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Day01 Xi’ning/Lhasa
Qinghai–Tibet railway is a high-altitude railway that connects Xining , Qinghai Province , to Lhasa , Tibet Autonomous Region , in China . The line includes the Tanggula Pass , at 5,072 m above sea level the world’s highest rail track.The 1,338 m Fenghuoshan tunnel is the highest rail tunnel in the world, at 4,905 m above sea level . The 3,345-m Yangbajing tunnel is the longest tunnel of the line. It is 4,264 m above sea level, 80 kilometres NW of Lhasa.More than 960 km, or over 80% of the railway, is at an altitude of more than 4,000 m. There are 675 bridges, totalling 159.88 km, and over half the length of the railway is laid on permafrost .
Day02 Lhasa
Arriving Lhasa- Lhasa means holy land in Tibetan. On the northern bank of Lhasa River , a tributary of Yarlungtsanpo River , it is 3,650 meters above sea level. It is famous for its long history. Lhasa is also famous as a city of sunshine for its sunshine of more than 3,000 hours a year. It is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and is a political, economic and cultural center of the region. It boasts many historical sites and scenic spots both in its urban areas and outskirts. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Hotel. Having rest due to the high elevation. （ accommodation according to your module ） ..
Day03 Potala Palace / Jokhang Monastery/Barkor Street
Depart for tour of the Potala Palace —The Potala was the place of the Dalai Lama. It was originally built in the 7th century by King Songtsan Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Its 13-story main building is 117metershigh and is composed of the Red and White Palaces , with the red one in the middle. The main building consists of the Halls of Stupas of Dalai Lamas from various historical stages and halls of Buddhist statues. The White Palace is the residence of the Dalai Lamas and places for handing political affairs. The Potala Palace houses great amounts of rare cultural relics including the Pattra-leaf scripture from India , Bak’gyur and the imperial edicts, golden seals and titles of nobility granted by the Qing emperors to the Dalai Lamas. Jokhang Monastery – Located in the center of the ancient city of Lhasa , the Jokhang Temple was built in the seventh century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. Its four-story main building demonstrates a combination of the Han, Tibetan, Indian and Nepaless architectural styles, as well as a Mandala world outlook of Buddhism. With the Hall of Amitayus Sutra as its center, the temple symbolizes the nucleus of the universe. The Hall of Sakyamuni is the essence of the temple., Barkor Street – This area bursts with atmosphere and contradictions. On the one hand, this is one of THE holiest areas of Tibet , awash with pilgrims, monks, nuns and temples. On the other, the streets around here are the hubs of Lhasa ‘s commercial zone. Street traders, hawkers and market sellers fill the pavements around the Barkhor area.
Day04 Sera Monastery/Drepung Monastery/Norbulingka Monastery
Drepung Monastery- On the slope of the Wutse Hill five kilometers northwest of Lhasa , the Drepung Monastery was built in 1416 and is the largest monasteries of the Gelug Sect. It covers an area of 250,000 square meters. In its heyday, it had more than 10,000 monks. The monastery has trained a large group of talents for Tibetan Buddhism. The 15th Dalai Lama lived here before he moved to the Potala Palace . It houses plenty of historical and cultural relics and Buddhist classics. In the exciting Shoton Festival, “Sunning the Buddha” ceremony held in the monastery has been one of the most magnificent religious activities in Tibet . Sera Monastery was built by Sagya Yexei, disciple of Master Zongkapa, in 1419. On behalf of his master, Sagya Yexei went to Nanjing to pay homage to the Ming Dynasty Yongle emperor, who granted him the honorific title “Western Paradise Buddha Grand State Tutor," and a large number of sutras, Buddhist statues, monks robes, silks, gold and silver, which were used to build Sera Monastery. Norbulingka Monastery- Norbulingka means a lovely garden in Tibetan. Located in the western suburbs of Lhasa , it has been a palace for the Dalai Lamas to stay to escape the summer heat. It was built in the 1740s and covers an area of 36 hectares. It was once a place of bathing and recuperation of the Seventh Dalai Lama. The Qing minister stationed in Tibet built the first palace here. Since then, the eighth, 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas built their own palaces here too. Continuous expansions in the past 200-odd years have turned it a large-scale and Tibet-style palace complex and garden. On festivals and holidays, the local people in their splendid attires come here with food and tents to sing and dance overnight.
Day05 Lhasa / Yangbajin/Namtso Lake/ Lhasa (B/L/D)
Driving out of Lhasa to Yangbajin , a small basin 90 kilometers from Lhasa , was the earliest heat base to be developed. In 1975, scientists and engineers arrived to test its potential power. And then many workers arrived and built China ‘s first geothermal power station. It has many hot springs and mysterious hot water lake with a heat explosion unseen elsewhere. You would take a bath in the hot spring. Namtso Lake -Namtso, literally heavenly lake, is situated in a mountainous area about 60 km northwest of Damshung County, Namtso Lake extents 70 km from east to west, and 30 km from south to north, covering an area of 1920 sq.km and altitude of 4748 m above sea level. It is the biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as the highest lake in the world. Namtso Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet , playing an important role among Tibetans. Drive back to Lhasa and stay overnight!
