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Day 01: Lhasa (Arrival)
Upon arrival at Gongor airport at Lhasa, transfer to the hotel
in Lhasa. Rest of the day free for acclimatization.
Day 02: Lhasa
In the morning after having breakfast proceed for a full day
sight seeing tour of Lhasa city covering Sera monastery,
Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Sera is more like a small
town on the outskirts of Lhasa at the base of Tatipu hill. It
is the main teaching monastery and one of the three great
Gelukpa Universities - once housing more than 5500 monks. Here
one can see the young novices learning scriptures in the
Debating Garden. After visiting the Sera Monastery you will
drive to visit the Jokhang temple. Jokhang temple was built in
the 7th century A D and houses the most prized Buddhist relic,
a 1300 year old Sakyamuni Buddha statue. The main section of
the temple is topped with golden roofs found nowhere else
except in Tibet. After visiting the temple you will have a
walk in the Barkhor Bazaar. It is a lively and colourful
market where you can bargain over such treasures like ornate
long bladed knives, prayer wheels and exquisite jewellery.
Day 03: Lhasa
In the morning after having breakfast you will visit the
Potala Palace. Potala Palace is the dominant landmark of Lhasa
situated at a heights of 117 meters above the sea level. The
construction of this palace was started on the red hill in
1645 under the 5th Dalai Lama. An immense building, 13 storeys
high with walls 3 meters thick contains over 1000 rooms,
10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. It was both the residence
of the current Dalai Lama and tomb of the former head of
state. The Potala Palace is full of elaborate art work and
frescos that tell many stories. After the visit of Potala
Palace you will visit the Norbulingka Summer palace. On the
banks of the Kyichi River, there is a tree and flower filled
pard known as the Norbulingka or the Jewel Park. Covering a
total area of 360,000 square meters, the park was originally
laid out in the year 1750. Norbulingka was also the summer
palace of the Dalai Lamas (8th to 14th). The small palace of
the 13th Dalai Lama is an odd mix of traditional Tibetan
architecture and modern paraphernalia. In the evening you will
visit the Drepung Monastery. This monastery is situated in the
west suburbs of Lhasa city. It was formerly the largest and
richest monastery in the world with 10,000 monks. Of
particular interest is the medieval monk's kitchen with its
great cauldrons of steaming barley 'stamp' sitting on top of
huge earthen stoves and tented by saffron robed monks wielding
massive ladles. From the roof of the monastery one can enjoy
the natural beauty of the Lhasa valley.
Day 04: Lhasa - Gyantse
In the morning you will drive to Gyantse. Gyantse was earlier
the Tibet's third most important city, lying in the Nyangchu
valley and along the main routes from India and Nepal to Lhasa.
In former times it was a fort, the centre of Tibet's wool
trade and a gateway to the outside world. You will have an
overnight stay at the hotel in Gyantse.
Day 05: Gyantse - Shigatse (Xigatse)
In the morning after having breakfast visit Phalkor monastery
and Kumbum Stupa. Later in the afternoon drive from Gyantse to
Shigatse. Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city. It is the
administrative centre for 18 countries in southern and western
Tibet. Besides the rich cultural heritage, Shigatse has an
abundance of native fruits and products. Upon arrival transfer
to the hotel in Shigatse. In the evening visit the Tashilhunpo
Monastery and the market of Shigatse. Tashilumpo monastery is
the seat of the Panchen Lama. The monastery, built in 1447 by
a nephew of Tsong Khapa once housed over 4000 Monks, but now
there are only 600. After visiting the monastery you will
visit the market of Shigatse. In the market there are more
than 300 stalls selling local produce as well as colourful and
elaborate handicraft, accessories, antiques and porcelains.
Day 06: Shigatse - Xegar (about 245 km)
Today you will drive from Shigatse (Xigatse) to Xegar. Xegar
is a new Chinese commune built at the foot of the ruins of
Xegar Dzong, and is 7 km from the main road. With a population
of 3000, its importance lies in the fact that it is the center
of this large and remote country and also because it is the
base from where expeditions to Mt. Everest and other peals are
launched.
Day 07: Xegar - Rongbuk (about 105 km)
Today you will drive from Xegar to Rongbuk. Rongbuk Monastery
was founded in 1902. This is the largest monastery of the
region and had once over 500 monks and nun. It is located at
the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier, near Mt. Everest's north face
Base camp. A couple of centuries before the complex was built,
a small group of nuns in meditation huts braved the severe
conditions regularly experienced at this sobering altitude of
4980 m. In Rongbuk we also explore the Mt. Everest's Base
Camp.
Day 08: Rongbuk - Xegar (about 105 km)
Today we drive back from Rongbuk to Xegar. Evening free for
leisure in Xegar.
Day 09: Xegar - Shigatse (about 245 km)
Today we drive back from Xegar to Shigatse. Evening free for
leisure in Shigatse (Xigatse).
Day 10: Shigatse - Lhasa
In the morning drive from Shigatse (Xigatse) to Lhasa (3650
m). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel in Lhasa. Rest of the
day free for leisure in Lhasa.
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