Day 1 Arrive Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa. Arrive at Gongga airport with the Elevation of 3,600m/11,808ft. Our Tibet local guide will come to meet you at the airport and drive about 80km about 1.5 hours to Lhasa.
Enjoy free time to acclimatize the high Elevation.
Elevation: 3,650m/11,975ft
Overnight Kyichu Hotel
Meals: D
Day 2 Lhasa
This morning, we come to visit the World Heritage Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. Afterwards, we visit Jokhang Temple, also founded in the 7th century listed on the World Heritage.
Visit Sera Monastery in the afternoon. The Scriptures Debating is hold 3 pm everyday which is just a vivid painting scroll of the life and study of the monks.
Overnight Kyichu Hotel or Similar
Meals:B,L,D
Day 3 Lhasa
In the morning, we start to explore Drepung Monastery which was one of Tibet\'s largest monastery and monastic universities. It is located in the hills on the northern outskirts of Lhasa, and was established in 1416 as an institute of higher Buddhist education by Khenpo Lekden, a direct disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), founder of the eclectic Gelukpa.
In the afternoon, visit Norbulinka, summer resort and Tibet Museum. The Tibet Museum is located at the southeast corner of the Norbulingka Road in Lhasa. It is the first large-sized comprehensive modern museum in the Tibet Autonomous Region; it is a brilliant literary and arts palace of the Tibetan people, a gem of Tibetan civilization and a treasure house of Tibetan cultural relics.
Overnight Kyichu Hotel or Similar
Meals:B,L,D
Day 4- Ganden day trip
Start very early today. We head 40 kilometers Northeast of Lhasa (about 1.5 hour drive) to visit the spectacularly situated Ganden Monastery. After exploring the grounds, with their many chapels, residences, throne room and debating courtyard, you will do a kora yourself. If you are feeling incredibly adventurous, try the high kora that climbs high up the mountainside behind the Ganden Monastery. You will be immersed in a forest of colorful prayer flags; clouds of sandalwood incense and experience firsthand the immense devotion of the Tibetan people.
On your way back to Lhasa you will continue along the opposite side of the Kyi Chu Valley to visit the Drak Yerpa caves, one of the holiest cave retreats in Tibet. This site has been visited by Guru Rinpoche and Atisha, the Bengali Buddhist who spent 12 years proselytizing in Tibet. King Songtsan Gampo also meditated in a cave here, after his Tibetan wife established the first of Yerpa’s chapels. At one time the hill at the base of the cliffs was home to Yerpa Monastery.
Drive back Lhasa in late afternoon.
Overnight Kyichu Hotel or Similar
Meals:B,L,D
Day 5- Gyantse via Yamdrok
Drive to Gyantse. It takes 6 hours, 260km/162mi from Lhasa. Most of the road is black-top and get nice view of Yamdrok Lake and some of Glacier Mountain named Nyanchean Kangsar ranges. Sometimes we can see part of Himalaya from far away if the weather gets clear. In Gyantse visit Kubum Stupa and Chode gompa, both of them from 15th century dedicated to three different sects, Sakya, Gelok, Bo religions. There are very old Nevares art still exist.
Elevation: 3,900m/12,795ft
Overnight in Gyantse Hotel
Meals:B,L,D
Day 6- Shigatse
Drive to Shigatse, it is 90km/56mi distance, 1.5 hours way.
Then visit Tashilunpo gompa. It is one of biggest personal monastic of Panchen Lama built in 1447 by first Dalai Lama. Located at central of whole Tsang Region, there are lots of original Buddhist relics by the time of different Centuries. The largest statue of future Buddha is able to visit there.
Elevation: 3,800m/12,467ft
Overnight Shigatse hotel
Meals:B,L,D
Day 7 Shigatse to Saga
Drive to Saga. It is 7 hours drive. 495km/308mi distance from Shigatse to Saga. Most of the road we drive through farmers and nomads land, the Scenery is wonderful great natural mountain and rivers from western Tibet. Even Some small lake what local people considering secret around there. Brahmaputra River also flows nearby that town. Elevation: 4,580m/15,026ft
Overnight Saga Hotel
Meals:B,L,D
Day 8 Saga to Darchen via Paryang
Drive to Paryang. The distance is only 232km/144miles and it takes around 4 hour inclusive stop for picnic lunch break on the way. So in that day can have view of many high snow mountains and en route visit cleanest rivers are all the way. Natural landscape makes single visitors joyful all the time.
