Lhasa to Shigatse and Namtso Group Tour

Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway Station to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, it usually takes about 1 hour; from Lhasa Railway Station, it takes about 20 minutes. After being transferred to the hotel, you will be free to wander around the city on your own for the rest of the day but try not to overtax yourself. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not shower if you can help it.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Meals:
• Breakfast

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Today, we will go to the famous world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m (12,359.55ft) at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After you visit the temple, you'll have time to walk around the Barkhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa since the early days. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Meals:
• Breakfast

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From Lhasa to Gyantse is about 264km, en route you will pass by Khamba-la Pass (4,790m), and from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdrok Lake with its turquoise color and snow-capped Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. About two hours away from Yamdrok Lake, there is Karola Glacier. It isn’t a big glacier, but the white glacier looks spectacular from the highway, and it's close enough (about 300 yards) from the highway. Arrival at Gyantse, we visit Palkhor Chode monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, not only well known for its architecture but also for its old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls.

Then head to Shigatse via the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where colorfully decorated yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to till the land.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

• Meals:
• Breakfast

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In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery, which was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447. It is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse. It's located on the central hill of the city. The full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory". For the trip back to Lhasa in the late afternoon, we will provide you with two solutions which will be decided by Great Tibet Tour.

Option A: Drive from Shigatse – Lhasa;

Option B: Train from Shigatse – Lhasa;

For Option B, the guide will accompany you to take a taxi to Shigatse Railway Station, Then take the train from Shigatse to Lhasa. Upon your arrival in Lhasa, we will arrange for you to be dropped off at your hotel. The taxi & train fare is included in the cost.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Meals:
• Breakfast

In the morning, we drive to the holy Namtso Lake. On the way to Namtso, you will have a far view of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. Enjoy the view of the vast grassland and spectacular natural scenery.

You'll arrive at Namtso Lake after passing NagelaPass (5,150m). When standing at the famous Nagela Pass, you can see the stunning view of the holy Namtso Lake. Being the second largest salt lake in China, Namtso covers a total area of more than 1900 square kilometers, the furthest depth being more than 33m. Namtso is also the highest-altitude salt lake in the world with an elevation of 4,718 meters. Besides, you can enjoy the view of the Sky-Road railway with snowy mountains background. In the late afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Meals:
• Breakfast

• Meals:
• Breakfast