Lhasa–Shigatse Specialty Tour
Tibet Local Time：21:06:58 GMT+8
Lhasa Weather
Office Hour: 09:00am - 06:00pm, (GMT+8)
Call our professional Tibet tour advisors
+86-23-86915020
Office Hour: 09:00am - 06:00pm, (GMT+8)
Call our professional Tibet tour advisors
+86-23-86915020
Our local guide will greet you at the airport or the railway station and present you a Hada (presenting Hada is a special ceremony of Tibetan for greeting their guests). Then we will set out for the Holy City – Lhasa which is 3658 meters above the sea level. You could take a rest and adapt yourself to the plateau environment after we arrived at our hotel.
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 Songtsen 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 Daila Lamas.
Then we will take part in the circumambulation. The circumambulation at the foot of Potala Palace is one of the most famous circumambulation in Tibet. This circumambulation centers on Potala Palace and around the Red Mountain. It takes about one hour to walk around the circumambulation. Tibetans show their respect to Buddha and pray for peace and happiness through circumambulation.
In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Jokhang Monastery 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 which around the Jokhang Monastery. There we could experience the traditional culture and daily life of Tibetan.
We will make a visit to Drepung Monastery in the morning. It is one of the three great monasteries of Gelug Sect, as well as the largest monastery in the world. There were about 10000 Buddhists in the monastery in its heyday. It covers an area of 0.2 million square meters with an altitude of 3800 meters.
Then we will pa a visit to the carpet factory to watch the manufacture process of carpet. The handmade carpet is a traditional handicraft of Tibetan. It takes the superior wool as its raw material and is colored by the natural plants. Carpet is a treasure among the Tibetan handicrafts. It enjoys good reputation among the tourists and is praised as one of the three famous carpets in the world.
In the afternoon, we will tour to one of the three great monasteries in Lhasa – Sera Monastery. It is noted for its Buddhism scripture debating. Sera means wild rose in Tibetan. It is said that this land was covered by wild rose before the construction of Sera Monastery.
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 (1.5 hours) 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 relax ourselves in the Tibetan style teahouse after we back to Lhasa. Tibetans would spend a certain time to relax themselves in the tea house on their daily life. Most of the teahouses in Tibet are not well decorated, but they are always packed. There are no other decorations except the necessities (wooden desks, benches and glasses). People would just chat or play relaxed games in the teahouses. It is said that the teahouse is the microcosm of Tibetan society and is the best place to experience the most local daily life of Tibetan.
We will transfer you to the airport after breakfast.
