Tibet tour with Tsedang Yarlung Valley

Itinerary

• 1

  Day 01: KATHMANDU (1,300 m) - LHASA (3,650 m)

  Transfer to airport – Take a trans-Himalayan flight to Lhasa crossing over the panoramic Himalayan ranges (1 hr) with a high chance of enjoying the close up view of Mt Everest (8,848 m) and other adjoining peaks. Upon arrival at Gongaar airport, welcome and assistance by our Tibetan guide - Transfer to Lhasa (45 min) through the new tunnel and check in to your hotel. Full rest for acclimatization.

  • LHASA
  • BEAD & BREAKFAST
  • HOTEL
• 2

  Day 02: IN LHASA

  Full day sightseeing tour in LHASA including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Bazaar,
  
  AM: Visit Potala Palace.
  It is one of the most famous architectural works of Tibet and stands on the top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. The term Potala comes from Sanskrit. In the 7th century, it was built for meditational purpose. It was the Dalai Lama’s winter palace. Its white part used to be for the administrative purpose and the red part for the religious purpose.
  
  PM: Visit Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Bazaar
  Jokhang Temple is situated at the centre of the old part of Lhasa called Barkhor. It was built in the mid-7th century and was later extended by the successive rulers. It is a four storied temple with splendid golden roofs. It has a combination of architecture of Tang Dynasty & Nepalese Buddhist temples. It is just like the central Buddhist cathedral.
  
  Barkhor Bazaar is the downtown market area just outside and around Jokhang Temple. It is the main Tibetan bazaar which has been able to sustain Tibetan culture & heritage until today. This bazaar is good for shopping and eating out and also mixing with the local Tibetan people.
  

  • IN LHASA
  • BEAD & BREAKFAST
  • HOTEL
• 3

  Day 03: IN LHASA

  AM: Visit Drepung Monastery.
  It is situated five km away to the western suburb of Lhasa city at the foot of Mt Ganpoi Uze. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a disciple of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa sect in Tibet. The monastery occupying 250,000 square meter with a one time 7,700 monks is the biggest one in Tibet. It maintains plentiful of historical relics, Buddhist scriptures, arts and crafts.
  
  PM: Visit Sera Monastery.
  Sera is one of the Gelugpa’s six great monasteries in Tibet. It was founded in 1419. The complex today, a veritable monastic city, occupies a site of nearly 12 hectre. Sera, like Ganden & Drepung Monasterie, was a vital center of religious activity that drew students from the far corners of Tibet. In its heyday, it boasted over 5,000 monks and novices. In fact, Sera is one of the best preserved monasteries in Tibet. The debating monks are the worth seeing sight organized everyday in the afternoon in the garden of Sera Monastery.
  

  • IN LHASA
  • BED & BREAKFAST
  • HOTEL
• 4

  Day 04: LHASA - TSEDANG (3,550): 180 KM

  Scenic drive to Tsedang along the Kyichu River & Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo) with a visit to Samye Monastery located on the picturesque bank of the river Brahmaputra. Over night at hotel.
  Samye Monastery is the first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet. It was founded by the King Trisiong Detsen with Padmasambhava (Guru from India) and belongs to the Nyingmapa and Sakyapa sects. The monastery comprises three styles, namely the Han, the Tibetan and the Indian. It has been designed in the madala https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala shape across the Brahmaputra river.
  AM: Visit Yumbulakhang & Thandruk Monasteries.
  Yumbulakhnag is said to be the first palace in Tibetan history and built in the 2nd century. Statues of the three periods of the Buddha and Tibetan kings are enshrined in the palace. The view of the Tsedang valley from the top of the Lakhang is magnificent.
  
  Thandruk Monastery was built in the 7th century as a small copy of Jokhang in Lhasa. Together with Jokhang and Samye, it was one of Trisong Detsen’s three royal temples, as well as one of the 12 monasteries built by Songtsen Gampo. It is one of the principal shrines in the Yarlung Valley.
  
  PM: Explore the Chongye.
  It represents the Tombs of the ancient kings offering evidence of a pre-Buddhist culture in Tibet, presently in the form of scattered mounds. Most of the kings interred here are now firmly associated with the rise of Buddhism on the high plateau, but the methods of their interment point to the Bon faith. Archaeological evidence seems to suggest that earth burial, not sky burial, might have been quite widespread in the time of the Yarlung kings, and may not have been limited to royalty only. It is a half an hour drive from Tsedang. If time permits and keen in the Tibetan history, it is a worth visiting site. Over night at hotel.
  

  • TSEDANG
  • BEAD & BREAKFAST
  • HOTEL
• 5

  Day 05: TSEDANG - KATHMANDU:

  Early morning drive (2 hrs) to Gongaar airport for departure flight to Kathmandu or towards your destination to the mainland China – End of the tour.

  • KATHMANDU
  • BEAD & BREAKFAST