8 days Central Lhasa spiritual

Upon arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, You will greet by your tour Tibetan tour guide & driver and will transfer to your hotel / hostel in Lhasa, from the airport it is 68km to Lhasa and it takes one and half hour, from the train station it is only 15km and it takes 20 minutes. Afternoon have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. 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 monastery in the morning and Sera monasteries in the afternoon. 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.

Drive about 70km west of Lhasa to visit Tsurphu Monastery, which is the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsurphu Monastery is located in a valley, while you do Tsurphu Kora, you will have the splendid views of Tsurphu valley. Early afternoon retrace back to the main road and continue drive to Lake Namtso. The World highest salt water lake Namtso is one of the three most holy lake in Tibet and it is 60km far from Damshong town. From the top of the Lagen La(5100m) pass, you can have the first view of the Namtso lake. After descending the pass, you will be driving along the most beautiful grassland next to the shore of Namtso lake and finally arrive at Tashi do hermitage. Overnight at Local tent guesthouse.

Morning you may see the sunrise at Namtso Lake, and walk around at Tashi Dor. Late morning start driving from Namtso Lake to Reting, after 15km driving back towards Lhasa, the rugged country road to Reting Monastery is branched from the main road to the east into Rongchu valley, after hours drive through the valley the Reting Tsangpo (river) meet at Pondo, which is the former Lhundup county, from there follows the Reting Tsangpo upstream for 47km  through the beautiful Miggi valley to arrive at Reting, the monastery is located at 4230m high, amidst of remarkable juniper wood on the lower slopes of Mount Gangi Rarwa, you may hike to its retreat chapel which is half locate up on the hillside, remarked with prayer flags around it. Overnight at Reting monastery guesthouse.

Today drive back to Pondo and continuous trace the road along the Reting Tsangpo, amazing Tibetan villages are lined within the valley one after one. a beautiful lake is encountered before entering the Drigung valley, it is newly formed after a Hydro-electric powerstation was build around it. Then at Nyimachanra the road meet with paved road from Lhasa to Tidrum nunery. Following the road take you straight to the nunery with 4600m high, the nunery is simple mingled with local guesthouses and shops in the basin valley, it is very famous for its natural and mineral rich hotsprings, afternoon soak in the hotspring and relief for the day shaky drive. Overnight at local gusethouse.

Today drive back to Lhasa, enroute visit Drigung Til monastery and Ganden monastery. Drigung Til is the head monastery of the Drigungpa school of the Kagyupa order, right now there are about 270 monks living in. Up to the hill of Drigung Til is one of the holiest sky-burial site in Lhasa region, if you want to see the sky-burial behind the monastery, you need to ask for the permission from the the family of the deceased and the senior lama who conducts the ceremony. If they don't want you to attend, please just forget it and continue you trip to Ganden monastery. Ganden monastery was once one of the biggest monasteries around Lhasa, it is gloriously located on top of the Ganden Wangpo Hill and Lhasa Kichu river is calmly flowing in the valley behind it. Overnight at Lhasa.

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