Day06 Lhasa/Tsetang
Drive to Tsetang , – During the long years, Tse t ang has had many “first", for instance, the first king Nyatri Tsenpo, the first palace Yumbu Lhakang, the first temple Tradruk, the first cropland Syarisotang, the first Tibetan Opera Pakhapu and the first Buddhist scripture Pangkong Chagya are all credited to Shannan. Here is also the place where king Songtsan Gampo united the whole Tibet and once lived with Princess Wencheng. The Tangka made and embroidered by Princess Wencheng herself is still kept in Tradruk Temple , which is a great treasure house of culture and art. Y ou’ll visit Samye monastery- Built in the mid-8th century; Samye is first formal Buddhist Monastery for the monks in Tibet . The magnificent and unique Central Hall is three-story high. The first floor is of the Tibetan architectural style, the second the Han style and the third the Indian style. The halls in the monastery house many statues and murals. The monastery has bronze bells, carved marble lions and tablets marking the development of Buddhism. All these are valuable cultural relics. As described in a historical book, this monastery is considered “an unimaginable construction and incomparable monastery." visit Yumbulagang is the first palace as well as one of the earliest construction in Tibet , therefore you could have a bird’s eye view of the whole beautiful Yarlung Valley . The palaces said to have been built specially for the first Tibetan king, Nyetri Tsanpo who was believed descending from the heaven in the 2nd B.C . Stay overnight.
Day07 Tradruk Monastery/Tombs of Tibetan Kings/Lhasa
After breakfast, you’ll visit – Tradruk Monastery is one of earliest Buddhist temples in Tibetan history. Built in 541 A .D., it is said that king Songtsan Gampo established the temple to suppress the ogress in order to prosper his Kongkom. And later it became the winter palace of King Songtsan Gampo and Princess Wencheng in Shannan. Of all the treasures and relics kept in this monastery, the pearled Tangka–“Avalokitesvara at his rest" is the most remarkable one. Tombs of Tibetan Kings -Situated on the Muchong Hill opposite to Chong-gye County, it is the only one of the Tibetan King’s tomb complex as well as the 29 th and the 40 th Tsenpo’ tombs stretching a history of 1300 years. Only nine tombs are visible today among which include Songtsen Gampo’s tomb. Drive to Lhasa .
D ay08 Lhasa/Yamdrok Lake/Gyantse(Palcho Monastery&Dzong Fort)/Shigatse (B/L/D)
Driving out of Lhasa past the turquoise Lake Yamdrok –one of the three holy lakes in Tibet . Yamdrok Lake is situated in the Lhoka area, covers 621 square KM with the elevation of 4441M . That is the largest lake on the northern slope of the Himalayas , enjoying the beautiful sightseeing of the lakes and taking some pictures. Continue to Gyantse- here you can tour at your own expense: Palcho Monastery- is so famous that its remarkable feature accommodates the three sects of Tibetan Buddhism in one monastery coexisting in peace with each other. The Palcho Monastery is in coexistence of the three sects namely, the Sakya, the Kagyu and the Gelug. The full name of the Palcho Monastery is called “The Auspicious Wheel Joy Monastery”. According to the historical records, this monastery was built in 14 th or 15 th century. It consists of the Assembly Hall, the 100000-Buddha pagoda, dratsangs and an enclosure wall as its construction units. Dzong Fort- On the Dzong Fort, the artillery fort used in that war to fight against the British invaders is still kept. Dzong Fort is the former location of Gyantse local government in old Tibet . Four steles put up by the high-rank commissioners dispatched by the emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty are still kept in good order for extremely precious value as the historical cultural relics. Continue to Shigatse and stay overnight.
Day09 Shigatse/Tashilunpo Monastery/Tingri
After breakfast, you’ll visit- Tashilunpo Monastery- Located on the south slope of the Nyimari hill in the west of the city of Xigatse , the Tashilunpo Monastery was originally built in 1447, which is known as one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect. It is the largest monastery in the Tsang area of 300000-sq.m. Tsongkhapa’s 8 th disciple, Gendun Drupa, the 1 st Dalai Lama built in with the financial aid from the Pakdru regime. The monastery was expanded and renovated by the 4 th ,5 th and 6 th Panchens. Thereafter, the Tashilunpo Monastery stands at an impressive scale today and becomes the residence for each successive Panchen Lama. Drive to Tingri and stay overnight.
Day10 Tingri/Robuk Monastery/Mt Everest/Tingri (B/L/D)
Continue drive towards and approach of the mighty Himalayan range, visit Robuk the Highest Monastery In the world. Then transfer to Base Camp, where the trekkers put up the camps and get ready to trek. This day will have a long day drive, but you will have a closeup view to Mt Everest and walk around the area. Drive back to Tingri and stay overnight.
Day11 Tingri/Shigatse
Drive back to Shigatse after breakfast, free and easy.
Day12 Shigatse/Lhasa
Drive back to Lhasa after breakfast, free and easy.
Day13 Lhasa/Chengdu or Other Cities
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chengdu with fond memories of a holiday with Tibet Tour.
For more details, please call us on 1300 30 80 81 or email travel@firstclass.com.au.
