Dreamlike Tibet never fail to attract travelers with its incredible monasteries, sacred pilgrimage sites, literally breathtaking high-altitude scenery and friendly Tibetan people. This tour takes you to explore Tibet in a different way. Instead of visiting tourist bustling places, you will go to discover some hidden places which have preserved Tibet culture well. Spend one day in Lhasa to enjoy can’t-be-missed Potala Palace and monasteries, then transfer out of the city to more than a hundred kilometers away where you will visit unique monasteries, villages and beautiful valleys. In the end, take a memorable trip to the sky lake - Holy Namtso Lake.
Highlights of this tour:
- Be awed by the magnificent architecture, Buddhist statues, delicate murals and other precious collections cherished in Potala Palace;
- Slip the crows and step into the featured monasteries – Drigung Monastery and Reting Monastery;
- Join in the pilgrims and make a kora around the beautiful and legendary Namtso Lake.
Tour Brief Information
- Tour price: from $1,009
- Tour code: TD-LRNT-07
- Tour Type: Private Customizable Tour Package
- Destination: Lhasa / Drigung / Namtso / Lhasa
- Duration: 7 days and 6 nights
- Departure: Flexible
- Travel Theme:
- Best Time:
- Physical Level
- Tour Pace
- Max Altitude
5,190m
- Itinerary Details
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- Trip FAQs
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Your tour - at a glance
Day 1~2 Lhasa Arrival & City Tour
Day 3~4 Lhasa - Drigung Thil - Reting Monastery
Day 5~6 Reting Monastery - Namtso - Lhasa
Day 7 Lhasa Departure
Itinerary Details - Day by Day
Day 1 Lhasa Arrival
Welcome to the roof of the world! You will be picked up by local tour guide at the airport hall or train station, and then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa city in a private vehicle.
After arrival at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the local areas and acclimatize yourself to the air, temperature and high altitude of Lhasa.
High Altitude Acclimation Tips: 1) go for some leisure walking to acclimate the high altitude but avoid strenuous activity after arrival; 2) you’d better not have bath, in case of catching a cold; 3) drink more water, and have some fruit; 4) have a good rest.
Day 2 Lhasa ( B )
Start today’s Lhasa exploration with an exciting visit to the landmark - Potala Palace which is regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural building in the world. You will climb up the palace along the zigzag stone paths with white-and-red walls to the top of the palace where you can not only appreciate the exotic Tibetan-style architecture, but also get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas, then walk into the inner space of Potala Palace to explore the stately chapels and learn about the history of the palace.
Continuing your exploration, you will then get to Jokhang Temple which is considered as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Each day, there are thousands of pilgrims coming from different places in Tibet to the temple to worship to the Buddha. This temple is also known as the “house of Buddha” because it keeps the precious Jowo Rinpoche, the life-sized (5 foot/1.5m) image of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12. The last site for today’s exploration is the famous Barkhor Street. It is a circular and wide street encircling the Jokhang Temple. The local people like to walk on the street for several circles usually in the late afternoon as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The street also has many shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handcrafts.
Tips of Today: 1) there are 1,080 steps up to climb to the top of Potala Palace, so don’t walk in a rush, which may cause high altitude sickness; 2) taking photos is not allowed inside the palace; 3) today you will be mainly outside, please bring some water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses with you.
- Sven explored Potala Place with Tibet Discovery (February, 2017)
- Golden Roof of Jokhang Temple
- Barkhor Street
Day 3 Lhasa - Drigung Monastery ( B )
Today, you will get out the city to explore a very characterestic monastery - Drigung Thil Monastery which is about 140km away from Lhasa. The landscape along the driving is amazing.
Drigung Thil Monastery was built by Jigten Sumgon in 1179, which established the famous Drigung Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is famous for its meditation study with meditators living and meditating in nearby caves, and site for sky burial. There is a college in the monastery where the monks will spend five years finishing the study on sutra and tantra subjects. In the annual Tibetan New Year, thousands of pilgrims come from far distance to worship here. There are more than fifty buildings housing about 250 monks so far. From the monastery, you can get a wonderful panoramic view of the front valley.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Lhasa along the coming way.
Pleae note: the sky burial site is not open for tourists.
- Magnificent Drigung Monastery was built on the hillside
Day 4 Drigung Monastery - Reting Monastery
Today, you will transfer to another featured monastery which has played important role in Tibetan Buddhism history - Reting Monastery. You have to take about 5 hours' driving on bumping mountain roads from Drigung to Reting.
Reting Monastery, built in 1,057 by Dromton who was the pupil of the ancient Indian Buddhist master Atisha. Dromton also brought Atisha’s remains to Reting, and buried in a stupa there after Atisha died. The monastery is the seat of Reting Regent who plays as the regent of Dalai Lama before he gets 16 years old. Reting Monastery sits on the mountain facing south from north covering more than 1,667 square meters. Important buildings are the Tsogchen (assembly hall), scripture hall, Reting Rinpoche’s room, etc. The monastery usually holds grand ceremonies during the Tibetan festivals.
Accommodate at local guest house.
- Reting Monastery - the First Monastery of Kagyu Sect
Day 5 Reting Monastery - Namtso Lake
Want to explore some other features of Tibet instead of the monasteries? Let's take an exciting trip to the holy lake Namtso which is about 5~6 hours driving from Reting Monastery. You will arrvie at Namtso Lake around the early afternoon. Take some rest and throw yourself into the incredible landscape of holy lake.
