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Day
1
Arrival Lhasa
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
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 or have a first look around the town.
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Day
2
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
3
Lhasa (B, L)
Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monstery, Tibetan Family
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
4
Lhasa/ Shigatse (B, L)
Sightseeing: Tashilhunpo Monastery, Yomdrok
Our visit today begin with the Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, the monastery's structure was expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. Tashilhunpo Monastery covers an area of nearly 300,000 square meters (3,229,279 sq. ft.).
Later we will continue to explore the Yomdrok Lake which is one of the three holy lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. This huge lake spans 130 kilometers long from east to west and 70 kilometers wide from north to south. The scenery of the clear turquoise blue water in the lake with the reflection of the surrounding mountains was awesome and we had a 360 degree view of the mountains.
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Day
5
Shigatse / Tingri (B,L)
Sightseeing: Sakya Monastery
Drive from Shigatse to Tingri. Have a visit to Sakya Monastery.
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Day
6
Tingri / Shigatse (B,L)
Sightseeing: Rongbuk Monastery,Everest Base Camp
After breakfasts, we will drive to Everest Base Camp. On the way visit Rongbuk Monastery, once the largest monastic center in the region. The views are stupendous on a clear day, and feature a huge sweep of the Himalaya range including peaks over 8000, Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung and Cho Oyu.
When you finally get to Everest Base Camp, the first sight of the mighty Everest simply leaves you speechless. The best moments to watch Mt. Everest's are early morning and late evening when Everest is shining like a goddess in the sunglow.
Then drive back to Shigatse.
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Day
7
Shigatse / Gyangtse / Lhasa (B,L)
Sightseeing: Kumbum Stupa & Pelkor Chode Monastery
Today you will drive back to Gyangtse, Visit Kumbum Stupa & Pelkor Chode Monastery. The monastery with 9 floors, 108 doors and 77 rooms. Each room contains a different statue of Buddha and the wall frescoes tells the story about it.
Continue drive back to Lhasa
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Day
8
Lhasa / Departure (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.