【Crossing the Border】Lhasa Yamdrok Lake Shigatse Everest Gyirong 7-Day Tour

After landing, our staff will welcome you with the warmest smiles on the plateau and that touch of plateau red. Having just arrived at the plateau, what you need most is to slow down your pace and relax your mind. We will take you to the hotel for a full rest, allowing your body to gradually adapt to the high-altitude atmosphere. Tashi Delek!! Lhasa means 'holy land' or 'land of Buddha' in Tibetan. It is the sacred city in the hearts of Tibetans and also a paradise in the hearts of travelers. With the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Lhasa is no longer out of reach. Bustle and crowds are not Lhasa's true face; let us explore its mysterious charm together. [Warm Tips] 1) Transfers: Since train/airport transfers in Tibet are arranged by a local professional transfer center, the staff will contact you in advance, so please keep your phone accessible. Visitors from outside the mainland require a guide for pickup, while Chinese nationals will be taken directly to the hotel for check-in by the pickup driver. The travel agency will inform you in advance of the hotel room collection method, and you can directly collect the room and check in to rest. If you do not receive notification, please contact the travel agency staff promptly (see the tour departure notice) so that assistance can be provided in time. The guide will notify you of the next day's meeting time by phone or text message before 22:00. 2) Altitude sickness: On the day of arrival in Lhasa, do not engage in strenuous exercise, and do not take a shower that night to prevent catching a cold. Do not drink alcohol. Drink more water and eat fruit, and do not overeat. Rest more. You may bring American ginseng lozenges or health supplements such as rhodiola and Gaoyuan'an to help relieve altitude sickness. Follow the arrangements of the travel agency staff and guide, try not to go out for activities, and maintaining a calm mindset and adequate rest is the best way to prevent altitude sickness. If you feel unwell, seek treatment at a hospital promptly.

[Tibetan Culture Experience] When in Lhasa, you can still experience traditional Tibetan handicrafts. The guide will lead tourists to the Tibetan Culture Experience Hall, where you can learn how refreshing Tibetan incense is made and also participate in making it by hand, which is completely different from buying Tibetan incense. A teacher will teach you to write your name in Tibetan script and do woodblock printing. The handmade Tibetan incense and printed text can both be taken home as souvenirs of this trip to Tibet. [Sera Monastery] As one of the six main monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, it is also known, together with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery, as one of the three great monasteries of Lhasa. The monastery preserves tens of thousands of Vajra Buddha statues, among which the most famous statue, the 'Hayagriva' Vajra image, is located in the protector deity hall of the Gyi Dratsang. Locals put their heads into a small shrine and touch the base of the statue with their heads. Apart from the solemnity of the monastery, Sera Monastery has another major feature: the debate sessions by the monks in the monastery. In the center of the debate courtyard, monks are debating knowledge; some urge the other side to answer with powerful clapping, while others pull prayer beads, relying on the power of the beads to overcome their opponent. Standing in the debate courtyard, you are immersed in the lively sounds. Although tourists cannot understand their Zen meaning, they can truly feel the faith and power of Tibetan Buddhism. The debate usually starts at 15:00 in the afternoon. On Sundays, or occasionally when the monastery temporarily holds Dharma assemblies or receives special guests, the debate activities may be canceled. Please understand!!!

