Tseteng – Samye – Gyantse – Shigatse

Itinerary & Daily Schedule

This tour offers you a large portion of the prevalent touring visit in Tibet including Samye, Drepung, Barkhor, Potala and Tashilunpo. Yambhu Lakhang, Khumbum Stupa and Gyantse Dzong are also indisputable attractions for this seven day journey.

Best time to travel: April to February

Day 1

Arrival in Lhasa

Welcome to Lhasa! Your guide and driver will meet you at the train station or airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 2

Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor Circuit

Lhasa, elevation 3650m, is the holiest city in Tibet and each day pilgrims from across the Tibetan Plateau arrive in the city to worship at one of the many temples found there. You will spend 2 full days exploring the city. The first day you will visit Jokhang Temple, the most famous temple in Tibet. From the rooftop you will see religious pilgrims prostrating in front to the Jowo Buddha statue inside the monastery. Afterwards, you will explore the endless maze of markets and restaurants that line the ancient Barkhor circuit. While exploring the Barkhor circuit, you will rub elbows with Tibetan pilgrims who are prostrating their way around the Tibetan Quarter. and Drepung Monastery :Drepung was formerly the largest monastery in the world and is still one of the 3 most important monasteries in Tibet.

Day 3

Potala Palace and Sera Monastery

In the morning, you will visit the Potala Palace, the most recognizable structure in Tibet. Built in the year 637, the Potala Palace rises 13 stories and has more than 1000 rooms. In the afternoon, you will visit the great monastery of Sera, where monk debates take place each day. If you are interested in hiking, there is a pilgrimage circuit around the monastery that takes about an hour to complete.

Day 4

Lhasa - Tseteng - Samye Monastery

Drive about 200km from Lhasa towards east to Tseteng and visit Yumbulakang and Tradruk monastery and drive through sand dunes to Samye monastery. Samye is the 1st ever build monastery in Tibet in 8th Century by Tibetan king Trisong Detsen with the help of Indian Buddhist master Padmasambhawa.

200km

Overnight in Samye Monastery Guesthouse

Day 5

Samye - Yamdrok Lake - Gyantse – Shigatse

You will travel from Samye to Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s holiest and most beautiful lakes. Yamdrok Lake sits at 4450m and is an amazing turquoise color. The 7191m Mt. Nojin Kangtsang can be seen in the distance. After visiting the lake, you will drive to the mid-sized town of Gyantse. Gyantse, elevation 3950m, is famous for its massive hilltop military fort and for the Pelkor Chode Monastery, which has the tallest Tibetan Buddhist stupa in Tibet. You will depart Gyantse for Shigatse.

350kms, 6.5 hours

Day 6

Shigatse - Lhasa

Tibet’s second largest city. Shigatse, elevation 3840m, is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Along with exploring the monastery, you can also hike the ancient pilgrim circuit along with hundreds of Tibetan worshippers. Drive through Northern friendship highway to Lhasa near the Yarlung Tsangpo river.

5 hours

Day 7

Depart from Lhasa

Transfer to train station or Airport

Tour Details

  • All Tibet Travel permits
  • English speaking Tibetan tour guide
  • Pick up and drop off by airport bus
  • All administrative fees
  • All meals and accommodations for your guide
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary.
  • Breakfast each morning
  • Entrance fees for the places listed in the Itinerary
  • One time welcome meal for the group
  • One box of mineral water plus shared Oxygen tank in car.
  • Transportation costs to and from Tibet
  • Chinese visa fees and passport fees
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Personal expenses (laundry, photography fees, souvenirs etc)
  • Tips to the driver and guide
  • Single supplement: 50$