TT-06 Lhasa & Namtso Lake

A fantastic short trip to Tibet ideal to either add on to a longer China tour or as an introduction to Tibet.

You will be met on arrival in LHASA and in your time there visit sights including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the teaching monastery of Sera. Your trip continues with an adventure by jeep to NAMTSO LAKE over 270 km from Lhasa where you overnight and experience real life on the Tibetan plateaux.

Arrival in Tibet’s Capital of Lhasa With a Transfer to Your Hotel & Free Time

Arrival in Lhasa with a warm welcome from your guide and driver who will transfer you to the hotel. Lhasa, at a quite manageable altitude of 3,650 meters (12,000 feet), is a unique city and a real highlight. The setting, history, architecture, people and contrasts all make for a very special travel experience. Free time to relax and adjust to the altitude or start exploring the city.

Meals Included: None today.

Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Kora & Ancient Sera Monastery

Today you visit one of the architectural highlights of China – if not the world – the vast Potala Palace, former residence of the Dalai Lama’s of Tibet. Building started in 1645 and has been added to over the centuries. It is 13 stories high and contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. You will see some of the meeting rooms as well as the extraordinary chapels with their vast gold and jewel encrusted shrines to previous Dalai Lamas – the chapel of the 5th Dalai Lama has a stupa coated in 3,727kg of gold and 18,680 precious stones. The Potala dominates Lhasa and the views from the palace stretch out across the city to the surrounding mountains.

After lunch (own arrangement) visit the Jokhang Temple constructed in 642 AD and considered the most sacred and important temple in all Tibet. It is located at one end of Barkhor Square, a fascinating meeting point for pilgrims from all over the region making for an intense atmosphere infused with incense and devotion. Surrounding the temple is the Barkhor Kora, a 1 km circular walk for pilgrims and locals as well as a fascinating market selling all the goods a pilgrim might need on their travels.

Continue to Sera Monastery, spread over 28 acres at the base of Pubuchok mountain and built in 1419. The highlights are the great assembly hall and some of the colleges located within the complex with their wealth of architectural features and shrines.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

The Journey to the Remote Namtso Lake & the Drak Yerpa Caves

Today we begin a classic Tibetan adventure to the remote and stunning Namtso Lake 275km / 6 hours from Lhasa with its dramatic backdrop of the Nyainqêntanglha mountain range. On route we stop at the Drak Yerpa to visit the hermits caves and chapels before driving through the Penpo valley and crossing the Chakla and Largen la passes to Namtso lake where we arrive in the afternoon. Free time to explore the lakeshore area and enjoy the spectacular sun-set view of the lake and its backdrop of mountains.

NOTE: Tonight you have the choice of staying at the Holy lake guest house close to the lake which doesn’t have rooms with a shower or private toilet or stay in Damshung where we can use a more comfortable guesthouse which does have basic rooms with private bathroom. You can decide which place once at Namsto itself.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Picnic Lunch.

Return to Lhasa Using a Different Road Route

If you get up early this morning you might catch the sunrise over the lake. The rest of the morning is spent at the lake where you can hike around the Tashi Dor hermit cave and chapels or head into the hills.

Late morning we leave for Lhasa (250 km / 4 hours) crossing the Damshung and Nyingchen Thangla passes before going through the expansive Yangpachen nomadic grass-lands and Tulong valley where we can stop at local farming villages to meet people or take photos. Late afternoon arrival in Lhasa where you can further explore the Old City or have some free time to relax or souvenir shop.

Meals Included: Guesthouse Breakfast.

A Sad Farewell to This Extraordinary & Unique City

Free time until a transfer to your onward transport out of Lhasa. We believe, like so many, you will have come under Tibet’s magical spell!

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

The hotels & accommodation used for this trip are from our hand picked selection and all are excellent for their class. We also offer upgraded hotels in most locations. Click here to explore additional hotel options and let us know of any changes you wish to make.

What is included?

Your own vehicle with driver and guide (lodging and food for the guide and driver is included in the price).

The Tibet Travel Permit.

Back up oxygen cylinder outside of Lhasa in case of altitude issues (extremely rare this ever needs to be used!

All accommodation as specified under the accommodation tab

All private transfers and any other transportation as described

All meals as specified in the itinerary

All tours as specified in the itinerary

All entrance fees to sights toured in the itinerary

24 hour emergency assistance

Visa Paperwork you need in order to obtain the visas

Financial Peace of Mind as your trip is protected

What is not included?

International Airfare to / from the start / finish of your trip – we can book these flights on request

The Chinese visa – we can advise and partner with VisaCentral

Travel insurance to cover any medical treatment – we recommend Citybond Suretravel (UK residents only)

Discretionary gratuities to drivers and guides

Laundry and bar bills

Photographic charges in some monasteries

Additional costs due to unforeseen expenses that may arise due to the factors beyond our control like personal illness, weather, landslides, etc…