8 Days Off-the-Beaten-Path Buddhism Culture Odyssey

Day 01 Arrive in Lhasa

Take flight & train into Tibet. Upon your arrival, local guide will meet you and transfer you to Lhasa. On the way, you can enjoy the heart-beating highland view along the Yarlong Tsangpo River (the longest river in Tibet). The rest time is free for relax and more oxygen. 

Day 02 Lhasa Sightseeing [B]

The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark-Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels. In the afternoon, we will drop a visit of the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then we will visit Barkhor, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet.

Day 03 Lhasa Sightseeing [B]

About 8km west of central Lhasa is the Drepung Monastery, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Drepung is one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries, the other is Sera Monastery. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, Sera may not be as grandiose as Drepung, but is more serene surrounded by many small temples. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 04 Ganden Monastery / Tidrum Nunnery [B]  

After breakfast, Drive to visit Ganden Monastery which is about 60km away from Lhasa. Then drive to Tidrum Nunnery, it has a great location in a narrow gorge at the confluence of two streams. You can have the famous medicinal hot-springs there. 

Day 05 Tidrum Nunnery / Reting Monastery [B]  

Early drive to Drigung Til. It is one the holiest sky-burial site in Lhasa region. After that, we continue our drive through the Changthang plains to Reting Monastery. Reting Monastery is an important Gelukpa monastery in Central Tibet, situated in a sprawling juniper clad hill. The monastery used to be the seat of the most powerful regent in the 1930s, but now it is a quiet monastery set in unusual woods. 

Day 06 Reting / Namtso Lake 

Today we will drive forward to the Sky Lake-Namtso Lake, the 2nd largest salt-water lake in Tibet. The Nyenchen Thangla mountain ranges tower over the lake. During the summer months Namtso is dotted with nomad herders and their yaks and tents. Walk around the lake and you can find some Mani Ringmo by the lake.

Day 07 Namtso Lake / Lhasa 

Early morning, you will have chance to see sunrise in Namtso Lake then drive back to Lhasa. On the way, visit Tsurphu Monastery which is the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. End of the trip in Lhasa.

Day 08 Finish this unforgettable tour [B]

Today, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and take a last memorable look at the holy city before being transported to the airport/train station.