central tibet tour - 8 Days

Introduction
With an average altitude of more than 3,500m, Tibet can truly be described as the roof of the world and its capital Lhasa is the heart and soul of this fascinating place. Despite the Chinese influence, it remains a city of wonders, from the splendours of the Potala Palace, which dominates the skyline, to the bustle of the local markets. Then of course there are the temples and monasteries such as the Jokhang and the Drepung Monasteries where one can soak up the atmosphere of the rich Buddhist culture.

We stay in the best traditional Tibetan hotel in Lhasa, centre of the city, close to the major attractions. With so much to see and explore in Lhasa, this will truly be an unforgettable experience.

Leaving Lhasa in our comfortable Toyota Landcruiser 4 wheel-drive, we’ll set off to our adventure tour through this amazing country, staying in the best traditional hotels Tibet has to offer. In the towns of Gyantse and Shigatse we will explore further monasteries and fully immerse ourselves in the Buddhist culture. On the last full day of our Tibet tour we’ll visit the Yarlung Valley, which is also known as the Valley of tombs. Yarlung is considered as the cradle of Tibetan civilization.

Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 Fly Kathmandu To Lhasa
Morning transfer to the airport for the hour-long flight to Lhasa. The spectacular flight on Air China Boeing 757 crosses the main Himalayan range and the mountain views are magnificent. After arriving at Gonggar Airport in Tibet, it's a 2-hour drive to Lhasa where we will check in Hotel. It's advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day, due to Lhasa's high altitude.

Day 02 In Lhasa
Today will be spent visiting several of Lhasa's many monasteries in the company of a guide and interpreter. One of these is the Sera Monastery, one of the best-preserved Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Several hundred monks live and study within its whitewashed walls and golden roofs.

After lunch we'll visit the Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, as well as the Jokhang Temple. This temple is possibly the most sacred shrine in Tibet and there is always a procession of devout Tibetans through the complex. Surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkhor - a maze of narrow cobbled streets, which is the central market of Lhasa.

Day 03 In Lhasa
This morning we will visit the Potala Palace towering above the city of Lhasa. This spectacular building contains the private quarters of the Dalai Lama as well as numerous grand state rooms and many important chapels. There has been a palace on this site since the 5th or 6th centuries, but the present palace was constructed in the 17th century.

A visit to the Drepung Monastery in the afternoon will complete a truly awe-inspiring day. Founded in the 14th century, this monastery was once the largest in the world, housing around 10,000 monks. Nowadays the figure is down to several hundred, but there is still much here of interest as it was left relatively unscathed during the Cultural Revolution.

Day 04 Drive Lhasa-Gyantse
Today we start our overland cultural journey to Gyantse and Shigatse. Travelling by jeep along the Friendship Highway we cross the spectacular Khamba La pass (4,794m) from which we’ll get stunning views of the snowy summit of Nazin Kang Sa (7,252m) looking across the waters of the Yamdrok-tso Lake. We then continue westwards over another high pass, the Karo La (5,045m), from which you can see a huge spectacular glacier tumbling down to within a few hundred metres of the road. After passing through beautiful valleys and colourful Tibetan villages we arrive in the town of Gyantse. Our overnight accommodation is at the Gyantse Hotel.

Day 05 Drive Gyantse-Shigatse
Before leaving Gyantse we’ll have time to visit the Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. The Dzong is a fort dating back to the 14th century and it offers amazing views of both Gyantse itself and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. The Kumbum is a large gold-domed stupa and its many small chapels house an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals. .

Our Tibet adventure tour then continues to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, which is about 90km away. After exploring the local market we will make a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is much to explore within its high surrounding walls. Afterwards we make our way back to Lhasa, where we will check in Hotel.

Day 06 Drive Shigatse-Tsetang
Today we have long drive to Tsetang, the third largest city in central Tibet. Southeast of Tsetang we can see the mountain Gangpo Ri (4,130 metres). It has a special significance for the Tibetans as it is the legendary birthplace of its people.

Day 07 Visit to the Valley of Tombs [Yarlung Valley]
Today our adventure trip will take us to the Yarlung valley, which is also known as the Valley of Tombs. Yarlung is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilisation. Creation myth locates the valley as the origin of the Tibetan people, and it was from Yarlung that the early Tibetan kings unified Tibet in the seventh century. We see the massive burial mounds of these kings in Chongye. Yumbulagang, another major attraction of the area, is perched on a crag like a medieval European castle and is considered the oldest building in Tibet. After a full day’s exploring in the Yarlung valley we return to Tsetang for the night.

Day 08 Fly Lhasa to Kathmandu
Morning drive [96 km.] to the airport for the return flight to Kathmandu

For further enquiry please feel free to mail us at: enquiry@tibet-adventures.com