7 Days Southwest China Tour with Tibet Culture & Scenery

Day 1 Lhasa Arrival

Pick up service can be arranged at Lhasa train station or Lhasa airport. Once you arrive, our Lhasa local tour guide will meet you at the exit of the train station/airport with a welcome sign. Transfer to your hotel in Lhasa city, the rest day is free on your own to adapt to the local altitude.

Day 2 Lhasa

In the morning, our local guide will meet you at your hotel lobby. Today you will visit Lhasa’a cardinal landmark Potala Palace; the highest palace in the world. It well worths visiting for its artistic value, historic purposes, and cultural awareness, has been regarded as the No. 1 must-see attraction in Tibet. It is one of the world culture heritages. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, Thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

You will have lunch at local reataurant with authentic Tibetan food.

Next, head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Gampo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the holiest statue of Buddha. 

And then walk along the famous street in Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different part of Tibet.

Finally, you’ll taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house and enjoy a welcome dinner at night.

After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lhasa.

Day 3 Lhasa

The activities for today is Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. Our guide will take you to visit these two prestigious Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa. Founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416, Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet. Situated at the foot of Gambo Utse Mountain, Drepung was once home to more than 10000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The highlight is the monk debate held in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan scripture printing house.

You will have a dinner at a suitable time. After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 4 Lhasa

Around 08:00 am, our guide and driver pick you up from your hotel, and then leave Lhasa to Namtso Lake. Nyenchen Thanglha snow mountain ranges appear in front of you all the way. In summer (May to August), the sheepherders and their family move to grassland and set up their tents, you could see green grassland, groups of sheep and yaks, nomad tents by the road.

Namtso Lake is the Heavenly lake which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt lake. You can do a very relaxing trekking around the lake side and Tashi Island.

Spending a night at lake shore is fantastic. The night sky is so clean that you could see all the stars twinkling on the sky, which are so close to you as if you could stretch your hands to pick them. Namtso lake is actually the lake in the sky, and it is about 5000m high lies on the highest plateau in the world.

In the afternoon, drive you back Lhasa. 

Day 5 Tibetan Countryside Life Experience

In the morning, first drive you to Ganden Monastery (40 kilometres northeast of Lhasa), Ganden Monastery is one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries of Tibet, the other two are Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. It was founded in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa Lozang-dragpa, founder of the Gelug order. The monastery was destroyed after 1959, but has since been partially rebuilt.

Then, drive to the Tibet Trubshi Village, with an altitude of nearly 3400m where you can experience the Tibetan countryside life and have dinner with them and spend a night there. 

Day 6 Trubshi Village

In the Morning, the tour guide will lead you Trekking in Trubshi village which is known as one of the most beautiful Tibetan villages for trekking. Tibet famous trekking route from Ganden to Samye monastery starts from this village. If conditions permit, you may ride a horse (or Yak) (Horse riding is not free, please discuss the price with local people).

Then back to Lhasa. At about 3:00pm, tourists will be in Lhasa. The rest of the day is for relaxation, you can walk around and do some shopping by yourself.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 7 Lhasa Departure

You will be free until your tour guide and driver transfer you to the Lhasa Train Station or Airport. Our service ends.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.