You are warmly welcome to Tibet by saying Tashi Delek at the Train station/airport by our professional employee and send you to reserved hotel in Lhasa. Then have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude in the rest of the day. 

Lhasa Arrival 

Morning visit the famous Potala Palace and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels. Today's Potala Palace is a museum. The building measures 400 meters east-west and 350 meters north-south, with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. 

In the afternoon you will visit the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jorkhang Temple, and the Barkhor Kora, which is the most famous Kora in Tibet. Jokhang Temple, also called the Qokang Monastery or Zuglagkang, is smaller than the Potala Palace. This 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a rich and living Tibetan Buddhism. The temple's architectural style is a mixture of Indian vihara design, Chinese Tang Dynasty design, and Nepalese design. Built about 1,300 years ago, now it's not only famous for the "a saint’s road" in the eyes of Tibetans. Many people call Barkhor Street “the window of Tibet” as it exhibits typical Tibetan life. The pilgrims, wearing their local dress from different parts of Tibet or Yunnan, Sichuan and Qinghai areas, circle clockwise around Jorkhang Temple with prayer wheels, or prostrate themselves near the front gate. It is popular that tourists join the locals to shop for specialties as well as souvenirs at the colorful stalls, or relax in a coffee shop to enjoy the passing parade.
 

In the evening, enjoy a Tibetan style welcome dinner with dancing and singing. 

Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jorkhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery lies 10 kilometers west of Lhasa, it is clustered round by the black mountain. Drepung Monastery's white grand buildings shining by the sunlight under Mt.Gambo Utse. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest and highest status monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect. Drepung Monastery used to be the imperial palace of Dalai Lamas for short stays away from the capital before the reconstruction of Potala Palace. 

In the afternoon, transfer to visit Sera Monastery. Sera Monastery is a combination of 4 structures: the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang (1355–1435), a disciple of Tsongkhapa. Due to the wild rose surrounding the monastery, and that at the same time "Sera" stands for wild roses, this monastery was named after Sera. As one of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the famous "monks daily debates" takes place. If you are very lucky, you may come across Sera Monastery’s monks debating which is held in the courtyard at around 15:00-17:30 in the afternoon.

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Transfer back to Lhasa in the late afternoon, return to hotel for rest. 

Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

After breakfast, start the excursion to Namtso! Namtso was born in the Paleogene age, as a result of Himalayan tectonic plate movements. It is approximately 112 km away from Lhasa City. The lake lies at an elevation of 4,718m, and has a surface area of 1,920 square kilometers. On the way to Namtso Lake, you can see crows of yaks and sheep. And you will pass the Nagenla Moutain with the altitude of over 5,000m. Namtso is renowned as one of the most beautiful places in the Nyainqentanglha mountain range. 

After getting to Namtso Lake at around noon time, you can walk along it to view the beautiful Nyainqentanglha snow mountain. As this is the largest salt lake in Tibet, the sunshine makes the colorful water a best place to take pictures. Pray just at the holy lake, while appreciating the sunset and feel the peace of nature. 

In the evening you will stay overnight along the lakeside in the tent or any local guesthouse.   

Lhasa to Namtso Lake

Get up early to view the beautiful sunrise at Namtso Lake with Nyainqentanglha snow mountain range as its background. You can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Its cavehermitages have for centuries been the destination of Tibetan pilgrims. 

Drive to Dumxung to have lunch. Then head back to Lhasa. On the way return to Lhasa from Namtso, you will pass a famous hotspring - the Yampachen. Yampachen, or Yangbajain Hot Spring, has been harnessed to produce much of the electricity for Lhasa. The Yangbajain hot springs field is at an altitude of 4,290 to 4,500m, which makes it the highest altitude set of hot springs possibly in the world. The highest temperature inside the drilling hole is 125.5°C. If some tourists are interested in it, you can stop over for a while and enjoy the hot spring inside. 

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Return to Lhasa in the late afternoon. Transfer to hotel for rest.

Namtso Lake back to Lhasa

Your tour guide and driver will help to drop you at Lhasa airport/train station according to your flight/train time.  

 Lhasa Departure

√ China Panda Tour's experienced travel consultant 1 on 1 service 24hours/7days from inquiry to back home;

√  Entrance tickets to listed viewpoints in the itinerary & necessary shuttle bus/cable car/sightseeing bus tickets;  

√  Escorted by experienced English-speaking tour guide;

√  Meals mentioned in the itinerary;

√  Private transfers with professional driver between hotel/attraction/airport/railway station/restaurant as listed in the itinerary;

√  Booking of flight/train/cruise tickets per your preferences;

√  Accommodation in each city, hotel level/feature is decided by your choice;

√  Traveler's accidental insurance.

OUR SERVICE INCLUDES:

-- This itinerary can be flexibly adjusted according  to your requests. You can change the order, or extend the tour with more cities or days, or even shorten it with deleting any cities or days. Our professional travel consultant will help you revise the itinerary until suiting your schedule.

-- China Panda Tour also provides French/German/Spanish/Russian/Cantonese/Mandarin-speaking tour guide service.

-- If you only want to rent a car for your trip, please kindly inform us. China Panda Tour's professional drivers would provide you with satisfying service.

TRIP NOTES: