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Day
1
Arrive in Xining (L)
Transfer via : Flight on your own arrangement
Sightseeing: Taer Monastery
When you arrive at Xining airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
After lunch, have a visit to Taer Monastery. It is one of the six great monasteries of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism, built in 1557 on sacred land. Still quite active with 600 monks. It is the birthplace of Tsong Khapa, founder of the Yellow Hat (Gelupa sect), and is known for its sculptures of human figures, animals and landscapes carved out of Yak Butter.
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Day
2
Xining to Overnight train (B,L)
Transfer via: Overnight train on our arrangement
Sightseeing: Qinghai Lake, Cruise on Qinghai Lake
Today you will visit to the Qinghai Lake and have a crusei on Qinghai Lake. It is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. It is located about 100 km west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Tibetan Plateau in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo.Twenty-three rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake. Scenery in Qinghai lake varies according to seasons. Summer and autumn are the most comfortable weather conditions and the lake's scenery is most beautiful during these seasons.
Then you will be transferred back to Qinghai railway station to take overnight train to Lhasa.
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Day
3
Overnight train to Lhasa
After your arrival in Lhasa you will be met by your local guide and then be transferred to the hotel. Take the rest of the day for free, to adapt yourself to the high altitude.
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Day
4
Lhasa (B, L)
Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhore Street
We will go on a full day visit of Potala Palace. It is the greatest monumental structure all over Tibet. This ancient architectural complex is considered as a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, it is 3,700 meters above sea level and covers an area of over 360,000 square meters. The palace has 13 stories, and is 117 meters high. In 641, Songtsan Gambo, ruler of the Tubo Kingdom, built the Potala Palace for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, whom he was soon to marry.
Then we'll visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The sacred image of Jowo Sakyamuni is the most venerated and beautiful image all over Tibet
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa which remains very traditional. Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple. Tibetan people are very proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, this street is also a must-see place.
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Day
5
Lhasa (B, L)
Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monstery
In the morning we will visit the Sera Monastery, around 5 km north of central Lhasa, which was, along with Drepung, one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries. Its once huge monastic population of about 5000 monks has now been reduced to several hundred.
Then we will visit Norbulingka Park; Norbulingka meaning "Jeweled Garden", the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The gardens are poorly tended and the palaces themselves are something of an anticlimax, especially as most rooms are currently closed to the public.
Our next stop will be Drepung Monastery. It is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered as one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery.
At last we will arrive at a local Tibetan Family. Common Tibetan people will welcome you to their homes; greet you in their traditional way and you will taste their typical food. You can feel Tibetan culture and religion vividly.
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Day
6
Departure Lhasa (B)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Enjoy some leisure time until our local guide will transfer you to the airport where you will take the flight to your next destination.