Lhasa Liuwu Bus Station

Day 1 Arrive in Tsetang
Upon arriving at Gongga Airport, accommodate at your hotel in Tsetang (90 km). Located in the southeast of Lhasa, Tsetang is 3,500 meters high. It was said the legendary ancestors of Tibetans, a monkey (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in the shape of a monkey) and his wife a Dakhini once lived on the Gongpori mountain in the east of the city. And so the city of Tsetang is regarded as the “Playground of Monkeys” and the Tibetans as the descended of the Monkey.
In terms of geography, the fertile valleys of Yarlung and Chongye here are appropriate for development of Tibetan civilization; there were once numerous temples, shrines and Stupas in this area. Besides, Chongye is the birthplace of the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682). Stay at your hotel for adapting to the high altitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water.

Day 2 Tsetang
Morning: At first visit monastery Samye. Located in the north of Yarlung Tsangpo River and hold in the arms of mountains, it is the oldest monastery of Tibet (8th century). The stele hanging on the entrance to the main temple shows that king Trisong Detsen took Buddhism as the state religion in 779. The monastery complex consists of several buildings, whose arrangement reflects the Buddhist conception of the structure of the universe.
Afternoon: Make a trip 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. The original fortress is now converted into a chapel; in the ground floor there is a shrine in honor of the early kings. The steps up are steep but it is worthy because on the top of the hill you can far view the valley and the surrounding mountain.

The Potala Palace
Day 3 Tsedang,Lhasa
After breakfast drive to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. On the way visit Mindrolin Monastery. It was built in the late 10th century and had its current name when it was rebuilt in 1677. It is one of the three great monasteries of the Nyingma Sect. The monastery has paid attention to the research of Buddhist classics, astronomical calendar, calligraphy rhetoric and Tibetan medicines and is famous for its achievements in these fields. Over the years the recommendation of the “Chronology of the Tibetan Calendar” has been formulated by the monastery, and it is famous as the first academy of Lamaism in Tibet.

Day 4 Lhasa
Morning: Visit Potala, 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. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor.

Afternoon: Visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

Day 5 Lhasa
Morning: Visit Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. Afterwards visit Norbulingka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas.
Afternoon: Visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous.

Day 6 Lhasa
In the morning drive to visit Ganden Monastery, which was built by Tsongkhaba in present-day Dagaze County to the east of Lhasa in 1409 soon after the Monlam Festival was over. Ganden is one of the three main monasteries of Gelug Sect. Anyhow, different from Drepung and Sera, it once played a more prominent political role in Tibetan history.
The abbot of this monastery possess of a high religious position within the system of Gelug Sect, just inferior to Dalai and Panchan. The monastery was reconstructed in 1993 and restored its original appearance. The holy stupa of Tsongkhaba is just in the monastery. On the way visit the Dark Yerpa Monastery, where you’ll visit the famous ancient meditation caves in the spectacular limestone cliffs of the Yerpa Valley.

The Nam Tso Lake
Day 7  Lhasa,Nam Tso,Lhasa
In the morning drive to Nam Tso Lake along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Pass by the 5,150-meter Lhachen La and reach the Nam Tso or Tengri Nor (heaven lake in Mongolian) along the newly paved way and set up camp at Tashi Dorie peninsula. Nam Tso, the biggest salty lake of Tibet, is 70 kilometers long from east to west and 30 kilometers wide from north to south, covering an area of 1,920 square kilometers with an altitude of 4,700 meters above sea level.
It is said the holy lake and the holy mountain Nyenchen Tanglha are a couple of lovers, who altogether guard the vast pasture and cattle. Explore the Tashi peninsula by walking around the holy hill, the cliffs of which have eroded over the centuries. On the way piles of mani stones stand. Also visit the nomads in yak hair tents who have been living on the pastures between the holy Nam Tso and Nyenchen Tanglha . Drive back to Lhasa.
Day 8  Lhasa,Yamdrok Lake,Gyantse
Drive to Gyantse. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4,441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On arriving, visit Pelkor Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the 15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse.
This typical Tibetan Buddhist 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.

Day 9 Gyantse,Shalu Monastery,Shigatse
Morning: Drive to Shalu monastery, situated 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Shigatse, is a perfect combination of Han and Tibet architectural styles. It was built in 1087 by Jigzun Xerab Qoinnyai. Then drive to Shigatse (3,880 m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang.
Afternoon: Visit Tashilhunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha.

Day10  Shigatse,Sakya,Shegar
In the morning drive to Sakya Monastery (4.280 m), the master monastery of the Striped Sect, it is well famed with its long history, large-scale construction complex and great influence in Tibet history. Its North Monastery was built in 1073 and named Sakya (meaning “gray” in Tibetan) as it was situated on a gray mountain. What we see today is the Sakya South Monastery built in 1269 by Phagpa. The outside walls of the monastery were painted with red, white and gray, symbolizing Avalokitesvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani. Then drive over Yalung La (4,520 m) and Gyathso La (5,220 m) to Shegar (new Tingri; 4.350 m; approx. 245 km).

Mt. Everest
Day 11  Shegar,Rongbuk,Mt. Everest
After breakfast drive to Rongbuk monastery, the highest monastery in the world. This evening you will have intoxicating view of the north face of Mt. Everest, (8848) the tallest mountain on earth. Overnight at guesthouse or tent guesthouse.

Day 12  Mount Everest Base Camp,Shigatse

In the morning, enjoy the sunrise from Mt. Everest. Then drive to the Base Camp of Mt. Everest for you to take a close look at this great mountain. And you could enjoy seeing the biggest and the most well perserved glacier- Rongbu if you are lucky enough for the weather.Back to Shigatse.

Day 13  Shigatse,Lhasa
After breakfast take a different route back to Lhasa.

Day 14  Leave Tibet
Transfer to the airport or the railway station, leave Tibet.