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Day 01: Kathmandu – Lhasa flight.
Day 02: Sightseeing of Potala Palace / Barkhor Bazaar / Jokhang Temple
Day 03: Sightseeing of Drepung and Sera Monasteries
Day 04: Drive to Yamdrok Lake. Gyantse
Day 05: Gyantse to Shigatse.
Day 06: Shigatse to Lhasa.
Day 07: 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: 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 03: Sightseeing of Drepung and Sera Monasteries
- Breakfast in the hotel. Drepung, one of the world's largest monasteries was built in 1416 by Jamyang Choje a pupil of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect. Drepung literally means “Rice Mountain,” after the famous and very large Danayakataka Stupa in South India where Buddha originally taught the Kalachakra Tantra. Prior to 1959 Drepung ranked as Tibet's largest monastery, sometimes with a population exceeding 10,000 monks. It also served as the residence of the early Dalai Lamas, until the Potala Palace was constructed in 1645. The second and third and the fourth Dalai Lama lived and were entombed here. Suffering only minor damage during the Cultural Revolution Drepung has plenty of historical relics, Buddhist scriptures and arts. We will walk down to Nechung Monastery and drive to Lhasa for lunch.
- In the afternoon, drive to Sera monastery, the 15th century sprawl of golden roofs and whitewashed walls is situated on a mountain slope, few miles north of Lhasa city. This monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect and is one of the three great monasteries of Tibet, the other two being Drepung & Ganden. Sera was hard hit during the cultural revolution owing to its resident's active participation in the 1959 uprising. The highlight of the visit to Sera would be to witness the monks debating out in the courtyard.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Drive to Yamdrok Lake. Visit Gyantse and overnight.
- Yamdrok Tso (lake) also known as Turquoise lake is situated in the Lhoka area, covers 621 square km at elevation of 4441M and is one of the three largest lakes in Tibet. Enjoy the beautiful views of the lake; time for photo opportunity and short walk.
- Continue drive to Gyantse, afternoon visit Pelkor Choede Monastery. Its' remarkable feature accommodates the three sects of Tibetan Buddhism in one monastery coexisting in peace with each other. The three sects are: the Sakya, the Kagyu and the Gelug. The full name of the Palcho Monastery is "The Auspicious Wheel Joy Monastery." According to the historical records, this monastery was built in 14th or 15th century. It consists of the Assembly Hall, the 100000-Buddha pagoda, dratsangs and an enclosure wall as its construction units. Also visit the justifiably famous Kumbum monastery with its extraordinary architecture. The Stupa was designed by Newari architects from Nepal and is one the unique stupas in Tibet.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Gyantse to Shigatse
- Breakfast in the hotel. Drive 90 kms, 2 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 Tashilunpo 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 06: Shigatse to Lhasa.
- Breakfast in the Lhasa. 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 are free for the rest of the day. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07: Departure.
- Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to Gonggar airport for flight to onward flight.