TIBET OVERLAND TOUR – LHASA, GYANTSE & KYIRONG - 8 DAYS

Outline Itinerary:

Detail Itinerary:

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 Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Market & Sera Monastery:

After breakfast you will be briefed about the program and entertain any last minute questions. Then your guide will take you on a tour to Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Market & Sera Monastery respectively.

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): The most popular Barkhor Market (Bazaar) is a square where Tibetan handicraft items, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings etc. are all in sale for your delight. At the end of the day your guide will escort you back to your hotel. Lhasa offers variety of Restaurant for both Lunch and Dinners.

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. 

After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at Hotel in Lhasa (BB)

Day 03: Sightseeing Tour of Potala Palace & Drepung Monastery:

After breakfast you will be briefed about the day’s program. Then your guide will take you on a tour to majestic Potala Palace & Drepung Monastery 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 13th 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. Due to tourist traffic, you are allowed to visit only for one hour.

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 Tashi Palden, a disciple of Tsong Khapa.

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 Gyantse (3950m /12956ft), visit Khumbum & Pelkhor Stupa 280km, 5 hrs:

After breakfast, leaving Lhasa and a drive of 370km, taking about 6 hours including break for lunch at one of the villages’ en-route. 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.  We will arrive in Gyantse an old Tibetan Town against a backdrop of magnificent 14th-15th century fortresses and temples. Here we will visit Pelkhor Chode Temple & Khumbum respectively.

In Khambala pass, there is opportunity to can take pictures of Lake with beautiful Tibetan mastiff and Yak by paying certain fee.    

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 Buddhas, 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 05: Drive to Shigatse (3,900m/12795ft). Visit Tashilumpho Monastery, 90km, 2 hrs:

After breakfast you will drive to second largest city of Tibet, Shigatse. Here you will visit Tashilumpho 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 lively local markets for shopping and local sightseeing. After detail visit you will drive to hotel. O/N at hotel in Shigatse (BB).

Day 06:  Drive to Shegar (4200m/13776ft) 260km, 5hr:

After breakfast you will drive to Shegar. Today you will drive all along the Friendship Highway amidst picturesque landscape driving for approx 5 hrs. past small town of Lhatse. You will be crossing one of the highest Gyatso la pass (5220m) of the tour.  As the route opens into plains, many monasteries and camps of nomadic herders become visible en route to Shegar. O/N at Hotel in Shegar (BB)

Day 07: Drive to Kyirong (2300m/7544ft) 300km, 5hrs:

After breakfast you will drive along Peku Tso (Lake) and arrived Dzonkha (Kyirong Xian), then drive further 70km cross high pass Yangdo La 5326m/17470ft to Nepal border town of Kyirong. Kyirong is an ancient trading village as well as famous religious and historical place, home of 11th Centaury great saint and Guru Milarepa known for his tantric wisdom as well a poet and folk singer, his song are still remembered by local herdsman and villagers. O/N at Hotel in Kyirong (BB)

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.

Day 08:  Drive to Kathmandu (1300m/4265ft) 170 km, 10hrs:

After breakfast, drive 25 km to the border and the immigration point. After Chinese Immigration formalities we cross into Nepal by foot and meet Nepali representative of Basanta Adventure and vehicle at the Nepal side called Timure, Rasuwa Ghadi. After Nepali immigration formalities, you drive to Kathmandu. It is an interesting combination drive of dirt and paved road along the Langtang national park through smaller town of Syabrubensi and Dunche (ideal place for lunch) and finally reaches the main national highway at Galchi. You will experience more traffic along the road. Tour Concludes.