Plateau In-depth Exploration

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at the airport, which is located 3,650 meters above sea level, and then transfer you to the hotel in downtown area. The rest of the day is left for you to acclimatize to the high altitude. 

Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Accommodation: Taehf Phodrag Tibet Culture Theme Hotel

The private morning excursion will take you to explore Tibet Museum, the first stop of your 20 days China tours. The Museum is the first modern museum of the city which looks the Potala Palace to the north. Completed and opened in October of 1999, it is mainly composed of the exhibition area and the house of cultural treasures. After lunch, you will go ahead to visit the Sera Monastery and the Norbulingka Park. Built from 1419 to 1434, the Sera Monastery is one of the three greatest monasteries in Lhasa. It collects a large quantity of precious cultural relics and crafts, such as sutras, Buddha statues, scent cloth and murals. The most attractive activity here is the sutra-debating among lamas. The Norbulingka Park is a peaceful garden embodying the ethnical, religious features of the local people as well as the traditional local architectural style. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today will begin with an exciting visit to the magnificent Potala Palace, which was initially built by the ruler of Tubo kingdom (nowadays Tibet) Songtsen Gampo for his wife, Princess Wencheng from central plain of China in 641. It is also a truly art museum of the local history and culture. Then, you will enjoy the lunch. Afterwards, proceed to visit the Jokhang Temple and the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street. Lying in the center of the city, the Jokhang Temple is considered as a nice place for visitors to know about the Tibetan Buddhism. Paved by hand-polished stones, the Barkhor Street has been a symbol of the city due to its Buddhism background which shows the original look of Lhasa. In its thriving bazaar, you could find many handicrafts and souvenirs. Then you will visit a Nunnery before going back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today, you will be transferred to Shigatse. On the way, visit the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, one of the three largest holy lakes in this land. Yamdrok Yumtso means jasper in the local language. It is named so because the water is very clear and in the color of blue for reflecting the sky. Upon arrival in Shigatse, check in at the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Gasar Hotel - VIP Building

The private journey will be extended to Saga via Lhatse along Brahmaputra River. You will have a short stop at Lhatse which is one of the best counties of Shigatse. Tonight, you will stay at Saga in a tent or a local guest house. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

You will head to Paryang today. Along the way, you could enjoy the snow covered mountain peaks and the typical plateau scenery and landscape. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

The sightseeing today will focus on another famous holy lake of Tibet, the Manasarovara Lake, which is over 200 kilometers away from Paryang. Meaning 'Invincible Jade Lake', this is a lake with compassion, tranquility and bliss. Every summer to autumn, many pilgrims bathe in the lake and take water back as a gift for their relatives and friends. The Manasarovara Lake is also the clearest lake in the country which boasts charming natural scenery. Afterwards, you will head for Tarchen and stay over night there, which is located at the foot of the majestic sacred Mt. Kailash. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

An exciting trek around the sacred Mt. Kailash will begin your adventure today and you will circle around the mountain in the following three days to appreciate its beautiful scenery, explore its historical sites and experience the Buddhism culture in depth. In Tibetan culture, a circle around the Mt. Kailash can atone for all the sins committed throughout one's lifetime. Kailash means 'Treasure or Saint of Snow Mountain', which originates from the year-round snow on the mountain peak and the historical religious background. From its appearance, the mountain is very pointed and looks like a pyramid piercing the sky. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

You will continue the trek around Mt. Kailash today. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

The trek around Mt. Kailash will come to the end today. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

As the trek around Mt. Kailash ends, we will transfer you to Tsada and stay overnight there.

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

Today's schedule will cover the Tsada Earth Forest, the Ruins of Guge Kingdom and the Tholing Monastery. The Earth Forest is the most famous natural scenery in Tsada, which is a special landscape shaped from the wind erosion of the dried lake. Here, you could see many differently mannered and postured 'trees' scattering randomly. The Ruins of Guge Kingdom is located in a small earth mountain. This 300-meter high mountain was covered by the yellowish constructions and caves, where you could find some special statues and murals. The Tholing Monastery incorporates the craftwork of the architecture and Buddhist statues of neighboring India, Nepal and Ladakh (the present area of Kashmir), which includes halls, monks' residences and pagodas, among which the most worth seeing are Jiasha Hall, Red Hall, White Hall and the 108 Pagodas. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

Today you will be driven to Shiquanhe and check in the hotel upon arrival. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Shiquanhe Hotel

The excursion today will take you to the Palgon Lake and the Bird Island. The Palgon Lake is a holy lake from the aspect of religion and a world renowned rift valley lake. The Bird Island in the lake is especially famous for the inhabited precious birds. You could find many bird nests and bird eggs on the island, which are not allowed to take away. After the sightseeing, you will go back to Shiquanhe and stay overnight there. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Shiquanhe Hotel

Today, you will depart to Gertse. To consume the time, you could watch the wild animals running and playing around on this vast highland during the journey. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent or Local Guest House

The journey will extend to 22 highway maintenance squad via Tsochen and you will stay overnight there. 

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent

You will travel back to Shigatse today. Upon arrival, check in at the downtown 4-star Gasar Hotel.

Meals: Chinese breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Gasar Hotel - VIP Building

Today, you will pay a visit to the Tashilunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen. Tashilunpo Monastery is one of the six largest monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery. You could appreciate the grand palace, gigantic statues as well as the characteristic murals in the monastery. The New Palace of Panchen was built by the Tenth Panchen in 1954 as a summer palace. It is splendid and elegant and collects many Tibetan historical relics and artworks. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

Today, our guide and driver will transfer you back to Lhasa. Stay at the hotel in downtown area. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Taehf Phodrag Tibet Culture Theme Hotel

The 20 days private China tour ends today as our guide and driver transfer you to the airport. Wish you a pleasant journey!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast