Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lhasa Arrival ( No meal )

   Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport / train station, our local English speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to downtown hotel for checking-in. Free and easy on your own for rest of the day to acclimate to the high altitude and weather of Lhasa.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa

2. Day 2: Lhasa
   Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery ( B )

   AM:Today, you will go to one of the most significant monasteries in Tibet - Drepung Monastery. You will see the place is well preserved and many devout Tibetan people come to pray here. Wandering around the monastery full of the aroma of incense and butter, you will learn something about Tibetan Buddhism from your knowledgeable tour guide and enjoy the peaceful scenery everywhere.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   

   PM: Next, continue the Buddhism trip to Sera Monastery which is the second largest monastery in Tibet. Sera Monastery was built in the Ming Dynasty by the famous Sagya Yeshes who was one of the eight disciples of Zongkapa and given the title of the Great Mercy Dharma by Emperor Xuanzong of Ming Dynasty after he had an audience with the Emperor in 1409 and 1414. The debate about Buddhism of Sera Monastery earns its fame in the Tibetan region, which is always taken a necessary activity to see for travelers from the whole world.

   Transfer back to your hotel in the end.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa

   

3. Day 3: Lhasa
   Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street ( B )

   AM: Meet your Lhasa tour guide at hotel lobby around 9am and then start your exploration on this land from the world famous Potala Palace, the highest palace in the world. The whole architectural complex includes two parts, the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace is the place where the Dalai Lamas lived and handled political affairs, while the Red Palace mainly houses the stupas of the Dalai Lamas. Your tour guide will share a wealth of information with you to help you understand its history and Tibetan Buddhism.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   

   PM: Next your tour guide will lead you to explore the holy Jokhang Temple which has a history of over 1300 years. The temple is a mixture of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles and has become an example of Tibetan religious architecture. The interior is so impressive with plenty of statues, colorful murals, and rows of butter lamps. It’s not allowed to take photos at most parts, but you will have opportunity to take some at the rooftop.

   

   At last, you will finish the day off with the lively Barkhor Street surrounding the Jokhang Temple. You can join the pilgrims to stroll around the temple and totally immerse yourself in it. There are also many interesting shops selling various stuff including clothing, handicrafts, and jewels. You can shop for some souvenirs here.

   Finish the sightseeing, transfer back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa

4. Day 4: Lhasa- Gyantse - Shigatse by Car, 360km, Approx 6hrs
   Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Manla Reservoir, Penchor Chode Monastery, Penchor Chode Pagoda ( B )

   AM: Today’s first stop will be the charming Yamdroktso Lake, one of the three largest scared lakes in Tibet. It is famed as “the Most Beautiful Lake in the World”. When looking it from map or sky, you will be surprised to see the lake embedded in this land, glittering like an earring under the sunshine at different time.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   PM: After that, drive to the Karola Glacier with an elevation of 5400 meters above sea level. Getting off the car, the magnificent glacier jumps into your eyes with its shinning body soaked in the gentle sunshine. You are worry free from people or cars intruding into your shot and disturbing your selfies with the stunning sights as it’s usually off the beaten track.

   Stop by Manla Reservoir, which is the unique scenery line around the mountains with average elevation of 4330 meters above sea level. Embedded onto the awe-inspiring mountain, the Reservoir is glittering in its transparent green water, showing a distinct beauty with the blue water of Yambork Lake.

   Afterwords, come to the most important site in Gyantse - Penchor Chode Monastery, located in Gyangze Country, Shigatse area, surrounded by hills, this Monastery isa typical Tibetan Buddhist structure with harmonious fusion of pagodas and temples, fully representing the architecture style of monasteries in Shigatse from late of 13^th century to the middle of 15^th century. Besides, you’ll also have chance to see the notable Penchor Chode Pagoda (its official name is Bodhi Moanstery) injecting more special charm of this place. It has 9 tiers, 77 chapels and 108 doors, shrines and so on, housing hundreds of thousands of Buddha Images, hence the name “Hundreds of Thousands of Pagodas”.

   Last, drive to Shigatse for overnight.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Shigatse

   

5. Day 5: Shigatse - Tingri - EBC by Car, 350km, Approx 8hrs
   Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve ( B )

   AM: Today, continue your adventure to the amazing Mt. Everest!! Firstly, drive around 150km to Lhatse, a small town where you can have lunch in a local restaurant. After a short rest, step forward to Tingri, you will pass the Tsola Pass(4600M) and Gyatsola Pass(5248M) on the way.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   PM: Enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve in the afternoon, you can enjoy the full view of Mt. Everest at Gawula Pass (5198m), don’t forget to record this amazing place by using your camera! Later, drive along the zigzag road to Rongpuk for overnight. If weather permits, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset of golden Everest peak.

   Friendly Tips: Today you’ll stay overnight in Rongbuk guesthouse. Please note that the guesthouse has poor condition, there is only dorm bed lodging available, and no breakfast provided.

   Accommodation: Dorm bed in Rongbuk guesthouse

   

6. Day 6: EBC - Shigatse by Car, 350km, Approx 8hrs
   Everest Base Camp ( No meal )

   AM:If weather is good, you can get up early to enjoy the gorgeous sunrise of Everest Peak in Rongbuk guesthouse. Later, move on to the exciting Everest Base Camp.

   

   The Everest Base Camp (EBC) is a special zone set for protecting the core area of the Everest and also providing the life supply. Chinese EBC locates at the north side of the Everest with 5200m higher than the sea level. There are also EBCs in the territory of Nepal at the south side of the peak. The best time to climb the Everest Peak is between early April to early June and middle September to early October each year, also the busy time for the EBC.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   PM: After the amazing experience, drive back to Shigatse. The driving lasts around 7 hours, you can enjoy the special scenery on the way.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Shigatse

7. Day 7: Shigatse - Lhasa by Car, 300km, Approx 5hrs
   Tashilhunpo Monastery, Yarlung Zangpo River ( B )

   AM: After hotel breakfast, follow you guide to explore Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest one in Shigatse with location at the foot of a hill, titled as one of the “Four Greatest Monasteries of Tibetan Gelug Sect together with Gandan Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The Monastery of sparkling yellow roofs and red walls houses those devout monks and visitors, describing the beautiful moments about human and their holy religious belief.

   Noon: Lunch on your own.

   

   PM: Later, drive around 5 hours back to Lhasa. On the way, you can enjoy the river view of Yarlung Zangpo River.

   Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa

   

8. Day 8: Lhasa Departure ( B )

   Free and easy on your own until the pickup time for departure. Our guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to Lhasa airport/train station to see you off. Your 8 days Tibet tour of Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest ends here.