You will be greeted by your Tibetan guide once you arrive in Lhasa Gonggar airport or train station. From airport to Lhasa city is 68km, around one hour and half drive will take you to the holy city Lhasa; from the train station it is only 15km and takes 20 minutes by drive. Afternoon, have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. Overnight in Lhasa.
Shoton Festival is on this day. Get up very early in the morning, and go to Drepung Monastery, and find a good seat to watch the Sunning Buddha ceremony. Next, visit the Jokhang Temple, the center of Tibetan Buddhism, also built in the 7th century on the legendary pond of “Wothang”. And finish the day by taking a Kora around the Barkhor Street. Test your bartering skills with the locals in this push-and-shove economy, and you could join into the locals and share the happiness of Shoton Festival with them.
Today you’ll wind your way up through the stunning, awe-inspiring Potala Palace. Built in 637 AD by Songtsen Gampo, it was the former winter residence for the Dalai Lamas and is truly a splendor of Eastern architecture. In the afternoon, watch the Tibetan opera, performed in Norbulingkha Summer Palace as part of Shoton Festival. Later after lunch, visit Sera Monastery, which is one of the best-preserved monasteries in Tibet. Within its whitewashed walls and golden roofs, several hundred monks live and study. Catch the interesting monk debating session.
After breakfast, drive forward to Nagchu, the capital of Northern Tibet, where you are well and truly in northern grassland of Changthang. Have a good rest for the next day’s busy sightseeing & activities. Overnight at Nagchu Hotel or Tented Camp.
Today, enjoy the biggest Horse Racing festival of Tibet, held each year from 10th till 16th August. Nagchu horse racing is a grandest horse riding competition in northern Tibet. Tens of thousands of herdmen gather at grassland outside of Nachu city on a vast grassland dotted with tents to celebrate the horse riding competition. After a grand opening ceremony, various activities will start, such as horserace, yak race, tug of war, lifting stones and performs Tibetan operas. Later after lunch, start driving to Nam Tso or Tengri Nor (heaven lake in Mongolian) along the northern route. When arrival, enjoying the glory of sunset over the lake. By the lake, you can view the peak of Nyianchentangula (7162m). It is said the holy lake and the holy mountain are a couple of lovers, who altogether guard the vast pasture and cattle. The wide open spaces, dotted with the tents of local nomads are intoxicating. If lucky enough, there is the opportunity to get a peek at the otherwise inaccessible nomadic life at the Changtang, Tibet’s vast northern plateau. Accommodation: Local Guesthouse
After shot the amazing view of sunrise of the lake at Tashi Dorie peninsula, we drive back to Lhasa via Yangpachen with a different route. Upon arrival in Lhasa, free time at your own disposal.
Today, Lhasa airport or train station dropping off, the time to say your farewells to your guide and driver, end the trip.
※What is a Private Tour?
Potala Palace
Mt. Everest
Yamdrok Lake
Sera Monastery
Namtso Lake
Mt. Kailash
From Mr. Gerard AdrienHi Daniel. We are already on our way back to Shanghai. We would like to thank you for the great trip we had. Our guide Jampa and our driver did an excellent job. They are both very recommendable! We enjoyed the trip despite the altitude discomfort we experienced during the first 3 days. Thank you!
From Ms. Elena Maria ValisiI highly recommend this agency. I travelled with other 2 couples who booked through different agencies and they paid a lot more to have less assistance, same hotels/tour/guide/car, less flexibility and no travel insurance included.
