Lhasa-Tsedang-Samye-Gyangtse-Shigatse Central Tibet tour (8 days/7 nights)

Day 1 Arrival at Lhasa(3700m) ( Meals: -/-/- )

Arrival at Gonggar airport and meet assist at the airport & transfer to Lhasa with 1 1/2hrs drive, On the way, you’ll get greeted by Nie Tang Budda – a Budda image engraved in the mountain face. Afternoon at leisure for acclimatization or visit local bazaar on own.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day 2 Lhasa ( Meals: B/L/- )

After breakfast, guided sightseeing with the Lhasa’s cardinal landmark-Potala Palace. This massive 13-soreyed building used to be the highest building prior to the early period of last century, used to be the former winter abode for the Dalai Lamas. It looks incredibly magnificent from a distance and could be viewed from various places around the town. As the nation’s supreme relic, the palace dates back to 7th century A.D. In the afternoon, visit of Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. The “Buddhism Scriptures Debating” in Sera is very famous.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day 3 Lhasa ( Meals: B/L/- )

After breakfast, guided sightseeing of the most revered religious structure in Tibet-Jokhang Temple. Jokhang, the most sacred temple in Tibet, refers to “Buddha’s House” in Tibetan language because the main statue enshrined is said to be made by Buddha Sakyamuni himself in his lifetime. Jokhang Temple is the convergence of Tibet’s Spiritual and secular life, like Mecca for the Muslims, here you can meet all the tribes from Tibetan plateau. The surrounding market is called Barkhor, one of the most important religious paths, which also assembles people for shopping. In the afternoon, visit of Norbulingkha, the summer palace of the Dalailama.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day 04: Lhasa-Tsedang -Samye 165km ( Meals: B/L/- )

We will drive along the Tsangpo river to visit the fantastic Samye monastery, believed to be Tibet's first monastery, built between 775 and 779. The original building is no longer intact due to destruction caused by wars and natural disasters, but the monastery has been rebuilt each time and still remains the symbol of Tibet's national identity. Its main building is a three-story tower with an interior influenced by Tibetan, Han and Indian styles. In the afternoon visit of Yumbulakhang palace- the first building of Tibet as the palace for the first Tibetan king.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day 5 Tsedang -Yamdroktso-Gyangtse(3900m). 340km, 7hrs ( Meals: B/L/- )

After breakfast, leave for Gyanste, after about 3 1/2 hours’ driving, climbing over the snow pass of Kambala(4790m), have a overlooking the Yangdrok lake at top of the KambabaLa pass, the view of the lake and the snowpeak afar are marvelous and impressive. After down from the mountain, we continue our drive along the lakeside, stop for after about 90km, in the late afternoon, arriving in Gyangtse, visit Perkhor Chode monastery in the sunset time.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day 6 Gyangtse-Shigatse(3800m). 90km, 1 1/2hrs ( Meals: B/L/- )

After breakfast, we leave the small town of Gyangtse to Shigatse, the second large city in Tibet and the capital of Tsang, lying 354 km west of Lhasa at an altitude of 3,810 m/12,570 ft, visit to the impressive Tashilhunpo Monastery, home of Tibet's Panchen Lama, a sprawling complex with a gigantic Maitreya (Future Buddha) statue. Various temples contain ornate reliquary chortens. Visit Shigatse's outdoor market for some real treasures.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day7 Shigatse-Lhasa.280km, 3 1/2hrs ( Meals: B/L/- )

This day is an easy journey, driving along the Yarlung Zsangpo River back to Lhasa. On the way stop at a small village side the road to visit the Tibetan handmade incense mill and workshop.

Stay tonight: feature hotels

Day 8 Departure ( Meals: B/-/- )

After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to airport for onward flight.

End of Service!

Tour Cost (unit: USD):

Note:

The above quotation is valid from Mar. 1st until Nov. 30th, 2008;

Departure: Every Saturday (In Lhasa);

Minimum 2 Travellers.

Feature hotels

Deluxe : 4 Star Hotel (Lhasa hotel deluxe room, or Brahmaputra hotel deluxe room)

Standard :3 Star Hotel (Kyichu hotel, Shangbala hotel, Yak hotel, Gorkha hotel )

Price Includes:

·Accommodation in sharing twin room at specified hotels with daily breakfast;

·All lunch as mentioned in the program;

·Sightseeing tour with local English-speaking guide;

·All entrance fees + sightseeing as mentioned in the program;

·The transportation is in a car (02-04pax), mini coach (05-10pax), coach (15 & above) depending on the number of participant;

·Tibet travel permit.

Price Excludes:

·Chinese visa fee;

·Any arrival/departure flight (or train)of Lhasa and airport tax;

·All dinners, other meals, drinks and personal expenses;

·Tips to the guide and driver;

·Any program other than mentioned in our program.

PS

Extra service:

·Private airport transfer which is not on the Arrival/Departure Date: ＄82/car with guide;

·Extra night 4 star hotel deluxe room: ＄163 per single / twin /room with breakfast

·Extra night at 3 star hotel: ＄75 per single / twin /room with breakfast

·One day private tour to Ganden Monastery : ＄68/person ( Min. 2persons)

·One day private tour to Namtso lake: ＄154/person (Min.2person)

·One Way Flight Tickets( Airport tax and fuel fare are included)

Beijing-Lhasa:＄374

Lhasa- Beijing:＄374

Chengdu- Lhasa:＄240

Lhasa-Chengdu:＄240

Kunming-Lhasa:＄306

Lhasa- Kunming :＄306

Zhongdian-Lhasa:＄222

Lhasa- Zhongdian:＄222

Xi’an-Lhasa:＄261

Lhasa- Xi’an:＄261

After the trip has commenced, we are unable to refund any amount for unused services due to your early departure, late arrival, or missed days on tours.

To get the travel permits:

All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and senior government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.

To get the Tibet travel permit you need hold a valid passport with valid Chinese visa and should submit the following information by fax / email at least 15 days prior to arrival in Tibet: Full name, Gender, Date of birth, Passport number, Nationality, Occupation . If you are coming to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you'd better get China visa from Kathmandu because no matter you've already got the visa in your country or not, you must get a visa in Kathmandu, which is regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal.

Altitude Sickness:

As most of the places in Tibet lie over 3500m, most visitors are likely to experience some minor to symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness (headache, mild nausea, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping )until their body is adjusted to the elevation. This will generally disappear through acclimatization in several hours to several days. They should take it little easy first couple of days and drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, eat light, high-carbohydrate meals for more energy, this help the body to acclimatize faster.