Legendary Ancient Cities Tour

Detailed Itinerary of the Legendary Ancient Cities Tour

Day 1 Arrival and acclimatization

Highlights: No visiting today, better take rest in hotel.

Schedule:

Arrive at Lhasa train station or airport, your guide and driver will pick you up there in person with a warm Tibetan style welcome ceremony by presenting you Khata and afterwards transfer you to the hotel, suggest you stay at hotel to have good rest for better acclimatization.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa

Highlights: Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, Barkhor Street

Schedule:

In the morning, visit Lhasa's landmark-Potala Palace, in which myriad chapels, audience halls, Buddhist frescoes, Thangkas, combinations of Mandela, figures of the Buddha stored. In the afternoon, visit the Johkang Temple, the center of Tibetan Buddhism, built during Songtsen Gonpo's reign by princess Wencheng of the Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. After the Johkang Temple, we will start a circular pilgrim route along Barkhor Street where you can purchase traditional Tibetan and Nepalese artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, music instrument, Thangkas, and etc.

Day 3 Sightseeing in Lhasa

Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Schedule:

In the morning, drive to Drepung monastery which used to serve as the government center in Tibet until the fifth Dalai Lama moved to the famous Potala Palace. It is the biggest Buddhism College in Tibet and once homed to more than 10000 monks. In the afternoon, drive to visit Sera monastery which is famous for its scripture debate session among monks that starting every afternoon except Sunday.

Day 4 Lhasa-Gyantse'shigatse

Highlights: Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse Dzong, Kumbum Stupa

Schedule:

In the morning you'll start the drive to Shigatse, via Gyantse on the Southern Friendship Highway. Crossing over the summit of Kamba La (4794 m), you'll see the tranquil turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok below; one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. Far in the distance you'll spot the towering massif Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7191 m), and the staggering Karo-la Glacier (5045 m). After arriving in Gyantse you'll have the choice to either stroll around town; explore Gyantse Dzong, the legendary battle site of the British invasion of Tibet; or visit the Pelkor Tsode Monastery. Afterwards, you'll drive to Shigatse, and overnight there.

Day 5 Shigatse-Lhasa

Highlights: Tashilumpo Monastery

Schedule:

In the morning, we will visit the Panchen Lamas- seat-Tashilhumpo Monastery which was built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama in Tibet. In the monastery placed a very giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha and is 26.2 metres (86 feet) in height. The relationship and stories between Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama are always interesting and tantalizing, a visit to it, you will grasp it all. Later in the afternoon, we will drive back to Lhasa.

Day 6 Departure transfer

Schedule:

Our guide and drive will transfer you to train station or airport, tour ends.