DAY 1 XINING DAY TRIP – RIYUE MOUNTAIN – QINGHAI LAKE – GOLD AND SILVER GRASSLAND
The first stop on your tour schedule is Riyue Mountain, which is situated in Huangyuan County, Xining, Qinghai Province. A Chinese legend tells the story of Princess Wencheng who lost a mirror that she called “Sun and Moon”. This magical mirror allowed her to see all the way to Xi’an, so upon its loss, she cried so many tears that it became the Daotang River that now flows near the mountain. After our mountain visit, your personal tour guide will take you to visit Qinghai Lake, located 150 kilometers west of Xining. Qinghai Lake is the largest saltwater lake in all of China, looking as large as a sea from some viewpoints. Before driving back to Xining for your overnight stay, we’ll pay a visit to the Gold and Silver Grassland. This grassland area features a never-ending blue sky, billowing white clouds, green grass, grazing flocks of sheep and goats, and numerous species of birds that make for a picturesque landscape for all visitors to see.
DAY 2 XINING – TA’ER MONASTERY – BOARD THE TRAIN TO LHASA
This morning we will visit the centuries-old Ta’er Monastery. This ancient monastery was built in 1557 during the Ming Dynasty to commemorate Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Ta’er Monastery is famous for its three treasures – the Butter Sculpture, intricate murals and ancient and magnificent “barbola” (Tibetan embroidery). After exploring the monastery, we will take you to the train station for your train to Lhasa.
DAY 3 ARRIVE IN LHASA
We will transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa after your arrival at the Lhasa train station. You will have time to relax with a free afternoon and evening after your arrival in Lhasa to acclimatize to the high altitude.
DAY 4 LHASA CITY SIGHTSEEING – POTALA PALACE – JOKHANG TEMPLE – BARKHOR STREET (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the incredible Potala Palace – the highest palace in the world. As we climb to the entrance gate, you will have a spectacular view over all of Lhasa. After exploring the numerous interesting chapels and learning about the traditional culture and history of the palace and the city, we will move on to the spiritually significant Jokhang Temple, one of the most important temples in Tibetan Buddhism. To see the “real” Lhasa, we’ll stroll through Barkhor Street with its thriving local market where you can pick up some local Tibetan, Nepalese and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.
DAY 5 LHASA – YAMDROK LAKE – KAROLA GLACIER – GYANTSE (KUMBUM MONASTERY) – SHIGATSE (B)
This morning we’ll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you’ll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier as seen from the Karol la Pass. Later on we’ll be able to visit the Karola Glacier before continuing along the southern Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you will be able to see the famous Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late in the afternoon we will continue on to Shigatse, the location of the Tashilunpo Monastery.
DAY 6 SHIGATSE – TINGRI – RONGPHU MONASTERY – EVEREST BASE CAMP (B)
After breakfast we’ll set out towards the peak of the world – Mount Everest. Departing from Shigatse and traveling via Lhatse and Tingri, you will see some of the most beautiful and unique scenery in the world – incredibly blue skies, floating high clouds, endless grasslands and the highest mountain peaks in the world. We’ll also stop by the Rongbuk Monastery – the world’s highest altitude monastery before spending the night at the Everest Base Camp.
Travel Tip:
Due to the high altitude, it is possible that you may have some symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend that you stay well hydrated, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery to minimize your symptoms.
DAY 7 EVEREST BASE CAMP – SHIGATSE
Enjoy a breathtaking sunrise at the Everest Base Camp before we journey back through the spectacular scenery to spend the night again in Shigatse.
DAY 8 SHIGATSE – TASHILUNPO MONASTERY – LHASA (B)
We’ll get an early start this morning to visit one of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism, the Tashilunpo Monastery. Here you can see the well-preserved statue of Jampa (future Buddha), the largest such statue in the world. This monastery is also the seat of Tibet’s second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama. After our visit to Tashilunpo, we will make the scenic drive back to Lhasa to spend the night.
DAY 9 DEPART FROM LHASA (B)
We will pick you up from your hotel by private vehicle for the 90-minute drive to the Lhasa airport for your departing flight.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
✓ All necessary Tibet Travel Permit. (Including Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, Boarder Pass)
✓ Private professional English-Speaking local tour guide
✓ Licensed Vehicle with experienced driver
✓ All Entrance tickets to the sightseeing places listed
✓ Airport (or train) pick up and drop off
✓ Accommodation listed in the itinerary
✓ Breakfast provided by the hotel
✓ Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance
✓ A container of Oxygen for emergency use
✓ All taxes, fees and handling charges
✓ Lodging and meal allowance to the guide & driver
✓ Reservation fee for visiting Potala Palace
✓ 2 bottles of drinking water per person per day
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
✗ Meals not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners)
✗ Flight/Trian tickets in and out of Tibet
✗ Sightseeing places not listed in the itinerary
✗ Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
✗ Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.
✗ Tips to the guide & driver (Tips is not required but expected)
✗ Single room supplement
