Day 01 Flight to Gonggar Airport of Lhasa and transfer to Tsedang (3,100m/10,168 ft)

Flight to Gonggar airport of Lhasa .Upon arrival, we will be met and greeted by our Tibetan guide and then we drive to Tsedang (120km/7.5miles, 1.5 hrs)- gateway town to the Yarlung Valley. Yarlung Valley is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization and it was from Yarlung that early Tibetan kings unified Tibet in the 7th century. Upon arrival, we check in hotel and take rest for the acclimatization. Accommodation in Tsedang hotel.

Day 02 Explore Yarlung Valley.

Today, we explore the historical and cultural sights of Yarlung Valley. We visit the ancient Trandruk Temple (7 km, 4.5 miles) which is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, contemporary to Jorkhang and Ramoche of Lhasa. At Tradruk, we will visit the courtyard area, ringed by cloisters, the principal chapel with statues of Tara or Drolma and 5 Dhyani Buddhas and a famous Thangka painting of Drolma in the chapel upstairs.
From Trandruk, we head south to Yumbulgang Palace (6km, 1.8 miles) which is a fine, tapering finger of a structure that pops up from a rocky ridge overlooking the patchwork of fields of the Yarlung Valley. We will visit the ground floor chapel consecrated to the ancient kings of Tibet and upper floor chapel with an image of Chenresig (Avalokityaswora) and we will also see some excellent murals depicting descent of Nyentri Tsenpo from heaven to Yumbulagang. We will walk up along the ridge above the building to enjoy fabulous views of Yarlung Valley.
Today, our next destination is Chongye Valley (approx 11 miles from Yumbulagang). At Chongye Valley, we visit the tombs of ancient Tibetan kings that give evidence of pre-Buddhist culture of Tibet assimilating with Buddhism. The most revered and the largest of the burial mounds is the Tomb of King Songtsen Gampo and it has a small Nyingmapa temple. Late afternoon, we retrace drive to Tsedang and time permitting, we can take chance to stop by Tangboche and Rechung-puk monasteries. Overnight hotel in Tsedang.

Day 03 Tsetang-Lhasa (Alt. 3,658m/12,193ft, 183km/122miles, 4 hrs)

After breakfast, we check out hotel and head out to Lhasa. About 27 miles from Tsedang, we stop and take ferry ride across the Yarlungdzangpo River and hitch hike to Samye Monastery-the first Buddhist Monastery in Tibet. Samye is famous for its sacred Mandala design: the central temple symbolizes the legendary Mount Meru, center of the universe. It is a popular pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists, some of whom travel on foot for weeks to reach this holy shrine.
We arrive Lhasa late afternoon. We check in hotel and after some rest, we can take self guided walk tour to Barkhor Street and Jorkhang Square. In the evening, we enjoy Tibetan folk dance program. Accommodation in Gyangen or Dekang or Dhodgu hotel.

Day 04: Lhasa Sightseeing

Today, we explore the major highlights of Lhasa. We begin the tour from the magnificent Potala Palace- the symbol of wisdom and power of Tibetan people. This 13 story 1000 room citadel served as the headquarters of the former "church-state" of the Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lamas, who from the latter half of the 18th century used it as their winter palace. The gigantic palace serves as landmark of Lhasa and can be spotted from far away.
In the afternoon, we visit Jorkhang Temple-the holiest and most sacred site in Tibet where devout Buddhists make their pilgrimage. Jorkhang has been always an important pilgrim destination for Tibetans. We will be overwhelmed to reveal the cosmos of this holiest site and finding the way of living of the monks.
We will also take opportunity to visit the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute ( Mentsekhang)- a center for the treatment, training, research and production of Tibetan medicine.
We spend the rest of day wandering about the Barkhor Street and the Barkhor Square. The street circles the Jorkhang Temple and has been an essential pilgrim route since the foundation of the temple. Buddhist pilgrims can be seen throughout the day and night walking, or prostrating themselves clockwise along Barkhor Street spinning their prayer wheels and chanting sutras. Barkhor Street also is popular place of handicraft bargains. Accommodation in Gyangen or Dekang or Dhodgu hotel.

Day 05 Lhasa Sightseeing

After breakfast, we head towards Drepung Monastery, 8 km west of Lhasa. We leave the car behind at the foot of the hill and take a pleasant hike to visit the white monastic buildings of the monastery which once was the largest Buddhist monastery- housing over 10,000 monks. Founded in 1416 by the disciple of Je Tsonkhapa, founder of the Yellow Hat Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism-Drepung was the residence of the the second, third and fourth Dalai Lamas and the power center of Tibet-until the 5th Dalai Lama shifted to the Potala Palace.
From Drepung, we return to the city and visit the Norubulingkha-the summer palaces of the Dalai Lamas. Among others, the most visited one is the palace of the 14th Dalai Lama which was built in a fusion style of both Tibetan and Western from 1954-1956.
In the afternoon, we drive about 5-6 km north of Lhasa to visit Sera Monastery-Lhasa’s one of the most beautiful monasteries. Once a community of more than 5,000 monks resided here .The restored monastery sits below the brow of hill on which Tsongkhapa built a hermitage and spent several years mediating. Sera may not be as grandiose as Drepung, but is more serene surrounded by many small temples. We take chance to attend the the 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera which is an interesting part of this visit. Accommodation in Gyangen or Dekang or Dhodgu hotel.
Kora hikes: Both Drepung and Sera Monastery offers kora hikes (circumambulating the monastery) for hiking enthusiasts which can take 1 and ½ hrs to 2 ½ hrs but one should be well acclimatized before we attempt kora hikes)

