TIBET - LHASA, GYANTSE & TSEDANG - 8 DAYS

Day 01: Fly to Gongkar Airport & drive to Lhasa (3600m/11811ft) 65 km, 1hr:
Your Tibetan guide will be waiting to welcome you at Gongkar Airport. After immigration formalities, you will drive for around 45 minutes to reach the old city, Lhasa (3660 meters). After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to take rest, drink plenty of fluids and most importantly let your body get used to Lhasa’s high altitude. During afternoon you can go around the hotel area for light walk and sightseeing. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Day 02: Sightseeing Tour of Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery:
After breakfast you will be briefed in detail about the program and entertain last minute questions. Then your guide will take you on a tour to Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery respectively.

Drepung Monastery: This Monastery is 8 km west of Lhasa. One of the three great Gelukpa Monasteries near Lhasa, the other two being Sera and Ganden. Until the occupation it served like its two sister monasteries as centre for learning and monastic training to which monks from all over Tibet would come to spend as long as 15 years methodically studying and debating the meaning of the Buddhist scriptures. For centuries it existed as a small monastic township housing thousands of fully ordained monks and other functionaries. It was founded in 1416 by Jam yang Chöje Tahsi Palden, a disciple of Tsong Khapa.

Sera Monastery: This monastery is approx. 5km drive away from Lhasa. Sera Monastery was founded in 1419. It sits in the prettiest and most charming atmosphere at the base of Mount Purbuchok. Sera Monastery used to be an important center for learning where in the past approx. 5,000 to 6,000 monks resided. Currently about 550 monks are supposed to be living there. The important structures inside the monastery include Coqen Hall, (the main assembly hall), three Zhacangs (Buddhist colleges) and twenty-nine Khangtsens (monk dormitories).The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter image of Maitraya which was erected in 1419; here one can also witness the practicing of debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other. This day at Drepung and Sera Monastery offers you the opportunity to dive deep into Buddhist culture and monastic life. You will experience the serenity and spiritual devotion at Drepung Monastery and the passion and dynamism of the debates at Sera

Monastery – two sides of the same spiritual tradition that makes Tibet so unique.
After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Day 03: Sightseeing Tour of Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Market:
After breakfast you will be briefed about the day’s program. Then your guide will take you on a tour to majestic Potala palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Market respectively.

Potala Palace: This Palace is also known as the “winter palace”. The imposing structure of the palace dominates the landscape of Lhasa. It is a 13 th storied complex monument rising to a height of above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms.As you are guided through the ancient chambers of the palace, you get to see Tibetan art at its best. The Potala Palace has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues. You will also get to view the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas. Only one hour is allowed to visit Potala due to tourist traffic.

Jokhang Temple: This temple is a seventh-century geomantic temple at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet. It is considered to be a Power Place in all Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti, a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple and in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti the main gate of the temple faces west towards Nepal. The most impressive structure of the Jokhang Temple is the many chapels surrounding the temple.

Barkhor Market (Bazaar): After detail visit of Potala and Jokhang temple you will stroll through the lively Barkhor Market,
which stretches around the Jokhang Monastery. This traditional pilgrimage route is lined with colorful market stalls selling everything from handmade jewelry, Tibetan prayer wheels, and fabrics to religious artifacts and souvenirs. The atmosphere at the market is lively and full of energy as pilgrims and visitors immerse themselves in the bustling world of Barkhor. Here you can taste Tibetan specialties, haggle with vendors or simply watch the hustle and bustle go by, giving you an authentic insight into Tibetan life. Lhasa offers variety of Restaurant for both Lunch and Dinners.
After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at hotel in Lhasa (BB).
Note: Since only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside the Potala palace every day, the order of sightseeing places will be decided upon by your guide.

Day 04: Drive to Shigatse (3,900m/12795ft) & Visit Tashilumpho Monastery, 290km, 5hr:
After breakfast you will be driving for about 5 hrs to reach the second largest city of Tibet, Shigatse. Here in Shigatse you will be visiting Tashilumphu Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. There are about 39 amazing chapels inside including the huge Maitreya Chapel coated with gold; its workmanship certainly impresses everyone.After detailed visit of Shigatse, we will visit the local markets for shopping and local sightseeing. O/N at Hotel in Shigatse (BB)

