[Panoramic Tibet] 12-Day Tour of Lhasa, Nyingchi, Yamdrok Lake, Shigatse, Everest, and Namtso - Itinerary and Costs for a 12-Day Tibet Tour Group

After landing, our staff will welcome you with the warmest smiles of the plateau and that touch of plateau red. Having just arrived at the plateau, what you need most is to slow your pace and relax your mind. We will transfer you to the hotel for a thorough rest, allowing your body to gradually adapt to the plateau environment. Tashi Delek!! Lhasa, meaning "holy land" or "land of Buddha" in Tibetan, is the sacred city in the hearts of Tibetan people and 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, staff will contact you in advance. Please keep your phone accessible. Visitors from outside the mainland require a tour guide for pickup, while Chinese nationals will be picked up directly by the driver and taken to the hotel for check-in. The travel agency will inform you in advance of the hotel check-in method; simply collect your room and rest. If you do not receive notification, please contact the travel agency staff promptly (see the tour departure notice) for assistance. The guide will notify you of the next day's meeting time by phone or text message before 22:00. 2) Altitude sickness: Do not engage in strenuous activity on the day of arrival in Lhasa, and do not take a shower that evening to prevent catching a cold. Do not drink alcohol. Drink plenty of water and eat fruit; avoid overeating. Rest well. You may bring American ginseng lozenges, Rhodiola, or Gaoyuan'an and other health supplements to alleviate altitude sickness. Follow the arrangements of the travel agency staff and guide, try not to go out, 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.

In the morning, head to Nyingchi, known as the "Switzerland of Tibet", driving on the upgraded "Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway" of the 318 National Highway, following the beautiful Nyang River southward all the way. 【Katigou】--Heaven on Earth (about 1 hour visit) Katigou is known as "Heaven on Earth". Walking into the canyon, the ravine is narrow and deep, accompanied by the murmuring of water from far to near, as if entering a primeval forest. Here the mountains are high and the valleys deep, with grotesque peaks and strange rocks, ancient towering trees, and even bamboo groves. 【Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway】--China's Most Beautiful Expressway As part of the Sichuan-Tibet Advanced Highway and the Yunnan-Tibet Advanced Highway, relying on the magnificent natural scenery of the snowy plateau, the journey features snow mountains, forests, and grasslands along the way. Drive slowly along the road to photograph the scenery!

