8-Day Lhasa Shigatse and Namtso Tour
Tour Route： Lhasa——Yamdrotso Lake——Gyantse——Shigatse——Namotso Lake——Damxung
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Route Highlights:
You will experience local Tibetan culture, folk activities, and markets. You will visit the world’s highest and most magnificent palaces at an altitude; you will truly experience the most beautiful mountain and lake scenery on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau; you will witness the prosperous agriculture on the snowy plateau.
Journey Features
Our tour will take you to Lhasa, Shigatse, and Lake Namtso, allowing you to immerse yourself in the vivid culture of these towns. In Lhasa, you can visit the majestic Potala, as well as other temples and palaces. In Gyantse, explore the calm Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier to experience nature’s strength. In Shigatse, you can visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery and enjoy local markets. Lake Namtso offers stunning views of the Tibetan plateau.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Overview
Day 1 Arrive in Lhasa
Day 2 Lhasa City Sightseeing
Day 3 Lhasa City Sightseeing
Day 4 Lhasa-Yamdrotso Lake-Gyantse-Shigatse
Day 5 Shigatse-Lhasa
Day 6 Lhasa-Namtso Lake-DumXung
Day 7 DumXung-Lhasa
Day 8 Lhasa Departure
Welcome to Lhasa
Warm greetings from Tibet! Upon your arrival at the airport, our welcoming driver and guide will be there to greet you warmly and present you with a traditional Tibetan white scarf called a “Khata.” Within approximately one hour, they will take you via the freeway (just 70 kilometers) to a comfortable hotel situated in the center of Lhasa. After checking in, we recommend that you take some time to relax and adjust to the altitude of 3,650 meters to ensure a pleasant and healthy start to your time on the plateau.
Tibet Road Trip Co., Ltd
Visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Debating
Warm greetings from Tibet! Upon your arrival at the airport, our welcoming driver and guide will be there to greet you warmly and present you with a traditional Tibetan white scarf called a “Khata.” Within approximately one hour, they will take you via the freeway (just 70 kilometers) to a comfortable hotel situated in the center of Lhasa. After checking in, we recommend that you take some time to relax and adjust to the altitude of 3,650 meters to ensure a pleasant and healthy start to your time on the plateau.
Welcome Dinner
Visit Potala Palace and Johkang Temple
Let’s explore the treasures of Lhasa, including the Potala Palace, which was once the residence of the Dalai Lama and is considered the highest palace in the world. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, the heart of Tibetan spirituality. Once the political and religious center of Tibet, the Potala Palace rises magnificently above the red hills of Lhasa. As you climb the 365 steps to reach the main structure, you can discover the prayer rooms, the tomb stupa, and the former political hall of the Dalai Lama. Here, you’ll find stunning murals and exquisite Buddha statues that showcase the splendor and treasures of ancient Tibet.
The 12-year-old statue of Shakyamuni is a significant reason for the deep reverence associated with the Jokhang Temple, which holds the title of Tibet’s holiest site and attracts lifelong pilgrims. You are invited to walk alongside these pilgrims on Barkor Street and soak in the vibrant spirit of the city. To enrich your understanding of local culture, your guide will also accompany you to a nearby Tibetan teahouse.
Breakfast. Night stay in Lhasa
Yamdrotso Lake, Karola Glacier
Traveling to Shigatse will take approximately 7 to 8 hours by car, covering a distance of 340 kilometers. Along the way, you’ll encounter two breathtaking natural landmarks: Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier. Enjoy a stunning 20-kilometer drive as you trace the receding shoreline of the lake. We’ll pause at a lakeside village, where you can wander through the local farmers’ homes, explore the area, and savor a delightful farmhouse meal. After lunch, we’ll continue our journey for about an hour to reach the Karola Glacier, one of Tibet’s most spectacular glaciers. The massive glacier tongue extends right up to the roadside, resembling a frozen waterfall that appears to hang over the road and above you. After crossing the Karola Glacier, we will pass by Lake Manla and the historic town of Gyantse before arriving in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.
Breakfast/Farm house Lunch. Night stay in Lhasa
Tashilunpo Monastery, Shigatse Samdroptse Market, Brahmaputra Grand Canyon
You will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest monastery in western Tibet. This stunning and impressive residence of the Panchen Lamas features stupas dedicated to them, beautiful Buddhist murals, and the world’s largest gilded copper statue of Maitreya Buddha. Accompanied by your guide, you will embark on a kora (circumambulation) around the monastery as you explore its grounds. You’ll walk along the hillside with local people and reach a vantage point that offers breathtaking views of Shigatse and the Tashilhunpo Monastery. After your monastery tour, your guide will lead you to the distinctive Shigatse Samdroptse Old Market, where you can find traditional handicrafts from across Shigatse, including jewelry, clothing, and accessories. This market provides a different experience compared to Barkhor Street in Lhasa. Later, we will make our way back to Lhasa through the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley. (The travel agency may arrange for the group to return to Lhasa by train, depending on circumstances.)
