Tibet Odyssey in the East and Central

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We had a wonderful time in Tibet. We have learned a lot about this unique destination because of the wonderful guide Degyi who is so knowledge and always available towards our tours. We stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa, and we would never imagine a Tibet travel could be so nice and amazing without the help of Degyi.

Also, thanks a lot to our Tibetan driver Mr.Wongdun for his safe driving and a good sense of service along the way.

We shall return Tibet in the near future!

P.B. and A. A - Europe
Tibet Travel

June 2018 (Private Tibet Journey from Kathmandu)

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	Tour Name: Tibet Odyssey in the East and Central Tour Code: M98D240 Duration: 11 Days & 10 Nights Destination: Lhasa, Ganden, Basum Tso Lake, Nyingtri, Lhamo Latso, Tsetang, Gyantse, Shigatse Features: East part of Tibet in Nyingtri Area (Kongpo Area in Tibetan) has a unique feature as that of Central Tibet. Its climate, plants, geography and isolation in the aspect of culture all lead the area a unique atmosphere. The scenery here often resembles more the Swiss Alps than the high Tibetan Plateau, hence Nyingtri is also nicknamed as "Switzerland in the East". Tibet Odyssey shows you the hidden essence of this part in the mountain country from a cultural and natural perspective. Departure Date: You Choose! Tour Price: From $ P.P

Trip Summary

Detailed Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Tour Dates	Destinations	Tours & Services	Meals	Accommodation
Day01	Lhasa	Arrive in Lhasa, be met and transferred to hotel. Free at own leisure for altitude acclimation.	N/A	Lhasa Kyichu Hotel
Day02	Lhasa	Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and walk on the holy Barkhor Circuit.	B, L	Lhasa Kyichu Hotel
Day03	Lhasa	Visit Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka Park and see monk debating at Sera Monastery.	B, L	Lhasa Kyichu Hotel
Day04	Lhasa - Basumtso	Leave for Basum Tso, drive to visit Ganden Monastery. In the afternoon visit Basum Tso including a boat trip, overnight at the lakeside.	B, L, D	Local Lodge
Day05	Basumtso - Nyingtri	Drive to Nyingtri and visit Buchu Sergyi Lhakang, then onwards to enjoy mountain landscapes and conifer woodland at Lunang after crossing the Sherchen La Pass where you can view the snow-white Mt. Namcha Barwa (7756m). Return to Nyingtri before dark.	B, L	Shangbala Hotel
Day06	Nyingtri - Gyatsa	Depart for Gyatsa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River.	B, L, D	Local Lodge
Day07	Lhamo Latso - Tsetang	Morning visit Lhamo Latso near Gyatsa, drive to Tsetang in the afternoon.	B, L	Tsetang Hotel
Day08	Tsetang	Excursion to Samye Monastery, Yumbulakhang Castle in the Yarlung Valley and Traduk Monastery.	B, L	Tsetang Hotel
Day09	Tsetang - Gyantse	Leave for Gyantse, en route drive via holy lake Yamdrok, visit Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Chorten on arrival Gyantse.	B, L	Yeti Hotel
Day10	Gyantse - Lhasa	Drive to Shigatse and visit its splendid Tashilunpo Monastery, head back Lhasa later of the day.	B, L, D	Lhasa Kyichu Hotel
Day11	Lhasa	Transfer to airport for departure flight. Trip ends.	B	N/A


	Day01 Arrival Lhasa You will be greeted and received by your Tibetan guide and driver with Hadda (snow white silk ribbon for Tibetan to greet distingue guests). Transferred to your hotel in the city and free at own leisure to acclimatize to the altitude.


	Day02 Lhasa (B, L) Today you will have a full day guided tour in Lhasa. You will first of all visit Potala Palace, 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. Then you will admire Jokhang Temple, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. Walk on the holy Barkhor Circuit and do some shopping if desired.


	Day03 Lhasa (B, L) Visit Drepung Monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect, which was established in 1416AD and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. After that you will be transferred to Norbulingka Park, the former Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas. Additionally you will be transferred to visit Sera Monastery, which was created in AD1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. Here in Sera, you have chance to see the grand occasion of the Buddhist monk debating at one big courtyard. Lunch served at a good local restaurant and dinner will be arranged at your hotel.


	Day04 Lhasa - Basumtso (B, L, D) This morning you will drive outside Lhasa. The first stop will be at Ganden Monastery. Gandan means happiness and contentedness in Tibetan. The Gandain Monastery was built in early 15th century under the supervision of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelug Sect. The main buildings include the Coqen Hall, the Chamber of Zonggaba and the College of Yangbajian. Many pilgrims walk the kora around this holy place and one can observe their many rituals along the way. Then you will drive to Basum (Draksum) Tso which is also named as Cuogao Lake meaning green water in the Tibetan language. Located within Gongbugjiangda County, it is about 300 kilometers to the east of Lhasa and 20 kilometers to the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The lake is 3700 meters above sea level and covers a surface area of 27 square kilometers. About 50 kilometers to Gongbugyangda in the deep valley of the upper reaches of Bahe River, it is a famous holy lake of the Nyingma Sect. The lake is surrounded by mountains and enjoys a temperate climate. At the feet of the snow-clapped mountains, the vegetation is luxuriant and the trees of black maples, birches, pines, cypresses and azaleas connected each other to form a world of greenery. Basum Tso is about 18 kilometers long and has an average width of about 1.5 kilometers. The deepest point of the lake reaches 120 meters. The lake surface does not ice up in winter. The replenishment of the lake water comes from the rainfall and melting snow and ice. The lake is rich in the resources of water conservancy.


