Cultural high lights: Lhasa, Tsetang, Gyantse, Shigatse.

Walking by the Lake Nam Tso.

Hardly visited monasteries: Drigung, Terdrom, Reting, Tsurpu, Mindrolin, Densatil, Samding, Shalu, Nartang, Sakya and Jonang.

Among all the Buddhist nations in Asia, Tibet has preserved the most original forms of Indian Buddhism, partly because of its remoteness but mainly because it has allowed spiritual beliefs to permeate its culture and people's conscience almost entirely. From the 8th to the 10th century AD, Tibet witnessed the birth of more than 20 religious schools, each deriving from distinct lineages of Buddhism, and among these the most influential were the Gelugpa, Nyingmapa, Kagyupa and Jonangpa. This tour leads us to the most fascinating land in central Tibet. We will explore many monasteries and sacred sites through walking and overland drives across spectacular mountain ranges. We will also visit the homes of local Tibetans and discuss religious customs throughout the trip. By experiencing the wonders and the spiritual challenges experienced by Tibet's pilgrims, we may gain an understanding of why Tibetans draw an equal sign between religion and life.

Itinerary (19 days):

Day01 Arrive in Chengdu

Today we arrive in Chengdu, the capital of province Sichuan, the hometown of Panda, transfer to hotel. Overnight at 3*Xinliang Hotel

Day02 Air Chengdu – Lhasa (B/L)

In the morning transfer to airport, fly to Lhasa (CA4401 0740/0930), the Capital of Tibet. Upon arrival at the Gongga airport, take another 1.5-hour-drive to the city proper (3650 m). On the way you will enjoy the spectacular scenery, and the typical Tibetan villages as well as the Yak-skin-boat cruising on Yalung Tsangpo River. After lunch stay at the hotel for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now. Overnight at 3*Dhood Gu Hotel

Day03 Lhasa (B/L/D)

In the morning visit Potala, which was constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet and later reconstructed and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, 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. Walk on the Barkhor Street nearby the temple, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. Overnight at 3*Dhood Gu Hotel

Day04 Lhasa (B/L/D)

In the morning visit Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelukpa sect, which was created in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. In the afternoon visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and 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. Afterwards go shopping for high heat foods, medicine and daily use articles. Check your luggage to see everything ready (tent, mat, sock and so on). Overnight at 3*Dhood Gu Hotel

Day05 Lhasa – Ganden – Lhasa (B/L/D)

In the morning drive to visit Ganden Monastery, which was built by Tsongkhaba in present-day Dagaze County to the east of Lhasa in 1409 soon after the Monlam Festival was over. Ganden is one of the three main monasteries of Gelug Sect. Anyhow, different from Drepung and Sera, it once played a more prominent political role in Tibetan history. The abbot of this monastery possess of a high religious position within the system of Gelug Sect, just inferior to Dalai and Panchan. The monastery was reconstructed in 1993 and restored its original appearance. The holy stupa of Tsongkhaba is just in the monastery. Overnight at 3*Dhood Gu Hotel

Day06 Lhasa – Drigung (B/L/D)

In the moring drive to Mozhokunggar to the east of Lhasa. Maizhokunggar was one of the biggest Wanhu (ten thousand household) of Tibet in Yuan Dynasty and called Drigung District by then. In 1179, Renqinbei founded Drigung Sect, one of the sub-branches of Phagdru Kagyu, and built the Drigung Monastery there. Drigung Mandala, the famous celestial burial platform around Tibetan areas, is just located at the back of the temple in the mountain. It is said that there are two famous celestial burial platforms in the world, one is this one at Drigung and another is Washicai in India. People believe that the soul of one, who have been empowered by the Drigung Living Buddha, can leave the body and enter into the Three Good Circles of Beings and does not take the risk of descending to the hell. That is why so many people go to the trouble of traveling a long distance to send the dead over here for celestial burial. Drigung Sect remained to be an opponent worthy of the Gelug Sect’s steel till the first half of the 17th century. Overnight at simple Guesthouse

Day07 Drigung - Terdrom (B/L/D)

In the morning head for Terdrom. Located at the valley to the north of Drigung Monastery, Terdrom is the famous meditation place for nuns. By the temple is the Terdrom Hotspring, which is believed to be curative to many diseases. Overnight at simple Guesthouse

Day08 Terdrom - Reting (B/L/D)