[Potala Palace] (visit limited to 1 hour) Songtsen Gampo spent half his life conquering Tubo and the other half building magnificent palaces and temples. Wandering among the golden Buddhist halls, stupas, sleeping chambers, and corridors, with dim lights, low-hanging curtains, and the smell of butter tea filling the air, you may feel as if you have fallen into an ancient dream, involuntarily losing yourself among scriptures, Buddha statues, murals, and distant legends. [Potala Palace Ticket Booking Information] 1. Potala Palace tickets use a real-name reservation system. A valid ID (ID card, household registration booklet, or passport) is required for the reservation. After a successful reservation, tickets cannot be reserved again within 7 days from the date of visit. If a visitor cannot enter the Potala Palace due to incorrect information provided by the visitor, the travel agency bears no responsibility or consequences. Before the visit, visitors must carry the original valid ID. If the name or ID number does not match the actual ID used, entry will not be permitted, and the ticket purchase fee will have already been incurred and cannot be refunded. Thank you for your understanding! 2. The visiting time for the Potala Palace is randomly assigned by the Potala Palace Management Office's unified computer system, and the visiting time cannot be specified. Thank you for your understanding. Also, the actual tour route order may differ from the reference itinerary provided. 3. During peak season, the Potala Palace restricts visits, and each travel agency in Tibet has only a limited number of group reservation quotas per day. To ensure visitors can visit smoothly, the travel agency will solve the problem through different channels. Due to the special ticket purchase requirements of different channels, please follow the guide's arrangements. The following situations are normal arrangements: 1) Each group may be split into multiple smaller groups (the group or visitors who booked together may need to be separated, and there may be situations where you join unfamiliar group members to enter together). 2) Each smaller group may visit at different times/dates. 3) Each smaller group may enter with a different guide. [Jokhang Temple] (visit about 1 hour) Jokhang Temple blends Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles, becoming an enduring classic of Tibetan religious architecture. The temple is shrouded in incense smoke all day long, and the devout prostrations of worshippers have left deep imprints of full-body prostrations on the bluestone floor in front of the gate. Ten thousand butter lamps burn continuously, leaving traces of time and pilgrims. Here, worship of the gods continues day and night. [Jokhang Temple Ticket Booking Information] 1. Jokhang Temple tickets require a real-name reservation. From 7:00 to 23:59 each day, tickets for the next day's visit are released on the mini-program "Jokhang Temple Reservation," available until the reservation quota is full. Therefore, tickets must be reserved 1 day in advance. Please make the reservation under the guide's guidance. 2. Jokhang Temple is a religious temple rather than a purely tourist attraction. If special circumstances such as important religious activities make it impossible to open for visits, please understand.

After departure, the route follows the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley, offering bird's-eye views of the Yarlung Tsangpo. The Yarlung Tsangpo along Provincial Road 101 is the widest river surface near Lhasa. Follow the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley onto Provincial Road 307 and drive to the mountainside for a bird's-eye view of the Yarlung Tsangpo—vast, magnificent, and majestic. Gangbala Mountain The best viewpoint to see the most beautiful side of Yamdrok Lake—the bluest sky and the bluest lake are all here. Here you will understand the meaning of 'angels' tears in heaven, Yamdrok's blue on earth.' But many photographers also say, 'No matter how many times you photograph Yamdrok Lake, you can never capture her beauty…' Many Tibetans on Gangbala Mountain offer yak photos; please agree on the price first to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yamdrok Lake A freshwater lake and one of Tibet's three great sacred lakes. The water is as clear as mutton fat and sweet enough to drink. The deep blue water merges with the distant snow mountains, and with the varied mountain ranges on both banks, distinctive Tibetan villages, and livestock everywhere, the journey is refreshing. Yamdrok Lake covers 638 square kilometers, with a surface elevation of 4,441 meters and a shoreline of 250 kilometers. It is also regarded as a turquoise ear string dropped to the mortal world by a goddess. Standing at the 4,950-meter summit of Gangbala Mountain and looking south, Yamdrok Lake is like a sapphire set among the peaks, its blue water smooth as a mirror, bright blue reflecting the sky. At noon, you will rest at the viewing restaurant of Yamdrok Lake View Hotel by the lakeside and enjoy a rich and delicious Yamdrok Lake-view mini hot pot specially arranged by us. Karola Glacier One of Tibet's three major continental glaciers, it backs onto the Noijin Kangsang Snow Mountain, one of Tibet's four highest peaks. The huge glacier extends from the misty summit all the way down to the roadside, only a few hundred meters from the highway. Although the glacier shows black-and-white layers due to years of dust from the highway, its upper half shines in the sunlight like a giant thangka hanging on the mountain wall. It became famous because the films Red River Valley, The Battle of Gyantse, and The Road Home were shot here. Overnight in Shigatse. In Tibetan, Shigatse means 'the best manor' and is one of 'Tibet's granaries.' Historically, it was the political, religious, and cultural center of Rear Tibet and the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. With a history of over 500 years, it is currently Tibet's second-largest city. Warm Tips 1. In addition to the Tibet Travel Permit, foreign tourists traveling to Mount Everest in the same vehicle must apply for a travel permit in Shigatse together. The guide will reasonably adjust the itinerary according to the permit processing situation. Please follow the guide's arrangements and cooperate actively. 2. If a system failure or a surge of tourists in peak season causes long queues and delays in processing travel permits, please understand.

