- Day 01: Arrival at Lhasa Gongkar airport and transfer to Lhasa.(3650Mts/ 60Km ) Hotel on B.B
You will be warmly welcome by our Tibetan guide and driver and accompany you to the holy city of Lhasa along with the view of Bharmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan and a giant stone carved Buddha with more than a thousand years history.
- Day 02: Lhasa, Viist Potala Palace, Jokang temple and Bharkor Bazar. Hotel on BB
After breakfast, drive to Potala Palace which is just around ten minutes drive. Potala Palace is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, built originally in the 7th century and expended to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. The Potala Palace is thirteen stories high and it has more than 1000 rooms.
Afternoon, Visit the Jokang temple and Bharkor Bazzar. The Jokang temple is Tibet’s most sacred temple, the main point of pilgrims from the entire Tibetan plateau. Located at the heart of the ancient town of Lhasa, it was built in the 7 th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo’s queen Bhrikuti on a site identified by Queen Wencheng according to her geomantic calculation. The temple is 3 stories high and it is constructed with enormous chapels including the most sacred statue of Budhha Shakyamuni, enshrined. It has around 70 monks nowadays.
Bakor Bazzar is the most sacred pilgrimage site in Lhasa and it is full of pilgrims from down till dusk. There are four huge prayer flags situated in Bhakor street which surrounds the Jokang, known respectively as Gadhen Dharchen in the northeast, Juyak Dharchen in the west, Kelsang Dharchen in the southwest and SharKyaring Dharchen in the southeast. The Bharkor street is the most active market in all Tibet and it is possible to purchase traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, modern goods, books, music, clothing, spices, fresh meat and vegetable.
- Day 03: Morning visit Tibetan Thangka School in Lhasa and afternoon, have a Tibetan cooking class. Hotel on BB
Morning, visit Tibetan Thangka school in Tuelung county which is just around 15Km away from your hotel. We will visit Tibetan Thangka school and just get a basic idea of the Tibetan Thang tradion, how Tibetan Thangka is made of and how many years of the students have to learn to become a Thangka painter, what materials made of Tibetan Thangka etc.
After explanation to Tibetan Thangka painting process, we will give you a basic beginning course of drawing the line for a Tibetan Thangka and enjoy the whole morning in the school.
Afternoon, we will go to the grocerry to buy vegetables and all the necessary items that you need for your cooking class.
Our teacher will give you around four different kinds of Tibetan dishes course.
1) How to make Droma Dresil ( a fried rice with suger, rason, wild potato )
2) How to make Tibetan Momo ( A kind of dumpling with either meat or veg inside )
3) How to make Tibetan Yak meat noodle soup
4) How to make Tibetan fried potato with chilly, onion
5) How to make Tibetan butter tea and sweat tea
6) How to make Tibetan Tsampa bread
7) How to make Tibetan Chilly sauce
To process and learning how to cook these dishes, you will have around 3 hrs and you will be preparing this in one of the Tibetan restaurant and will chat with Tibetan cooking team and will have a a lot of fun. You will enjoy the dinner that you cook yourself in Tibet.
- Day 04: Drive from Lhasa-Samye monastery-Tsetang. (3600Mts/ 160Km ) Hotel on B.B
You will start your tour at 8Am and drive along the Lhasa river where it joins the Bharmaputra river at Chushur bridge. Visit Samye monastery which is the first and oldest monastery of Tibet. If the time permits, you will hike to Hepori on a hillside near Samye monastery. Hepori hill is a sacred hill side with a very holy cave, blessed by Padmasamvawa in the 8th century and you will have a spectacular view of the entire Samye monastery and Samye village. After the Samye monastery sightseeing, you will have lunch in the monastery restaurant and then continue your journey to Tsetang. We will directly drive to Yumbu Lhakang which is 30Km outside of Tsetang town. Visit Yumbu Lhakang and Traduk temple on the way back.
- Day 05: Tsetang visit-Tibetan Kashmere factory-Langthang Dewachen. (3900m, 110Km) Camp
Morning, visit Yumbu Lhakang which is believed to be the first castle of Tibet.
