10 Days Chengdu Nyingchi Lhasa Shigatse and Lake Namtso Low Altitude Tour

Chengdu has three famous features - Giant Panda, History and Leisure Living Pace. Today, you will go to explore these tree features one by one. First is to visit the lovely Giant Pandas in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which is the No. 1 thing to do in Chengdu. You will leave your hotel early and drive about 30 minutes to the panda base so that you can catch up the great moments of pandas, such as feeding, playing, climbing tree, etc. There are different enclosures for pages of different ages, such as all around to see baby pandas, 1 year-old pandas, teenage pandas, and older pandas. Beautiful walking paths will lead you to visit the enclosures from one to next. Enjoy the happy time with pandas.

In the afternoon, visit Wuhou Temple, a temple in memory of Zhuge Liang who was the most famous Military strategist in the Three Kingdoms. Surrounded by old cypresses and classical red walls, the temple has an atmosphere of nostalgia. Then visit Jinli Ancient Street, one of the oldest streets to appreciate the local snacks and artifacts. The elegant style of the architectures tells you what Sichuan looks like during the Qing Dynasty.

In the early morning, you will be transferred to airport to take flight to Nyingchi.

Upon your arrival at Nyingchi Milin airport, your professional Tibetan guide will meet you right at designated location on time, with Pickup Board. Then a comfortable car or bus and experienced driver will take you to Nyingchi hotel safely. It is about 60km from the airport to Nyingchi downtown and takes about an hour through the Airport Expressway.

We will head to celebrated Lulang Forest. It is an enchanting forest covering an area of 15 sq km on the plateau. This region is blanketed with vibrant shrubs, spruces and pine trees. At the bottom of the mountain are steppes and local Tibetans living beside the brooks. We can visit the Zhaxigang Village, the iconic Tibetan village in Lulang and meet the locals and enjoy the local snacks, etc. Then transfer back to Nyingchi hotel. After arriving at hotel, tour guide will help you check in. You can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude.

Overnight in Nyingchi.

We will keep moving west to Lhasa by following Niyang River, a tributary of Yarlung Tsangpo River. Different from the awe-inspiring scenery in Hengduan Mountains, most of the view features idyllic pastoral scene along the valley. We will hae a visit to Basumtso Lake, which is a beautiful small holy lake of Tibetan Buddhism. The lake looks like a new moon inlaid in the mountains and canyons. Its water is clear and bottomless. You can see many fishes weaving in it. There is a monastic Temple of Ningma sect in Lake Island with a history of more than 1500 years. The dense and quiet forest surrounds the emerald lake. The background is two snow mountains with an altitude of 5500 meters. All together form a stunning beauty.

After passing Mila Pass(5013m), the last mountain pass during the road trip, we will finally arrive in Lhasa valley. Shortly after Dagzê County, the magnificent Potala Palace perched on Red Hill will appear in your sight. You long-expected holy Lhasa city is now only steps away.

After arriving at hotel, tour guide will help you check in. You can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. To adapt to the high altitude ( over 3,600m ), you are recommended to have a good rest in the hotel, no running and intense activity, no smoking and no alcohol, no shower.
2. Please drink sufficient water and eat more vegetable, fruits, meat and eggs for more energy.
3. For the first-time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom.

After breakfast at your hotel, drive to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery was ever the largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, and now it is one of three great monasteries in Lhasa. Seen from the distant, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice.

In the afternoon, drive to visit Sera Monastery, which is famous for the unique “Daily Scriptures Debating” activity held from 3:30pm to 5pm in the central courtyard. In addition, you can tour  the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. The road condition to Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery is good.
2. Pack plenty of drinking water, sun glasses, suncream and some food.

After breakfast, your tour guide & driver will pick you and drive to visit the splendid Potala Palace, which is Lhasa’s cardinal landmarks. You will have a whole morning to explore this world-level architectural works: White Palace, Red Palace, corridors and stairs and countless lama’s dormitory. Others include: Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted, murals, etc.

In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, as the spiritual center of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha; learning Tibetan Buddhism; hearing the red-robed Lamas praying; taking photos of the gold roof and enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa.

Finally, you will have a relaxing walk around Jokhang Temple at Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa, and full of religious atmosphere, showcasing Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. In Potala Palace, your visiting time is limited on 1 hour. Climb up there, you might experience slight shortness of breath, please take your time and rest when needed.
2. Don’t disturb pilgrims and Lama. Don’t take photos of them without permission.
3. In Barkhor Street, remember to bargain and compare the price in different shops for the souvenirs if you are purchasing.

On leaving from Lhasa, we will firstly drive southwest towards the beauty of Lake Yamdrok taking the winding road up to the crest of the Gampa La pass at 4794 meters. From the pass you get the first glimpse of the beauty of Lake Yamdrok below ringed by snowy mountain peaks and stretching out across the whole landscape before you. In the distance, the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar stands tall in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain Range. We will drop down to the lake shore for a closer look before continuing on to Nagartse for a delicious local lunch.

After lunch, on the way to Gyantse, we cross over the pass at Karo La (5159m) where we can view the beautiful glacier that falls from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar. In Gyantse we will stop at the Pelkor Chode Monastery to explore both the monastery and the outstanding 32-meter stupa that is the highlight of the day. Known as the Kumbum Stupa, this one-of-a-kind stupa has nine floors and 108 chapels which contain thousands of images and statues throughout. Then we will continue to reach Shigatse before nightfall.

Overnight at Shigatse.

After breakfast we will spend the first part of the morning touring around the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery the seat of the Panchen Lama before heading off along the Friendship Highway towards Lhasa. Built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama, the monastery is now the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama Tibet’s second highest religious incarnation. There you will be able to see the tombs of 7 Panchen Lamas explore the twisting cobbled streets and get a peek into monastic life.
On the rout drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley, you can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa.

Overnight at Lhasa.

After breakfast, we drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the three holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland in summer. Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Nagenla Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning overlooking of sacred Namtso Lake.

Then we can enjoy our time to do a leisurely trek along the lakeshore. Drive back to hotel at Dumxung or Yampachen.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Today is free for you until you are escorted to the airport or railway station for departure and the guide will help you get on board.