Eight-day Photographers’ Tibet Tour

    You will be picked up by your guide and driver at Lhasa Kongga International Airport and be escorted back to your hotel in downtown Lhasa. The room of your hotel in Lhasa will be booked for you for three nights. In order to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude, you will get some rest after you check in at your hotel.

    Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region. Its altitude is about 3,650 meters(11,975 feet) above sea level. The airport is located 65 kilometers(40 miles) to the southwest of downtown Lhasa. It takes about one and a half hours to get to the city from the airport by car. Currently, Lhasa Kongga International Airport operates flights to 47 domestic cities, such as Chengdu, Xi’an, Chongqing, Xining, Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. There is only one international flight operating between Lhasa and Kathmandu(Nepal).

    You will have a whole day inner-city tour in Lhasa. The attractions you will visit during the day are Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. An optional activity suggested for enriching your tour is to watch an impressive Tibetan dancing show.

    Potala Palace is a huge castle situated on the Red Hill. It was originally built in the seventh century by King Songtsan Gambo. The king built it for his wife, namely Princess Wencheng from the Tang Empire. The castle was reconstructed in 1645 by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Then, Potala Palace became Dalai Lamas’ official residence. It was added to the list of world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO in 1994.

    Jokhang Temple is the most sacred Buddhist monastery in Tibet. It was built by King Songtsan Gambo in the seventh century. The temple houses the statue of Sakyamuni which was brought to Lhasa by Princess Wencheng. It is one of the must-go attractions in Lhasa.

    Barkhor Street lies in the center of downtown Lhasa. It is the oldest traditional Tibetan styled street encircling Jokhang Temple. The street could be traced back to the seventh century. It is a place where visitors can bargain with the local Tibetan vendors for handicrafts which are rear to be seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is a very important path along which Buddhist pilgrims have walked to Jokhang Temple for centuries.

    You will go for a stroll in Norbulingka Summer Palace in the morning, and pay a visit to Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery in the afternoon.

    Norbulingka Summer Palace is located about 2 kilometers(1.2 miles) to the west of Potala Palace. It was built by the Seventh Dalai Lama in 1755. It used to be the summer house of Dalai Lamas. The compound is hidden by trees. It covers an area of 36 hectares(89 acres). Nowadays, Norbulingka Summer Palace has become a garden and a museum open to the public. It is also the place where local people celebrate some grand traditional festivals.

    Drepung Monastery is situated in the west suburb of Lhasa, about 10 kilometers(6.2 miles) to the downtown. It plays the most important role in the Ge-lug-pa Sect of Lamaism. Lamas in Drepung Monastery were responsible for training Dalai Lamas. The monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje Tashi Palden, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples. It is one of the top three lamaseries in Lhasa and one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China.

    Sera Monastery is also one of the top three lamaseries in Lhasa and one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China. It was constructed in 1434 by Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples. It is famous for its daily debate on Buddhist doctrine.

    You will ride your car or coach to visit Namtso Lake in the morning, and be taken to your hotel in Damxung County. It takes about five hours to get to the lake from Lhasa. The altitude of Damxung County is about 4,290 meters above sea level. We will book the local best hotel for you which is equipped with oxygen generators.

    Namtso Lake lies about 240 kilometers(149 miles) to the north of downtown Lhasa. It is the third largest saltwater lake in Mainland China, is a vast alpine lake with the highest altitude in the world. Its altitude is 4,718 meters(15,479 feet) above sea level. Visitors need to stay in Lhasa for a few days before heading for Namtso Lake, so that they would have acclimatized themselves to the high altitude. The lake measures 70 kilometers(43 miles) by 30 kilometers(19 miles), and covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers(741 sq.mi). It is 120 meters(394 feet) at its deepest point. Namtso Lake is regarded as one of the most holy pilgrimage destinations for Tibetan Buddhists. It is also one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet.

    You will set off for Yamdrok Lake after breakfast, and spend the night in a hotel in Kongga County. The distance between Damxung County and Yamdrok Lake is 244 kilometers(152 miles). It takes about five and a half hours to drive from Damxung to Yamdrok Lake.

    Yamdrok Lake lies about 110 kilometers(68 miles) to the southwest of Lhasa. It is well-known as one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. The three holiest lakes are Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake and Manasarovar Lake. Yamdrok Lake attracts visitors with its sapphire water and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. It is one of the most lovely lakes in Tibet. The lake measures 675 square kilometers(261 sq.mi) and 60 meters(197 feet) at its deepest point. Its altitude is 4,441 meters(14,570 feet) above sea level.

    In the morning, you will leave your hotel for Shigatse. On the way to Shigatse, you will pay a visit to Karola Glacier and Gyantse Zong Castle. The route is totally 320 kilometers(199 miles) in length, taking around six and a half hours to get to Shigatse by car. You will stay overnight in a hotel in downtown Shigatse.

    Karola Glacier lies on the southern slope of Noijin-Kangsang Mountain. It is one of the top three glaciers in Tibet and is the most easily accessible one. The summit of the mountain is 7,191 meters(23,593 feet) above sea level. The view of the glacier is quite gorgeous.

    Gyantse Dzong Castle is situated in Gyantse Town. It was originally built in 967. The castle was the battlefield where Tibetans fought against British invaders in 1904.

    You will pay a visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery in the morning and travel back to Lhasa in the afternoon. The distance between Shigatse and Lhasa is 275 kilometers(171 miles). It takes about six hours to drive from Shigatse to Lhasa. You will stay overnight in your hotel in downtown Lhasa.

    Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China. It was constructed in 1447 by Gedun Drup, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples, the First Dalai Lama. The compound was expanded by the Fourth Panchen Lama in the year of 1601. Since then, Tashilhunpo Monastery has become the official residence of Panchen Lamas.

    You will be transferred to Lhasa Kongga International Airport according to your flight timings.