According to Bon traditions, Yumbu Lhagang was erected in the second century BCE for the first Tibetan king, Nyatri Tsenpo, who descended from the sky. During the reign of the 28th king, Thothori Nyantsen, in the fifth century CE, a golden stupa, a jewel (and or a form to the manufacture of dough-Stupas) and a sutra called Nyenpo Sangwa (melodious secret ) that no one could read fell from the sky onto the roof of the Yumbu Lhagang, a voice from the sky announced, "In five generations one shall come that understands its meaning!
Later, Yumbu Lhagang became the summer palace of the 33rd Tibetan king, Songtsän Gampo (604-650 CE) and his Chinese princess, Wencheng. After Songtsän Gampo had transferred the seat of his temporal and spiritual authority to Lhasa, Yumbu Lhagang became a shrine.
A thousand years later, during the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-82), the palace was turned into a monastery for the Gelug school.
Visit Traduk temple which was built by the 33rd Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century prior to the construction of the Jokang temple in Lhasa. The most revered object in Traduk temple are an embroidered Buddha Shakyamuni Thangka made of silk, built by Princess Wnecheng of the Tang court and a very beautiful Thangka of Avaloktesvara or the god of compassion, completely made of pearl during the local king called Nedung Gyelpo in around 12th century.
After lunch, we will visit the old neighborhood of Tsetang and a Tibetan woolen cloth weaving factory. In the olden days, there was a very well-known Tibetan woolen cloth called Tseter and it was used to make robs of the Tibetan high Lama including the Dalai Lama and Penchen Lama.
It is a very good quality Tibetan Cashmere which is made according to the traditional Tseter which has over hundreds years of history.
It is very much interesting to visit this factory and see how a perfect Tibetan cashmere is made of.
After this, we will be driving to our campsite in Langthang Dewachen which is 110Km distance and it will take you around 2 hours drive. Enjoy the first night campsite dinner served by our experienced cook.
- Day 06: Langthang Dewachen-Tibetan family visit-Gongkar Choede-Kyarola La-Trilung village. Camp nearby the lake, 4490Mts/90Km/ 3 hrs drive / 3hrs & 30 minutes walk
After breakfast, half day walk to Bumthang monastery and around the villages. hike up to Bumthang monastery, visit the monastery and walk down to Shizhol village, visit a Tibetan family and have lunch in a Tibetan family and experience how the traditional family of a farmer village in Tibet and the way of their living.
After lunch, we will drive back to Gongkar county where the airport is and then continue towards south west from the airport. Reach Gongkar Choede monastery. We will visit the Choede monastery. Gonggar Choede monastery, which was built in 1464, belongs to the Zung branch (meaning grey earth ) of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The principal founder of the Dzongpa Tradition was Dorje Chang Kunga Namgyal (1432–1496). The main monastery of the Dzongpa is Gongkar Chode just south-west of Lhasa on the south side of the Tsangpo River at the distance of 55Km from Lhasa.
In the 16th century, the monastery was beautified with wall paintings of the Khyenri school of Tibetan paintings done by the well-known artist of the times, Jamyang Khyentse Wangchuk
The history of the monastery is traced to the first visit of Jowo-je Palden Atisha (980–1054 CE), Buddhist teacher from the Pala Empire. During his first visit, Atisha had stopped close to the location of the monastery, prostrated in the direction of the monastery and prophesised that one day a monastery would be built at this location, which would become famous. He had marked the location with a mound of white pebbles in the form of a Mandala (this mound got destroyed during the Cultural Revolution). The Dzong was under the stewardship of Dorje-denpa Kun-ga Namgyal also known as Dorje Chang Kunga Namgyal (1432–1496), who was a well-known Guru who had received training in the Sutra, Tantra and Tantric rituals from masters of all traditions. He was the holder of the Dzongpa tradition of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Bhuddism. When he was sitting on the roof of his house in the Gongkar Dzong, while reciting the religious scripture, the Vajradhatu, a leaf of the scripture was flown away by wind and it fell at a location where the present Gongkar Choede Monastery is located.
It is mentioned that between Gongkar and Tsetang there are seven gompas of the Sakyapa sect, including the Gongkar Dorjeden, known as Gongar Choede, the pillar of Sakyapa power, to the south of the Tsongpo valley.
