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Itinerary
Day 1 Chengdu
Arrive in Chengdu – the capital of Sichuan Province, welcome and transfer to your hotel to check in. The home of pandas, face changing, and spicy food, Sichuan reflects China’s laid back lifestyle. Have the rest of the day free at leisure, or watch a Sichuan Opera performance and enjoy the magic “face-changing.” Deluxe Room at Ritz-Carlton Chengdu for 1 night.
Day 2 Lhasa
Visit Chengdu Panda Base in the morning. Have a close-up look into the life of the adorable Pandas and Panda cubs, alongside other endangered wild animals.
Fly to Lhasa (3,65om /11,975ft), the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. From the breathtaking Himalayan landscapes emerged the spiritual powerhouse of Buddhism. Sacred, spiritual, distant, and exotic, Tibet captures the world’s imagination. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to rest and get acclimatized to the altitude. This evening, enjoy buffet dinner at your hotel. Deluxe Room with Potala Palace View at St. Regis Lhasa Resort for 3 nights.
Day 3 Lhasa
Visit the Potala Palace in the morning. Situated on Red Hill in the centre of Lhasa valley, Potala Palace dominates the city’s skyline and is considered one of the great wonders of world architecture.
After lunch at Pobatsang Restaurant, join the Tibetan pilgrims to visit Jokhang Temple. Opt to kindle and place your own butter lamp in the temple. Built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and the final destination for Tibetan pilgrims. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Lhasa’s old neighborhood and the bustling Barkhor Street.
Day 4 Lhasa
Visit the small Pabongka Monastery, one of the oldest sacred buildings in Tibet. Embark on an easy hike uphill (~1hr), and take in panoramic views of the Lhasa valley. Visit Chupsang Nunnery, and opt to join the friendly nuns for a private chanting ceremony. Affiliated with the nearby Sera Monastery, Chupsang Nunnery is set in a peaceful surrounding at the foot of Mt. Tatipu.
For the afternoon, tour Sera Monastery and watch monks practice sutra-debating in the monastery’s courtyard. Return to your hotel and have the rest of the day to unwind, or go for a leisurely stroll at the peaceful Norbu Lingka Park – once the summer residence for the successive Dalai Lamas.
Day 5 Shigatse
Drive to Shigatse via Yamdrok Tso Lake (~360km /224mi, 6-7hrs). At Kampala pass (5,000m /16,404ft), take in panoramic views of the picturesque Yamdrok Tso Lake, as well as the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Nojin Kangsang in the distance. Go for an easy walk along the shores of Yamdrok Tso Lake (4,441m /14,570ft), and picnic for lunch. Located north of the Himalayas, Yamdrok Tso Lake is one of three holiest lakes in Tibet, and it’s also called Green Jade Lake because of its clear turquoise water.
In Gyantse, visit Pelkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. Pelkhor Monastery is known for the coexistence of three different sects of the Tibetan Buddhism (the Gelug, Sakya, and the Kagyu sect), and the unique clay sculptures and vivid murals preserved from the 15th century. If energy permits, ascend the Kumbum Stupa and explore some of its many chapels. Continue the drive to Shigatse (3,900m /12,795ft), the second largest city in Tibet. Deluxe Room at Qomo Langzong Hotel for 2 nights.
Day 6 Shigatse
Head to Shalu Village, and visit the secluded Shalu Monastery. 20km /12mi southeast to Shigatse, Shalu Monastery was constructed in a mixture of Tibetan, Han, Indian and Nepalese styles, and it boasts a large volume of well-preserved mural paintings, Buddhist sculptures and precious rock engravings from the 11-14th centuries.
Return to Shigatse, and have lunch at Songtsen Restaurant. Tour Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas. As the Buddhist center of the vast Shigatse region, Tashilhunpo Monastery was founded by the first Dalai Lama in 1447, and expanded by the fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. Visit the huge statue of Maitreya Buddha, Panchen Lamas’ stupas, as well as all the exquisite murals and numerous ancient relics.
Day 7 Farewell
After breakfast, fly from Shigatse to Chengdu, and connect to your onward flight home. Farewell.
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