Elevation: 4,500m/14,764ft
Drive forward to Darchen. It is 322km/200miles long way. And it takes 5.5 hours to reach there. That is first day to see holy mountain Kailashi from little far away as well as see Manasarova Lake at same day. And prepare yaks and yak driver for next three day trek to the holy mountain.
Elevation: 4,575m/15,009ft
Overnight guest house in Darchen
Meals:B,L,D
Day 9- trek to Driraphuk
The trek of today is 22.5km/14mi and takes 6 hours walk. On the way you can see Darpoche (great prayer flagpole) it was place where Bhudda came with 500disciples from India for their supernatural power. Also visit hidden Elephant cave where Padmasambawa meditated spot. Drirapuk is retreat cave associated with great yogin Gotsangpa. It means female yak horn.
Elevation: 5,400m/17,716ft
Overnight Local Guesthouse
Meals:B,L,D
Day 10- trek to Zutrulphuk
Today, we trek 23km/14.2miles. It takes 6.5 hours. That day little bit harder to walk, because go up all the way to Dolmala pass, it is highest point in all this trip 5,723mt/18,776ft and then way down. On this trail you can have view of back side of mountain and many prayer flags at highest point. Also pool of great compassion is at side of route. Zutrulpuk has been built temple and shrine around Milarepa’s cave where he took dark retreat few years. He printed his hand and feet on the rock.
Elevation: 5,246m/17,211ft
Overnight Local Guesthouse
Meals:B,L,D
Day 11- trek end at Darchen and drive to Lake Manasarovar
Trek from Zultrupuk to Darchen, 11.3km distance. 5hours easy walk. There are some higher lama’s hand and foot prints on rocks in the trial. It is really colorful hill surrounded that valley. And then reach back to Darchen little earlier. And drive to Manasarova Lake camp near the lake.
Elevation: 4600m/15,092ft
Overnight Local Guesthouse
Meals:B,L,D
Day 12- visit Chiu Gompa and around
Visit Chiu Gompa at the lake’s western gateway sits atop conical out crop of red rock, inside has chapel and cave where Padmasambhava and his consort Yeshi Tsogyal meditation residence. They found various objects inside the cave. Afterward drive to visit natural hot spring.
Elevation: 4600m/15,092ft
Overnight Local Guesthouse
Meals:B,L,D
Day 13- drive back to Saga
From this day, we will be on our way back in four days by car, so we have enough time for sightseeing.
We will drive back to Paryang this day. In addition to the scenery mentioned above, Paryang is also famous for its religious architectures, monasteries and original eco villages with Tibet characteristics. Also, as Paradise of Wild Donkey and Home of Wild Yak, you can see many rare and precious animals there.
As we wrote before, Saga is well-known for its scenery. What’s more, there are 5 monasteries here where you can learn the Tibet religion. Also, the geothermy is popular. Local people often bathe there to treat disease, such as stomach illness, skin disease and arthritis. It is advisable to see that if there is enough time.
Overnight Saga Hotel
Meals:B,L,D
Day 14- drive to Shigatse
Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet, also a big tourism city, where are located, Yangdork Lake, Tashilunpo Monastery, New Palace of Banchan Lama that you will visit on the way back.
Yangdork Lake means Green Lake in Tibet language. It looks like a piece of coral. As the biggest lake in north of Mt. Himalaya, it has beautiful scenery there, attracting many birds. There are as many as 21 small islands on it.
Overnight Shigatse Hotel
Meals:B,L,D
Day 15- drive to Lhasa
Can a good rest at the hotel today
Overnight Kyichu Hotel
Day 16- depart Lhasa
Lhasa Airport transfer and fly home.
Meals:B
Trips End