Day 05: Drive to Gyantse (3950m /12956ft), visit Khumbum & Pelkhor Stupa 90km, 2 hrs:
After breakfast you will drive to Gyantse. We will arrive in Gyantse an old Tibetan Town against a backdrop of magnificent 14 th - 15 th century fortresses and temples. Here we will visit Pelkhor Chode Temple & Khumbum respectively.
Note: Offer "Lungta" and prayers flag (printed prayers for the peace and good health/happiness) together with your Tibetan Guide. Offering Lungta in high passes and temple is believed to bring good fortune and long life in Tibetan culture.
Pelkor Chöde: This Monastery is located in the northeast of Gyantse at 3900 meters above sea level. Pelkor Chode Monastery, or rather Palcho Monastery in Tibetan language means "auspicious monastery". It was first built in early 15th century and took 10 years to complete. Because it was built when different religious sectors conflicted neck and neck in Tibet, Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelukpa of Tibetan Buddhism coexist in it. Each religious sector has five to six "Dratsang" (schools) in the monastery. This Monastery occupies a stunning position in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. It features a mixture of pagoda and monastery, whose architectural style reflects the typical feature of monasteries in between late 13th century and mid 15th century. The most symbolic architecture in the monastery is the Kumbum Stupa, which is composed of nine layers of nearly 77 temple halls with a total of 10,000 Buddha statues in halls, niches and on murals, hence the nickname"Ten Thousand Stupa". Pelkor Chode Monastery is also noted for its distinctive sculptures and murals.
Kumbum: Gyantse Kumbum Chorten was commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427 and it is the town’s main attraction. The 35 meters high Chorten, with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome, is awe-inspiring. The interior is equally impressive. Kumbum means 100,000 images in Tibetan. Indeed, there is what seems to be an endless series of tiny chapels. Each chapel is decorated with wall paintings; some have various statues of Buddha’s, Bodhisattvas and deities. Most paintings date to the time of the construction of the stupa.There are nine levels, 108 cells and 75 chapels. At the higher levels you can go out to an outdoor terrace and enjoy an incredible view on the town, monastery and surrounding fort.
After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at hotel in Gyantse (BB).

Day 06: Drive to Tsedang (3510m/11512ft), via Korala Glacier & Yamdrok Lake 400km, 7hrs:
After breakfast you will be briefed about the day’s program. Today you will drive towards the third largest city of Tibet, Tsedang. We will drive over two spectacular high passes – the Kampa La at 4750m and Karo La at 5010m, over, and along the beautiful deep blue green Lake called Yamdrok Lake or Turquoise Lake. The landscape of the Tibetan Plateau is truly unusual and spectacular.
Do not miss the photo opportunity with Tibetan mastiff Dog and Yak at the Khambala pass.
After detail visit you will drive to Tsedang. O/N at hotel in Tsedang(BB)

Day 07: Sightseeing of Samye Monastery & Yambulakang:
After breakfast you will be briefed about the day’s program. Your guide will take you on tour to visit Samye Monastery & Yambulakang respectively.

Samye Monastery: This Monastery is the First Buddhist Monastery to be built in Tibet, probably founded during the 770s under the patronage if King Trisong Deltsen, with the work being directed by Padmasambhava and Shantarakshita, the two Indian masters the king had invited to Tibet to help consolidate the Buddhist faith. The monastery was designed on the plan of the Odantapuri temple in present day Bihar, Bihar and mirrored the basic structure of the universe. As described in Buddhist cosmology. The central temple represents Mt. Sumeru the mythical mountain at the centre of the cosmos. Around it are four temples called “ling” which represent the four continents (ling) situated in the vast ocean to the north, south, east, and west of Sumeru. To the right and left of each of these temples are two smaller temples called “ling-tren,” representing the subcontinents (ling-tren) of the Buddhist universe.

Yumbulakhang Monastery: Yambulakhang means 'the palace on the leg of a female deer', located on the east bank of the Yarlong River southeast of Tsedang Town. It is located further 6 km up the Yarlung Valley a small road winds up to the left and takes you to what is regarded as the site of the oldest building in Tibet. Yumbulakhang is believed by Tibetans to have originally built by the first king of the Yarlung Dynasty Nyatri Tsenpo. This tall, dignified building rises erect on the spur of the hill, commanding view of the entire valley, Scholars believe that this building that stood on this site until the mid-sixties probably dated back to the seventh or eighth century may have been built by either Songtsen Gampo or Trisong Detsen. Tibetan murals  suggest that it found its final form during the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama. After detail visit you will drive to Hotel. O/N at Hotel in Tsedang (BB)

Day 08: Tour Concludes (3600m/11811ft) 125 km, 2hrs:
Your last day in Lhasa, with a wealth of unforgettable impressions and experiences in your luggage, you will make your way to the airport as per your departure time, start your journey home and review the magical places and moments of this journey in your mind.