(70 kilometers away from the airport and 30 kilometers away from the railway station)
We will pick you up at the airport or the railway station and present you a Hada which would bring you good luck. Then we will set out for the Holy City – Lhasa which has an altitude of 3658 meters. You can take a break for acclimatization in the rest of the day.
We will make a visit to the highest ancient castle style architectural complex above the sea level – Potala Palace (1 hour). It was the residence of the Tibetan Dalai Lamas, as well as the political, educational and religious center of Tibet. It was built in the 7th century during the regime of Songtsan Gampo. Potala Palace is composed of the White Palace and the Red Palace. The main constructions of the Red Palace are the Buddhism stupas and chapels while the White Palace acted as the residence of Dalai Lamas.
In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Jokhang Monastery (1 hour) which was widely accepted as the spiritual center of Tibet. The precious Statue of 12-year Sakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism) brought to Tibet by Princess of Chinese Tang Dynasty and the statues of some eminent Buddhists are enshrined in the monastery. There are also exquisite murals which present the history and culture of Tibet collected in the monastery. Then we will take a ramble at Barkhor Street (half an hour) which around the Jokhang Monastery. There we could experience the traditional culture and daily life of Tibetan.
We will set out for Ganden Monastery after breakfast in the morning. Ganden Monastery ranks first among the six monasteries of Gelug Sect. It was constructed in 1409 and there were about 4000 Buddhists in the monastery at its heyday. It is highly respected by the followers of Tibetan Buddhism since it was built by the founder of Gelug Sect – Master Tsongkhapa.
In the afternoon, we will visit one of the four asharams during Tubo Kingdom Period in Tibet - Tsayeba Monastery. It is a holy place of Tibetan Buddhism composed of queer mountains, particular rocks, caverns and monastery. It is noted for its long history and amazing landscapes. There is an old proverb among Tibetan goes that the holy place of Tibet is Lhasa and holy place of Lhasa is Tsayeba Monastery. Then we will back to Lhasa.
We will leave Lhasa for Yamdrok Lake through Gambarak Mountain Pass (4780 meters above the sea level) after breakfast. Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It covers an area of 638 square kilometers with an altitude of 4441 meters. The landscapes of mountains and lakes here tops in southern Tibet. Then we will set out for Shigatse, via Karo-la Glacier and Manla Reservoir and make a visit to Palkhor Monastery – a typical Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Gyantse on our way to Shigatse, which is the biggest city in Tsang.
We will make a visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery after breakfast and then back to Lhasa along the national road of China and Nepal. We can appreciate the particular natural landscapes of Yarlung Zangbo River Valley on our way.
We will transfer you to the airport or railway station.