Tibet tours - Highlights of Tibet

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Highlights of Tibet - 8 days

This tour of Central Tibet follows a circular route from Tsedang to Lhasa, exploring the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley, the cradle of Tibetan civilization, and then proceeding on the southern route past Yamdrok Tso, the Turquoise Lake, to the historical towns of Gyantse & Shigatse.

From Shigatse we take the Northern route through the scenic, rugged countryside of the nomads, culminating our tour in Lhasa , the Forbidden city.

We continue to Lhasa visiting Mindroling monastery en route. Lhasa , the Forbidden city is the heart & soul of Tibet for centuries & is still a city of wonders. The majestic Potala palace, residence of the Dalai Lamas dominates the Lhasa skyline. Jokhang, the spiritual heart of Lhasa & is its most sacred temple. Encircling the Jokhang temple is the bustling and fascinating Barkhor market & the devotional pilgrim circumambulation circuit.

Other attractions include visits to Sera & Drepung monastery, Tibet ’s great monastic universities and Norbulinka, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama.

Day 1: Kathmandu - Tsedang
Transfer to airport to connect CA 408 KTM-LXA flight. Upon arrival you will be met by our Tibet representative and transfer to Hotel.

Day 2: Tsedang
Guided tour of Samye, the oldest monastery belonging to the Red Hat school & Yumbulakhang, the first castle built for a Tibetan king.

Day 3: Gyantse
Drive via Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse. Visit Gyantse Kubum stupa & Pelkor Chode monastery.

Day 4: Gyantse – Shalu – Shigatse, 3860 m, 90 kms
Drive via Shalu monastery to Shigatse. Visit Tashilunpo monastery & Shigatse market.

Day 5: Lhasa , 3650 m
Drive Shigatse to Lhasa . Check into Hotel.

Day 6 & 7: Lhasa excursions
We will have two full days in Lhasa to make excursions to the following places:

The Jokhang
The Jokhang is the principal and holiest Buddhist temple in Lhasa , as well as all of Tibet . It is the focus of devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and far who circle it to gain spiritual merit. The Jokhang was first constructed in the 7th century and has a large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Sera and Drepung
Sera monastery, founded in 1419, is a monastery of the Gelugpa order. Its many white buildings sit at the base of a rocky hill. Gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens grace the roofs of many of the larger buildings.

Drepung used to have 8,000 monks who were taught in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism.

Potala Palace
The 13-story Potala Palace is reputed to contain 1,000 rooms and hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant thangkas, frescoes, and images built in an era when religious art was created anonymously as a means of gaining merit for future lives. It's one of the world's most extraordinary buildings and completely covers the mountain it stands upon.

Day 8: Depart Lhasa
You will be driven to the airport in time to catch your flight home.