Overview
This is an aggressive but paced tour that covers all parts of central Tibet, extensively included Lhasa, Nyingchi, Tsedang and Shigatse. The tour starts from Lhasa, continues to Nyingchi, and drives from the east to the west, from Tsedang to Zhangmu, passing along the south lines of Tibet, namely along the Himalayas. Compares other parts of Tibet, Nyingchi is rarely visited by the western travellers. However, located in eastern Tibet, Nyingchi is unique for its climate, geography, Tibetan tribes, flora and fauna, which are all different from rest of Tibet. Due to this reason, Nyingchi is compared to “the South Yangtze of Tibet”, meaning the place represents the prosperity, beauty and rich in resources. From this tour, you will have a look of 7,782 meters Namche Barwa Peak, the particular garden style Lamaling Monastery, the world’s deepest canyon of Yarlung Zangpo Canyon, and the remote villages with the Tibetans dressing the different wears. If you are travelling around April or May, you would see the peach or azaleas blooming in the valleys. After Nyingchi, we will drive to Tsedang along the Yarlung Zangpo River, you will pass through the dense virgin forests, experience a portion of off-beaten track driving, see the majestic canyons and huge mountains, but the highlights for this area is the extremely mysterious Lhamo Nhatso Lake. It is said the lake would present one’s future fate and it plays a key important role in the reincarnation system of Living Buddhas. Every reincarnations of Dalai Lhama is founded under the clues of divinations of the lake. Then, the tour will let you visit Tsedang, the cradle of Tibetan civilizations; visit Gyantse by crossing scared Yamdrok Yumtso Lake; visit Shigatse, the cultural town of Tsang; visit Everest Base Camp and finally exit Zhangmu to Kathmandu. If you want to get deep insight and comprehensive view of main parts of Tibet, this tour would fit for you.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Lhasa (D)
Day 02 Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Day 03 Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Day 04 Nyingchi & Hike around Ganden (B)
Day 05 Nyingchi Sightseeing (B)
Day 06 Gyatsa along Yarlung Zangpo River (B)
Day 07 Lhamo Nhatso Explores & Drive to Tsedang (B)
Day 08 Yarlung Valley Sightseeing (B)
Day 09 Gyantse via Yamdrok Yumtso Lake (B)
Day 10 Lhatze via Shigatse (B)
Day 11 Rongbuk Monastery & Visit Everest Base Camp (B)
Day 12 Everest Sunrise & Drive to Zhangmu (B)
Day 13 Zhangmu exit for Kathmandu (B)
Get Inspired
https://plateautours.com/destinations/tibet/comprehensive-tour-of-central-tibet#sigProId741b7c1469
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Lhasa (D)
Upon arrived at Lhasa Gongga Airport or the Lhasa Train Station, our local guide and driver will pick you up there and then drive to Lhasa downtown and check in the hotel located at Barkhor quarter. Rest time is free for altitude acclimation. Dinner will be served as the welcome dinner, with Tibetan food during Tibetan singing and dancing performances.
Day 02: Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Morning visit the Potala Palace, the world's highest construction. With the 13 stories and 119 meters in height, Potala Palace is composed by the two parts of the White Palace and the Red Palace with the different functions. The White one is used for Dalai Lamas’ living, working and studying. The Red one consists mainly of various chapels and stupas. In the afternoon, visit Jokhang Monastery, which is located in the heart of Lhasa’s old section of Barkhor. Built in seventh century, Jokhang Monastery is the oldest monastery and is the earliest timber construction in Tibet. It is also the spiritual focus for the Tibetans, where you can see the most devotional pilgrims and worships from morning till dark. Encircling of the Jokhang, here is Barkhor Street, the pilgrims are walking around the temple for centuries already. Leisure walk around this crowding medieval street to witness the local lifestyle
Day 03: Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Morning visit Norbulingka, literally means “Jewel Garden”, was the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas. The palaces are shaded by the flourish and green trees, the murals on the main hall’s walls show a long history here. Later visit Drepung Monastery, one of the most important monasteries of Gelugpa sect. in Tibet. Built in 1416, Drepung Monastery gains the name of “Heap of Rice” due to its white structure appearance. Then visit Sera Monastery, one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa. Except the treasures and well-preserved original murals in the monastery, you will also have a great chance to view the heated scriptural debates of the monks.
Day 04: Nyingchi & Hike around Ganden (B)
Hit the road along Niyang River to Nyingchi, the east of Tibet. At 65km away of Lhasa stop for visit Ganden Monastery, moderate hike in a very beautiful valley around the monastery. Then take the road eastward along NO. 318 national highway to corss through the vast forest regions with the fascinating greens, pass by farmlands and hamlets, climb across Mila Pass (5,020m) where we get a overlook of 7,782m majestic Namche Barwa Peak.