Sejila Mountain Located east of Nyingchi County and part of the Nyainqentanglha Range, at an elevation of 4,728 meters. Standing at the pass, you can fully enjoy the sea of clouds and sea of forests, and gaze into the distance at Namcha Barwa, which at 7,782 meters was named "China's Most Beautiful Mountain" by Chinese National Geography in 2005. Lulang Forest Sea A forest shrouded in clouds and mist, known as "the place that makes you not want to go home." The entire scenic area is picturesque, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with lush forests in the valley and meadows so neat they look artificially trimmed. Biri Holy Mountain Biri Holy Mountain means "Monkey Mountain" in Tibetan and is a renowned holy mountain in the Nyingchi area. Legend says it was bestowed by Padmasambhava. It can be divided into the Holy Mountain Ecological Square, the Stream Scenic Area, the Tangcheng Temple Scenic Area, the Prayer Flag Array, and the Ancient Ruins Area. Every year, countless pilgrims come to circumambulate the mountain. Inside the mountain, the Nyingchi Natural Ecology Museum is now built, displaying 586 species of animal and plant specimens, intuitively showcasing the diverse primitive ecological landscapes of the Nyingchi area. From the mountainside, you can overlook the panorama of Bayi Town; at the summit, prayer flags flutter in the clouds. These prayer flags were all hung by Tibetans—each flag represents their prayers and blessings, expressing their reverence for the holy mountain. Specialty Cuisine - Stone Pot Chicken A famous delicacy of the Nyingchi area in Tibet, made with hand-shaped ginseng and free-range chicken, slowly stewed in a stone pot. Lulang Stone Pot Chicken has a very unique flavor, with a subtle herbal fragrance in the broth and tender yet springy chicken. The stone pot used for stewing is carved from a mica stone called "soapstone," which is found only in Medog. Porters must carry the raw stone out of Medog, and then the Monba people carefully hand-carve it from a single block of stone. The carving requires even pressure—if you rush, the soapstone will crack. That is why these stone pots are very expensive. The dark green mica stone pot has excellent heat retention and is said to be rich in 17 mineral trace elements including magnesium and iron. Warm Tips Due to the limited reception capacity of Basum Tso Scenic Area, if the hotels within the scenic area are fully booked or closed, the itinerary will be adjusted to stay in Nyingchi's urban area, with no refund of the price difference. We appreciate your understanding. Costs will neither increase nor decrease, and the itinerary attractions will not be affected. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Wake up in the morning amidst the lake and mountain scenery of Basum Tso Scenic Area (sightseeing time approximately 1 hour). Basum Tso Scenic Area combines snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests, waterfall pastures, and ancient temples into one, with extraordinary scenery that varies with the four seasons. It is a national-level forest park and a 5A-level scenic area. [Tsozong Island] – A Private Island with a Temple Walk clockwise around Tsozong Island, where you can see a peach tree embracing a pine, the former water burial platform, the "Alphabet Tree" whose leaves naturally bear Tibetan letters, the sacred spring where Padmasambhava washed his face, and the distant mountains blending with the lake waters. On the island stands an ancient [Tsozong Gongba Monastery], where you can see another side of Tibetan religion—phallic worship. These are placed on either side of the temple's stone steps, male on the left and female on the right, symbolizing respect for life. [Jieba Village] Jieba Village, like something out of a fairy tale, is the best spot to view Basum Tso and the two surrounding snow-capped mountains, "King's Throne" and "Burning Flame." This place remains undeveloped, with no commercial atmosphere—everything we see is bestowed by nature. A clear stream, surrounded by mountains, flows gently; on the meadows, horses, cattle, and sheep dot the landscape like stars, grazing and strolling at leisure.

[Tibetan Culture Experience] Now that you are in Lhasa, you can still experience traditional Tibetan handicrafts. The guide will lead visitors to a Tibetan culture experience center to learn how the refreshing Tibetan incense is made, and you can also participate in making it yourself—a completely different meaning from buying Tibetan incense. A teacher will teach you to write your name in Tibetan script and do woodblock printing. The incense you make yourself and the printed text can both be taken home as souvenirs of this Tibet trip. [Sera Monastery] As one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, it is also known, together with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery, as one of Lhasa's three great monasteries. The monastery preserves tens of thousands of Vajra Buddha statues, the most famous of which is the "Hayagriva" Vajra statue located in the protector deity hall of the Gyi Dratsang. Locals put their heads into a small shrine to touch the base of the statue with their heads. Apart from the monastery's solemnity, Sera Monastery has another notable feature—the monks' debate sessions. In the center of the debate courtyard, monks debate knowledge; some urge responses with forceful clapping, while others pull prayer beads to draw on their power to defeat opponents. Standing in the debate courtyard, you are immersed in the lively sounds. Although visitors cannot understand their Zen meaning, they can truly feel the faith and power of Tibetan Buddhism. Debates generally begin at 15:00 in the afternoon. On Sundays, or when the monastery temporarily holds Dharma assemblies or receives special guests, the debate activities may be canceled. Thank you for your understanding!!!

