6 Days Central Tibet Culture Small Group Tour

Day 1: Lhasa Arrival

1. Lhasa
   Pass by
   When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, Please transfer to GangGyan Lhasa Hotel or Your reserved hotel and report to us you have already checked in. After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around. Insider Tips: For the new-comers of Tibet, to get acclimatized to the high altitude in Tibet. Having a good sleep in your hotel is a good option. Don not rush to visit attractions inside Lhasa city.

Day 2: Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

1. Potala Palace
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
2. Jokhang Temple
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   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 making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple.
3. Barkhor Street
   30m
   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. Besides, We can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house; The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly.

Day 3: Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

1. Drepung Monastery (Zhebang Si)
   4h · Admission ticket not included
   In the morning, you are going to visit Dadong Village, the most beautiful village in Lhasa. Located 25 kilometers southwest of Lhasa downtown, Dadong Village is a well-protected ancient Tibetan village that surrounded by valleys. After arriving, you will visit the Nyimatang Monastery (built in the 11th century), take a light walk in the village, and see what rural life in Lhasa is like. You will also visit a local Tibetan family and enjoy the lunch offered by the family.
   
   Notice: We will not go to Drepung Monastery and go to Dadong Village instead.
2. Sera Monastery
   2h · Admission ticket included
   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 debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Day 4: Lhasa- Shigatse via Gyantse 360 km

1. Yamdrok Yumtso Lake
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse .On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .
2. Karo La Glacier
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass;
3. Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa
   1m · Admission ticket not included
   Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse).In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyangtse Fortress.
   
   After one and a half hours of driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse, we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).

Day 5: Shigatse to Lhasa 280 km

1. Tashilunpo Monastery
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery; you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world. The monastery itself is abiding place for the successive Penchen LamasThen. Then we are expected to follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa, and the guide will get you transferred to your hotels.

Day 6: Lhasa Departure

1. Lhasa
   Pass by
   You have to leave Tibet by air ot by flight as your Tibet Permit is limited for this tour. If you want to stay longer and book another tour in Tibet, or want us to assist to arrange airport/railway drop-off servicef, please contact us.

Pickup details

Fixed pick-up and drop-off schedule between the airport and the city

As for Lhasa Gongar airport is 70km from the downtown, it is hard for us to arrange free shuttle service at any given time.

Tibet Vista can only offer free shuttle service to pick up/drop off tourists between hotels and Gongga airport twice a day at a designated time. Some of the tourists may have to wait for others for a longtime beyond our designated time, and we advise our clients could book the flights to match our shuttle service time and rules goes as follows:

The free airport pick-up time is as follows on the day the itinerary begins: From airport to hotel, Fixed departure: Pick up tourists at 10:00 am, 13:00 pm, 16:00 pm and 18：30pm

The free airport drop time is as follows on the day the itinerary closes: From hotel to airport, Fixed departure, Pick up tourists at 06:30 am; 08:00 am; 12:00 pm

If tourists’ picking-up/dropping-off time is beyond our fixed schedule, they are required to pay private transfer from 60USD/car.

If passengers are less than 3 pax transfer, we may use publish transportation like public airport bus or Taxi instead of using our shuttle service.

All the shuttle service from/to the train station on the date of tourists' arrival and departure would be free.

• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Book at least 20 days in advance so tour operator may attain your Tibet Permit. Tibet Permit will be delivered to customers' delivery address / hotel address in one city of China. Please note your tour operator will contact you after the booking is confirmed.
• Travelers are required to provide photocopy of passports and China L visas at least 20 days prior to travel date.
• Please Notice: Customers' airport pick-up and drop-off in Lhasa need be arranged by tour supplier. If customers fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu, please do not apply for China L Visa in advance, because customers need apply for their Tibet Group Visa from China Embassy in Kathmandu via travel agency. Before that, they need ask for invitation letter from tour supplier. If customers fly or take a train to Lhasa from one city of China, they need apply for their China L Visa from China Embassy in their country.
• Price is based on double occupancy. Single room supplement is subject to availability and additional charge