16 Days Chengdu to Tibet Ngari Kailash Guge Kingdom Namtso Lake Group Tour

Attractions: No
Meals: No
Hotel:  hotel in Lhasa

Welcome to Lhasa! Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your professional Tibetan guide will meet you right in the hall on time, with your name sign. Then a comfortable private car and experienced driver will take you to Lhasa hotel safely. It is about 65km from the airport to Lhasa city and takes less than an hour through the Airport Expressway. It is only 25km from the railway station and takes about half an hour.

After arriving at hotel, tour guide will help you check in. You can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude.

Tips:
1. To adapt to the high altitude ( over 3,600m ), you are recommended to have a good rest in the hotel, no running and intense activity, no smoking and no alcohol, no shower.
2. Please drink sufficient water and eat more vegetable, fruits, meat and eggs for more energy.
3. For the first-time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom.

Attractions: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: hotel in Lhasa

After breakfast, your tour guide & driver will pick you and drive to visit the splendid Potala Palace, which is Lhasa’s cardinal landmarks. You will have a whole morning to explore this world-level architectural works: White Palace, Red Palace, corridors and stairs and countless lama’s dormitory. Others include: Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted, murals, etc.

In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, as the spiritual center of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha; learning Tibetan Buddhism; hearing the red-robed Lamas praying; taking photos of the gold roof and enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa.

Finally, you will have a relaxing walk around Jokhang Temple at Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa, and full of religious atmosphere, showcasing Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Tips:
1. In Potala Palace, your visiting time is limited on 1 hour. Climb up there, you might experience slight shortness of breath, please take your time and rest when needed.
2. Don’t disturb pilgrims and Lama. Don’t take photos of them without permission.
3. In Barkhor Street, remember to bargain and compare the price in different shops for the souvenirs if you are purchasing.

Attractions: Yamdrok lake, Karuola Glacier, Pelkhor Chode monastery
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel:  hotel in Shigatse

On leaving the Tibetan capital, we will first drive southwest towards the beauty of Lake Yamdrok taking the winding road up to the crest of the Gampa La pass at 4794 meters. From the pass you get the first glimpse of the beauty of Lake Yamdrok below ringed by snowy mountain peaks and stretching out across the whole landscape before you. In the distance the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar stands tall in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain Range. We will drop down to the lake shore for a closer look before continuing on to Nagartse for a delicious local lunch.

On the way to Gyantse, after lunch, we cross over the pass at Karo La (5159m) where we can view the beautiful glacier that falls from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar. In Gyantse we will stop at the Pelkor Chode Monastery to explore both the monastery and the outstanding 32-meter stupa that is the highlight of the day. Known as the Kumbum Stupa this one-of-a-kind stupa has nine floors and 108 chapels which contain thousands of images and statues throughout. Then we will continue on in the late afternoon to reach Shigatse before nightfall.

Attractions: Rongbuk monastery, Mt. Everest base camp
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: guestroom bed at EBC

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive direct to the base Camp of Mount Everest near the Rongbuk Monastery. The route takes us over several high passes and the first outstanding view you will see is from the Gyatso La pass at 5400 meters. From the viewpoint at the crest of the pass you can see Mount Everest standing tall in the distance.

At Old Tingri we will turn off the Friendship Highway and take the Zhufeng Road over the Gawu La Pass (5250m) from which you get an amazing view of the Himalayan panorama. The view of the peaks includes several mountains above 8000 meters including Mount Everest (8848m) Mt. Lhotse (8516m) Mt. Makalu (8463m) Mt. Shishapangma (8020m) and Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m).

On our arrival at the Rongbuk Monastery we will first check into the tent guesthouse or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse depending on the time of year. The tent guesthouses are not available in the winter months from November to March and are sometimes full in the peak months of summer. After a light lunch we will get time to explore the famous Rongbuk Monastery the official highest Buddhist monastery in the world. Housing both monks and nuns the monastery was a regular stopping point for explorers heading for Mount Everest in the early days after it was first discovered.