Leave Terdrom for Reting located within the territory of Puduoqu area of Linzhou County. Reting Monastery is the ancestor temple of the Kadam Sect, which had the origin from Atisha and was formally established by Atisha’s disciple, Drom Tonpa. After Atisha’s death, Drom Tonpa inherited the noted monk’s teaching role and preached Buddhism at Ratreng (Reting) and had the Ratreng Monastery built there in 1056. Using the monastery as his base, he gradually brought the Kadam Sect into being. The two-storey assembly hall faces the north and has an area of about one mu. The first floor is the grand scripture hall, a place for various Buddhist meetings. Around it are some chapels containing Buddha statues and sutras. The outer wall of the chapels is a stony wall and the inner serves as bookshelves for Buddhism scriptures. The second floor holds some bedchambers for Dalai and regent king and some high-ranked officials when they went on a tour of inspection. The temple is located at the mountainside. Nearby are ancient cypresses and rolling brooks. Overnight at simple Guesthouse

Day09 Reting – Nam Tso Lake (B/L/D)

In the morning drive on rugged road before reach the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Pass by Damxung town and the 5,150-meter Lhachen La and reach the Nam Tso or Tengri Nor (heaven lake in Mongolian) along the newly paved way and set up camp at Tashi Dorie peninsula. Namtso, the biggest salty lake of Tibet, is 70 kilometers long from east to west and 30 kilometers wide from north to south, covering an area of 1,920 square kilometers with an altitude of 4,700 meters above sea level. It is said the holy lake and the holy mountain Nyenchentangla are a couple of lovers, who altogether guard the vast pasture and cattle. Overnight at simple Guesthouse

Day10 Nam Tso Lake - Tsurpu - Lhasa (B/L/D)

In the morning take a walk by the lake and then drive toward Trurpu Monastery along the Qinghai-Tibet highway. Since 1992 the master monastery of the Karma Kagyu Sect had been presided by Urgyen Thinley Dorje the 17^th Karmapa. Tsurpu was established in 1189 by Duesum Khyenpa, a pupil of Gampopa and the first Karmapa. He introduced the principle of reincarnation into Tibet. He told his disciples that he would reincarnate and pointed out the location of the second Karmapas reborn. In contrast to Yellow Caps (Gelug) the Karmapa Kagye are regarded as the Black Hat and the Karmapas the holder of this sect. The monastery was restored in 1984. In the In the individual temples are statues of the different Karmapas. The 16^th Karmapa Rigpe Dorje (1924-1981) had traveled to Europe and America for spreading of Tibetan Buddhism in west after he left for Sikkim in 1958. After the visit drive back to Lhasa. Overnight at 3*Dhood Gu Hotel

Day11 Lhasa – Tsetang (BLD)

In the morning drive 200 km to Tsetang. Located in the southeast of Lhasa, Tsetang is 3,500 meters high. It was said the legendary ancestors of Tibetans, a monkey (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in the shape of a monkey) and his wife a Dakhini once lived on the Gongpori mountain in the east of the city. And so the city of Tsetang is regarded as the “Playground of Monkeys” and the Tibetans as the descended of the Monkey. In terms of geography, the fertile valleys of Yarlung and Chongye here are appropriate for development of Tibetan civilization; there were once numerous temples, shrines and Stupas in this area. Besides, Chonggye is the birthplace of the 5^th Dalai Lama (1617-1682). On the way visit Mindrolin Monastery. It was built in the late 10^th century and had its current name when it was rebuilt in 1677. It is one of the three great monasteries of the Nyingma Sect. The monastery has paid attention to the research of Buddhist classics, astronomical calendar, calligraphy rhetoric and Tibetan medicines and is famous for its achievements in these fields. Over the years the recommendation of the “Chronology of the Tibetan Calendar” has been formulated by the monastery, and it is famous as the first academy of Lamaism in Tibet. Overnight at 3*Snow Pigeon Hotel

Day12 Tsetang (B/L/D)

Today visit Densatil Monastery and the Tibet King’s Mausoleum. Situated at the present-day Shangri County, Densatil is the earliest monastery of Phagdru Kagyu. In 1158 (the 28^th year of the Shaoxing reign of the Song Dynasty), Dorje Gyebu, an eminent monk of Kagyu who was a disciple of Dakpo Lhaje, had this monastery built and used it as his base to gather disciples and preach sermons. As the place where the monastery was located at was called Phagdru, this sub-branch of Kagyu developed itself into Pagpdru Kagyu Sect. Thus, Densatil became ancestor monastery of Phagdru Kagyu Sect and Dorje Gyebu himself was respectfully addressed as Phagmo Drupa. The Tibetan King’s Mausoleum is in fact a group of tombs of the Tibetan kings from the 7^th to 9^th century. With an area of 10,000 square meters, it is the biggest mausoleum preserved in Tibet. All the toms are 10 meters higher than the ground and look like small hills from a far view. Overnight at 3*Snow Pigeon Hotel

