7-Day Mysteries of Tibet

Tour Overview
This travel package will show you a real Tibet! We will explore the mysterious Tibetan history, culture, architecture, religions, arts, medicines, the locals' life and some miracles on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Day 1 Arrive in Lhasa (no meals)
Fly to Lhasa from Chengdu (or Beijing, or Shanghai) or by Train from Beijing (Your arrangement)

Meet your guide at Lhasa Gonggar Airport and then be picked up to your hotel. Then free at leisure to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude reaction. Hotel: Tibet Hotel (4-star)

Day 2 Lhasa (B, L, D)
Today, your Tibet tour will start from the holy land of Tibetan -- Potala Palace. After lunch, proceed to visit the Sera Monastery, the Norbulingka Park and a Tibetan family. Dinner is served at your hotel.

- Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa named Sakya Yeshe. The monastery is famous for its monk debates which take place nearly every day of the week. The monks gather each afternoon to debate Buddhist teachings and philosophy. Though many monasteries across Tibet have debates, Sera Monastery is the best and most popular place to witness it. Today Sera Monastery has around 600 monks.

- Tibetan Family Visit
Paying a visit to a Tibetan family will give you a chance to touch the real life of Tibetan people. The hospital hosts will welcome you with the local buttered tea and wine and then show you around their houses. They will be glad to introduce their family and Tibetan customs to you and you can raise your own questions.

Day 3 Lhasa (B, L, D)
Pay a visit to the Drepung Monastery. After lunch, go ahead to visit the Jokhang Temple, the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street, the Traditional Tibetan Medicine Hospital and the Tibetan Carpet Factory. Dinner is served at your hotel

-Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery was once the largest Monastery in Lhasa (with over 10,000 monks). Today's sightseeing will begin with the 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 the hillside, you will experience wonderful views of the whole of Lhasa city and the distant mountains.

- Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital
The Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital was originally built in 1916. It was the place of research for Tibetan medicine and calendar calculations for the former Tibetan local government. After a large expansion in 1980, the hospital became the center for the treatment, training, research and production of Tibetan medicine.

- Tibetan Carpet Factory
The Lhasa Carpet Factory produces traditional Tibetan rugs that are exported worldwide through Canton. The factory has developed into the biggest and the best in Tibet Autonomous Region with annual output of 30,000 miles of carpet. Tibetan Carpets, Persian Carpets and Oriental Artistic Carpets are reputed to be the best in the world.

Day 4 Lhasa /Gyangtse (B, L, D)
Drive to Gyangtse. Stop off at the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. Transfer to the hotel. Visit the Palkhor Monastery and Gyangtse Old Street. Hotel: Gyangtse Hotel (3-star)

-Yamdrok Yumtso Lake
Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It is over 72 km (45 miles) long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. The lake does have an outlet stream at its far western end.Around 90 km to the west of the lake lies the Tibetan town of Gyantse and Lhasa is a hundred km to the northwest. According to local mythology, Yamdok Yumtso lake is the transformation of a goddess.

- Palkhor Monastery
Palkhor Monastery is located over 230 kilometers south of Lhasa. The monastery is unique in Tibet for it has the characteristics of Tibetan, Han, and Nepal architectural styles and is home to three sects of Buddhism, the Sakyapa, Kadampa, and Gelugpa sects.

-Gyangtse Old Street
Gyangtse Old Street is an ideal location to capture and insight into the daily life of the Tibetan people. The street is long and comfortably wide, and is paved with flagstones and clay. Houses stand on both sides of the street, one and two storey, built in the local architectural style and decorated with snow-white walls and vermeil door and beams.

Day 5 Gyangtse /Shigatse (B, L, D)
Drive to Shigatse and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen. Hotel: Shigatse Hotel (3-star)

- Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the main attractions in Shigatse. It is one of the most important Gelug sect monasteries in Tibet and is home of the Panchen Rinpoche (Lama).

- New Palace of Panchen
New Palace of Panchen is known as the summer palace of the tenth Panchen Lama and is a wonderful blend of the traditional and modern architectural style. The palace, reached after passing three gates, offers beautiful interiors of Panchen Lama bedrooms, drawing rooms, sutra hall, Buddha hall and Buddhist Guardian Hall. Amongst valuable cultural relics of the palace are the spectacular frescos. The surroundings of the palace covered with greenery provides a tranquil environment, from there you can relax and refresh yourself.

Day 6 Shigatse /Lhasa (B, L, D)
Today we will drive back to Lhasa city via Yampachen, where you can enjoy the grassland view and hot spring. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 7 Lhasa /Departure (B)
If time permits, visit the Tibet Museum. After that, we will transfer you to the airport for the flight to your next destination.

-Tibet Museum
The Tibet Museum is worth visiting when you come to Lhasa. It shows you the long history of the cultural exchange between Tibetan and Han people. Besides, it is an advanced position to conduct the education of patriotism and display the achievements that have been made in spiritual civilization.

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