7 Days Lhasa Shigatse Gyantse Highlights Tour

Full Itinerary Day by day (Can Be Customized)

Day 1 Lhasa Arrival

Welcome to Tibet, the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism! Your tour guide will pick you up at the airport arrival hall and escort you to your downtown hotel in Lhasa while you enjoy the stunning views along the Yarlong Tsangpo River.

After check in, the rest of the day is for you to acclimate to the high altitude and weather of Lhasa. Avoid strenuous physical activities during this first day since that may cause high altitude sickness.

Orientation Tips: 1) avoid vigorous activities but do take some leisurely walks in the city to acclimatize to the air and high altitude of Lhasa city (altitude of 3,600m); 2) do not drink liquor in the arrival day, instead plenty of water and fruits are recommended.

Day 2 Lhasa ( B )

After breakfast, start an incredible day of exploration in Lhasa city. The grandiose Potala Palace will be the first site to discover. After more than 1300 years of historical changes, this colossal palace still dominates the skyline of Lhasa city. The Palace is the political and religious center of Tibet and has served as the governance and preaching site for the Dalai Lama. Climbing up the sacred steps to the Red Palace and White Palace you will explore their marvelous interiors full of exquisite Thangkas, numerous Buddha statues, vivid wall paintings, and other works of Buddhist art.

In the afternoon, first visit the holiest Buddhist temple in Tibet, Jokhang Temple, where the 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue is consecrated. With a history stretching over 1,300 years, this temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, China, Nepal and India. As a spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple attracts hundreds of devoted pilgrims to worship there every day. Outside the door of Jokhang Temple is the famous pilgrimage circle, Barkhor Street, where you can join faithful Tibetans in colorful attires walking the circle around Jokhang Temple.

Tips for today: 1) wear suitable headgear and glasses to protect you from strong sunlight, but do not wear any hat while visiting inside the Tibetan monasteries; 2) photography is not allowed inside the chapels of monasteries; 3) have your passport with you all the time.

Day 3 Lhasa ( B )

After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas and also the largest Tibetan garden - Norbulingka Park. The luxuriant trees and flowers, cool ponds and comfortable palaces make Norbulingka the best place for a summer retreat. Then drive about 5 km westward to Drepung Monastery. This monastery has played a crucial role in Tibet Buddhism as the school of the Dalai Lamas. As you walk along, immense temples and chapels leap to your eyes one after another. In its heyday, more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Various Buddhist rituals are performed in the monastery during festivals, most famous being the ceremony of Buddha Display in the annual Shoton Festival.

We will then visit the featured six hundred year-old Sera Monastery, famous for its grand ceremony of Buddhist debating and its beautiful temples with sensational icons, murals and history.

Tips for today: 1) please follow the Buddhist manners - talk in a low voice, always be respectful of others, reflect on the Buddha's teachings in these holy sites, and remain quiet and respectful when visiting temples 2) be sure to carry some water with you.

Day 4 Lhasa – Gyantse ( B )

Today you will be transferred from Lhasa to Gyantse (5.5-6 hours' drive).

After about 1.5 hours driving from Lhasa, you will get to the famous holy Yamdrok Lake. With an altitude of 4,441 meters, Yamdrok Lake is known as one of the "Three Holiest Lakes", also one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet. The turquoise pure lake overlies among snow-capped mountains. Surrounding the lake-shores are some peaceful Tibetan villages situating in the flat valleys. Looking to distance, you can still see clearly dotted yaks and sheep grazing on the grassland. Keep driving to next destination Gyantse, and enjoy the views of the grandiose and vast Karola Glacier.

After arrival in Gyantse, you will take a visit to the landmark of Gyantse Palcho Monastery. It is a traditional Tibetan monastery which is a fusion of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture, and has both temples and stupa. Palcho Monastery’s symbol is its Kumbum Stupa which is famous for having 100,000 figures of Buddhist statue in the chapels, niches and wall paintings of Kumbum. Lastly, go to climb up to the Dzong Fortress to enjoy the panoramic views of Gyantse city.

Accommodate at Gyantse City.

Tips of today: 1) pack some food and drinks for long driving of today; 2) wear suitably to protect yourself from strong sunlight, wind and possible cold.

Day 5 Gyantse – Shigatse ( B )

This morning, you will be taken to visit a spectacular site where you will have a clear insight of old living condition a hundred years ago - Pala Manor which was a private manor of Pala Family, a celebrated aristocrat during 17th ~19th century. The hosts lived in bright, large and luxury room, and enjoyed expensive furnitures and imported luxuries, such as OMEGA Watch, LV Purse, Wine, etc. While serfs, as the private property of Pala family, did all the farming and raised livestock for hots, but lived in dark crude room and caves. All the houses and rooms of both aristocrats and serfs remains well.

After visiting Pala Manor, you will drive about 2.5 hours to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. After arrival, go to explore the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery. It was built in 1447 of Ming Dynasty by the disciple of Buddhism master Tsongkhapa, then became the Buddhism center of Tsang region. It has been the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas who is one of two most powerful leaders of Buddhists in Tibet. Tashilhunpo Monastery is surrounded by 3000-meter-long wall. The whole monastery was constructed against the background of mountain, facing to the sun. There are 58 sutra chapels and about 3600 rooms. In Tashilhunpo Monastery, you can see many erected buildings with golden glazed tiles, interlaced red walls and white walls and Thangka Exhibit Platform. You can also meet these pilgrims from afar.

