Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Hotel. Having rest due to the high elevation. （accommodation according to your module）

 

Day04  Potala Palace/Jokhang Temple/Barkor Street (B/L/D) (3650 m)

Depart for tour of the Potala Palace—The Potala was the place of the Dalai Lama. It was originally built in the 7th century by King Songtsan Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Its 13-story main building is 117metershigh and is composed of the Red and White Palaces, with the red one in the middle. The main building consists of the Halls of Stupas of Dalai Lamas from various historical stages and halls of Buddhist statues. The White Palace is the residence of the Dalai Lamas and places for handing political affairs. The Potala Palace houses great amounts of rare cultural relics including the Pattra-leaf scripture from India, Bak’gyur and the imperial edicts, golden seals and titles of nobility granted by the Qing emperors to the Dalai Lamas. Jokhang Monastery- Located in the center of the ancient city of Lhasa, the Jokhang Temple was built in the seventh century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. Its four-story main building demonstrates a combination of the Han, Tibetan, Indian and Nepaless architectural styles, as well as a Mandala world outlook of Buddhism. With the Hall of Amitayus Sutra as its center, the temple symbolizes the nucleus of the universe. The Hall of Sakyamuni is the essence of the temple., Barkor Street- This area bursts with atmosphere and contradictions. On the one hand, this is one of THE holiest areas of Tibet, awash with pilgrims, monks, nuns and temples. On the other, the streets around here are the hubs of Lhasa’s commercial zone. Street traders, hawkers and market sellers fill the pavements around the Barkhor area.

 

Day05  Lhasa/Ganden Monastery  (B/L/D) (3650 m)

 Today, you’ll visit Ganden Monastery- Located about 60km, within the boundary of Taktse County to the east of Lhasa. The Ganden Monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Lhasa as well as one of the six biggest monasteries of Geluk sect. Ganden literally means “Love and Pleasure”, was first built in early 15^th century by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelug sect, who presided over its construction. Main buildings in the monastery are the Assembly Hall, Tsongkapa’s residence and Yangpachen Hall.

 

Driving out of Lhasa to Yangbajin, a small basin 90 kilometers from Lhasa, was the earliest heat base to be developed. In 1975, scientists and engineers arrived to test its potential power. And then many workers arrived and built China’s first geothermal power station. It has many hot springs and mysterious hot water lake with a heat explosion unseen elsewhere. You would take a bath in the hot spring. Namtso Lake - Namtso, literally heavenly lake, is situated in a mountainous area about 60 km northwest of Damshung County, Namtso Lake extents 70 km from east to west, and 30 km from south to north, covering an area of 1920 sq.km and altitude of 4748 m above sea level. It is the biggest lake in Tibet and the second biggest salt lake in China as well as the highest lake in the world. Namtso Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, playing an important role among Tibetans. Drive back to Lhasa and stay overnight!

Day07  Lhasa/Yamdrok Lake/Shigatse (3850 m, 8 hours driving, asphalt road in good condition)

Driving out of Lhasa past the turquoise Lake Yamdrok –one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Yamdrok Lake is situated in the Lhoka area, covers 621 square KM with the elevation of 4441M. That is the largest lake on the northern slope of the Himalayas, enjoying the beautiful sightseeing of the lakes and taking some pictures. Continue to Shigatse and stay overnight.

 

After breakfast, continue to Gyantse-visit  Palcho Monastery- is so famous that its remarkable feature accommodates the three sects of Tibetan Buddhism in one monastery coexisting in peace with each other. The Palcho Monastery is in coexistence of the three sects namely, the Sakya, the Kagyu and the Gelug. The full name of the Palcho Monastery is called “The Auspicious Wheel Joy Monastery”. According to the historical records, this monastery was built in 14^th or 15^th century. It consists of the Assembly Hall, the 100000-Buddha pagoda, dratsangs and an enclosure wall as its construction units. Drive back to Shigatse

 

After breakfast, you’ll visit- Tashilunpo Monastery-Located on the south slope of the Nyimari hill in the west of the city of Xigatse, the Tashilunpo Monastery was originally built in 1447, which is known as one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect. It is the largest monastery in the Tsang area of 300000-sq.m. Tsongkhapa’s 8^th disciple, Gendun Drupa, the 1^st Dalai Lama built in with the financial aid from the Pakdru regime. The monastery was expanded and renovated by the 4^th,5^th and 6^th Panchens. Thereafter, the Tashilunpo Monastery stands at an impressive scale today and becomes the residence for each successive Panchen Lama. Drive back to Lhasa.

 

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing with fond memories of a holiday.