, snow mountains, beautiful highland lakes. After arrival in Lhasa in the afternoon at about 16:50, 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. 

Distance: 175km    Drive: 5hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: Today, you will be driven to Tsedang, the capital of Shannan Prefecture and “the birthplace of Tibetan civilization”. Then visit Yumbulakang 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: 175km    Drive: 5hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: Today, you will be driven 40km to visit Samye Monastery. After the tour, drive back to Lhasa. 

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