9天經典重慶與西藏珠峰大本營之旅（搭乘飛機）

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to explore the highlighted attractions of Chongqing. The first stop is Three Gorges Museum. Appreciate the vast collection of more than 280 thousand pieces of precious historical relics and have a better understanding of the great Yangtze River and formation of the Three Gorges. Also, you can know the gradual thriving of Chongqing from thousand years ago to 20th century. After the visit, you can take photos in front of the People’s Assembly Hall which is outside of the museum.

Later, you will be escorted to take Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan Metro Station to Liziba Metro Station to look at the city’s prototype from a different angle. Then, get off to have the never-seen magic of the train going through a 11-storey block of flats, existing only in the fantastically structured Chongqing built against mountains. Later, move to E’ling Park and catch the impressive panorama of Chongqing city which has been highly praised as “Little Hong Kong” with its well-arranged row upon row of modern skyscrapers and two winding rivers surrounding.

After the tour, you will be transferred to Chongqing Liangjiang International Airport to catch a flight to Lhasa (about 2h40m). Welcome to Lhasa (altitude: 3650m), the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region! Upon your arrival at the airport in Lhasa, the tour guide and driver will meet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in Lhasa. You can have a good rest to get used to the altitude in your hotel and get ready to explore Lhasa with your guide the next day.

Kind Reminds:
1. Altitude sickness: With its much higher elevation, some visitors may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend taking everything slowly, getting plenty of rest the first day and staying very well hydrated by drinking plenty of water to minimize the effects of the high altitude.
2. Be sure to let your guide or the hotel staff know whenever you feel unwell or need help. The people there are always willing to help and good at dealing with altitude sickness.

今天你將探索拉薩燦爛的建築、文化與歷史，然後與當地人一起漫步著名的八廓街，體驗藏人日常的轉經生活。

早晨，你可以步行前往布達拉宮探索。它不僅是西藏的地標，也是達賴喇嘛（1649-1959）的傳統官邸與冬宮。從布達拉宮大門步行攀登365級台階到達紅宮後，你將抵達海拔3.700m的世界最高宮殿，在那裡你可以欣賞拉薩市絕佳的全景。當你探索紅宮內歷代達賴喇嘛的主要殿堂、小佛殿與神殿時，其卓越的畫作、華麗的珠寶作品、精湛的雕刻、色彩繽紛的裝飾以及寶藏背後的神祕故事將讓你驚嘆與感動。在布達拉宮內，你會遇到許多從遠方趕來這座神聖地點祈禱的藏族朝聖者，這使其成為他們一生的目的地。你還可以請導遊講述更多關於西藏第33代贊普松贊幹布的故事，他在7世紀為了迎娶唐朝文成公主而首次建造了布達拉宮。

請注意，參觀順序可能會根據布達拉宮門票上指定的參觀時間進行調整。所有遊客都必須跟隨旅遊團參觀宮殿並在內部停留1小時。請注意，宮殿內部禁止拍照。

參觀完布達拉宮博物館後，前往擁有1300年歷史的大昭寺，這裡是西藏的精神中心和世界文化遺產。據說大昭寺是為松贊幹布的兩位新娘：中國文成公主和尼泊爾布魯克奇公主而建。「大昭」意為「佛殿」，它供奉著佛教世界的瑰寶——真人大小的12歲釋迦牟尼佛像。這就是為什麼佛教朝聖者將其視為最神聖的目的地。當你觀看他們白天和夜晚在寺廟前祈禱時，時間彷彿靜止了。

隨後，漫步在大昭寺附近熱鬧的八廓街，這裡是古代佛教徒進行轉經（朝聖環線）的地方。如今，它已成為一個繁榮的當地市場，你可以在那裡喝一壺酥油茶，穿著藏服拍照，並挑選一些當地的西藏、尼泊爾和印度手工藝品與紀念品。

今天你將享受拉薩的文化之旅，參觀西藏格魯派三大寺廟中的其中兩座：哲蚌寺與色拉寺。

早上，車程約35分鐘（12公里）去參觀哲蚌寺，這裡是拉薩最大的藏傳佛教格魯派（黃帽派）寺廟。在17世紀達賴喇嘛搬到布達拉宮之前，這裡曾是達賴喇嘛的宮殿。現在它以每年8月舉辦的哲蚌雪頓節而聞名，人們前來向完成100天禪修的僧侶供奉優格，同時欣賞最盛大的曬佛（唐卡）儀式。除了獨特的建築和驚人的殿宇，你還可以觀看藏傳佛教僧侶進行生動且活躍的辯經，伴隨著誇張的手勢、拍手和頓足。參觀完哲蚌寺後，你將進行約2小時的西藏文化體驗，包含導覽、藏香製作和木刻版畫。

下午，再車程約40分鐘（14公里）去參觀色拉寺。踏入其中一個最美麗的寺廟建築群，其白石道路和走道讓人感覺彷彿置身地中海。色拉寺的亮點是觀看大約在15:00 - 17:00（週日除外）舉行的僧侶辯經。這是一種有趣的辯經形式，你可以看到一個站著的提問者，以及坐著的回答者或一組回答者。站著的僧侶會提出問題並拍擊手掌和頓足，每個動作都有其特殊含義，例如喚醒智慧，並非具有侵略性。

隨後，專車送你返回拉薩的飯店。

On this day, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Lhasa. Drive about 8 to 9 hours (340km) from Lhasa to Shigatse, with a visit to two amazing natural landscapes - Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier - on the way.

