8 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest Group Tour

Today's sightseeing: Drepung Monastery about 1.5 hour, and Sera Monastery 2 hour, overnight in Lhasa We will arrange you to see Drepung Monastery . Exactly which one of these two will be decided by our operate team. Drepung Monastery - was built in 1416 and is the largest monastery of the Gelug Sect. It covers an area of 250,000 square meters. It is located on the Gambo Utse mountain, five kilometers from the western suburb of Lhasa. Drak Yerpa is a place that has deep meanings in the Tibetan spiritual culture. There is a saying goes like this: "Lhasa is the shrine of Tibet, Drak Yerpa is the shrine of Lhasa. Not seeing Drak Yerpa in Lhasa is just like making a dress without the collar." The entrance to the Yerpa Valley is about 16 km northeast of Lhasa on the northern bank of the Kyichu River. From there, it is another 10 km to the famous ancient meditation caves. Sera Monastery : Located 5km north of Lhasa, this monastery was the first Gelugpa monastery in Lhasa and has remained the main seat of this major Buddhist order ever since. About 600 monks are now in residence here. Debating takes place from 3:30pm to 5pm in a garden next to the assembly hall in the center of the monastery. There is a fine kora path around the monastery. Hotel: Yes

Today's sightseeing: Potala Palace 1 hour & Jokhang Temple 1 hour, overnight in Lhasa - The Potala Palace : Potala Palace is perched on the 130m-high Marpo Ri ( Red Hill ) with 13 storeys and more than 1000 rooms in the middle of Beijing Road, the heart of Lhasa City. It was once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. The first recorded use of the site dates back to the 7th century AD when King Songtsen Gampo built a palace here. The present construction began during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama 1645. It takes at least 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels. - The Jokhang Temple : The 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple is now the spiritual center of Tibet. From earliest dawn to last light, daily worshipers and once-in-a-lifetime pilgrims make the inner circumambulation (kora) of the Jokhang to earn religious merit. Some of them prostrate outside circuiting the temple. The Jokhang Temple is best visited in the early morning. It now houses the life-sized statue of the twelve year-old Sakyamuni brought by Songtsan Gampo's Chinese wife - Princess Wencheng. Hotel: Yes

Today's sightseeing: Yamdrok Lake , Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum Pelkor MonasteryIt takes you about 1.5 hrs to drive from Lhasa to Kambala Pass[4794m high], visit Yamdrok Lake there, which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Then we will drive pass by Mt Nojin Kangsang and its Karola Glacier. Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum : the sprawling compound in the far north of town houses Pelkor Chöde Monastery and the monumental Gyantse Kumbum, a chörten filled with fine paintings and statues. Both are deservedly top of the list on most travellers' must-sees. Palkhor lies at the foot of Dzong Hill. It is well-known for its Kumbum, which has 108 chapels in its four floors. The multi-storied Kumbum Stupa was crowned with a golden dome and umbrella, surrounded with more chapels filled with unique religious statues and murals. Hotel: Yes

Optional: Rongbuk Monastery Tibet has serious rule about speed-limit. Though from Shigatse to Everest region is only abt 350km or so in book, the no-more-than-40km/hr regulation, and the many road checks dotted on the way, really slow us down. So be prepared to spend around 1012hrs on the road including meal time. The upside is the view along the way is superb. Get your camera ready. Also prepare some snacks with you to bring along. You will arrive at Rongbu Monastery in the late afternoon. The monastery itself is quite tiny, but from here the view of Mt Everest is fantastic. You can choose to just hang around Rongbuk to take photos or visit it at your own expense of CNY 25/person. Rongbuk Monastery is located in the Shigatse Region, southwest of the mysterious Tibet Autonomous Region, and to the north of the oblate Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. Seen from here, Mt. Everest appears like a lofty pyramid surrounded by mountains that touch the sky. On sunny days, a pile of thick clouds, just like a white flag floats lightly above the peak, which is known to be the miracle of 'The Highest Flag Cloud in the World'. Nowadays, with the golden travel boom to Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery is gradually becoming a highlight for the tourists in its own right. After sightseeing there, if it's summer time (usually MayOct), we will carry on the last few kilometers to Everest Tent Camp to stay the night; if winter time (usually NovApr), we will stay at Rongbuk Monastery's guesthouse. Both places have but dorm bed lodging available. Both places you can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good. Overnight in Rongbuk/Tent Camp, Dorm bed Hotel: Yes

EBC Shigatse 360KM 7 hours drive Highlights: Everest Base Camp We didn't include breakfast this morning. You will understand why when you're at the spot. Tibetan breakfast, such as noodle, zanba, etc. abt CNY 30 is available here. You are highly suggested to bring along some cookies, instant coffee. etc. of your own. Everest Tent Camp is the furthest point vehicles can drive to. From here you will have to take the shuttle bus for the last glorious 4Km which is incredibly incredibly scenic. You're hemmed in by high grey ridges to the east and west and as you look to the south, Everest's north face dominates the skyline. Endowed with springs, Everest Base Camp (level 5150m) has a couple of permanent structures and a small army base. Clamber up the small hill festooned with prayer flags for great views of the star attraction, Mt. Everest, then have your photo taken at the base camp marker, reads 'Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp'. Overnight in Shigatse Meals: No Hotel: Yes

Today's sightseeing: Tashilump Monastery We will depart today from your hotel in Lhasa around 08:00 am. The rode condition is pretty good but because of the speed-limit, we will spend about 6hrs on the road; after arrival in Shigatse, we will first go to apply the Alien's Travel Permit(PSB) with your original passport presented which usually takes abt 30 mins before sightseeing. Bear with us. Tashilunpo Monastery is one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet. Also called the Heap of Glory, the monastery is located at the foot of Drolmari (Tara's Mountain), Shigatse. Founded by the First Dailai Lama in 1447, the monastery's structure was expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. It covers an area of nearly 300,000 square meters. The main structures found in the monastery are Maitreya Chapel, Panchen Lama's Palace and Kelsang Temple. Tashilhunpo is the seat of Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas. Hotel: Yes