To More Inquiry
🌍Closed-Loop Route: Starting and ending at Gyirong Port to avoid redundant driving, the itinerary deeply covers three major regions—Rear Tibet, Front Tibet, and Shannan—unlocking the core landscape of "Weizang Civilization" in one journey.
🌍Gradual Altitude Adaptation: Progressively ascending from Gyirong (2,800m) to Lhasa (3,650m), Shigatse (3,836m), and finally Yamdrok Lake (4,441m) to minimize altitude sickness risks.
🌍Cultural Mentors Accompanying: Equipped with Tibetan/English bilingual guides to provide in-depth interpretations of historical anecdotes behind temple murals and spiritual rituals, transcending "sightseeing check-ins" to turn every holy site into a key to understanding Tibet.
Along the way, you’ll see Mount Riwoqenbampa (4,680m) to the right and the towering Mount Langtang Lirung (7,227m) to the south. The rest of the day is free for you to explore and purchase supplies.
Morning：we’ll explore the rugged mountains around Jilong Town and visit Zhakadrao Cave, the meditation site of Milarepa, the second patriarch of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. We’ll then travel to Gungthang, Milarepa’s birthplace, to pay homage to the sacred Jilong Jowo Buddha Statue, a thousand-year-old life-sized statue of Shakyamuni.
Afternoon：drive to Tingri County to visit Shegar Chode Monastery, a historic site blending spiritual and architectural grandeur. Overnight in Tingri.
Morning： visit to Sakya Monastery, the "Second Dunhuang" and the principal monastery of the Sakya school. Marvel at its gray, white, and red walls housing priceless treasures: Palm-leaf manuscripts, the Buddha Gyelmo scriptures, Yuan Dynasty mandala murals, and ancient ceramics.
Afternoon：head to Shigatse to explore Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of successive Panchen Lamas.
Afternoon: Journey to Druk Monastery, one of the ancestral monasteries of the Drukpa Kagyu school. Nestled at the foot of a mountain in the Langmu Valley, its striking white walls, red eaves, and golden roofs stand out against the rugged landscape. Arrive in Lhasa by evening.
Afternoon：Begin at Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s spiritual heart. It houses the revered 12-year-old life-sized statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng. Pilgrims from across the Himalayas prostrate here in devotion, creating an awe-inspiring atmosphere. Next, wander through Barkhor Street, a 1,300-year-old pilgrimage circuit encircling the temple.
Join a guided Barkhor CityWalk to absorb its sacred energy—follow pilgrims spinning prayer wheels, touch ancient prayer stones, and witness the fusion of faith and daily life.
Morning: Pay homage at Tsepak Lhakhang, Tibet’s only temple dedicated to wealth deities. A branch monastery of Sera Monastery (Gelug school), it attracts both Tibetan and Han Chinese devotees who bring white liquor and ceremonial scarves (khata) to seek blessings.
Next, explore Norbulingka, the “Summer Palace of Lhasa.” This sprawling Tibetan-style garden, the largest and most exquisite in Tibet, blends palatial architecture with lush forests. Divided into three zones—palace quarters, ceremonial courtyards, and woodland—it feels like stepping into a meticulously crafted RPG game map.
Afternoon: Visit Sera Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school. Famous for its monastic debates (held daily except weekends), watch robed monks engage in spirited philosophical discussions, clapping hands and posing questions in a dynamic clash of wisdom and faith.
Morning： Venture along the secret paths of the Tibetan Empire to the cliffside sanctuary of Drak Yerpa, where 108 meditation caves hold Padmasambhava’s hidden terma (treasures). Visit the 1,200-year-old Berotsana Cave, where Padmasambhava and the scholar Vairotsana attained mastery of language and wisdom.
Afternoon：ascend to Ganden Monastery, the cradle of the Gelug school. Wander its maroon-walled monastic maze to find the golden stupa of Tsongkhapa, the sect’s founder, while echoes of ancient philosophical debates—carried on windswept mountain air—reveal 600 years of unbroken tradition. Return to Lhasa in the evening.