In the morning, after about 3 to 4 hours of driving (200km), make sure to have your camera ready. When you reach Kampala Pass (4,797 meters), you'll have a breathtaking view of Yamdrok Lake, a freshwater lake down below, as well as spectacular views of the holy Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. It is one of the four largest sacred lakes in Tibet, along with Lhamo Latso Lake, Manasarovar Lake, and Namtso Lake. Yamdrok Lake offers stunning views of the Tibetan plateau and is said to be able to help Tibetans find the reincarnated soul of the Dalai Lama. Moreover, you may see dressed-up Tibetan mastiffs, dogs, goats, and yaks there. It is optional for you to pay 5-10 yuan to pose with and take photos of them; for local Tibetans, it's a way to earn extra income for their families.

In the afternoon, drive about 1.5 hours (70km) to visit one of the most beautiful glaciers in Tibet - Karola Glacier, the filming location of the movie "Red Valley" (Hong He Gu). As one of Tibet's three major continental glaciers, backed by the southern slope of Naiqin Kangsang Peak (7,191 meters), one of the four highest peaks in Tibet, this white glacier is also the source of the eastern part of the Nianchu River. The Karola Glacier (5,012m) is only 300 meters away from the highway connecting Lhasa to Gyantse town, and you can view it right from your vehicle. You can also easily walk to the foot of the charming glacier, which has a shape like a frozen waterfall right above the road and you. Besides the fantastic hike to the Karola Glacier, on the opposite side of the road, you can appreciate the beautiful snow-capped mountain of Mt Kalurong.

Notes for visiting Karola Glacier:
1. The altitude at the glacier scenic spot is about 5,012m, so be sure to slow down to avoid altitude sickness.
2. The public toilet at the glacier is very basic.
3. Local people may ask you to take photos with them for a fee. Be sure to ask before taking photos to avoid potential issues.

After that, drive on the Friendship Highway (between Tibet and Nepal) to Gyantse, the third largest city of Tibet after Lhasa and Shigates, and visit Pelkor Monastery. Pelkor Monastery (Palcho Monastery) is an important site for Tibetan Buddhism, as it houses different sects including the Gelug, Sakyapa, and Kadampa. Pelkor Monastery, with a history over 600 years, is also renowned for its impressive architecture, which blends Tibetan, Nepalese, and Han Chinese styles. One of the main attractions of Pelkor Monastery is the Kumbum Stupa (Gyangtse Kumpum), which is a nine-story tower adorned with thousands of images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is said to be the largest such structure in Tibet. Visitors can enjoy their time by witnessing the daily rituals and prayers of the monks, and have a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape from the top of the Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda). You can also catch the far view of Gyangtse Fortress ( Gyantse Dzong).

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

After breakfast, drive about 6.5 hours (330km) to the peak of the world - Mount Everest, while stopping by the Rongbuk Monastery - the world’s highest altitude monastery before spending the night at the Everest Base Camp.

Departing from Shigatse, after about 4.5 hours of driving (240km), you would get your first glimpse of Mt. Everest from the Gyawu La Pass (5,200m, Gyatso La Pass), between Lhatse and Shelkar. Apart from Mt. Everest, you will be marveled at the zigzag road that looks winding to the end of the world. On the road, you may see local people biking or hiking all the way to Everest Base Camp, for them reaching the base of the world's highest mountain is a must do goal or holy belief that is worth the effort.

After enjoying the beautiful and unique scenery on the pass with incredibly snow-capped mountain ranges, blue skies, floating high clouds, and endless grasslands, it is time to head to Rongbuk Monastery (about 3.5 hours,122km) for the first good view of Mt. Everest. At an altitude of 5,154m, Rongbuk Monastery is the world’s highest monastery, a must-visit for spiritual travelers, and you will find it photo worthy. It used to be an area of meditation huts, and you can find hermitage meditation caves with a history of over 400 years, dotting the cliff walls all around the monastery and the valley. Along with incredible Mt. Everest views, at Rongbuk Monastery you will be touched by the breathtaking scenery such as large white chorten, piles of mani stones, colorful prayer flags, devout pilgrims passing by...

Notes:
1. Travelers can only go as far as the Rongbuk Temple area rather than a few kilometers farther as before. But it’s no big difference in terms of viewing Mt. Everest.
2. Today’s food and lodging is very basic. 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.

You will get an early start with the sunrise of Mt Everest, then head to Gyatso La Pass (Gyawu La Pass, the Dingri Boundary, 122km, 3.5 hours) again with a quick photographic stop. After that, drive back to Shigatse (240km, about 4.5 hours) to visit Tashilunpo Monastery.

Founded by His Holiness the 1st Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gedun Drup in 1447, Tashilhunpo Monastery is the largest monastery in Tsang Area, Tibet. In Tashilhunpo Monastery, you can unveil the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, Tibet's second-highest incarnation. Pay a visit to the ancient tombs of the fourth and tenth Panchen Lama and the chortens, which hold the bones and remains of the sacred Tibetan lamas. Learn more from your guide about Panchen Lamas and Dalai Lamas while appreciating the brilliant religious painting on Tibetan architecture, listening to the Tibetan Buddhism chanting by local monks, and even participating in the kora like locals. Don’t forget to hike up to the top of the monastery and have a stunning bird view of the monastery itself and Shigatse City.

After that, drive back to your sweet hotel in Shigatse.

享用早餐後，你的導遊和司機將前往飯店接你。是時候從日喀則開車返回拉薩了。途中，你有機會在觀景台上欣賞一些迷人的風景。經過幾個小時的車程，你將抵達拉薩並被送往飯店好好休息。

你的9日重慶西藏之旅即將結束。你將在北京享有自由活動時間，自行探索更多景點，直到導遊護送你前往機場或火車站，搭乘航班或高鐵前往你的下一個目的地。

延申行程建議：如果你希望在西藏旅行更長時間，你可以將行程延申至納木錯、岡仁波齊和吉隆口岸。告訴我們你的想法。

旅途平安！