Day 06: To Drak Yerpa Hermitage and Ganden Monastery (4500m, 50km, 32 miles)

We drive to the village of Lo (26 km) via Yerpa and then we hike about 1.5 hrs to reach Drak Yerpa Hermitage. The hermitage is one of the holiest cave retreats in Ü. We visit the Lhalung-puk cave where the monk Lhalung meditated after assassinating Langdharma, the anti Buddhist king, Dawa Puk Cave, where Guru Rinpoche meditated 7 years, Chogyal Puk where King Songtsen Gampo meditated and several including Drubthub-phuk where Atisha (Jowe-je) meditated. It takes about one hour to descend back to Lo village where we meet our transport and we drive to Ganden Monastery-the first of the Gelugpa monasteries to be built in Lhasa. We will spend the rest of that day exploring and hiking kora of Ganden (Pilgrim’s circumambulating path hiking). Ganden Kora-the traditional pilgrimage path begins at the south west corner of Ganden. A large rocky cleft draped with prayer flags marks the start of this scenic circuit, which takes at least one hour to complete. Accommodation in basic monastery guesthouse.

Day 07 To DrigungTil Monastery (4150 m, 80km, 50 miles)

After breakfast, we continue our trip to Drigung Til Monastery which takes around 2.5 to 3 hrs. Drigung Til Monastery is the head monastery of the Drigungpa school of the Kagyupa order. The monastery shoots out of a high, steep ridge overlooking the valley. We will visit the main hall with images of Jigten Sumgon-the founder of the monastery, Sakya Muni and Guru Rinponche. We take the monastery kora up the hill and arrive at the sky burial site-the holiest sky burial site in Tibet. If burial is in progress, we require permission from the family of the deceased to see the burial ceremony. We follow the kora (pilgrimage path) along the ride and down the monastery. Accommodation in Monastery Guesthouse.

Day 08 Drigung Thil Monastery (4,150m/13612 ft) – Tridum Nunnery-Reting monastery (4,100m/13,448ft, Distance 120km /75 miles).

We head northwest of Drigumg Til, 10 miles (16 km) up a side valley to Tridum Nunnery which has strong connection with Yeshe Chogyel, the wife of King Trisong Detsen. The nunnery is headed by Kandro-la who is believed to be incarnation of Yeshe Chogyel. There is medicinal hot springs near by the nunnery and you can take a dip if you want.
From nunnery, we return drive to the main road and continue our trip to Reting Monastery going over Chakla pass and it will take about 3 to 4 hrs to get there. Reting Monastery was originally associated with Atisha (Jowo-Je) but later it got associated with Gelugpa sect and Dalai Lama. The monastery is important because two regents-the de facto rulers of Tibet for the period from the death of Dalai Lama until selection of his incarnation are chosen from the Reting Robets. The regents play important role in search for new Dalai Lama and tutoring them. Overnight in monastery guesthouse.

Day 09 Reting monastery - Namtso Lake (4718m/15,475ft, Distance 180 km/113miles)

In the morning, we still have some time to explore Reting Monastery before we head to Namtso Lake. We drive about 4 hours through Changthang grasslands and cross a high pass of Largenla (5150m/16,892ft). We take chance to take a peek at Nomadic life of Changthang. We head to Tashi Dor Monastery area at the southeastern corner of the lake for accommodation.
Namtso Lake, known as the Heavenly Lake of Tibet, is one of the holiest lake of Tibet and the second largest salt lake water; Kokonor Lake at Qinghai is the largest one. We enjoy the splendid views across the clear turquoise waters to the huge snowy Nyechen Tanghla massif (7111m/23324ft). We check in our lodging and walk along the lake shores or do some meditation or take some hikes. Overnight guesthouse.

Day 10 Namtso –Tshurpu Monastery- Lhasa (3650 Mts, 300km/188 miles)

In the morning, we have again sometime to explore the Tashi Do Hermitage and its caves retreats or enjoy the beauty of the lakeshores. We leave Namtso Lake late morning or early afternoon and retrace drive until Qinghai Lhasa highway and follow the direction to Lhasa. About 40 miles (65 km) before Lhasa, we take Tshurpu Monastery turn off and drive further 16 miles (25 km) up to Tshurpu Monastery. Tshurpu Monastery is the principal seat of Karmapa branch of Kagyupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery has somewhat a slow traffic of pilgrims due to 17th Karmapa Lama’s escape to India in 1999. However, the history and viewing the monastery is still worthy. The monastery has chorten containing relics of the 16th Dalai Lama as well as the statues of Amitabha Buddha and Sakyamuni. If its not too much, you can still attempt a monastery kora hike which takes 2 to 3 hours.
We drive back to the main highway and head to Lhasa. It will be late afternoon when we arrive Lhasa. So, we check in hotel and take rest for the day.Accommodation in Gyangen or Dekang or Dhodgu hotel.

Day 11 Departure

You are transferred to Gonggar airport of Lhasa for your flight to next destination.