9 days Tibet cultural tour including Yarlung Valley and Shigatse

At your arrival your Tibetan guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to the hotel in Lhasa, it is only 68km and two hrs from the airport, from 15km which take 20 minutes. Take rest to acclimatize and alleviate jetlag. Overnight at Lhasa. B=breakfast

Today is your first day of sightseeing on the high plateau, so we have purposely arranged only to visit Jokhang temple and Potala Palace. Jokhang temple is the most scared shrine in Tibet which was built in 7th century and located at the heart of old town in Lhasa, the circuit around it called Barkhor street, which is a good place to purchase souvenirs. Potala Palace is the worldwide known cardinal landmark of Tibet. The massive structure itself contains a small world within it. Mostly it is renowned as residence of the Dalai Lama lineages (Avalokiteshvara). Both of them are the focal points of pilgrims from entire Tibetan world, multitudinous pilgrims are circumambulating and prostrating in their strong faith. Overnight at Lhasa.

Today you will be arranged to visit Drepung, Sera monasteries and Summer Palace - Norbulingka palace. Both Drepung and Sera monasteries are Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect monastic colleges. Drepung monastery was the seat of the Government prior to Potala, it was once the world largest monastery in the history with 10,000 monks hailed from different monasteries all over Tibet. Sera monastery is famous for its Buddhism philosophical debate practice, the clapping sound and aggressive expression of the monks are well worth to see. Overnight at Lhasa.

Today drive to Samye monastery through Tsedang downtown, at the arrival visit the monastery and explore around the Madala designed monastery, if there is time hike up the Hepu hill which is not so far from it. Samye monastery is the 1st ever Buddhist monastery in Tibet which build in 7th century.

In the morning drive to the Chimpu temple at the hill foot, then trek up the hill by visiting some hermitage caves where some monks and nuns meditating, afternoon drive back to Tsedang and enjoy hot shower at the hotel. Overnight at Tsedang.

Today drive along the Brahmaputra river and stop at Chedeshol for family visit in a local village house, continues drive cross the Gampa la pass (4700m), there you will have a very beautiful view of Yamdrok lake, then drive along the Yamdrok for few kilometers, stop at Karo la pass (5150m) where you can see the Nyenchen Khangsar glacier, then reach at Gyantse in the afternoon. Overnight at Gyantse.

Visit Gyantse Khubum stupa and Pelkhor monastery in the morning, then drive to Shigatse which is only 90km which takes 2 hours, at arrival visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery and explore the local markets in the afternoon. Overnight at Shigatse.

Today drive back to Lhasa via northern friendship highway, along the Brahmaputra river you will come cross numbers of typical villages. Overnight in Lhasa.

Your guide and driver will see you off at the airport or train station, end the trip.