Upon arrival at the TIA, Kathmandu, meet and greet with our office representative. Then, you will be transferred to the designated hotel. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, and the Kathmandu Valley is the political and cultural heart of the kingdom.
Our representative will escort you to the hotel and assist you with the check-in process. After a short briefing on the trip, the rest of the day is leisure. In the evening, you can stroll around Thamel’s local market, a tourist hub. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival at the Gonggar airport in Lhasa, your guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. It is a 1-hour drive from the airport to the main city of Lhasa (3650 m). On their way to Lhasa, travellers can see the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and the Brahmaputra River (the longest and greatest river in Tibet). Lhasa is the spiritual heart of Tibet.
Upon arrival at the hotel, your guide will provide you with assistance with your hotel check-in process. Upon getting to the room, you can rest and adjust yourself to the high altitude.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Lhasa.
Breakfast at the hotel. On this day, you will visit some of the popular attractions in Lhasa.
Potala Palace: It is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, located in the heart of Lhasa. The Palace is one of Tibet’s most iconic landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace was once the residence of the Dalai Lama and is considered one of the world’s most beautiful buildings.
Jokhang Temple: It is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tibet and one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism. The temple was constructed during the Tibetan Empire’s Songtsen Gampo for his two wives, Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti.
Barkhot Street: It is the famous old market of Lhasa, where we can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Lhasa.
Sera Monastery: It is one of the ‘great three’ Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The monastery is known for its beautiful architecture, vibrant festivals, and the famous “monk debates” that take place in its courtyards at around 3–5 in the afternoon.
Drepung Monastery: Drepung Monastery is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries, resides at the foot of Mount Gephel, and is one of the “great three” Gelug University gompas of Tibet.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Lhasa.
Breakfast at the hotel, check out with your belongings and drive to Gyanste. It is known for its large hilltop military fort, Kumbum Stupa, and the 14th-century Pelkor Chode Monastery, which houses Tibet’s tallest Tibetan Buddhist stupa. It takes around 2 hours on a winding road to reach Yamdro Lake. Crossing the Kora La Pass (5,010 m) and Gampala Pass (4790 m), you will have an amazing bird-eye view of Yamdrok-Tso (4450m) against the backdrop of snowy holy Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m).
Upon arrival, you will have a short hike along the turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok. The Yamdrok Tso is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains, and in the distance, you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191 m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. It is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of water flow in south Tibet. After spending some time, you will continue your journey to Gyantse.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Gyantse.
This day we will have a short drive to Shigatse as an acclimatization day, as you will be going to Namtso at a higher altitude. Before proceeding to Shigatse, you will visit the large hilltop military fort, Kumbum Stupa, and the 14th-century Pelkor Chode Monastery, which houses Tibet’s tallest Tibetan Buddhist stupa. After the sightseeing, you will continue your scenic drive to Shigatse. It is a 1.5-hour drive through the typical Tibetan countryside. Upon arrival, you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional monastic seat of the Holiness Panchen Lama. It is one of the Great Four Holy Monasteries of Tibet, whose grand and magnificent halls are stretched all over the entire hillside.
Overnight at the hotel in Shigatse.
Today we will visit Tibet’s Heavenly Lake, “Namtso Lake.” It is the highest freshwater lake in Tibet. After having breakfast at the hotel, you will leave for Damxung. It is the nearest town to Namtso Lake. As you head north, you will be driving on the swirling roads through the enchanting village of Lhasa and the farming scene of Tibetan nomads. Driving along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and following the herds of grazing Tibetan yaks and their tents dotted over the hillside, you will reach Damxung.
After a quick break, you will head to Namtso Lake. Ascending and descending through the winding mountain road, you will reach Namstso Lake. While traversing the Lagen la Pass (5190 m), catch a glimpse of Namtso Lake’s expansive vista. When you arrive there, walk around the divine lake. The view of the magnificent Nyechen Tanglha mountain range that encircles the lake and the lovely white yaks grazing by the lakeshore is utterly mesmerizing. Depending on the weather, the lake changes its colour throughout the day from light greenish-blue to deep blue. The surrounding mountains of the Nyechen Tanglha mountain range are also often covered in snow during the summer months as well. Sit quietly on the lakeshore and enjoy the serenity of this place, far from all the bustle of the modern world.
After spending some time, we will drive back to Damxung. Overnight to Damxung.
Breakfast at the hotel, check out, and we will drive back to Lhasa. En route, visit the most famous Yangpachen Hot Spring and explore the lives of nuns at Chimelong Nunnery. After that, continue your journey to Lhasa. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Lhasa.
Breakfast at the hotel, and check out of the hotel with your belongings. Then your guide will help make your transfer to the airport on time for your flight to your onward journey. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. The rest of the time is leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
After breakfast at the hotel, you are free until your departure. On time, you will be transferred to the airport 3 hours before your flight time.
