TT-03 Tibet Highlights

Arrival in Lhasa with a warm welcome from your guide and driver who will transfer you to the hotel. Lhasa, at a quite manageable altitude of 3,650 meters (12,000 feet), is a unique city and a real highlight. The setting, history, architecture, people and contrasts all make for a very special travel experience. Free time to relax and adjust to the altitude or start exploring the city.

Today first head 5 km out of Lhasa to Drepung Monastery, the largest in Tibet located on Gambo Utse mountain. Founded in 1416, it was the principal seat of learning for the Gelugpa school and at its height was thought to contain up to 10,000 monks (now there are 300). About 10 minutes walk from Drepung is Nechung Chok which was the residence of the State Oracle of Tibet. This small monastery was also evocatively known as the ”Demon Fortress of the Oracle King.”

After lunch (own arrangement) visit the Jokhang Temple constructed in 642 AD and considered the most sacred and important temple in all Tibet. It is located at one end of Barkhor Square, a fascinating meeting point for pilgrims from all over the region making for an intense atmosphere infused with incense and devotion. Surrounding the temple is the Barkhor Kora, a 1 km circular walk for pilgrims and locals as well as a fascinating market selling all the goods a pilgrim might need on their travels.

Today you visit one of the architectural highlights of China – if not the world – the vast Potala Palace, former residence of Dalai Lamas. Building started in 1645 and has been added to over the centuries. It is 13 stories high and contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. You will see some of the meeting rooms as well as the extraordinary chapels with their vast gold and jewel encrusted shrines to previous Dalai Lamas – the chapel of the 5th Dalai Lama has a stupa coated in 3,727kg of gold and 18,680 precious stones. The Potala dominates Lhasa and the views from the palace stretch out across the city to the surrounding mountains.

Continue to Sera Monastery, spread over 28 acres at the base of Pubuchok mountain and built in 1419. The highlights are the great assembly hall and some of the colleges located within the complex with their wealth of architectural features and shrines.

Travel on to Gyantse, 230km south of Lhasa crossing the 4,780 meter (15,680 foot) Kambala pass festooned with colourful prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Enjoy the spectacular views before descending to the Yamdrok lake and its dramatic backdrop of snow capped mountains. Follow the lakeshore before heading back into the mountains passing the Norjing Gangsang Glacier. Arrival in Gyantse at 3,977 meters (13,050 feet) and Tibet’s third largest city visiting the Palcho (or Pelkhor Choede in Tibetan) Monastery. The complex dates back to the 9th century with the most famous structure being the Kumbum, a 32 meter high 9 floored shrine which contains 108 unique chapels and is the largest in Tibet. It is further 100 km drive to Shigatse at 3,840 meters (12,600 feet) which we reach late afternoon.

Start today by visiting the Tashilhunpo Monastery founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama and the traditional seat of the “Tashi” or Panchen Lama. The monastery is fascinating as is the walk you can do around the Kora which stretches up the hillside behind the monastery offering good views of the complex and Shigatse itself. Drive on 127 km to Sakya monastery, the seat of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. This monastery’s architecture is very different to others in Tibet as it is Mongolian in design dating back to 1268. Drive deeper into Tibet stopping when you wish before reaching the remote town of Shekar (New Tingri). Try to get a good night’s rest in preparation for Everest Base Camp tomorrow.

Depart Shekar stopping at the Gyawu pass for a breathtaking panoramic view of the highest peaks of the Himalaya. Drive on to Rombuk Monastery and the gateway to Everest. From Rombuk the hike to Everest Base Camp (5,200m / 17,000 feet) takes 2 hours although there is often a national park bus in service if you do not want to walk. The sunset on Everest is sublime as well as the mountain under a star or moonlit night – pray to the mountain Gods for no clouds! Rough and ready high altitude night at either Rombuk Monastery or up at Base Camp itself where there is seasonal tented accommodation run by local nomads (approximately May to October).

Despite the inevitable cold it is well worth trying to get up just before dawn to catch the sunrise on Everest. The morning is spent exploring the area around camp before heading back to Shigatse to overnight. There should be plenty of time to stop for photographs along the way.

Continue your drive through a remote part of Tibet to the stunning Namtso Lake with its dramatic backdrop of the Nyainqêntanglha mountain range. Free time to explore the lakeshore area and revel in the beauty of the landscape here.

NOTE: Tonight you have the choice of staying at the Holy lake guest house close to the lake which doesn’t have rooms with a shower or private toilet or stay in Damshung where we can use a more comfortable guesthouse which does have basic rooms with private bathroom. You can decide which place once at Namsto itself.

This morning visit the Yangpachen Hot Springs before continuing with a leisurely drive back to Lhasa stopping for photos as and when you wish. Early afternoon arrival in Lhasa with free time to walk around the old town, souvenir shop, visit more temples or just relax in one of the many rooftop cafes around Barkhor Square or at your hotel.

Free time until a transfer to your onward transport out of Lhasa. We believe, like so many, you will have come under Tibet’s magical spell!