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Day01 Arrive in Lhasa
Today arrive in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, transfer to hotel. Stay at the hotel for adapting to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water. Overnight at 3*Thangka Hotel Day02 Lhasa BL
In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. Overnight at 3*Thangka Hotel Day 03 Lhasa BL
In the morning visit Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous. Overnight at 3*Thangka Hotel Day 04 Lhasa – Tsetang BL
After breakfast transfer to Tsetang and visit monastery Samye. Located in the north of Yarlung Tsangpo River and hold in the arms of mountains, it is the oldest monastery of Tibet (8th century). The stele hanging on the entrance to the main temple shows that king Trisong Detsen took Buddhism as the state religion in 779. The monastery complex consists of several buildings, whose arrangement reflects the Buddhist conception of the structure of the universe. Overnight at 3*Yulong Holiday Hotel Day05 Tsetang – Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse BL
In the morning we make a trip to visit the Yumbulakhang, a castle built in the 7th and 8th centuries during the time of the first Tibetan kings. It is far viewed that the castle is high on the rock hills and looks brightly white. The original fortress is now converted into a chapel; in the ground floor there is a shrine in honor of the early kings. The steps up are steep but it is worthy because on the top of the hill you can far view the valley and the surrounding mountain. Then we drive to Gyantse. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4,441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On one of the peninsulas of the spear-shaped lake lies the holy Mt. Donang Sangwari (5,340 m), and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7191 m) and Jangzang Lhomo rise in the distance. The lake and the Yarlung Tsangpo are separated by a mountain and the shortest distance between them is only 6 kilometers. The 800m-high difference contributes a rich water resource to this region. Many Tibetans believe that the life of Tibet will no longer continue when the lake dries up. On arriving, check in the hotel. Overnight at 3*Gyantse Hotel Day06 Gyantse – Shalu Monastery – Shigatse BL
Today visit Pelkor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the 15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Transfer to visit Shalu monastery, situated 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Shigatse, is a perfect combination of Han and Tibet architectural styles. It was built in 1087 by Jigzun Xerab Qoinnyai. Then drive to Shigatse (3,880 m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. Overnight at 3*Manasarovar Hotel Day07 Shigatse – Lhatse BLD
In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. Today 600 monks live in the monastery. In the afternoon drive to Lhatse. Overnight at 2*Shanghai Hotel Day08-09 Lhatse – Saga – Paryang BLD
Drive along the south route to enjoy wonderful landscapes on the way. In the south the snowy magnificent Himalayas rise, in the north line up the summits of the Trans Himalaya. We may see Kiangs and Antelopes running on this highland. The first day we reach Saga, the second day Paryang. Overnight in simple guesthouse Day10 Paryang – Manasarovar Lake BLD
Drive to holy lake Manasarovar. The fresh water lake is 4,588 meters high above sea level and covers an area of 330 square kilometers. The depth of the lake is 81.8 meters. The lake is situated between two snow-covered mountain ranges is extremely beautiful. It is an important part for the Tibetan pilgrims to orbit and take a bath in the lake. Overnight in tent near the Chiu Gompa in the north bank of the Lake. The small monastery Chiu Gompa standing on rock, offers a splendid view over the lake. Walking alone the holy lake. Overnight in simple guesthouse Day11 Manasarovar Lake BLD
The whole day for leisure by the beautiful holy lake Manasarovar. Day12 Manasarovar – Dachen – Tirthapuri – Tsada BLD
In the morning take the jeep to Darchen (4.800 m), which is 6 km to the north of the main street. Here we enjoy nice view of the holy mountain Kailash. The Kailash is the holy place for four religions: the Hinduism, Buddhism, Jains and Bon. It should be the holiest place in the world. Keep drive via tirthapuri and Tsada. Tirthapuri is one of the holiest places in Western Tibet because there stand the medication caves of Padmasambhavas with his companion Yeshe Tsogyel. For Buddhism the mountain Kailash and the lake Manasarovar form a perfect religious unit. If this unit is reconstructed as internal experience, the pilgrimage way is completed. If the pilgrim can feel the unit with their heart, he must have gained something. Northwest from Trithapuri, in the middle of the canyon erosion landscape of the Sutlej River, lie the impressive ruins of Toling and Tsaparang – flourishing centers of the former Kingdom Guge. Tsaparang disappeared in the middle of 17. Century; the Toling monastery, our today’s goal was until the 1960's religious center. Fortunately, despite of devastations by the Culture Revolution some buildings and temple remained. Overnight at simple Hebei Hotel Day13 Tsada BLD
Early in the morning we drive to Tsaparang (10 km, 3.800 m), the oldest center of Guge Kingdom. A group of four temples surround the lower part of the fortress walls, one fifth of which lie above the remains of the city, the former Summer Palace of the kings. The coffered ceilings and carved bars of the temples are decorated in different designs. Parts of murals are well-preserved and complicatedly decorated. Overnight at simple Hebei Hotel Day14 Tsada BLD
Today visit the Donggar Ruins, what are of one of the eight monasteries built during the reign of Rinchen Sampu of the Guge Kingdom. The monastery was an important political, economic and cultural center of the Guge Kingdom. On the two-kilometer-wide cliff, there are more than 200 caves. These beehive-like caves look so wonderful and house some excellent murals. To the north of the ruins are the Piyang Grottoes composed of more than 1,000 caves. Here there are pagoda forests, temples and remains of castle walls. Overnight at simple Heibei Hotel Day15-17 Tsada – Dachen – Paryang – Saga – Lhatse – Shigatse BLD
Three days drive on the same road back to Shigatse, enjoy the magnificent landscape of the highland, which maybe is so different from which you watch on coming-round. Overnight in simple guesthouse in Darchen and Saga, in 3*Manasarovar Hotel in Shigatse Day18 Shigatse – Lhasa BL
Drive back to Lhasa. Overnight in 3*Thangka Hotel Day19 Leave Tibet B
Transfer to the airport or the railway station, leave Tibet.
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2024-04-26 07:59:43
