Classic Tibet Tour

Classic Tibet Tour Overview

A short discovery tour of Tibet, taking you through stunning Himalayan mountain landscapes, pristine lakes, and ancient monasteries. Experience the spiritual traditions, join the monks in prayer and visit a local Tibetan home. Enjoy a walking Lhasa and Gyantse’s old towns and handicraft markets.

Classic Tibet Tour

A short discovery tour of Tibet, taking you through stunning Himalayan mountain landscapes, pristine lakes, and ancient monasteries. Experience the spiritual traditions, join the monks in prayer and visit a local Tibetan home. Enjoy a walking tour through Lhasa and Gyantse’s old towns and handicraft markets.

Touring style: Private basis with English speaking guide and driver

Best time to travel: April to May and Sep to Oct

Prices are seasonal, include hotels, breakfast, high-speed rail tickets, professional touring and transfers.

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (altitude 3700 m)

On your arrival, your personal guide and driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Time to get over jetlag and adjust to the altitude.

This afternoon, take a walk to the old town. Start with a visit to the 8th century Jokhang Temple, one of the most venerated religious site in Tibet. Pilgrims travel the Barkhor spinning their prayer wheels and prostrating in front of the temple doors.

Take a walk through Lhasa’s old town, where you will have many opportunities to look for Tibetan hats, thangkas, incense, precious stones and fine jewellery.

Overnight in Lhasa.

Distance and journey times:

Lhasa airport– Lhasa city (60 km): approx. 1 h

Day 2: Lhasa touring, Potala Palace and Sera Monastery

Begin the day with a visit to the iconic Potala Palace, an architectural masterpiece overlooking the whole city of Lhasa. The Palace is comprised of the Red Palace, the religious centre housing relics, and the White Palace, housing the private apartments and ceremonial rooms of the 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas.

Afterwards, visit Sera Monastery, of the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Return to the hotel. Overnight in Lhasa.

Lhasa Potala Palace – Sera monastery (7 km): approx. 15 min

Day 3: Lhasa touring, Ganden and Drepung Monastery (altitude 3900 m)

Visit the Drepung Monastery and Ganden monastery, the stronghold for the Yellow Hat Sect.

Overnight in Lhasa

Day 4: Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake- Karola Glacier-Gyantse (altitude 5000 m)

Leave Lhasa today and travel overland through dramatic scenery and mountain landscapes on the famous Friendship Highway (linking Tibet to Nepal), to Yamdrok Lake. Stop at the Kamba-la Pass (altitude of 4800-5000) where you can take some amazing photos of the lake and the Tibetan Mastiffs (yaks).

Continue the journey along the lake to the Karola Glacier (altitude of 4960m), and Manla Reservoir fed by Yamdrok Lake.

Arrive in Gyantse in the early evening.

Overnight in Gyantse

Distance and journey times:

Lhasa city – Yamdrok Lake (approx. 160 km): approx 3h45

Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse (approx. 100km): approx 2h 30

Day 5: Gyantse touring (altitude 3980 m)

Visit the Palcho Monastery, the largest chorten in Tibet to see the famous “Kumbum”, an architectural masterpiece of six tiered floors which feature approx 80 chapels.

After exploring the museum, you will take a walking tour of Gyantse old town, probably the most authentic town in Tibet.

Overnight in Gyantse.

Day 6: Gyantse to Shigatse (altitude 4280 m)

Travel overland to Shigatse, once the capital of the Tsang kingdom. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, of the Yellow Hat Sect. Explore the alleyways and the Maitreya Chapel housing a 26 metre high Buddha statue. Take a walk through the Tibetan market and mingle with the locals.as they go about with their daily lives.

Overnight in Shigatse.

Distance and journey times:

Gyanste – Shigatse (approx. 95 km): approx 2h

Day 7: Shigatse departure

Transfer to Shigatse airport for the departing flight to Chengdu to continue your China adventure tour.

Distance and journey times:

Shigatse city – Shigatse airport (approx. 50 km): approx 1h