【Potala Palace】(visit limited to 1 hour) Songtsen Gampo spent half of his life conquering Tubo, and the other half building magnificent palaces and temples. Wandering among the golden Buddhist halls, stupas, sleeping quarters, and corridors, with dim lights, lowered curtains, and the scent of butter pervading everywhere, it feels like falling into an ancient dream, involuntarily lost in those scriptures, Buddha statues, murals, and distant legends. 【Potala Palace Ticket Booking Instructions】 1. Potala Palace tickets adopt a real-name reservation system, requiring valid identification (ID card, household register, or passport) for reservation. After successful reservation, tickets cannot be reserved again within 7 days from the visit date. If tourists cannot enter the Potala Palace due to incorrect data provided, the travel agency bears no responsibility or consequences. Before the visit, tourists must carry the original valid identification. If the name or ID number does not match the actual document used, entry will be denied, and the ticket purchase fee, having been actually incurred, cannot be refunded. Please understand! 2. The visit time for the Potala Palace is randomly issued by the Potala Palace Management Office's unified computer system, and the visit time cannot be specified. Please understand. 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 limited team reservation quotas per day. To ensure tourists' smooth visits, travel agencies 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 small groups (the group or tourists who booked together may need to be separated, and there may be situations of joining with other unfamiliar group members for the visit). 2) Each small group visits at different times/dates. 3) Each small group enters with a different guide. 【Jokhang Temple】(about 1 hour visit) Jokhang Temple integrates Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles, becoming an eternal classic of Tibetan religious architecture. In front of the temple, incense smoke lingers all day, and the devout prostrations of believers have left deep imprints of full-body long prostrations on the bluestone floor in front of the door. Ten thousand butter lamps burn eternally, leaving traces of time and pilgrims. Here, worship of the gods continues day and night. 【Jokhang Temple Ticket Booking Instructions】 1. Jokhang Temple tickets require real-name reservation. From 7:00 to 23:59 daily, next-day visit tickets are released on the mini-program "Jokhang Temple Reservation", until the reservation quota is full. Therefore, tickets need to 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 pure tourist attraction. If special circumstances such as important religious activities make it unavailable 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—the view is vast, magnificent, and beautiful. Gampala Mountain The best vantage point to see Yamdrok Lake at its most beautiful—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 Gampala Mountain offer yak photos; please agree on the price first to avoid unnecessary trouble. Yamdrok Lake One of Tibet's three great sacred lakes, a freshwater lake with water as clear as mutton fat. The water is sweet and drinkable. The deep blue lake merges with distant snow-capped mountains, along with the colorful mountain ranges on both banks, distinctive Tibetan villages, and livestock everywhere—the entire journey is refreshing and delightful. Yamdrok Lake covers an area of 638 square kilometers, with a surface elevation of 4,441 meters and a shoreline of 250 kilometers. This lake is also considered a turquoise ear pendant dropped to the mortal world by a goddess. Standing at the 4,950-meter summit of Gampala Mountain and gazing south, Yamdrok Lake looks like a sapphire set among the peaks, its blue waters smooth as a mirror, reflecting the bright blue 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. Karo La Glacier One of Tibet's three major continental glaciers. The glacier is backed by Mount Noijin Kangsang, one of Tibet's four highest peaks. The massive glacier extends from the misty summit all the way down to the roadside, just a few hundred meters from the highway. Although the glacier shows black-and-white layering due to years of exposure to highway dust, the upper half of the glacier shines brilliantly in the sunlight like a giant thangka hanging on the mountain wall. It gained fame because the films "Red River Valley," "The Battle of Gyantse," and "The Road Home" were filmed here. Overnight stay in Shigatse. Shigatse means "the finest manor" in Tibetan and is one of "Tibet's granaries." It was historically the political, religious, and cultural center of Tsang and the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. With a history of over 500 years, it is currently Tibet's second-largest city.

[Mount Everest] Drive along the most beautiful border highway and admire the magnificent snow-capped mountain range. Along the way, you can gaze at the world's third-highest peak, Kangchenjunga, the world's fourth-highest peak, Lhotse, and Rima Nana Snow Mountain. Mount Everest, at an elevation of 8,848 meters, is the world's highest peak, located on the border between China and Nepal 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—the scenery is incomparably unique and spectacular. [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 elevation of 5,200 meters. Looking south from here, you can see Mount Everest and several other snow-capped peaks over 8,000 meters high. [Rongbuk Monastery] Rongbuk Monastery sits at an elevation of approximately 5,100 meters. The terrain is high and cold, with 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, dormitory-style beds, shared bathroom, limited facilities): generally clean and tidy, but quite different from city hotels—please understand. From October to April each year, due to cold weather, tents are withdrawn from Everest Base Camp, and accommodation will be changed to guesthouses in villages near Everest. 2. Food and lodging on this day are basic, the altitude is high, and temperatures are low. Please keep warm. Stay safe and prevent altitude sickness. In summer, nighttime temperatures are around 0-8°C. Please bring warm clothing; you can also rent a down jacket at Base Camp for warmth.

