Lhasa and Samye Tour

This is, generally speaking, a introduction tour of Tibet culture, covering the capital Lhasa and Tsedang, which considered as the birthplace of Tibetan civilization. You will visit the first monastery, the first palace in Tibetan history, and also enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yarlung River.

Day 01: Kathmandu, 1360m
You arrive in Kathmandu and are transferred to the hotel. A pre-trek briefing will be scheduled to discuss the trekking program and co-ordinate any last-minute arrangements.

Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Today we explore Katmandu on an organized sightseeing tour. This will include a visit to the Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world. We also visit Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and home to the most famous Hindu temple in the country. Here we will see Hindu holy men (saddhus) and pilgrims performing ritual bathing, and occasionally, funeral pyres burning on the Ghats.

The early afternoon will be free to relax in the hotel garden or visit Thamel for last minute shopping. You will be supplied with your trek departure information in the afternoon.

Day 03 :Document apply for Tibet permit and Tibet visa

Day 04: Arrival – Lhasa (3650m)
Arrive by flight or train to Lhasa. Upon arrival in the Lhasa Gongar airport or the Lhasa train station, you will be met by your tour guide and driven to Lhasa downtown. have a rest in Lhasa to acclimatize the high altitude.
Overnight in Lhasa

Day 05: Lhasa Sightseeing – Potala Palace and Johkang Temple(B)
In the morning, you will go to the most sppendid museum, the Potala Palace, and explore the grandest of its myriad chapals. see the jeweled burial chorten of past Dalai Lamas as well as statuary,frescoes and paintings.

Later visit the Jokhang Temple, which is considered as the most sacred temple in Tibet, it draws tremendous number of pilgrims from all over Tibet each year for it houses a magnificent image of Sakyamuni at 12 years old.

Then stroll around Barkhor, a pilgrimage circuit that encircles the Jokhang, it also serves as the biggest bazaar in Lhasa, where you can find some handicrafts, ambers, jewery, tibetan clothes,ect.

Overnight in Lhasa

Day 06: Lhasa sightseeing-Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery (B)
Today, you will explore Tibet’s two greatest monasteries, Drepung and Sera. which once housed about 10,000 monks.

Drepung monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. the monastery is divided into two different colleges that is Drepung loselling and Drepung Gomang college. The Ganden podrang is famous among them as it is the government centre during fifth Dalai lama and later moved to the famous Potala palace during fifth Dalai lama. In the afternoon exploring the Sera monastery which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The whole monastery is divided into two colleges and there are Sera ‘jhe’ and Sera ‘may’ respectively. Among them ‘Tsokhang chenmo’ where the monks from all the colleges assemble and pray together there. you can also see monks debating there in the courtyard at around 6-7:30 in the afternoon section. Note: if you don’t feel tired, you can try for the khora(circumambling around) Drepung and Sera monastery. Your tour guide and driver will drop you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Lhasa

Day 07: Lhasa-Tsedang (3500m)(B)
Drive about 4 hours to Tsedang in the morning, which is known as the capilcal of the ancient Yarlung Kingdom. En-route, take ferry accorss Yarlungzongpo River and visit Samye Monastery. the Samye Monastery is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. With these unique features, this splendid temple has become an attraction for visitors from near and far.

Overnight in Tsedang.

Day 08: Tsedang Sightseeing – Yambulakhang Palace, Tadruk Monastery (B)
Drive 7kms to visit Yambulakhang Palace, the first building of Tibet which is built in 2nd century for Tibetan Kings. It sites on a summit of a small hill on the east bank of the Yarlung River. then drive to see the burial tombs of Tibetan Kings. we also pay a visit to Tadruk Monastery in the afternoon.

Overnight in Tsedang

Day 09: Tsedang-Kathmandu or destination
Transfer to the airport(90km, 2 hrs) for your departure flight.