Gonggar Choede monastery is three storey’s high and the assembly hall is dedicated to the old paintings and three big statues of Sakya Pendita, Shakyamuni and Guru Rinpoche. The monastery survived many beautiful old wall painting date back to the 16th Century. It is worthwhile to spend some time with torch to explore the wall painting both in the main assembly hall and on the second floors.
The Gongkar Monastery also became famous because it was here that the artistic Central Tibetan painting of Kyenri originated.
After visiting the monastery, we will continue our journey to Yamdrok lake through some beautiful villages and Kyarola pass, 4900Mts on the top of the pass. From the top of the pass, you can have a beautiful view of another arm of Yamdrok lake which usually rarely are seen by other tourists and a beautiful village called Drilung located near by the lake. It will take only half an hour to get down to the campsite from the top of the pass. Reach the camp site. Have some snack and tea. walk around the village and lake shore for an hour before dinner. If the weather is good, you can also have a fantastic view of Noejing kangsang snow capped mountain in the distance.
- Day 07: Drilung-Chichung nunnery-Chogongla-Tongra-Rido monastery-Kangmar-Kangru monastery-an ordinary monks room visit- Rimpo. Camp,4480Mts / 70Km/4 hrs drive/ 3 hrs walk
After breakfast, start your journey and visit the Chichung nunnery and Rido monastery. Chichung nunnery is a Gelukpa sect with around 70 nuns. After Chihung nunnery, you will continue your journey and drive across the Chogong la pass,4800Mts above sea level. From the top of the pass, you will again see another arm of Yamdrok lake and the beautiful Tongra village. We will drive to the foot of Rido monastery which is located on a small sacred hill where it is believed to be the abode of Tara. A few years back, the hill where the monastery was a small island but within the last couple of years, the water of Yamdrok lake has been decreased very much so now the island is appeared on the dried area. You will trek up to the monastery, visit the monastery, have a fantastic view of the Yamdrok lake and Noeking kangsang in the distance. Walk down to the parking site and then continue the journey to Kangru monastery via Kangmar and Kangru village. You will visit the monastery and have some tea in the monastery and talk with the monks to share their monastic experience and lives. Walk from Kangru monastery to Kangru village for an hour, visit the village, takes photos in the village and then drive back to the camp. Have some snack and tea. Then walk around the lake Yamdrok and the hills nearby the lake for an hour before dinner.
- Day 08: Hike Rimpo-Gyole La-lake shore-Tartso-Taklung-Samding monastery. Camp, 4480Mts/ 2 hours drive/ 3 hrs walk
After breakfast, an hour walk across Gyole la and down to the lake shore. Drive along the Yamdrok lake and beautiful Karmaling grassland and on the way, you will see a fantastic view of the whole Yamdrok lake and Noejing Kangsang. On the way, visit Taklung monastery and the ruins of the Taklung Dzong. Continue authentic Tibet travel and reach Samding monastery.
Afternoon, two hrs walk around the yamdrok lake and enjoy a beautiful view of another arm of Yamdrok lake.
- Day 09: Drive from Samding to Gyantse.(3950Mts/ 110Km ) Hotel on B.B
You will start your tour at around 10.00 Am from the campsite, say good bye to the camping team and then drive towards Gyangtse through two big mountain passes, Karo La and Simila respectively. Karola is the highest pass which is over 5000Mts with it's most beautiful glaciers. After Karola and Noejin Kangsang glacier, you will be driving to Ralung monastery which is just around 5Km distance from the main road. It is a very beautiful scenery from the valley where the Ralung monastery.
After Ralung monastery, drive continuously to Gyantse through Simila pass. From the top of the Simila pass, you will enjoy the beautiful small lake with colorful prayer flags.
- Day 10: Explore around Gyantse and Drive from Gyantse to Shigatse. (3900mts/ 90Km ) Hotel on B.B
Walk from your hotel to Palchoe monastery along the old town of Gyantse. Visit Palchoe monastery and Kubum Pagoda stupa.
