Tibet in Depth

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Lhasa

  Welcome to Tibet, the Roof of the World with an average elevation of 4,380 meters! Whether you arrive in Lhasa by plane or train, our professional guide will welcome you outside the arrival hall. Later, take the private transfer to your hotel and check in. The rest of the day is yours to adapt to the plateau environment.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 2: Lhasa, Potala Palace & Jokhang Temple

  Standing highly on the Red Mountain for hundreds of years, the magnificent Potala Palace and its predecessor is always the symbol of Tibet and even the whole Tibetan Buddhism world. Climbing the steep stairs up, the distinctive architecture itself, the solemn and mystical religious air, the precious artistic treasures inside, and the spectacular view from the top will deeply shake your heart.

  Proceeding to the holiest Jokhang Temple, filled with the scent of Yak oil candles and pilgrims from all over China, you will get a better understanding of the religious faith of the Tibetan people. At the end of the tour, walk around the nearby Barkhor Street to observe the locals going about their daily lives and seek some souvenirs.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 3: Lhasa, Monks Debate in Sera Monastery

  You might be able to adjust to the high altitude and enjoy the next adventure by taking a short trekking tour around Lhasa. Beginning in the Pabonka Hermitage, the excursion will proceed to the Trashi Choling Hermitage before descending to the Chupzang Nunnery.

  Visit the Sera Monastery next, which is renowned for its Buddhist "Monks Debate" activities. It is fascinating to see monks in red robes congregate and argue over Buddhism philosophy and their teachings in exaggerated motions, even if you can't comprehend what they're saying.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 4: Lhasa - Gyantse County - Shigatse, Yamdrok Lake

  Set out for Shigatse today with several stopovers on the way. The first is at Yamdrok Lake, a coral-shaped lake that appears in varying shades of blue on a sunny day, followed by the Karola Glacier - the closest glacier to the highway in Tibet. The last is the Kumbum Stupa inside the Palcho Monastery, Gyantse County.

  Upon arrival in Shigatse, spend some time visiting the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest one in Shigatse.

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  • Shigatse

• Day 5: Shigatse - Tingri County, Mt. Everest

  Proceed to the Rongbuk Monastery after breakfast. As the car moves along National Road 318, a scenic way that gathers the most and best landscapes in China, majestic and virgin snow-capped mountains will come into your sight time and again, including Mt. Everest at altitudes of more than 8,000 meters if on a clear day.

  After arrival, take pictures with the highest peak on the earth and then rest in the nearby hotel.

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  • Tingri

• Day 6: Tingri County - Saga County, Lake Paiku

  Continue your journey to Saga County after breakfast. On the way, you will have a chance to see the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas again. Drive through the alpine pastures and make a short stopover at Lake Paiku, the best place to enjoy the beauty of the Shishapangma, the lowest among the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 meters above the sea level. Tonight, you will stay at Saga County.

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  • Saga

• Day 7: Saga County - Darchen, Lake Manasarovar

  This morning, along the way to Ngari Prefecture, you will enjoy different landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and blue lakes to vast deserts. Make a stopover at Lake Manasarovar, where you can overlook the sacred Mount Kailash to its north and visit the lakeside Jiwu Temple. Close to the borders of India and Nepal, this area is a worship place for believers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. So, don't be surprised if you see the pilgrims on their devotional journey circling the lake and the mountain. After the tour, head to Darchen for the night.

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  • Saga

• Day 8: Darchen - Zanda County, Zhada Earth Forest

  Along with the beautiful plateau scenery, you will reach Zhada Earth Forest National Geopark today. The flat top of the mountain that has been cut into parallel and orderly deep shallow gullies by nature seems like a work of art gifted to man. You may feel like being on another planet while moving through the geopark in the car. Later, visit the ancient Guge Kingdom Ruins rising abruptly from the river bank. Just a few hundred meters from the ruins is the Tholing Monastery with a history of more than 1,100 years.

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  • Zanda County

• Day 9: Zanda County - Shiquanhe Town

  After breakfast, drive about 7 hours to Shiquanhe, the main town of Ngari Prefecture, with stopovers en route for break and photography. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and take a good rest.

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  • Shiquanhe Town

• Day 10: Shiquanhe - Gerze County

  Today you will drive into the heart of Ngari Prefecture, a vast, uninhabited wilderness with numerous lakes. It's a long journey taking around 13 hours, during which you will be rewarded with a paradise of the unique wildlife in the Tibetan Plateau, such as Tibetan wild donkeys, Tibetan antelope, and wild yak.

  Arrive at Gerze County in the evening, check into your hotel, and have a good rest.

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  • Gerze County

• Day 11: Gerze County - Coqen County

  Continue your journey in the northern Tibetan prairie. Out of the window are stunning landscapes, beautiful lakes, and wild animals free rambling in their natural habitats. After about 7 hours of scenic land journey, you will reach Coqen County for the night.

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  • Coqen County

• Day 12: Coqen County - Nyima County

  Today, another 7 hours drive will take you to Nyima County. On the way, you will pass through Zhari Namco (a salt lake with the most graceful shoreline) and Tangra Yumco (the holy lake of the Bön believers). Upon arrival, check into your hotel and rest.

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  • Nyima County

• Day 13: Nyima County - Baingoin County

  Continue with a 9-hour drive through the boundless prairie to Baingoin County. It is an area that has too many lakes of different sizes and provides shelter for wildlife. You may encounter herds of Tibetan wild donkeys, Tibetan antelopes, and so on. After arrival at your hotel in Baingoin County, check in and rest.

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  • Baingoin County

• Day 14: Baingoin County - Damxung County, Namtso

  Proceed with a 4-hour drive to Namtso, along with Yamdrok Lake and the Manasarovar that you've visited in the past days are the three holy lakes in Tibet. Lying sacredly at an elevation of 4,718 meters, the so-called Heavenly Lake is also a divine pilgrim location for Tibetan Buddhists.

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  • Dangxiong

• Day 15: Damxung County - Lhasa, Yangbajing

  Today you can take a bath in a hot spring in the town of Yangbajing. It would be a unique experience to dip in the hot springs water and watch the snow mountains in the distance. Later, head to Lhasa, hotel check-in, and rest.

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  • Lhasa

• Day 16: Lhasa, Departure

  Time to say goodbye. Your tour guide will await you at the hotel lobby at the appointment time and escort you to the airport or railway station.

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