Overview
All highlights of Lhasa, Tsedang, Gyantse, Shigatse & Everest Base Camp
This tour consists of the most popular destinations of Tibet in the reasonable durations. During the ten days trip, you will visit heart of Tibet, Lhasa; the cradle of Tibetan civilizations, Tsedang; the importance town of Tsang, Shigatse; the apex of the world, Mt. Everest. The tour will starts from Tsedang, where is lower in altitude and will give better and comfort acclimate to the plateau. Then the trip will connect to Gyantse and Shigatse, and extend to Everest Base Camp. At the end, you will get into Lhasa from EBC by driving from the northern route via Friendship Highway. The tour covers almost all the highlights of the above regions, for the historical, cultural sites and the spectacular vistas and landscapes. Potala Palace, Jokhang and Barkhor, Sera & Drepung, Norbulingka Palace, Yumbum Lakang, Samye, Chamdrok, Yamdrok Yumtso, Pelkor Chode and Kumbum Pagoda, Sakya Monastery, Tashilumpo Monastery and Everest Base Camp are all included into this tour. It must give you a chance to have the best view of symbolic sceneries and sites and to gain the deep knowledge for the main parts of Tibet.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival Gongga Airport & Pick-up to Tsedang
Day 02 Yarlung Valley Sightseeing (B)
Day 03 Gyantse via Yamdrok Yumtso Lake (B)
Day 04 Lhatze via Shigatse & Sakya (B)
Day 05 Rongbuk Monastery & Everest Base Camp (B)
Day 06 Everest Sunrise View & Return to Shigatse (B)
Day 07 Drive to Lhasa (B / D)
Day 08 Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Day 09 Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Day 10 Lhasa Departure (B)
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Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival Gongga Airport & Pick-up to Tsedang
Upon arrived at Lhasa Gongga Airport, our local guide and driver will pick you up there and then Then drive about 150km along the east bank of Yarlung Zangpo River to Tsedang, the capital town of Shannan Prefecture. Tsedang is located at the bank of Yarlung Zangpo River with altitude of 3,500m. Rest time is free for plateau acclimation or leisure walking around in the town.
Day 02: 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 03: 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 04: Lhatze via Shigatse & Sakya (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 have lunch 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 05: Rongbuk Monastery & 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 06: Everest Sunrise View & Return to Shigatse (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. Then we drive back to Shigatse via the previous route.
Day 07: Drive to Lhasa (B / D)
Morning visit Tashilumpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lhama. It has an impressive scale and retains the highest gilded bronze statue of Champa Buddha in the world. Later we drive back to Lhasa via the northern route. Rest time in Lhasa is free leisure. Dinner will be served as the Tibetan food, during Tibetan singing and dancing performances.
Day 08: 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 09: 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 10: Lhasa Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport or the train station according to the schedule.
