Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa
Lhasa local guide and driver meet you at Gongga airport, drive about 65km to Lhasa city, check in the hotel. Please go slow and have a good rest today in order to acclimatize the high altitude. It is helpful to drink more water.
Lhasa airport
Day 2: Sightseeing of Lhasa city
In the morning, visit Potala Palace - the highest palace architecture in the world, on the way climb to the entrance gate, you can take an overlook of the whole Lhasa city, in sunshine, clear sky, really nice; get the knowledge of Tibet political, history, and religion.
In the afternoon, visit Jokhang Temple, the real "Lhasa" in the eyes of the local Tibetans; Then take a stroll in Barkhor street, here you can experience the local style, picking up those interesting things in Tibetan style Nepal style, Indian style, all up to you.
In the evening, if you wish, you can join in the Tibetan Banquet with Song & Dance Performance, a good chance to get close to the local life. Back to hotel.
Barkhor Market
Day 3: Sightseeing of Lhasa city
Drepung Monastery is on the hillside west of Lhasa, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels.
Later, we will go to visit Sera Monastery. The highlight will be watching the monks' debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day except Sunday, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills.
Drepung Monastery
Day 4: Lhasa / Yamdrok lake / Gyanstse / Shigatse
After breakfast drive up to Kambala pass which is over 5000m, from there you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso there, which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Then keep driving to Gyantse, visit the famous Kumpum stupa (Pelhkhor Choede Temple) in Gyantse, the most stunning architectural wonder in Tibet. Late afternoon drive to Shigatse, overnight at Shigatse.
Note: sometimes the road is repairing, you will be unable to visit Gyantse, or it need two days to finish today's tour.
Day 5: Shigatse /Sakya Monastery/New Tingri (Shegar)
In the morning visit Tashilunpo Monastery, then we drive to Shegar and overnight there. En route visit Sakya monastery. It is of typical Yuan Dynasty style of resembling castles. There are a lot of historical articles in the monastery, among them are found a lot of the imperial certificates, gold signets, crowns, costumes bestowed by the Yuan Dynasty emperors. It has over 10,000 volumes of Tibetan books on astronomy, medicine, calligraphy, and history. So the Sakya monastery enjoys the title 'the second DunHuangCave.'
Sakya monastery
Day 6: Shegar-Rongbuk Monastery-Mt.Everest
Although it's just 100km from Shegar to Base Camp(5200m), it takes about 4 hours since the cracked winding roads demand much caution. But the views are stupendous on a clear day, and feature a huge sweep of the Himalaya range including peaks over 8000, Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung and Cho Oyu.
Afternoon start trekking from Rongbuk to E.B.C , it takes about 2 hours. Or you can take animal carriage .Overnight at E.B.C tent Guesthouse.(dorm beds). If the weather works, you will get a chance to see the sunset.
Note: It is a bit cold to stay at Rongbuk guest house, so you'd better to take your sleeping bag with you. Please prepare your own package food for Rongbuk staying.
Mt. Everest
Day 7: Mount Everest Base Camp-Shigatse ,340KM, 6-7hour drive
Get up early in the morning to appreciate the sunrise of Mt. Everest if you are lucky. Drive back to Shigatse.
Day 8: Shigatse / Yampachen hot-spring / Namtso Lake, 260Km, around 5hours
Early morning start heading to Namtso Lake, cross Shuege-la pass, which is over 5000m. You may have hot-spring at Yangbachen. In the afternoon do a little trek along the lake. Overnight at Namtso Lake Tent guest house
Day 9: Namtso / Lhasa, 250Km, 3-4hours
If you are lucky enough, you will see sunrise at Namtso Lake. Today you can walk a little bit along the lake side, afternoon drive back to Lhasa. overnight at Lhasa
Namtso Lake
Day 10: Leaving Tibet
