Sample Itinerary
Days 1-5: Lhasa After a short flight over the Himalayan Mountains, we’ll arrive in Lhasa, enjoy a welcome reception, and rest. While acclimatizing in Lhasa, we’ll explore the city by walking around the Barkhor Square and mingling with Tibetan pilgrims. We will visit Potala Palace, Jokang Temple, and Sera Monastery to learn about Tibetan architecture, history, and culture. Participants will meet Tibetan artisans and scholars to learn more about Tibetan folk arts such as painting, wood curving, and handcrafts.
Days 6-8: Yarlung Valley/Samye/Yumbu Lhakang After a few hours of drive from Lhasa, we will visit a village and mingle with local Tibetans. In the afternoon, you will be taken directly to a hotel in Tsedang, a southern Tibetan town located in the heart of the Yarlung valley, the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Here we will explore the 8th century Samye Monastery. It is Tibet’s first Buddhist monastery built in the shape of a mandala. We’ll also visit Yumbu Lhakang, Tibet’s first palace, and Traduk Monastery built in 541 A.D.
Days 9-10: Gyantse/Shigatse/Tashilhunpho We head further to the historic outpost of Gyantse, crossing two high passes and visiting Yamdrok Lake (“Jade Lake”), one of the three largest lakes in Tibet and a holy site for pilgrims. Gyantse, a small agricultural town at 13,050 ft above sea level, is famous for its wool carpets and palkhor choide chorten. The Palkhor Monastery, built in 1427, is notable for its superb Kumbum (10,000 images) Stupa, which, according to Buddhist tradition, has 108 chapels to explore. We will then continue onward to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, where we will visit gold-crowned Tashilhunpho Monastery, one of Tibet’s most vibrant and breathtaking sites.
Days 11-12: Namtso/Tashi Dhor Our trip would not be complete without a stop at Namtso Lake. Namtso is approximately 240km northwest of Lhasa and is 14,720 meters high. Of course, this height can make people nervous and can cause altitude sickness unless proper acclimatization techniques are employed. The lake is stunningly beautiful, and is considered very sacred to Tibetans. It should not be missed by anyone visiting Tibet. Participants can visit Tashi Dhor Monastery, take short hikes, and mediate in sacred coves. Namtso is naturally suited for grazing herds. You’ll see many Tibetan nomadic tents. You can visit them, mingle with the nomads, and learn their traditional way of life.
Days 13-14: Lhasa Free time to rest, shop, prepare for your return, or visit other sites. The trip concludes with a farewell dinner in Lhasa. You are free to plan your own post-Sacred Journey adventure (e.g. Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kailash, or a visit to Kham) and we can assist all continuing travelers with these plans.
Trip Style: Lodging will be simple; we will stay in comfortable hotels and guesthouses. No camping.
Arrival: You have option of coming into Lhasa from Nepal or Mainland China. Once you are accepted to the program, you’ll receive our Trip Logistics Guide. It will include all the essential information you’ll need to obtain a Chinese visa and make other necessary preparations for the trip. The guide includes suggested travel gear, a recommended reading list, a day-to-day itinerary, health and safety information, and other key information to make your trip successful and safe. You will receive your Tibet Permit from us in any cities in Mainland China. |