Holy Lhasa
Holy Lhasa awakens your own spirituality and opens your heart through a deep connection with the people and culture in Tibet’s most sacred places in Lhasa and Shigatse areas in Central Tibet.
Highlights
- Journey to Lhasa and visit Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, and Sera monastery.
- Venture to Palkhor Choide Chorten, in Gyantse, the region’s most sacred and impressive architectural achievement.
- Visit Namtso Lake, the world’s highest salt lake and Tibet’s most sacred and beautiful place.
- Discover Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse, which is Tibet’s second largest town.
Itinerary
Days 1-3: Lhasa After a short flight over the Himalayan Mountains, we’ll arrive in Lhasa, enjoy a welcome dinner, and rest. While acclimatizing in Lhasa, we’ll explore the city by walking around the Barkhor Square and mingling with Tibetan pilgrims. We will visit Potala Palace, Jokang Temple, and Sera Monastery to learn about Tibetan architecture, history, and culture. Participants will meet Tibetan artisans and scholars to learn more about Tibetan folk arts such as painting, wood curving, and handcrafts
Days 4: Namtso/Tashi Dhor Namtso is approximately 240km northwest of Lhasa at an elevation of 4,720 meters. The lake is stunningly beautiful, and is considered very sacred to Tibetans. After a lunch, visit Tashi Dhor Monastery, where it is common to walk with pilgrims, mediate in sacred coves or simply mingle with nomads.
Days 5-6: Gyantse/Shigatse/Tashilhunpho We head further to the historic outpost of Gyantse, crossing two high passes and visiting Yamdrok Lake (“Jade Lake”), one of the three largest lakes in Tibet and a holy site for pilgrims. Gyantse, a small agricultural town at 13,050 ft above sea level, is famous for its wool carpets and palkhor choide chorten. The Palkhor Monastery, built in 1427, is notable for its superb Kumbum (10,000 images) Stupa, which, according to Buddhist tradition, has 108 chapels to explore. We will then continue onward to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, where we will visit gold-crowned Tashilhunpho Monastery, one of Tibet’s most vibrant and breathtaking sites.
Days 7-8: Lhasa Free time to rest, shop, prepare for your return, or visit other sites. The trip concludes with a farewell dinner in Lhasa. You are free to plan your own post- Holy Lhasa adventure (e.g. Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kailash, or a visit to Kham) and we can assist all continuing travelers with these plans
Trip Style: Lodging will be simple; we will stay in comfortable hotels and guesthouses. No camping.
Arrival: You have option of coming into Lhasa from Nepal or Mainland China. Once you are accepted to the program, you’ll receive our Trip Logistics Guide. It will include all the essential information you’ll need to obtain a Chinese visa and make other necessary preparations for the trip. The guide includes suggested travel gear, a recommended reading list, a day-to-day itinerary, health and safety information, and other key information to make your trip successful and safe. You will receive your Tibet Permit from us in any cities in Mainland China.
