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Day 01: Kathmandu – Lhasa flight.
Day 02: Lhasa
Day 03: Sightseeing in Lhasa.
Day 04: Lhasa - Shigatse
Day 05: Shigatse - Saga
Day 06: Saga – Manasarovar Lake
Day 07: Manasarovar Lake
Day 08: Manasarovar Lake – Tarchen
Day 09: Tarchen – Saga
Day 10: Saga – Shigatse
Day 11: Shigatse – Lhasa
Day 12: Lhasa
Day 13: Departure from Lhasa.
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Day 01: Kathmandu to Lhasa flight.
- Arrive at Gonggar Airport. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Lhasa. Day for acclimatize to the altitude. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: Lhasa
- Breakfast in the hotel. Free day for acclimatization of altitude. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: Sightseeing of Potala Palace, Barkhor Bazaar and Jokhang Temple
- Breakfast in the hotel. Potala Palace is the cardinal landmark and a structure of massive proportion. This symbol of Tibet, an architectural gem built in the colossal monastic style of Central Tibet by Gyelwa Ngapa, the fifth Dalai Lama, in the 17th century, stands 300m above the valley atop the hill called Marpo Ri. The thousand rooms in Potala date from 1645 when the fifth Dalai Lama began erecting a palace that would serve as a sacred and administrative center. It served many succeeding Dalai Lamas and as one of Tibet‚s most impressive and enduring monuments.
- Jokhang Temple is in the heart of old Lhasa, most sacred temples in Tibet established in 7th century by King Songtsen Gempo, the King who brought Buddhism to Tibet.
- Barkhor Bazaar is the market place where everything is available, also good for people watching. Tibetans spin prayer wheels and shop as they circumambulate. Good for shopping everything from trinkets to tantric ritual objects. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Lhasa to Shigatse (Tashilhunpo Monastery)
- Breakfast in the hotel. Drive 280 kms, 5 hours to Shigatse, an ancient city on the Plateau of which its history can be traced back to more than 500 years. With its altitude of 3800m, Shigatse covers a total area of 182000sq.km in 18 counties and is the second largest city after Lhasa. With population of 635200 under its jurisdiction, Shigatse is historically named 'Nyangme' which means -the lower reaches of the Nyangchu River- in Tibetan.
- Visit the great Tashilhunpo Monastery , the seat of the Panchen Lama, second only in importance to the Dalai Lama. Located on the south slope of the Nyimari hill in the west of the city of Xigatse, the Tashilhunpo Monastery, known as one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect, was originally built in 1447. It is the largest monastery in the Tsang area of 300000-sq.m. Tsongkhapa's 8th disciple, Gendun Drupa,the 1st Dalai Lama, built it with the financial aid from the Pakdru regime. Its numeroushalls contain a 21.6-meter wooden statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha and elaborate, jewel encrusted reliquary chorten. The monastery was expanded and renovated by the 4th, 5th and 6th Panchens. Thereafter, the Tashilunpo Monastery stands at an impressive scale today and becomes the residence for each successive Panchen Lama.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Shigatse to Saga
- Today we drive to Saga along Brahmaputra River. Pass several high plateau lakes, towns, herders tents and along the route with Plateau Mountain ranges. The scenically rewarding drive provides plenty of opportunities for photography.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Saga to Manasarovar Lake
- Breakfast in the hotel. Long drive from Saga to Lake Manasarovar through open territory with a view of distant mountains, Yak herders’ camp, if lucky might come across a herd of Kang (Wild Ass), you will have the first sight of Holy Kailash and Manasarovar. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 07: Manasarovar Lake
- Manasarovar Lake Kora by Environment Protection bus
Day 08: Manasarovar Lake to Tarchen
- Lake Manasarovar (4500m) is regarded as the most holy of all of Tibet’s many lakes. According to Hindu and Buddhist cosmology the four great rivers of the Indian sub-continent, the Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Ganges, and Indus all arise from the lake. It is said that Lord Vishnu floated in it for an eternity, dreaming, until the life force stirred, and out of the water’s infinite potential sprang forth all of creation. This day offers a wonderful opportunity to see the great lake Manasarover with Mt. Gurula Mandhata (7728m) on south and Holy Kailash on the north. After bath and Puja drive to Tarchen.
Day 09: Tarchen to Saga
- Drive about 500 km, back to Saga. We re-cross the Mayum-la and several rivers.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Saga to Shigatse
- Today start drive back to Shigatse, after such a long time drive, we will have a good rest at Shigatse. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Shigatse to Lhasa. Visit Norbulingka
- Drive 280km by the northern road to Lhasa. This road is a paved road, and the trip takes about five hours. Compared with the southern road, the scenery along this road is quite different. Driving by the Yarlong Tsangpo River, you can see the deep gorges of the highest river in the world. On the way, we will make a stop at the place where the local people make Tibetan incense in their traditional ways. After we get to Lhasa, you will visit Norbulingka.
- Norbulingka is the summer palace of His Holiness Dalai Lama. The 8th Dalai Lama designated it as a summer retreat but the majority of the buildings were not erected until the reigns of 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas. Every year as the chill air warmed, the Dalai Lama would leave Potala in a grand procession for six months residence in the Norbulingka. It is worth a visit and the park is a great place to be at festival times and public Holidays.
Day 12: Lhasa.
- Breakfast in the hotel. Free day to explore the city by yourself. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Departure.
- Early morning drive to Gonggar airport for your departure flight to Kathmandu