Day 01 :

Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Airplane will land at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (96 kilometers from the main city). Early morning you are transfered to the airport to board the plane for the flight over the Himalaya to Lhasa. If the weather is clear there are wonderful views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga and other peaks en route. On arrival at Gonggar airport (which is 90 km. from Lhasa), you meet your vehicle and drive east along the broad Yarlung Tsangpo valley to Tsedang (3400m.). After checking in to your hotel, you drive south to see the reputed oldest building in Tibet, the Yumbu Lakhang, a beautiful castle-like dwelling and monastery, dramatically perched on a spur looking out over the fertile valley below. If time permits you may be able to visit a small monastery close to Tsedang, or an interesting carpet factory where you can see the whole process of carpet making.

Day 02 :

This day you visit Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbulinka. One of the highlights is the visit to the symbol of Tibet; the Potala Palace set high on Red Hill, the winter home of the Dalai Lama until 1959. The most sacred temple in Lhasa is the Lokhang, where people come from all over Tibet to visit and pray in this spiritual heart of the country. It was used as a military kitchen during the Cultural Revolution but has now been beautifully restored, with many priceless thangkas and statues adorning the chapels, and magnificent gilded roofs.

In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery, which was created in 1419, has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. Another great treasure is the Norbulingka – the old summer palace of the Dalai Lama.

Day 03 :

This day you are programmed to visit Drepung Monastery, Jorkhang Temple & Barkhor Street. This day you are programmed to visit Drepung Monastery, one of the great monasteries of the Gelukpa (yellow hat) sect, just outside Lhasa. There is time to explore Lhasa on your own, perhaps visiting the Tibetan Medical College or the Ramoche temple (one of the oldest religious buildings in Tibet). In the evening you visit Jorkhang Temple, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where innumerable pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Surrounding the Jorkhang Temple is the bustling Barkhor Street which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa. Around the Barkhor there are numerous stalls selling all sorts of handicrafts: brightly colored boots and fur-lined hats, silver and turquoise jewelry, rosaries, prayer flags and charms, as well as beautiful Tibetan carpets and all manner of ordinary household ware.

Day 04 :

Drive from Lhasa to Tsedang (or Tsetang) (3550m.) which is 183 kilometers. After spending some time in Lhasa take a 2-hours drive along Yarlung Tsangpo river through barley and wheat fields to the third largest city in Tibet. En route Tsedang (or Tsetang) you stop at Nyethang (Netang Dromala Lakhang), a temple built in 10th century by Atisa, an India Buddhist. The temple contains interesting artifacts and hold significant importance in Tibetan Buddhism. Another stop before you reach Tsedang is Mindroling, 10th century monastery, rebuilt in 1676 and highly reputed for its contribution towards astronomy, astrology, medicine and calligraphy. The Murals on the wall have very special significances and shows the typical Tantric arts.

Day 05 :

Yarlung Valley tour Today you will spend the day exploring the Yarlug valley which is also known as the Valley of Tombs. Ancient Tibetan history boasts that Tibetan civilization was originated from Yarlung valley. You can spot massive burial mounds of Tibetan Kings.

Today’s sightseeing includes Tandruk (Trandruk) Monastery, a 7th century monastery, which holds fantastic wood carved altar, interesting relics and murals. Yambulakang, the castle perched dramatically on a pinnacle above the valley is the oldest known dwelling in Tibet, reputedly the home of the Yarlung Kings. The view from the castle is awesome. The tour continues to the west of Tsedang, crossing the Tsangpo River on a boat to Samye Monastery, founded in 779 AD, is in a green valley among barren mountains surrounded by a village. Samya Monastery is one of the most imposing sights of Tibet. Built between 763 and 75 AD modeled on the University of Otantapuri in India and planned as a representation of the universe it has a collection of pagodas and temples.

Day 06 :

Drive from Tsedang to Lhasa and fly from Lhasa to Kathmandu. It is 2 hours drive to the airport; your guide will escort you to the airport in time to catch your flight home. The flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu takes one hour and during your flight, you can see Yarlung Tsangpo River, Yamdrok Tso (Lake), and Mount Kanchanjungha (8,586m.).