Tips:
1. The road condition from Shigatse to EBC is a mixture of paved and rough road around mountains.
2. Staying overnight near the Rongbuk Monastery will be quite cold, please pack warm clothes.
3. Remember to get up early in the morning to see the sunrise over Mt. Everest.

Attractions: Mt.Shishapangma, Lake Peiku tso
Meals: No
Hotel: hotel in Saga

In the morning, we can enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits; then as we head to saga, you can view of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m), and Turquoise Lake Peiku tso(4590m). If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope etc.

Attractions: Lake Manasarover
Meals: No
Hotel: hotel in Darchen

On the way to Darchen, you will have a chance to appreciate the stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, the beautiful grassland and local's villages can also be seen. As we cross the Mayomla Pass(5112M), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi (7694M). Then we are supposed to pass by the holy Lake Manasarover and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt. Kailash, the most holy mountain in Tibet.

Attractions: Mount Kailash
Meals: No
Hotel: guestroom bed during trekking

In the morning, we are supposed to take eco-bus from Darchen to Sarshung valley. Then we will meet Yaks and porters at Sarshung village. (the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package) After that, we can begain the trek (Around 13km) from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu valley and rivers. You can enjoy the both west and north face of mountain Kailash today. Finally, we will visit Drirapuk Monastery.

Attractions: Mount Kailash
Meals: No
Hotel: guestroom bed during trekking

Today, we will trek over Dromala pass(5630m), the highest pass of the Kora. On the way you can have a rest in a teahouse. All the way, you can see locals Tibetans prostrating in the Kora path and beautiful Kadoe Lake when walk downhill. We may also visit Zutulpuk Monastery.

Attractions: Mount Kailash
Meals: No
Hotel: Local hotel in Darchen

On the day three of the kora. you will trek 7km to Zongto where you can take bus to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. We will end the Trek around noon.

Attractions: Guge Kingdom, Toling monastery
Meals: No
Hotel: Local hotel in Zhada

Today's tour will focus on the attractions around the Guge Kingdom, such as Tirthapuri monastery, Tsaparang, and Dungkar cave city, etc. Tsamda county is the current name for the region and was known as Guge kingdom. The capital of the county is located at Toling. The toling monastery, founded by Richen zangpo in the 10th century, was once Ngari's most important monastic complex. It was due to the influence of Richen Zangpo that Toling became the main religious center of the Guge kingdom after inviting the great Indian master ATISHA. The kings of Guge replaced the city as a political center of power by establishing capital slightly closer to the Indo-Tibetan trade routes. But the monastery is still an important cultural heritage of Ngari.

Attractions: Lake Manasaovar
Meals: No
Hotel: Local hotel in Saga

In the morning, a long drive takes you back to the enchanting Manasarovar and then to Saga.

Attractions: No
Meals: No
Hotel: hotel in Shigatse

Drive from Saga to Shigatse.

Attractions: Tashilunpo Monastery, Yalong Vally
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: hotel in Lhasa

After breakfast we will spend the first part of the morning touring around the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery the seat of the Panchen Lama before heading off along the Friendship Highway towards Lhasa. Built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama, the monastery is now the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama Tibet’s second highest religious incarnation. There you will be able to see the tombs of 7 Panchen Lamas explore the twisting cobbled streets and get a peek into monastic life.
On the rout drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley, you can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa.

Attractions: Namtso Lake
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: hotel in Lhasa

After breakfast, we drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the three holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland in summer. Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Nagenla Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning overlooking of sacred Namtso Lake.

Then we can enjoy our time to do a leisurely trek along the lakeshore. Drive back to hotel at Lhasa.

Activity: See off to Lhasa Airport or Railway Station
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: No

Today is free for you until you are escorted to the airport or railway station for departure and the guide will help you get on board.