10-Day Glorious Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse Tour

10-Day Glorious Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse Tour Highlights

Price Per Person

Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse Tour Overview

It is a Classic private tour with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide service and experienced Tibetan driver. It is also one of the best Tibet tours covering the all main attractions for those tourists who are not used to the high-altitude, such as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Shigatse Tashi Lhunpho Monastery, Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake.

Day 1 Arrival in Lhasa (No meals)

Upon your arrival in Lhasa Gongar International Airport or the railway station, your local guide will greet and meet you with the welcome board. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in downtown Lhasa for check-in. On the way to your hotel, you will pass the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Brahmaputra River which is the longest and largest river in Tibet.

After reaching the hotel, you can have a good rest. The first day in Tibet is quite important for tourists to get acclimatized to the high-altitude, especially, for the newcomers to Tibet.

Hotel: Lhasa Gangjian Hotel or similar (sub-4 stars)

Day 2 Lhasa (B, L)

After a good night's rest, you will start your day-tour with your experienced English-speaking guide. Today's tour includes the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street. The world-renowned Potala Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, and first constructed in the 7th-century by the 33rd king of Tibet. The most valuable artifacts in the Potala Palace are gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd king of Tibet.

Afterward, you will be transferred to a local restaurant to enjoy your lunch.

In the afternoon, you will go to the Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd  king of Tibet in the 7th-century. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list in 2000. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists. Upon entering the temple, you can see the Statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve.

Next, is the famous Barkhor Street which is nearby the temple. You can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, or you can explore the wonderful old market there.

Hotel: Lhasa Gangjian Hotel or similar (sub-4 stars)

Day 3 Lhasa (B, L)

In the morning, you will be picked up by your guide and driver to visit Drepung Monastery, considered one of the “Great Three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. It is founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge, who was one of the Tsongkhapa’s major disciples. In the Tibetan language, Drepung Monastery means "monastery of collecting rice". It was known for the high standards of its academic study. Inside the complex, is the largest monastery kitchen in the country, and you can visit the Buddhist sculpture carving workshop, amongst other fascinating things.

Next, you will be transferred to a local restaurant to have your delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Sera Monastery, which is one of the three most important monasteries in Lhasa, the Holy City of Tibetan Buddhism. The long tradition of monk-debating is one of the unique components of the monastery and starts from approximately 15:00 to 17:00 in the afternoon. It is definitely a must-see spectacle. You will also visit the Tibetan religious scripture printing house, located inside the monastery. There you can see the famous Three Sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Hotel: Lhasa Gangjian Hotel or similar (sub-4 stars)

Day 4 Lhasa – Gyantse - Shigatse by private vehicle (B, L)

Today, you will be driven around 360km from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse. After driving over the Gampa-la Pass (4790 m), you will have a glimpse of the beautiful Yamdroktso Lake (4400m). It is one of three holy lakes in Tibet, the other two being Namtse Lake and Lake Manasarovar. Yamdroktso Lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and in the distance, are spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain close to Lhasa. Yamdroktso Lake is also the largest habit for migrating birds in southern Tibet. After that, you will pass the spectacular Karola Glacier on the roadside. After driving approx. 75km, you will reach Gyantse, the third largest city in Tibet. Upon arrival, you will enjoy your delicious lunch in a local restaurant.

After your lunch and a bit of a rest, you will pay a visit to the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. The Pelkor Monastery is the major monastery in the Nyangchu River Valley in Gyantse. Gyantse Kumbum is the symbol of Tibet, with its nine-storeys and each storey contains unique chapels.

Afterward, you will be driven to Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. There you will visit a traditional barley mill, and see the stunning landscape of the barley fields (in summer).

Hotel: Shigatse Tashuchota Hotel or similar (4-stars)

Day 5 Shigatse - Everest Base Camp by private vehicle (B, L)

After enjoying your breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to visit Tashilunpo Monastery, located at the foot of Tara’s Mountain and the home of Panchen Lama. The complex includes the Maitreya Chapel, the Panchen Lama’s Palace, and the Kelsang Temple. It is one of the oldest and largest Gelug Sect monasteries in Tibet. After visiting the monastery, you will be driven to enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, drive to Everest Base Camp. En route, you will pass Tsola Pass (4600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5248m). When you enter the Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, you can appreciate the panoramic views of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5198m). There you can get a better look at the unbelievable Mount Everest, and perhaps watch the sunset if time and weather permits at the lodging area.

Hotel: Rongbuk Monastery Guest House

Day 6 Everest Base Camp (5200m) - Shigatse (3900m) by private vehicle (B, L)

In the morning, you will have a chance to watch the sunrise over Mount Everest, if weather permits. After that, you will be transferred to the Rongbuk Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect, located at the end of the Dzakar Chu Valley. A unique feature of this monastery is the fact that nuns, and monks live there together. Next, you will go to Everest Base Camp for photo-ops of Mount Everest by trekking or taking the eco-bus. The distance is around 4km. Then, you will be driven back to Shigatse.

Hotel: Shigatse Tashuchota Hotel or similar (4-stars)

Day 7 Shigatse (3900m) – Lhasa by private vehicle (B, L)

After enjoying your simple breakfast, you will be driven back to Lhasa. En route, you will view the vast Yalong River Bed, while stopping at the viewing platform. Finally, you will arrive in Lhasa hotel and take a good sleeping.

Hotel: Lhasa Gangjian Hotel or similar (sub-4 stars)

Day 8 Lhasa - Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours ) by private vehicle (B, L)

In the morning, you will be driven to Namtso Lake after enjoying your breakfast at your hotel in Lhasa. The drive is about 250km, with many amazing sights on the way including the Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Range, and various nomadic peoples grazing their livestock. Upon reaching the noted Lagenla Mountain Pass (5190m), you will see the holy Namtso Lake. It is known as “Heavenly Lake” and the highest saline lake in the world. It is also the largest lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region. If your time permits, you could enjoy a light trek around Tashi Island and appreciate the splendid sunset of Namtso. Tonight, you will enjoy the unique night scenery at the lakeshore.

Hotel: Namtso Tent Guest house

Day 9 Namtso Lake – Lhasa by vehicle (B, L)

After having your breakfast, you can hike along the lakeshore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Then, you will be driven to Damxung to have lunch.

In the afternoon, you could enjoy the Yangpachen hot springs (optional), which have both indoor and outdoor pools filled with hot springs water. Later, you will be driven back to Lhasa.

Hotel: Lhasa Gangjian Hotel or similar (sub-4 stars)

Day 10 Depart from Lhasa (B)

At the appointed time, your guide will pick you up and transfer you to the airport or train station and help you board, thus ending this unbelievable Tibet tour.