Day13 Tsetang (B/L/D)

Visit Samye 40 km west to Tsetang. Located in the north of Yarlung Tsangpo River and hold in the arms of mountains, it is the oldest monastery of Tibet (8^th century). The stele hanging on the entrance to the main temple shows that king Trisong Detsen took Buddhism as the state religion in 779. The monastery complex consists of several buildings, whose arrangement reflects the Buddhist conception of the structure of the universe. Meru, the world mountain in the center of the universe, is represented in the building of great hall, around which are 4 halls representing the 4 continents swimming in the world sea. After lunch we make a trip in the Yarlung valley to visit the Yumbulakhang, a castle built in the 7^th and 8^th centuries during the time of the first Tibetan kings. It is far viewed that the castle is high on the rock hills and looks brightly white. The original fortress is now converted into a chapel; in the ground floor there is a shrine in honor of the early kings. The steps up are steep but it is worthy because on the top of the hill you can far view the valley and the surrounding mountain. Overnight at 3*Snow Pigeon Hotel

Day14 Tsetang - Gyantse (B/L/D)

Leave Tsetang for Gyantse along the Kyichu River. Cross over the Gampa La (approx. 4.790 m), where view the holy lake Yamdrok Tso (4441 m, 180 sq km), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. There enjoy the unforgettable vista of its spear-shaped expanse of turquoise water, with the mysterious Mt. Donang Sangwari (5,340m) on the peninsula beyond, and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7,191m) in the distance. The lake and the Yarlung-Tsangpo River are separated by a mountain and the shortest distance between them is only 6 kilometers. The 800m-height difference contributes rich water resources to this region. Many Tibetans believe that the life of Tibet will no longer continue when the lake dries up. Hike around the lake and visit Samding Monastery, which has a history of over one thousand years and presided by the only female Living Buddha. After that drive to Gyantse. In Gyantse visit Pelkor Chode Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby, both of them built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Overnight at 3*Gyantse Hotel

Day15 Gyantse – Shigatse (B/L/D)

In the morning driving about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3900m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. On the way visit Shalu (Xialu) Monastery. It was initially built in 1087 with a unique Tibetan-Han construction style in Tibet. It was said Atisha once spread Buddhist teaching in this temple. After lunch at noon at Shigatse, visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. In Tibet Buddhism, Panchen Lama is just the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. Today 600 monks live in the monastery. Overnight at 3*Manasarovar Hotel

Day16 Shigatse – Nartang - Sakya (B/L/D)

Drive to Sakya Monastery. On the way visit Nartang Monastery built in 1033. Known as the Library of Tibet, it is 20 kilometers along the way from Shigatse to Sakya County. Though it is not so grand as Tashilunpo Monastery in construction scale, its history is longer by about 400 years. It is the printing house of the monastery that has contributed most remarkably to the spreading of Tibetan Buddhism. Upon arrive in Sakya, visit Sakya Monastery (4.280 m). Sakya, the master monastery of the Sakya Sect, is well famed with its long history, large-scale construction complex and great influence in Tibet history. Its North Monastery was built in 1073 and named Sakya (meaning “gray” in Tibetan) as it was situated on a gray mountain. What we see today is the Sakya South Monastery built in 1269 by Phagpa. The outside walls of the monastery were painted with red, white and gray, symbolizing Avalokitesvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani. Overnight at simple Guesthouse.

Day17 Sakya – Jonang - Shigatse (B/L/D)

Drive back to Shigatse, on the way visit Jonang Monastery, the ancestor temple of Jonang Sect. Overnight at 3*Manasarovar Hotel

Day18 Shigatse – Lhasa (B/L/D)

Drive back to Lhasa. Overnight at 3*Dhood Gu Hotel

Day19 Air Lhasa – Chengdu (B)

In the morning transfer to Gongga airport (100 km) and fly back to Chengdu (CA4402 1020/1210).

Tour price, please contact us tibet@tibet-tours.com or chinatibet@hotmail.com

Included:

Air tickets and airport tax: Chengdu – Lhasa - Chengdu;

All transfers and overland tour;

All sightseeing;

18N in hotels (double rooms; single room as requested) and guesthouses (double rooms cannot be always guaranteed, partly is only multi-bed rooms available);

Full board service: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner;

English speaking guide;

Permits for Tibet tour.

Excluded:

China Visa;

Tips for guide and driver;

Personal expenses;

Service not mentioned in the itinerary.