[Viewing Everest Sunrise] In the morning, be sure to dress fully equipped. Before sunrise, the temperature at the mountain pass can drop below 0°C, and with strong winds, please be sure to have warm gear. Standing at the top of the world, facing the sunlight and looking up at Everest—its summit is snow-covered year-round, with glaciers hanging in the distance and silver peaks towering, a scene of pure sanctity. Capture the scene of Everest at sunrise (photography results depend on weather). [Warm Tips] 1. Whether you can see the Everest sunrise is subject to weather and actual tour conditions. Thank you for your understanding. [Gyatso La Pass] Gyatso La is the necessary route to the world's highest peak—Mount Everest. The pass, at an altitude of 5,252 meters, is the highest point on the China-Nepal Highway. If the weather is clear, standing at Gyatso La Pass you can gaze at Mount Everest in the distance, and also view Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu.

【Tashilhunpo Monastery】(about 1 hour visit) Tashilhunpo Monastery, also known as "Auspicious Mount Sumeru Monastery", is the largest monastery in the Shigatse region. Along with Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, as well as Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai and Labrang Monastery in Gansu, it is listed as 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, over 5,000 monks, over 50 subordinate monasteries, and over 30 manors and pastures. Starting from the Fourth Panchen Lama, subsequent Panchen Lamas all took this monastery as their seat. The current Tashilhunpo Monastery has: 4 dratsangs, 56 assembly halls, over 3,600 rooms, over 800 monks, and a total area of 300,000 square meters. Highlights 1. Known as the pride of Tsang, it is the seat of successive Panchen Lamas and the largest monastery in the Tsang region, collectively known as one of the four great monasteries of Tibet along with the three great monasteries of Lhasa. 2. The Maitreya Buddha Hall enshrines a bronze Buddha statue, using 231,400 jin of brass and 6,700 taels of gold. For inlaying just the Buddha's eyebrows, over 1,400 diamonds, pearls, etc., of various sizes were used. 3. The monastery enshrines exquisitely shaped Panchen stupas, using countless materials such as gold, silver, copper, silk, coral, pearls, agate, turquoise, and more. 【Warm Tips】 1. On that day, returning from Shigatse to Lhasa may be by tour bus or train, depending on the travel agency's specific arrangements. Specific requests are not accepted. Please understand. 2. This group is a join-in group for individual travelers. The travel agency may, based on actual conditions and without reducing attractions, arrange to stay in Damxung on the same day after leaving Shigatse, and the next day visit Namtso before returning to Lhasa. Please understand.

Namtso Cross the 5,190-meter Nagenla Mountain to reach Namtso, the "Heavenly Lake" and the foremost of Tibet's three great sacred lakes. At an elevation of 4,718 meters, it is the world's highest-altitude saltwater lake and China's second-largest. To the south lies the year-round snow-capped Nyainqentanglha Mountains; to the north and west are highland hills. The vast lakeshore is surrounded by grasslands with abundant water and lush grass. The lake water has high salinity, and the basin is rich in wildlife resources including yaks and goats. The lake abounds with wildfowl and produces scale fish and scaleless fish. The clear lake water reflects the surrounding snow-capped mountains, creating a beautiful scene like a sparkling pearl set on the vast Changtang grasslands. Warm Tips Tibet's winter climate is harsh, and due to Namtso's high altitude, heavy snow may occasionally close the mountain roads in winter. 1. If we learn one day in advance that Namtso Scenic Area cannot be visited, the itinerary will be adjusted to: Lhasa → Ganden Monastery (light hiking on the kora path) → Lhasa 2. If we have already departed for Namtso Scenic Area that day and are notified on short notice that it cannot be visited, the itinerary will be adjusted to: Lhasa → Tsurphu Monastery → Lhasa

After breakfast, arrange airport or station drop-off according to your flight time, bringing the pleasant journey to an end. The city center is about a 1-hour drive from the airport. It is recommended to book a flight departing after 10:00 AM.