Breakfast
Grassland, Namtso Lake, Trek at Tashido Island
Traveling north from Lhasa to the sacred Namtso Lake is a mesmerizing journey as you traverse the vast grasslands of Damxung. A meandering river snakes through the verdant landscape toward the horizon, complemented by panoramic views of the impressive Nyenchen Tanglha snow peak, herds of cattle and sheep grazing peacefully, and the scent of smoke wafting from traditional pastoral tents—all of which enhance the charm of the Damxung grasslands. Upon reaching Namtso Lake, start your adventure with breathtaking views from the 5,190-meter-high Lagen La Pass. The lake appears like a blue pearl nestled among lush meadows. Descend to the lakeside and make your way up picturesque Tashido Island for a better perspective of the expansive lake. Take some time to unwind or explore the area around the lake, enjoying the refreshing breeze and the colorful prayer flags that dance at the water’s edge. In the afternoon, catch a sightseeing bus back to Damxung.
Overnight in Saga
Chimelong Nunnery, Tsurphu Monastery
After our visit to Namtso Lake, we will journey back to Lhasa, stopping to explore two additional cultural sites nestled in the valleys along the way. One of these is the Chimelong Monastery, the only active nunnery for female practitioners on this tour and the largest nunnery near Lhasa. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to observe numerous nuns in their daily practices while enjoying stunning views of the valley framed by snow-capped mountains.
Additionally, we will visit Tsurphu Monastery, the original Tibetan Buddhist temple that gave rise to the renowned living Buddha system. This distinctive Kagyu sect monastery is situated in Tibet’s expansive Chupu Valley, surrounded by lush grasslands. While there, you may be fortunate enough to see precious artifacts, including a silver statue of the eighth Karmapa and a leg bone relic of the sixteenth Karmapa.
At noon, we will enjoy a farmhouse lunch either in the monastery restaurant or on the grassy meadows around it before continuing our return to Lhasa.
Overnight in Tarchen
The itinerary is coming to a close. We look forward to meeting you again.
Today is the end of your trip in Tibet, and we will take you to the train or airport. We appreciate you joining us during this wonderful time in Tibet.
Dates and Prices
| Available Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Sep.01, 2024 | from $1055 | Book Now |
| Sep.05, 2024 | from $1055 | Book Now |
| Sep.08, 2024 | from $1055 | Book Now |
| Sep.12, 2024 | from $1055 | Book Now |
| Sep.15, 2024 | from $1055 | Book Now |
| Sep.19, 2024 | from $1055 | Book Now |
| Sep.22, 2024 | from $1083 | Book Now |
| Sep.26, 2024 | from $1083 | Book Now |
| Sep.29, 2024 | from $1083 | Book Now |
| Available Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Oct.01, 2024 | from $1083 | Book Now |
| Oct.06, 2024 | from $1083 | Book Now |
| Oct.10, 2024 | from $1083 | Book Now |
| Oct.13, 2024 | from $958 | Book Now |
| Oct.17, 2024 | from $958 | Book Now |
| Oct.20, 2024 | from $958 | Book Now |
| Oct.24, 2024 | from $958 | Book Now |
| Oct.27, 2024 | from $958 | Book Now |
| Oct.31, 2024 | from $958 | Book Now |
Prices
Service Included:
- Tibet Travel Permit application service and mailing service within China.
- Entrance tickets to the listed attractions and activities.
- Accommodations are in three-star hotels with breakfast throughout the journey.
- Comfortable and safe tourist vehicle.
- Excellent Tibetan English-speaking guide.
- Farm house lunch and welcome dinner.
- Travel accident insurance and high-altitude sickness insurance.
- Shuutle service between the airport/train station and Lhasa city.
- Exquisite Tibetan gifts and travel maps.
- On-board medical oxygen supply for travel in high-altitude areas.
Service Excluded:
- International and domestic transportation to and from Tibet.
- Single room supply for solo travelers who require a single room.
- Some meal expenses are not included in the tour (the guide will assist in arranging and recommending meals; you are responsible for the cost).