Day 05: Nyingchi Sightseeing (B)
Morning out of the town 30km to visit Lamaling Monastery, a Nyingma Sect. Monastery, as well as the only one garden style Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Tibet, with the ingenious and exceptional architectural style. Later visit the ancient huge cypresses forest. The biggest one has a history even more than 2,000 years, with the 46 meters in height and 4.5 meters in circumference, so it gains the name of “the King of Cypress”. Rest time walk around the town and explore the local market.
Day 06: Gyatsa along Yarlung Zangpo River (B)
Today we take scenic drive to Gyatsa along Niyang River and upper of Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Zangpo River). The road after half journey becomes very tough, but the scenery is worthwhile, blending with changes of landscapes include forest, high mountain, desert, huge river, and some beautiful Tibetan villages inhabited by eastern Tibetan tribes. Chatsa is a one street Tibetan town, where is the gateway point to Lhamo Nhatso Lake. The accommodation here is very basic.
Day 07: Lhamo Nhatso Explores & Drive to Tsedang (B)
Take some short distance drive from Gyatsa and make detouring to the mountain path with 30km tough road to Lhamo Nhatso Lake, the most legendary lake in Tibet. It is considered sacred to one of the forms of protectress Shridevi and revered as the life-supporting talisman of Dalai Lamas. Dalai Lamas have traditionally made pilgrimage here to seek visions that appear on the oracle lake. Later take westward road to Tsedang along Yarlung Zangpo River.
Day 08: Yarlung Valley Sightseeing (B)
Full day explore in Tsedang, the Yarlung Valley. Visit Yumbum Lakang, reputed to be the first palace in Tibet. Nearby Tibetan King Tombs, the burial sites of the Tibetan Kings. On the way to Yumbum Lakang, you can stop for visiting Chamdrok Monastery, the Tibet’s first Buddhist chapel was built here. At the last, visit Samye Monastery, the earliest temple established in Tibet, a grand constructions mixed with Tibetan, Chinese Han and Indian features.
Day 09: Gyantse via Yamdrok Yumtso Lake (B)
The trail goes westward along Yarlung Zangpo River to Gyantse via Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. At 4,990m Gangpa La Pass, the indescribably beautiful Yamdrok Yumtso Lake will come into the eyesight, the Karola Glaciers (5,030m) takes on later. Then we will arrive at Gyantse, a small and simple town with more than 600 years history.
Day 10: Lhatze via Shigatse (B)
Morning visit Pelkhor Chode and Kumbum Pagoda, a remarkable monastery coexisting three Tibetan Buddhism sects of Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Kahdampa. After Kora around the monastery, drive about 1.5 hours to Shigatse, where we visit Tashilumpo Monastery and then continue westward to Lhatze. On the route, make short detour to the southeast to visit Sakya Monastery. This grand Sakyapa sect. monastery boasts for its countless scriptures and precious mural paintings, mostly of the thirteenth century. Visit the monastery of the southern part, and hike around the northern ruins.
Day 11: Rongbuk Monastery & Visit Everest Base Camp (B)
Hit the mountainous road to Rongbuk Monastery via Shegar. At Gyatso La Pass and Pang-La Pass, if the weather permits, you can overlook the Himalayan mountain ranges stretching endlessly. Roads to Everest Base Camp become zigzags after Shegar, while is full of challenging and fun. Rongbuk Monastery is the world’s highest monastery. Gains the favorable distance to Mt. Everest, Rongbuk is the best and closest view for the Everest and becomes the base camp for the mountaineers who will climb the Qomolangma Peak at its north face. You can get a view for the records of those past mountaineers at Rongbuk; trek (about 2 hours) or take the cable car (about 15 minutes) to E.B.C, where you would possible view the sunset that the peak looks like a white pyramid miraculously shined by the sunglows; have a look for shapes of Rongbuk glaciers, the ones as bridges or pagoda. Overnight at Rongbuk simple guest house (dorm bed).
Day 12: Everest Sunrise & Drive to Zhangmu (B)
Wake up early morning, enjoy the spectacular sunrise of Mt. Everest and possibly the wonder of “Banner Clouds”, the thick clouds and fog, waving like the flags. After visiting, we drive back to the border town Zhangmu. The trail is set amidst at the cliff of the mountain and is very twisting and twining through the valleys, whilst the scenery in this portion is stunning and incredible greens that reveal the sense all quite different with the rock mountainous areas in Tibet you have past. Arrives this trip’s last stretch Zhangmu, explore this bustling border town.
Day 13: Zhangmu exit for Kathmandu (B)
Morning the guide will help you for the customs clearance and cross the Friendship Bridge to Nepal side. End the wonderful journey.
Experiences & Activities
- Gain the insight into the all districts of central part of Tibet
- Visit main sites in Lhasa, Nyingchi, Tsedang, Gyantse & Shigatse
- Get to Everest Base Camp and get close of Mt. Qomolangma
- Excursion the mysterious Lhamo Nhatso Lake & scared Yamdrok Yumtso Lake
- Experiences the huge mountains, deep gorges and remote villages