Morning: Visit Tsurphu Monastery, the mother monastery of the Karma Kagyu school, where Tibet’s reincarnation system was first formalized and later adopted by other sects. Proceed to Shongpabachu Lhakhang, birthplace of the Lhamo Tibetan Opera tradition, famed for its sacred spring said to have been blessed by Padmasambhava.
Afternoon: Explore Nechung Monastery, the spiritual seat of the Karma Kagyu Red Hat lineage. Nestled in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, its secluded setting—encircled by snow peaks and serpentine rivers—embodies Tibet’s sacred geography: “mountains as guardians, waters chanting sutras.”
Morning: Visit Samye Chimed Lhakhang (Changzhu Monastery), one of Tibet’s Twelve Demon-Subduing Temples. Built to pin down the right shoulder of the demoness (Srinmo) in ancient geomantic lore, it was commissioned by Princess Wencheng after she identified the site as a critical node in Tibet’s “veins of earth.”
Next, explore Yumbulagang Palace, Tibet’s first palace (2nd century BCE), perched atop a hill like a sentinel of history.
Afternoon: Trek to Rechung Cave, one of the Five Sacred Caves of Southern Tibet, where Rechungpa—one of Milarepa’s foremost disciples—attained enlightenment through decades of solitary retreat.
Morning: Drive to Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first complete Buddhist monastery(8th century CE), blending Tibetan, Han Chinese, and Indian architectural styles. Its layout mirrors the Buddhist cosmos, with the central temple symbolizing Mount Meru.
Afternoon：Visit Yemalung Monastery, then ascend to Chimphu Hermitage, one of Tibet’s Eight Great Retreat Sites. This ancient sanctuary, dotted with 108 caves, 108 charnel grounds, and hidden terma, is revered as the place where Padmasambhava first consecrated the land over a millennium ago.
Morning: Visit Zhayangzong Cave, one of the Five Sacred Sites of Padmasambhava representing his physical enlightenment. Legend says the guru meditated here for three years, surviving on clay and dripping cave water. The steep hike from the base temple to the cave takes about two hours—suitable for those with good fitness.
Afternoon：explore Cuojielaco Lake, a serene spot with a small temple. Later, climb Hepori Mountain, where Padmasambhava subdued Tibet’s malevolent spirits
Morning: Visit Dorje Drak Monastery, the "Ancestral Temple" of the Nyingma school, revered as Tibet’s largest Nyingma institution. Cross the Kamba La Pass(4,790m) for a panoramic view of Yamdrok Lake. Listen to legends of this turquoise gem, said to be a "goddess’s fallen earring." On sunny days, its waters shift between sapphire, cerulean, and azure; under clouds, they turn slate-gray.
Afternoon: Explore Ralung Monastery, once a thriving hub of the Drukpa Kagyu school where 350,000 practitioners gathered. Overnight in Gyantse.
Morning: Discover Pelkor Chode Monastery, Gyantse’s largest temple, famed for its Kumbum Stupa—Tibet’s best-preserved architectural marvel. Its 10-story structure houses over 1,000 statues of Buddha in clay, bronze, and gold, earning it the nickname “Museum of Buddhist Art.”
Next, visit Shalu Monastery, the principal seat of the Shalu (Buton) school, known for its fusion of Mongol, Han, and Tibetan styles. Drive to Tingri in the afternoon.
Morning: Stop at Lake Peiku, a mirror-like alpine lake where Tibetan wild asses roam and snow-capped peaks reflect on its waters.
Afternoon: Arrive in Gyirong, a hidden valley framed by Mount Riwoqenbampa (4,680m) and Mount Langtang Lirung (7,227m).
| Hotel Type / Travel Time | May-01 - May-31 | Jun-01 - Jun-30 | Jul-01 - Aug-20 | Aug-01 - Oct-14 | Oct-01 - Nov-30 | Dec-01 - Dec-01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Class (3-StarHotels) | 2445 | 2465 | 2725 | 2945 | 2535 | 2420 |
Reserve your ideal trip early for a hassle-free trip; secure comfort and convenience!
