Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa
Upon arrival, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Brahmaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.
Rest at your hotel and allow time to adjust to the altitude. If you feel comfortable going out, visit Potala Square to enjoy views of the palace and its surroundings.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 2: Lhasa Tour - Potala Place, Johkang Temple, Barkor Street (B, D)
Begin with a visit to the Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Explore its historic halls and collections, including gilded burial stupas and the meditation cave associated with Tibet’s 33rd king.
Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple, which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims Prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.
Enjoy Tibetan tea with local residents at a teahouse. A welcome dinner will also be arranged.
Optional: If time permits, visit a Tibetan handicraft workshop or a traditional Tibetan medicine center with your guide. An evening Tibetan cultural show is available as an upgrade, starting at $60.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 3: Lhasa Tour - Drepung and Sera Monastery
In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung Monastery, which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s chief disciples. You can visit the biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy the Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.
In the afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery, which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debateat around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. Besides, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 4: Lhasa to Namtso Lake, drive back to Dunxumg or to Yampachen (approx. 350km) (B)
In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland ( in summer). Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road Railway with a snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Lagenla Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake.
Then we can enjoy our time doing a leisurely trek around Tashi Dor Island and along the lakeshore. Drive back to Dumxung or Yampachen. (For environment protection, the Lakeshore guesthouses were close by the government.)
Stay overnight in Dumxung or Yampanchen Town.
Day 5: Yampachen to Lhasa (approx. 90-120km )
Drive to Yangpachen to enjoy its natural hot springs. Bring your swimsuit if you wish to bathe. Located on the southern slopes of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, the area is known for its high-altitude geothermal landscape.
Yampachen’s geothermal field is in a plateau basin with an area of 40 square km, giving tourists a chance to enjoy the outdoor natural hot spring spa. After having a full relax in the bath, we head back to Lhasa. On the way, we will visit Chimelong Nunnery(Phyirmil Lung Nunnery) and have a distant view of a sky burial site nearby.
Stay Overnight in Lhasa.
Cultural Tips: Sky burial is a funeral practice commonly seen in Tibet. The corpse will be disposed of and later devoured by vultures. In Tibetan Buddhism, sky burial is believed to represent their wishes to go to heaven. Only family members of the dead can attend the funeral.
Day 6: Depart from Lhasa(B)
The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board..
