Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour
- Duration:
- 5 Days
- Price:
- From USD919
- Route:
- Lhasa - Namtso - Lhasa
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
Tibet is renowned for its Tibetan Buddhism culture as well as its stunning natural landscape. You will first explore the highlights of Lhasa for 2 days such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to adapt to the high altitude. Then you will head to Namtso Lake, the heavenly lake in Tibet. Just a few hours north of Lhasa, spectacular Namtso Lake epitomizes the dramatic but harsh scenery of northern Tibet. The deep blue Namtso is fringed by prayer flag-draped hills, craggy cliffs and nesting migratory birds, all framed by a horizon of 7000m peaks. It’s devastatingly beautiful…
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m) | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 2 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street |
| 3 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery |
| 4 | Lhasa - Namtso - Lhasa, 440km, Approx. 6hrs | Namtso Lake |
| 5 | Departure from Lhasa | Send off to the airport/railway station |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseThis is the first day in Tibet. Your guide will greet you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport/Railway Station and transfer you to your hotel. It usually takes around 1 hour to drive from Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa and takes about 20 minutes from Lhasa Railway Station. Tourists could have a look at the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the largest and longest river in Tibet on their way to the hotel. After check-in, you can have a good rest first. And if you feel like going out, you can wander around the city. But just remember that don't take too much stuff, try to go with a light pack. Meanwhile, drink some more water, and do not move strenuously. It’s really useful to get acclimatized to the high altitude.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and first take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it's a museum and world heritage site.
In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.
In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
On the way to Namtso, you will have a far view of the Nyenchen Thanglha Snow Mountain. Enjoy the view of the vast grassland and spectacular natural scenery. You'll arrive at Namtso Lake after passing Nagela Pass (5,150m). Namtso Lake is one of the three most holy lakes in Tibet, also the third-largest salt lake in China and the highest lake in the world. The name Namtso means “lake from heaven” in the Tibetan language. And the gorgeous landscape is really like heaven.
In late afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Your tour ends today. Our guide and driver will collect you from your hotel to transfer to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.
Tour Price and Service
From US$919 p/p
Based on 3-star hotels for 2 people in low seasons. Price varies according to travel season, number of people and level of accommodation.
INCLUSIONS
- Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance tickets fee for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
- Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
- Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel, or guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
- Breakfasts provided by hotels;
- Pick-up & Drop-off service from Airport/railway station;
- Travel Agency Liability insurance;
- Government tax;
- Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
- Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
- Oxygen tank for emergency use;
- Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
EXCLUSIONS
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
- Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
- Meals are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 5-15 USD per person for each meal.
- While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them 8-15 USD/day in total;
- All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
- Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.
Everything went very smoothly. The guide was very knowledgeable and the driver and car for Lake Namtso were great. The hotel was in a good location for walking to the tourist area. I also appreciated Merry's ability to arrange the train from Xining. It was an awesome trip! Many thanks for all of Mer ....
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Ms. ***
Hi, I am interested in possibly traveling to Lhasa and was looking at your tours. I am tentatively planning to fly from Shanghai to Xining for a couple of days, then taking the train to Lhasa and arriving the night of 10/1. I am wondering if it is possible to book a solo trip and slightly changing the itinerary? * am planning 5 nights in Lhasa. Im interested in the Lhasa 5 day Culture tour but I am wondering if it could be changed to go to Namtso Lake one of the days? I definitely want to go to Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drak Yerpa. It's possible that a friend might join me but I would like a quote just for myself at this point staying either at 3 or 4 star hotel. Thank you for any information that you can provide.
Dear Caro***,
Thank you for sending us an inquiry!
As per your request, we can arrange 6 days Lhasa City Culture & Namtso solo trip on 1 October for you.
Asked by Piek***
Hi, I would like to enquiry for private tour options in Tibet for around 5 to 6 days. Can I check what is recommended? We will be travelling from Malaysia, how do you suggest we can plan for this trip? Looking to travel around 24th to 30th April 2023. Thank you.
Dear Piek****,
For 5 to 6 days Tibet trip, here're two recommendtions. The major difference is there's one more day tour to Ganden Monastery (for a light trek) and Drak Yerpa, one of the major meditation retreats in Tibet. You can feel a magical aura no matter whether you know meditation or not. Also Nobulingka is the royal garden of Dalai Lama with super beautiful scenery.
Option I - 5 Days Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour
Option II - 6 Days Lhasa Cultural Tour
Please let me know your idea.
Asked by Wasa***
Aug 21 Take train @19:20 from Xian
Aug 22 overnight in train
Aug 23 Arrive Lhasa
Aug 22 Lhasa tour
Aug 24 Lhasa - Namtso for overnight
Aug 25 Namtso- Lhasa
Aug 25 Dep for flight @ 11:55
Pls quote for two option
1)vehicle , train ticket one way
2) vehicle , train ticket one way, hotel i twin sharing
The pax will be 4, 5, 6 , 7,8
Dear Wasana, thanks for telling us your travel plan for Tibet! Since you plan to take the train from Xian to Lhasa, it will only take about 32 hours. It means you can arrive in Lhasa on Aug 22 if you leave Xian by train on the 21st of Aug.
I suggested you an itinerary and please find it in the email. Kindly let me know if you like it. If no, please inform me your further demands and I'll redesign for you accordingly. If yes, I'll provide you the price as soon as I hear from you. Before that, please tell me what kind of accommodation you would like to stay in, the Luxurious (5-star), the comfortable (4-star)/economy class (3-star) hotel or the budget guest, thank you!