You are warmly welcome to Tibet by saying Tashi Delek at the Train station/airport by our professional employee and send you to reserved hotel in Lhasa. Then have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude in the rest of the day. 

Lhasa Arrival 

Morning visit the famous Potala Palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels. Today's Potala Palace is a museum. The building measures 400 meters east-west and 350 meters north-south, with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. 

In the afternoon you will visit the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jorkhang Temple, and the Barkhor Kora, which is the most famous Kora in Tibet. Jokhang Temple, also called the Qokang Monastery or Zuglagkang, is smaller than the Potala Palace. This 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a rich and living Tibetan Buddhism. The temple's architectural style is a mixture of Indian vihara design, Chinese Tang Dynasty design, and Nepalese design. Built about 1,300 years ago, now it's not only famous for the "a saint’s road" in the eyes of Tibetans. Many people call Barkhor Street “the window of Tibet” as it exhibits typical Tibetan life. The pilgrims, wearing their local dress from different parts of Tibet or Yunnan, Sichuan and Qinghai areas, circle clockwise around Jorkhang Temple with prayer wheels, or prostrate themselves near the front gate. It is popular that tourists join the locals to shop for specialties as well as souvenirs at the colorful stalls, or relax in a coffee shop to enjoy the passing parade.
 

In the evening, enjoy a Tibetan style welcome dinner with dancing and singing. 

Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jorkhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery lies 10 kilometers west of Lhasa, it is clustered round by the black mountain. Drepung Monastery's white grand buildings shining by the sunlight under Mt.Gambo Utse. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest and highest status monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect. Drepung Monastery used to be the imperial palace of Dalai Lamas for short stays away from the capital before the reconstruction of Potala Palace. 

In the afternoon, transfer to visit Sera Monastery. Sera Monastery is a combination of 4 structures: the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang (1355–1435), a disciple of Tsongkhapa. Due to the wild rose surrounding the monastery, and that at the same time "Sera" stands for wild roses, this monastery was named after Sera. As one of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the famous "monks daily debates" takes place. If you are very lucky, you may come across Sera Monastery’s monks debating which is held in the courtyard at around 15:00-17:30 in the afternoon.

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Transfer back to Lhasa in the late afternoon, return to hotel for rest. 

Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred from Lhasa to Shigatse. Passing by the green farmland of Nyangchu Valley, you are moving westwards to the first stop today, Yamdro-tso Lake. Like mountains, lakes are considered sacred by Tibetan people, the principle being that they are the dwelling places of protective deities and therefore invested with special spiritual powers. Yamdrok, in Tibetan means pure jade, is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Everyone including the Dalai Lama or local villagers make pilgrimages there. While its shaped like the branches of coral spreading to the south but narrowing up to the north, Tibetans also call it "coral lake in the heaven". As the largest lake in southern Tibet, Yamdrok Lake is said that if its waters dry, Tibet will no longer be habitable. You can have the best view of Yamdrok Lake after the 5030m  Gangbala Pass. There are some sightseeing platform built for visitors to take pictures from very good point of view. 

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Have lunch in Shannan region. In the afternoon continue driving to Gyantze. Pass by Karo-la glacier roadside at 4960m, and then arrive in Gyantze in about 2-3 hours' driving. In Gyantze, you are going to visit the Kumbum Monastery that cannot be missed. Kumbum Monastery also names Palkor Monastery, where the wall painting as well as the architecture inside make it distinctive.  

In the late afternoon, arrive at Shigatse, the second biggest city of Tibet, where spiritually hosted by Pamchan Lama. Check into hotel and have dinner.  

Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Gyantze - Shigatse

Before driving back to Lhasa, you will visit the largest Monastery in west Tibet, the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Located on a hill, the name of the monastery, Tashilhunpo, means "heap of glory". The Tashilhunpo monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second highest ranking Lama in the Gelupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Founded in 1447, it has established a high prestige among pilgrims. Many monks also yearn for this sacred place, for the unique way of learning sutras. The "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by a prefect appointed from Lhasa. You will see the one and the only one "Buddha Exhibition Stage" where as the unique sight here. It is a real pleasure to explore the busy cobbled lanes twisting around the aged buildings. The huge golden statue of the Future Buddha is the largest gilded statue in the world. 

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Have lunch in local restaurant. In the afternoon drive along Yarluzangbu River to return Lhasa City. 

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Arrive at Lhasa in the late afternoon, upon arrival transfer to hotel for rest.

Shigatse – 360km – Lhasa

Your tour guide and driver will help to drop you at Lhasa airport/train station according to your flight/train time.  

 Lhasa Departure

√ China Panda Tour's experienced travel consultant 1 on 1 service 24hours/7days from inquiry to back home;

√  Entrance tickets to listed viewpoints in the itinerary & necessary shuttle bus/cable car/sightseeing bus tickets;  

√  Escorted by experienced English-speaking tour guide;

√  Meals mentioned in the itinerary;

√  Private transfers with professional driver between hotel/attraction/airport/railway station/restaurant as listed in the itinerary;

√  Booking of flight/train/cruise tickets per your preferences;

√  Accommodation in each city, hotel level/feature is decided by your choice;

√  Traveler's accidental insurance.

OUR SERVICE INCLUDES:

-- This itinerary can be flexibly adjusted according  to your requests. You can change the order, or extend the tour with more cities or days, or even shorten it with deleting any cities or days. Our professional travel consultant will help you revise the itinerary until suiting your schedule.

-- China Panda Tour also provides French/German/Spanish/Russian/Cantonese/Mandarin-speaking tour guide service.

-- If you only want to rent a car for your trip, please kindly inform us. China Panda Tour's professional drivers would provide you with satisfying service.

TRIP NOTES: