Special Tibet Culture Tour

Tour Name: Close Touch with Tibetan Culture and Nature

Tour Lasts: 6 nights / 7 days

In this tour, we will explore the major monasteries and sacred sites under the guidance of our experts through overland driving across spectacular mountain ranges. Have a close touch with Tibetan culture and nature, enjoy the Tibetan style life and see how their daily life is going!
Highlights:

Wind your way up through the Potala, the holy land and landmark of Tibet.
Join the shuffling, murmuring pilgrims around the shrines of the Jokhang, the spiritual heart of Tibet.
Let yourself be swept around the Barkhor, Lhasa’s fascinating medieval pilgrim circuit.
Enjoy Tibetan tea in Ani Sangkhung Nunnery tea house, explore this most beautiful nunnery of Tibet.
A short hiking into Tibet nature nearby Sera, the court of wild rose, and catch the famous debate sessions of the monks in Sera monastery.
Gaze at the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, the coiling scorpion-shaped lake.
A close touch with Tibetan traditional arts and their daily life. Join into them, become one among them, enjoy this new life style thoroughly.
Climb through the levels of the Gyantse Kumbum, the most stunning architectural wonder in Tibet.
A short hiking to Gyantse Dzong, shot the sunset there and enjoy the amazing view of Gyangtse ancient town.

Day by Day Itinerary:

Day 01 Arrive in Lhasa, get the first impression of Tibetan daily life

Highlights: Hometown of Tibetan apron, spectacular scenery and typical Tibetan villages along the way.

Welcome to Tibet! Our English speaking tour guide (a Tibetan - in most cases) will meet you at the airport. Today you will go to the “hometown of Tibetan apron”. There you could learn how to make Pulu (a weaving wool fabric Tibetan cloth) by locals, you could have a try if you are interested in. And on the way to Lhasa, you will enjoy the spectacular scenery and the typical Tibetan villages. Stay at the hotel after arrival for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now.

A Tibetan woman weaving Pulu

Day 02 Lhasa highlights escorted tour

Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Visit Potala, which was constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet and later reconstructed and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where innumerable pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Then walk on the Barkhor Street nearby the temple, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa

Day 03 Tibet Nunnery and Monastery

Highlights: Enjoy Tibetan tea in Ani Sangkhung Nunnery tea house, a short hiking into Tibet nature, catch the famous debate sessions of the monks in Sera monastery.

Head past Muslim tea stalls and butcher shops, along part of the Lingkhor pilgrim circuit to the yellow walls of the Ani Sangkhung Nunnery. This small, friendly and active nunnery is the only one within the precincts of the old Tibetan quarter. The site of the nunnery probably dates back to the 7th century, but is housed a monastery until at least the 15th century. The principal image, upstairs on the 2nd floor, is a thousand-armed Chenresing. A small alley to the side of the main chapel heads down to the former meditation chamber of Songtsen Gampo, the 7th-century king of Tibet. The busy nuns run a great teahouse in the courtyard. Then drive to Sera Monastery, have a little hike for the beautiful valley scenery nearby and picnic there, in the afternoon, visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. Catch the famous debate session of the monks before returning back to Lhasa.

Monks debating at Sera Monastery

Day 04 Lhasa/Gyantse

Highlights: Fabulous scenery of turquoise Lake and Karola glacier, a close touch with locals, hometown of Tibetan rug, shot the sunset in Gyantse Dzong

In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4.796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. Then continue to Gyantse, if you are interested in, you could have a closed touch with Tibetan locals, visit their house, have a chat with them, see how they turn the yak dung into a good fuel, or how they gather in the harvest, different season different activities. You can enjoy Ningjinkangsang Snow Mountain and Karola Glacier from a distance on the way as well. Upon arrival in Gyantse, the hometown of Tibetan rug, explore its carpet. After dinner, a short hiking to Gyantse Dzong, shot the sunset there, it is worth the stiff climb to its upper limits. There is amazing views of Gyantse, the monastery compound at the end of town and the surrounding Nyang-chu Valley.

Snow Mountain - Karola Glacier

Day 05 Gyantse/Shigatse

Highlights: Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa, the seat of Panchen Lama

Have a tour to Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa and then head to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet and also the seat of Panchen Lama. It is a good place to hang out, explore the nearby monasteries and enjoy a beer in the Tenzin Hotel while gazing across at the ruins of the Shigatse Dzong fort. Tashilumpo is also a highlight of Tibet and is Shigatse’s foremost attraction.

Tashilumpo Monastery

Day 06 Shigatse/Nyemo

Highlights: Tibetan artistic explore in Nyemo County

Drive to Nyemo County, it is a wonderful area for trekking and hiking, today we will have a Tibetan artistic tour and camping in the county yard. Nyemo is famous for its Tibetan joss stick and Tibetan porcelain, you could see how the locals make them in the traditional way.

Making the Tibetan joss sticks

Day 07 Finish this unforgettable tour

Highlights: Souvenir shopping and scenery on the way

Short hiking around village in early morning, and then a transfer journey to the airport and time to say good-bye. Tour services ends.

Interested in this tour?
Contact us for a quotation.