Namtso Lake is the highest saltwater lake in the world with an altitude of 4718 meters, also the second largest saltwater lake in China (after the Qinghai Lake). It’s quite common for tourists who are awestruck at the Namtso at the first sight. With the snowy mountains in the background, the crystal-clear dazzling blue water, Namtso is stretching to the horizon. There is no wonder why it was called “Heavenly Lake”. With hundreds of colored prayer flags, attached to the rugged, spiked cliffs facing the lake, Namtso seems more than just a scenic spot. The sound of prayer wheel, fluttered in the strong wind to remind its holiness.
Accommodate in a guesthouse by the Namtso Lake. Today you will stay overnight in a small but clean guesthouse on Tashi Dor, a big peninsula reaching into Namtso Lake and where accommodations are clustered around. Be mentally prepared that accommodation at Namtso Lake is simple and basic. The guesthouses are all board houses with limited water and electricity. There is no separate bathroom available but rough public toilet. Keep warm all the time, especially at night.
- Namtso Lake Yak
- Local Tibetan Family Woman and Kid at Namtso Lake
Day 6 Namtso - Lhasa ( B )
In the morning, get up early and view the magnificent sun rise and catch the best views in the morning sunlights with your camera. The Yingbin Stone, Gassho Stone and Good and Evil Hole are some great locations to watch the sunrise and shoot the lake scenery. And the Hilltop on Tashi peninsula is a high point to shoot the beautiful sunrise of Namtso Lake and Nyainqentanglha Range.
Then drive back to Lhasa. En route, you have chance to bath in the spectacular hot springs which are formed from terrestrial heat in Yangpachen(optional).
Tips of today: 1. You have to pay money if you take photos with yaks and Tibetan Mastiff; 2. Wear warm coat because it is very chilly in the early morning of Namtso.
- Splendid Landscape of Namtso Lake
- Namtso Lake Sunrise
Day 7 Lhasa Departure ( B )
Today is free for you until your tour guide transfer you to the airport in time for your flight or drop you off at Lhasa train station.
Tips of Today: 1) please pack your luggage carefully, especially for small things like camera charger, power adaptor, mobile phone, phone charger, wallet and towel; 2) If your flight is arranged in the afternoon, please make sure you check out the hotel before 12pm.
Useful Trip Notes
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- 1. Tibet Permits Guaranteed
To travel in Tibet, all Non-Chinese passport holders need to have a Tibet Travel Permit which is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa. And only Chinese travel agencies like Tibet Discovery can apply for the permit on behalf of tourists. You must obtain it before your tour starting because the permit will be checked when you board your flight/train to Tibet. Traveling with Tibet Discovery, you don't have to worry about the complicated procedures of Tibet Travel Permit application. All you have to do is to confirm a tour package with us and send us your passport and Chinese visa copies at least 15~20 days in advance before your tour, then we will take care of all the rest things. Once the permit is issued, we will deliver to your address in China, such as your hotel, local travel agency, etc.
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- 2. Available Months to Visit Tibet
Generally speaking, April to October is the best time. July and August are the peak season and rainy season. It is usually snowy and cold in winter, which is not suitable for visit Mount Everest, Namtso and Mount Kailash regions. While other places such as Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are suitable for travel all year around. The temperatures in daytime and night differs a lot, usually 5~15℃ in the daytime and -5~0℃ in the night, so please wear accordingly.
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- 3. High Altitude Sickness
The average altitude of Tibet is about 4000 meters above the sea level (Lhasa: 3700m; EBC: 5200m; Namtso: 4718m). You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival in Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay.
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- 4. How to Go to Tibet
Basically you have two options – flight and train. Currently, you can take a flight to Lhasa from Beijing(4.5hrs), Xian(3.7hrs), Chengdu(2.5hrs), Chongqing(3hrs), Kunming(3hrs), Kathmandu (1.5hrs), etc. Among all these cities, Chengdu and Xian have more frequent flights to Lhasa.
If you prefer a train travel, you can take a train to Tibet from Beijing(40.5hrs), Xian(32hrs), Chengdu(43hrs), Shanghai(47hrs), Chongqing(42hrs), Lanzhou(25hrs), Xining(22hrs), Guangzhou(54hrs). -
- 5. Packing and Wearing Ideas
Firstly you can’t forget your passport and Chinese Visa. A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also bring necessary medicine you need. Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block are recommended.
As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Down jacket is necessary in Spring and Autumn. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is necessary.
Recommended Tibet Group Tour Packages
Escorted by a skilled driver and companied by a professional local tour guide to organize all the activities, all you have to do is to enjoy your fantastic Tibet journey.Following are some other recommended Tibet group tour packages that you may be interested in. You can also contact us to customize a trip if you want..
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Lhasa
4 Days Lhasa City Private Tour - Heart of Tibet
Highlights: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery
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Lhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse / Everest / Lhasa
8 Days Lhasa to Mount Everest Private Tour
Highlights: Potala Palace, Yamdrok Lake, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Mt. Everest
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Lhasa / Namtso / Lhasa
5 Days Lhasa Highlights & Holy Lake Namtso Tour
Highlights: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Namtso Lake