Selena Travel

Tibetan Highlights

9days/8nights

Tour grade: Easy

From: US$ 2,075

Style: Traveller

  • Lhasa Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulinka Park, Sera Monastery
  • Shigatse Highlights: Yamdrok Lake, Tashilhunpo monastery,
  • Optional city sightseeing tour in Beijing including Forbidden city, Tiananmen Square
  • Meet people and make friends! You will be part of a group of 4-8 people during the tour as it is a group departure

Tour Overview

Tibet iscalled the Holy Roof of the World and everyone dreams of travelling to Tibet and see the wonders there. Come and travel to Tibet no matter where you come from and whatever you do. In the olden days traveling to Tibet was very difficult and complicated, thus, people knew very little about that mysterious and holy land. But now, Selena Travel will help you travel to Tibet easily and safely and fun at the same time. The long history and exotic religion allures more and more tourists every year to Tibet the roof of the world. Buddhism is the main religion of these tolerant Tibetans. Thus, a great deal of splendid monasteries, vivid murals and sculptures, and solemn stupas were built to worship the unparalleled Buddha. Lhasa and Shigatse, the most important cities of Tibet, feature most of the religious monuments including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ramoche Monastery, Tashilunpo Monastery and Sakya Monastery. Besides the monasteries, sacred mountains and holy lakes are also great places to show the Tibetan peoples' devotion to Buddha.

Tour map

Brief itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
  • Day 2: Beijing/ Lhasa by flight CA4125 (07
  • Day 3: Sightseeing tour in Lhasa
  • Day 4: Sightseeing in Lhasa
  • Day 5: Lhasa – Shigatse
  • Day 6: Shigatse – Lhasa
  • Day 7: Lhasa/ Beijing by flight CA4126 (09
  • Day 8: Beijing Departure
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Tour images

Full Itinerary

Day 1:

Arrival in Beijing

Upon arrival at Beijing railway station or airport, you will be met be private English-speaking at the baggage claim area or exit and transferred to hotel. Free for the remainder day.  Good 3* hotel

Day 2:

Beijing/ Lhasa by flight CA4125 (07

In the morning, you will be transferred to Beijing airport. Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be met by your private English-speaking guide and transferred to hotel. You are free in the remainder to acclimatize the high altitude. Good 3* hotel B+L

Day 3:

Sightseeing tour in Lhasa

The first highlight of today is Potala Palace, located on 'Red Hill', to the west of old Lhasa. It was originally built in 640 during the reign of King Songtsan Gampo. The 13-story palace stands 117 meters high and has over 1000 rooms. It covers an area of 130,000 square meters. The entire building is made of stone and wood, with walls averaging 3 meters thick. After that, ahead to the Jokhang Temple, situated in the centre of old Lhasa, was originally built in 647 A.D. It was built by craftsmen from Tibet, China and Nepal and thus features several architectural styles. The Jokhang is the spiritual center of Tibet and the holiest destination for all Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. After that, the guide will take you to the Barkhor Street. Good 3* hotel B+L

Day 4:

Sightseeing in Lhasa

Today you will visit the Norbulinka Park, the site of the Dalai Lamas' summer palace. The site was originally chosen for the shade of its many willow trees. From the mid-18th century, each successive Dalai Lama moved to the park during the summer season, and carried out all their religious and political affairs from there. Then visit the Tibet Museum. At that, visit the Sera Monastery, Sera means 'Hailstone' in Tibetan, Sera Monastery was the last of the three principal Yellow Sect monasteries to be built in Lhasa. Sera once housed nearly 10,000 monks and are proud of its glorious history during the Ming Dynasty. Good 3* hotel B+L

Day 5:

Lhasa – Shigatse

The highlight of today is Yamdrok Lake, one of the four largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams. According to local mythology, Yamdok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.In the afternoon, you will visit the Palkhor Monastery & Ten-thousand-Buddhist Pagoda. Palkhor Monastery is unique in Tibet for it has the characteristics of Tibetan, Han, and Nepal architectural styles and is home to three sects of Buddhism, the Sakyapa, Kadampa, and Gelugpa sects.  Good 3* hotel B+L

Day 6:

Shigatse – Lhasa

The highlight of today is Tashilhunpo monastery. According to historical documents, the monastery was built under the supervision of the first Dalai Lama, Genden Zhuba, a disciple of Zongkapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect in 1447. Tashilhungpo Monastery is one of the four monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Good 3* hotel B+L

Day 7:

Lhasa/ Beijing by flight CA4126 (09

After the breakfast, you will be transferred to the Lhasa airport. After arriving in Beijing, you will be transferred to hotel. Free for the remainder day.  Good 3* hotel B

Day 8:

Beijing Departure

After the breakfast, you will be transferred to Beijing railway station or Beijing flight. Service ends.  B

Date & Price

Single supplement charge US$300

Included in the Services: 

  • Private English-speaking guides and air-conditioned vehicles served in all transfers and tours.
  • Twin/double share Local 3-star accommodations with daily breakfast.
  • Chinese lunches as listed in the itinerary.
  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary.
  • Economy-class airfare of Beijing/ Lhasa/ Beijing
  • The government tax and the city construction fee where applicable.
  • 2 bottle of water per person per day
  • Tibet Travel Permit
 
Not included in the price:
 
  • International airfare or train tickets
  • Meals not mentioned.
  • Tips to guide and driver
  • Personal expense.
     

 

Tour Background

Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasure altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. 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 surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

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.

On the way Lhasa for Shigatse via Gyantse you will drive to the holy lake of Yamdrok Tso (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of water fowls 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 (3570) is separated by a mountain and the shortest distance between them is only 6 kilometers. The 800m height difference contributes a rich water resources to this region. Many Tibetans believe that the life of Tibet will no longer continue when the lake dries up.

There in Shigatse visit Tashilunpo monastery, 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 (Bouddha 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 the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha. Supposed to get up early, have a chance of listening to the morning prayers in the Grand Hall of Tashilhumo Monastery, and seeing lamas rushing around pouring yak butter tea into endless rows of cups.

Tour Map

Tour Reviews

Mar 18, 2024.  The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer

Aug 10, 2012. Gobi & Karakorum Explorer tour Our recent "The Gobi & Karakorum Explorer" tour with you was excellent, everything exceeded our expectations! It was a super trip in our lives and we loved our Mongolia holiday so much. Our guide Joe was kind, well organised, accurate and informative, polite and caring and always provided us with timely information. And our driver Jack is super, very friendly, professional and always on time. We are wild travelers, having been to many places in the world - but Mongolia is still truly unspoiled and uncontaminated. Selena Travel's services were perfect right from the very first email. We would like to thank Selena Travel, our guide and our driver for having made this Mongolia experience a truly beautiful one with so many wonderful memories.

by Rafaella, Benedetta, Lidia

Aug 08, 2012.  Gobi & Karakorum customized 11 days tour

Sending you some of our nicer pictures. Some are chosen for their beautiful scenery while the rest are just us happily playing and goofing around. There are a couple of shots of us doing some Mongolian wrestling, as suggested by Oyuna since we missed out on the mini-Naadam festival. She said since we missed it, we might as well organise our own festival by playing some Mongolian games. Haha... We had so much fun playing those games!!! :)OK, I hope you like the pictures we send you. Best regards to everyone at Selena Travel and thank you once again for all your assistance.

by Margaret Suganda

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