6-Day Private Car Tour: Nyingchi - Yamdrok Lake - Shigatse - Tashilhunpo Monastery - Namtso

In the morning, depart from Lhasa by car, following the Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway, cross the 5,013-meter Mira Pass, and head to Nyingchi, known as the "Jiangnan of the Plateau" and an oxygen bar. Drive east along the Nyang River, passing the birthplace of Songtsen Gampo and the Middle Stream Pillar, and feel the refreshment brought by the green mountains and clear waters of Tibet's Jiangnan. After lunch, head to Basum Lake, the holy lake of the Red Sect—a tear left by an angel. The lake is shaped like a crescent moon set in high mountains and canyons, with crystal-clear water and snow mountains reflected in it, full of charm, truly bringing people back to "Shangri-La" and intoxicating them. Snow peaks, glaciers, prime forests, and historical sites tightly surround Basum Lake. The setting sun turns the snow mountain peaks red, while the base remains a deep dark blue. The silhouettes of trees near the lake float on the water surface, and the lake water is a serene blue, making this place like a fairyland on earth. There is a small island in the lake, and on the island is a temple built at the end of the Tang Dynasty—Cuosong Temple. The main hall enshrines Padmasambhava, Thousand-Hand Guanyin, and the Golden Boy and Jade Girl. Afterwards, drive to Bayi Town in Nyingchi for overnight stay.

After breakfast, head to Kading Valley, also known as Gading Valley Heavenly Buddha Waterfall. The terrain here is steep and towering into the clouds, a typical canyon landform. It features strange peaks, unusual rocks, ancient towering trees, and a majestic waterfall with a drop of nearly 200 meters plunging down. On the cliffs are naturally formed Great Buddha, Goddess, Guanyin, Dharma Protectors, Tathagata Buddha, lamas chanting scriptures, Divine Turtle Crying to Heaven, Divine Eagle Offering Treasure, butter lamps, and the Tibetan "Six-Character Mantra" Buddhist characters. Then continue to a Tibetan village to participate in a distinctive folk village activity with Tibetan compatriots (tasting butter tea, eating snacks, learning about their daily life and diet) and experience Tibetan culture. Finally, on the return trip, enjoy the scenery along the Nyang River: various waterbirds dotted along the riverbank, terraced fields, and unique Tibetan villages, depicting the scenery of a plateau peach blossom spring scroll. Return to Lhasa in the evening for overnight stay.

In the morning, drive from Lhasa, follow National Highway 318 to the bridge junction, and travel amid the scenery of the Yarlung Tsangpo River to Gambala Pass (elevation 4,990 meters). This is the best place to overlook Yamdrok Lake (elevation 4,441 meters), one of Tibet's three great holy lakes. From the Tibetan-style viewing platform with fluttering colorful prayer flags and a huge mani pile, gaze at the clear and calm lake surface under the sunlight, shifting through varying shades of light blue, deep blue, and sky blue, reflecting the washed-blue sky, with the towering snow mountains in the distance—an ultimate beauty unrivaled in southern Tibet. If you are lucky, you may even see a wonder of dark clouds on one side, a brilliant rainbow on another, and endless sunset glow on yet another. After lunch at Nagarze, continue driving to visit Karola Glacier (elevation 5,000 meters). The glacier standing by the roadside is like a giant thangka hanging on the mountain wall, crystal-clear and pure white, so close it seems within reach. Finally, pass through the ancient city of Gyantse and head to Shigatse, the capital of Tsang at an elevation of 3,750 meters, for overnight stay.

After breakfast, drive to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. In the monastery, incense burners send up purple smoke, offering lamps flicker, and the Buddhas have different dignified appearances. In the main hall, monks chant scriptures in orderly fashion, and visiting believers prostrate before the Buddha statues. Here is enshrined the world's largest indoor bronze seated Buddha statue, the Maitreya Buddha, built in 1914 under the supervision of the Ninth Panchen Lama, Chokyi Nyima. It also preserves Buddhist scriptures written in gold powder, such as the Kangyur and Tengyur. Then return to Lhasa along the Sino-Nepal Highway and the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley.

In the early morning, drive from Lhasa, pass through the vast grasslands of northern Tibet, appreciate the fluttering colorful prayer flags, speed along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, cross the 5,190-meter Nagenla Pass, and arrive at Namtso, the "Heavenly Lake," first among Tibet's three great holy lakes. At an elevation of 4,718 meters, it is the highest saltwater lake in the world and the second largest in China. To the south is the year-round snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains; to the north and west are plateau hills. The broad lakeshore is surrounded by grasslands, with lush water and grass. The lake water has high salinity, and the basin is rich in wildlife resources, including yaks and goats; the lake has many wild birds and produces fine-scaled fish and scaleless fish; the lake water is clear and reflects the surrounding snow mountains, with beautiful scenery, like a crystal-clear pearl inlaid on the vast Changtang grassland. Then return to Lhasa by the same route. (Note: This price is for car rental with driver/chartered vehicle. Vehicle prices vary with peak and off-peak travel seasons. This price is for reference only. Please consult us for specific details.)