Palchoe monastery was founded in 14 th century by local Chieftain, Rebtan Kunsang for funeral of his mother's death and it was once a complex of 15 monasteries that brought together three different Tibetan Buddhist sects in the one compound. Nine of the monasteries were for Gelukpa Sect, Three were for Sakyapa Sect and the rest three were for Botonpa Sect which is one of the minor orders in Tibetan Buddhism. At the present day, the monastery is composed of one main assembly hall and some small chapels, inhabited by 70 monks. The Kubum Pagoda stupa was also built in 14th century by Rabten Kunsang. The Stupa is nine storey high and 75 chapels, dedicated to the murals and statues, describing the tantric Tibetan Buddhism.
Visit a Tibetan carpet factory and experience how the Tibetan traditional carpet is weaved. You will visit how the process of a Tibetan carpet making and take photos when they are weaving a carpet. Continue your journey to Shigatse by passing one of the biggest farming lands in Tibet where people grow barley, wheat, different kinds of vegetables.
Pm visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery and old market of Shigatse.
Tashi Lhunpo monastery is the seat of the Penchen Lama, built in 15th century by the first Dalai Lama, called Gedun Drub. On the slops of Drolmari, situated to the west of the fortress of Shigatse Dzong. The monastery is composed of 3 big colleges such as Tsennyi college, Ngapa college,Tse Gonkang college and one big assembly hall with numerous chapels around. The main object of the monastery are the giant gilled copper statue of the Future Buddha Maitreya which is (26Meters) high, built in 1914, embodying loving kindness, contains 6,700 teals of gold and 150 metric tons of copper, and within it, an enormous juniper tree from Reting monastery functions as a life-supporting axis, Sok-Shing in Tibetan, The tomb sutpas of the successive Penchen Lamas, the tomb of the 4th, 10th and from those of 5th to the 9th together respectively. There are around 500 monks nowadays.
Walking around the old market of Shigatse is another interesting thing to experience the Tibetan traditional market and from there you can find daily needs for the Tibetan people including vegetable, dried cheese, Yogurt, different kinds of jewelries, prayer flags, different kinds of Tibetan utensils, pots etc.
- Day 11: Drive from Shigatse to Sakya monastery, (4050Mts/ 125KM ) Mansarovar hotel ***
You will start your tour at around 9.30Am from your hotel and drive through one big mountain passes, Tsola 4500Mts and some beautiful villages on the way.
Sakya monastery was built in 12 th century by Khon Konchok Gyelpo from Sakya clan. The monastery was originally built for the schools of Sakya tribe and later on it was expended to the present size by Dogon Chogyel Pakpa. Drogon Chogyel Phakpa is the first Tibetan Lama who took the ruling power in Tibet. Sakya is the mother monastery of Sakyapa sect. The temples of North Sakya were built first and within these temples, the Gorum temple to the northeast was the oldest, built in 1073 by Khon Konchok Gyelpo. The Utse Nyingpa, Utse Sarpa, Manjughosa temples were constructed by Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Choje Drakpa Gyeltsen and Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyeltsen around the meditation cave of Sachen but most of those temples are invisible now.The temples of South Sakya, composed of one main assembly hall, college buildings, palaces and some chapels were gradually built during the time of Drogon Chogyel Phakpa. The Sakya monastery has 160 monks nowadays.
- Day 12: Sakya monastery-Shigatse-Lhasa, 3650Mts, 430Km Gang Gyen hotel ****
You will start your tour at around 9.30Am from your hotel and drive back to Shigatse. Take train from Shigatse to Lhasa along the Bharmaputra river with a landscape of sandy hills, villages, and Rulak Yungdrung ling at the other side of the river. You will have lunch in a small town called Nyenmo which is the border point between Shigatse and Lhasa .
- Day 13: Visit Tibetan traditional medical college and a Tibetan professor doctor-Tibetan traditional medicinal massage-welfare dinner accompanied by a Tibetan professor from Tibetan university. Hotel
You will visit Tibetan medical college to get some knowledge of Tibetan traditional medicine, visit the famous Tibetan medicine Thangka which tell the circle of a patient’s body and the way how to give the treatment to a patient.
Visit a Tibetan professor doctor and you can also check your pulls and the doctor will tell you about your common health.
Evening will be arranged a farewell dinner, accompanied by a Tibetan professor from Tibetan university. You can share your trip experience with him and ask questions about Tibetan culture, religion etc that you have raised during your 13 days trip in Tibet.
- Day 14: Drive to Airport and fly back