[Tashilhunpo Monastery] Tashilhunpo Monastery, also known as the "Auspicious Sumeru Monastery," is the largest monastery in the Shigatse region. Along with Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai, and Labrang Monastery in Gansu, it is one of the Six Great Monasteries of the Gelug school. It was founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama and a disciple of Tsongkhapa. At its peak, Tashilhunpo Monastery had over 3,000 rooms, more than 5,000 monks, over 50 subordinate monasteries, and more than 30 manors and pastures. Since the Fourth Panchen Lama, all subsequent Panchen Lamas have made this monastery their seat. Today, Tashilhunpo Monastery has 4 dratsangs, 56 assembly halls, over 3,600 rooms, more than 800 monks, and covers a total area of 300,000 square meters. [Mount Everest] Drive along the most beautiful border highway and admire the magnificent snow-capped mountains. Along the way, you can gaze at the world's third-highest peak, Kangchenjunga, the fourth-highest peak, Lhotse, and Rima Na Snow Mountain. Mount Everest, at 8,848 meters above sea level, is the world's highest peak, located on the China-Nepal border in the middle section of the Himalayas. The summit is covered in snow year-round, with glaciers hanging in the distance and silver peaks towering high, creating an incredibly unique and spectacular scene. [Everest Viewpoint] The Mount Everest Viewpoint is located 22 kilometers along the Everest Road in Tingri County, Shigatse. This is the only way to Everest Base Camp. The viewpoint sits at an altitude of 5,200 meters. Looking south from here, you can see Mount Everest and other snow-capped peaks over 8,000 meters high. [Rongbuk Monastery] Rongbuk Monastery is at an altitude of about 5,100 meters, with a high, cold terrain and magnificent scenery. The new Everest Base Camp is nearby. If you are lucky, you may also see the Everest banner cloud drifting like a flame of life. [Warm Tips] 1. Accommodation is in tents at Everest Base Camp (8-15 people per tent, multi-person dormitory beds, shared bathrooms, limited conditions): generally clean and tidy, but quite different from city hotels. Please understand. From October to April each year, due to the cold weather, tents are withdrawn from Everest Base Camp, and accommodation will be changed to guesthouses in villages near Everest. 2. Food and accommodation on this day are poor, the altitude is high, and the temperature is low. Please keep warm. Stay safe and prevent altitude sickness. In summer, nighttime temperatures are around 0-8°C. Please bring warm clothing, or you can rent a down jacket at Base Camp for warmth.

[Watching Everest Sunrise] In the morning, be sure to dress fully equipped. Before sunrise, the temperature at the mountain pass can drop below 0 degrees, plus strong winds, so please be sure to have warm gear. Standing at the top of the earth, facing the sunlight and gazing up at Everest, the summit is covered in snow year-round, with distant hanging glaciers and towering silver peaks, presenting a holy scene. Photograph the scene at Everest sunrise (shooting effect depends on weather), and with the first ray of dawn rising over Mount Everest, travel through the majestic, magnificent, and winding Himalayas, crossing over the 5,200-meter Jiawula Pass in desolation and silence. In the distance, besides the leading Mount Everest (elevation 8,848), there are also Labuche Kang (elevation 7,367), Cho Oyu (elevation 8,201), Lhotse (elevation 8,516), Makalu (elevation 8,463), and other snow-capped world-class peaks. Gaze at the majestic and solemn Shishapangma (elevation 8,012), the only world-class peak above 8,000 meters entirely within China's borders. With lingering memories of Everest, continue onward, enjoying the scenery surrounded by mountains. Along the way, you will also pass a beautiful plateau lake, [Peiku Tso], and catch a distant glimpse of her beauty. [Warm Reminder] Whether you can see the Everest sunrise is subject to weather and actual tour conditions. Please understand. [Gyirong Valley] The biggest impression Gyirong Valley gives people is astonishment at the wonder of creation, that it can make all four seasons coexist in such a narrow valley. In the canyon, green trees provide shade and flowers bloom like brocade. Larches stand tall toward the sky, graceful and slender; long-leaf spruces have straight trunks, with delicate small branches like weeping willows. The tranquil village is embraced by green trees, and not far away, you can clearly see the faintly visible snow mountains. It is said to be clear because the snow mountains stand there; it is said to be faintly visible because the snow mountains are shrouded in mist. Everyone who has been to Gyirong praises it as a paradise, a fairyland. No wonder they say Gyirong is the back garden of Everest.

After breakfast, everyone will drive from Gyirong Town to Gyirong Port. The guide will escort tourists to Gyirong Port, where the tour ends. PS: The guide cannot pass through the port; tourists must cross the border on their own into Nepal. [Warm Tips] After tourists clear customs, at the port exit there are Nepalese buses and local off-road vehicles and other transportation available to Kathmandu, at your own expense. If needed, our agency can book in advance for you. Minimum booking is one off-road vehicle for 4 people. Please consult the travel agency for specific costs.