	Day05 Basumtso - Nyingtri (B, L) This morning drive to Nyingtri and visit Buchu Sergyi Lhakang, then onwards to enjoy mountain landscapes and conifer woodland at Lunang after crossing the Sherchen La Pass where you can view the snow-white Mt. Namcha Barwa (7756m). Return to Nyingtri before dark. Mount Namche Barwa (7756m) is the highest snow peak in the Nyingtri area. The road to Namcha Barwa is quite scenic and interesting as you will find rich primitive forests around and nice villages of the Menba and Luoba people come into sight. Transferred back Nyingtri (Bayi Town) for one night stay.


	Day06 Nyingtri - Gyatsa (B, L, D) We depart for Gyatsa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Stops will be made at villages and at nice photo places. Along the way we will find lush gardens of walnuts and apricots trees. Overnight at a local lodge at Gyatsa (Gyaca).


	Day07 Gyatsa - Tsetang (B, L) This morning drive to visit Lhamo Latso near Gyatsa, drive to Tsetang later of the day. Being the Oracle Lake of Tibet, Lhamo Latso is the most sacred lake in Tibet. Lhamo Latso is where senior Tibetan monks go for visions to assist in the discovery of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Every Dalai Lama came here a least once in the lifetime to look for clues concerning his future.


	Day08 Tsetang (B, L) One day tour in and around Tsetang. Take a morning trip to Samye Monastery some 40km west to Tsetang. Samye Monastery is the oldest monastery of Tibet (8th century), which is a must-see place in Tibet. Then you will proceed to the Yarlung valley 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. Afterwards you will drive back Tsetang to see Traduk Monastery, the earliest family chapel of the Tibetan kings which was founded by King Songtsan Gampo in the 7th Century.


	Day09 Tsetang - Gyantse (B, L) In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4.796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok Yumtso (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. The Yamdok Yumtso, one of the three largest lakes of Tibet, lies about a hundred kilometers' distance to the southwest of Lhasa, is within Langkamu county, with an area of 638 square kilometers and a coastal line of 250 kilometers. The deepest point is 60 meters. To the interior of the lake ten or so hilly islands stand independently one from the other which give homes to flocks of wild ducks. A lot of colorful ducks and geese are swimming on the surface of the lake. There is also plenty of natural fodder for the fish in the lake. The lake has a fish reserve of about 300 million kilograms. That is why it is called "the Fish Store of Tibet". The coast of the lake is an ideal pasture. All these make an intoxicating quite picture. Then drive over the 5, 010 m high Karo La and the Simi La to Gyantse (approx. 3.950 m). On arrival Gyantse you will explore the Pelkor Chode Monastery and the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby. Built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse, Pelkor 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. Kumbum Stupa opens 8 doors, which are decorated with relief sculptures of lively flying dragons, running lions and walking elephants. It is a master-piece of the joint efforts of the Nepalese, Tibetan and Chinese.


	Day10 Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa (B, L, D) In the morning you will drive to Shigatse. On arrival, visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447. The monastery is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the Tsang regions of Tibet, sprawls on the slope of Mt. Niser, south-west of Shigatse. Tashilhunpo is associated with the Gelugpa order and is one of the six great Gelugpa institutions along with Drepung, Sera and Ganden in Lhasa and Kumbum and Labrang in Amdo. It is probably the largest functioning monastic institution in contemporary Tibet and is an impressive place to explore. Then you will drive back Lhasa and at night you will enjoy a Tibetan Culture Show during your dinner time at a good Tibetan restaurant. Good appetite!


	Day11 Depart Lhasa (B) Your guide and driver will transfer you to airport according to your flight schedule. End of your journey to Tibet.

Tour costing varies upon group size, travel season and hotel accommodation levels etc. For price details please email us at info@splendidchinatours.com.

Price inclusions:
01). All accommodations based on two persons sharing one room (single occupancy is subject to supplement);
02). China internal flights with airport tax or train as stated in the program;
03). Round-trip transfers between airports or railway stations, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced licensed drivers;
04). All admission fees and activity expenses as listed in the itinerary;
05). Daily meals as specified in the itinerary: B denotes breakfast, L denotes lunch, and D denotes dinner (SD signifies special dinner);
06). Services of a local English speaking guide in each city (other languages can be arranged upon request, supplement may apply);
07). Tibet local travel permits such as Tibet Entry Permit (TTB), Alien's Travel Permit (PSB) and Military Permit etc. when applicable;
08). Travel Agency Liability Insurance during the tour;
09). Governmental taxes and fees.

Price excluded:
01). International airfare to/from China;
02). Chinese Visa fees;
03). Expenses of personal natural such as laundry, telephone, drinks, mini bar etc;
04). Personal shopping, optional activities and excess baggage charges;
05). Gratuities for local tour guides, drivers and hotel bellboy etc;
06). International travel insurance;
07). Services and activities that are not mentioned in the itinerary.