Accommodate at Shigatse City.

Day 6 Shigatse – Lhasa ( B )

Today, you will return back to Lhasa(about 5 hours). Enjoy the fantastic landscape of the valley and snow mountain, and get the special feeling of traveling in the outback far from modern civilization. Before arrival at Lhasa city, you will take sidetrips to visit the unique Nyemo Tunba and grand Nyethang Buddha.

Nyemo Tunba is famous as the hometown of Tunmi Sangbusha who invented Tibetan Character and Tibetan Incense during 7th century. There is an exhibition room for travelers to learn about the Tibetan Characters. The most interesting thing is to watch the process of making Tibetan Incense with water mill.

Day 7 Lhasa Departure ( B )

Today is free for you until your driver transfer you to catch your flight (or train) leaving Tibet. Please check your luggage and make sure everything is packed, then check out from your hotel before 12pm.

The quotation for this trip is from $929 Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2022.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.65. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

Check What our Customers Say...

Hi Zeva,

Has been great day in Guilin. Reed Flute Cave very cool and Shirely very knowledgable! And gave me a sweet birthday surprise - John

We are having a wonderful time in Guilin and Yangshuo! Thank you for your hard work on this, thanks again for a great trip in Guangxi! - Nancy

John - 2021.01.14‚ USA, January 14, 2021

Hi Lily,

Everything is very good! Hilary is marvelous. The driver is also great! Thanks for putting a very good tour for me and my husband.

We want to express our formal thanksgiving to the fantastic vacation in Harbin with Hilary and the driver. Thanks also to you and all planning. We appreciate very much the great job you all did to make our special vacation unforgettable!

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Janislene - 2021.01.11‚ Brazil, January 11, 2021

Hi Echo!

We’re back at the hotel. Everything was very good. The car great and the driver very polite and nice, he helped us with everything! ️Thanks for your help as well! We keep in touch for future trips! Have a nice evening!

Laura - 2021.01.11‚ Spain, January 11, 2021

Hello Tracy,

Everything is awesome. Both driver and Hilary are great.

Natasa - 2021.01.10‚ Serbia, January 10, 2021

Hello Wonder,

Our trip were very well. 

Harbin:

The driver who picked us in aeroport, the train and in our visited to city was fantastic. He drove very well and my family felt safe.

We liked all places we visited and the time we had in these place. The city is very clean and so different of Nanjing. We lliked the experience of food and the restaurant.

The guide was amazing and he have a good english.He explained a lot of facts of city very interesting and the place we visited. He gave space for we had good moments in family. It is very good. 

Yabuli:

The hotel Club Med for us was wonderful.

 I m going to talk the hotel by steps:

 

1- Bedroom:

The bedroon was very big with 2 individual beds for our children and a room for us with a big and confortable bed. The bathrooms were ok. It was very clean and with a lot of space to put our clothes. In the bedroom they have a smale space with a fridge, a cups to drink coffee, tea and bottles of water. we didn´t pay anything that we consumed in bedroom and everday they putted what was miss. All nigths they opened the bedroom and cleaned the garbage bins and offered some gifts(orange, cherries)

2- Food

 They have 2 restaurants one workes like buffet and another workes in the evening with hotpot dinner that we need to booking. We didnt try this restaurant because the buffet restaurant was so good and all time they have western food.

The buffet restaurant the food like I said was good and different everday. The problem of this restaurant was noise because were a lot of pleople there. In the evening of New Year they had a different menu with a lot of seafood and gourmet.

For adults they have a good wine and beer.

They have food all the time for the guest in the bar or in the restaurant that workes in the evening.

This is the hotel with all inclusive very good.

3- Animation and activities

The animation for the children were wonderfuly. They started at 8:30am and finished at 5:00pm. The children can lunch with staff or with parents.

The ski class for children start at 9am and they have like 2 hours in the morning and 2h in afternoon. If they don´t want making ski they play in the club med with staff and they can do climbing too.

For a 1^st January the kids staff prepared a show with the kids very nice.

For adults they have ioga class in the morning and afternoon, dance class, ski class and another activities.

The ski class some teachers speak a little bit of english and if they don´t speak someone translate for us or we saw the teacher to do ski and we can understand. I think it is easy for a foreign do ski in this class.

They have class for all pleople, they have a rent material good and if we prefer buy it is possible.

The hotel has been prepare for pleople don´t want to do ski and enjoy a relax moment in the mountain.

They have a club for families doing activities together they call amazing family.

All evenings they have a show or some activities for guests. 

In the evening new year they had fire works, a party and a show. In the first day of year like I said they did the children show and then they had a candyland to offer the guests.

4- Space

All space of hotel was clean, big, with a beautifull decoration and moderm style.

The swimming pool is big and it is nice have a good moments in jacuuzzi outside with snow and cold.

The gym is ok and they have a spa too. 

5- Language

It is easy to find someone that speak english. I think the hotel is for foreign pleople or chinese pleople who like the western style.

We liked a lot our holidays, we were able to relax and have a good moments in family.

I hope this description of hotel help you. If you need more informationa please contact me.

Best regards

Ana Oliveira

Ana - 2021.01.05‚ Portugal, January 5, 2021

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