9 Days Shalu to Nartang Hiking Tour

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Highlights

Visit:

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

Barkhor Street

Norbulingka Park

Drepung Monastery

Visit:

Sera Monastery

Yamdrok Lake

Palcho Monastery

Tashilumpo Monastery

Experience:

Visit classic sight spots in Lhasa;

Enjoy pure and wild landscape ;

Trek to some distant monasteries.

Sampling Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1 Lhasa Arrival

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Welcome to Tibet! Your local guide will meet you upon your arrival in Gonggar airport and will escort you to Lhasa. On the 2-hour drive way, you'll enjoy the heart-stopping views along the Yarlong Tsangpo River.

After arrival at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the local area and acclimatize yourself to this high altitude city at the top of the world.

Day 2 Lhasa ( B )

The overwhelming Potala Palace is your first stop. As the symbol of Tibet, it was built in 641 AD and was the winter palace of Dalai Lama who is Tibet’s pope. Impressive Tibetan architecture, huge golden Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted pilgrims all make it a must-visit.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek here from long distances to worship. Finally, walk the special circular pilgrimage route as local followers always do at Barkhor Street.

Day 3 Lhasa ( B )

After breakfast, you are driven to visit the Norbulingka Park, the former summer palace of Dalai Lama, and then come to Drepung Monastery, once the largest Monastery housing 10,000 monks in its heyday.

Your tour ends at Sera Monastery, and the “Buddhism Scriptures Debating” in Sera is very famous. Enjoy the debate!

Day 4 Lhasa - Gyantse ( B )

Today you will be transferred from Lhasa to Gyantse (5.5-hour drive).

En route, you’ll stop to see Yamdrok Lake, one of three most famous holy lakes in Tibet. For Tibetans, it is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and the home of the “wrathful deities”. The scenery of turquoise blue water in the lake with the reflection of surrounding snow-capped mountains is awesome. Then another stop takes you to a Tibetan family where you can chat with common Tibetans and try some their self-made food.

After arrival in Gyantse, you will tour Palcho Monastery to admire fancy frescoes, statues and sculptures.

Day 5 Trek from Shalu Monastery to Upper Lungsang ( B, L , D )

Trek: 5-6 hours,  14km

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the Shalu Monastery from Gyantse, which the construction was started in 1027. Its architecture is of typical combination of the Tibetan and Chinese styles with archways, carved pillars, and tiled roofs and the Song and Yuan style murals. Prepare to trek. After lunch, trek from the Shalu Monastery to the Upper Lungsang, 5-6 hours, 14km.

Camping in Upper Lungsang tonight.

Day 6 Trek from Upper Lungsang to Ngor Monastery ( B, L, D )

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Trek: 4 hours,  8km

Today you’ll hike to the Ngor Monastery from Upper Lungsang through the farming fields.

The Ngor is the name of a monastery in the Ü-Tsang province of Central Tibet, and is the Sakya School's second most important gompa. It is the main temple of the large Ngor school of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, which represents eighty-five percent of the Sakyapa school in Tibet and in exile.

Camping overnight in Ngor Monastery tonight.

Day 7Trek from Ngor Monastery to Nartang Monastery ( B, L, D )

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Trek: 5 hours, 18km

Today, you’ll hike from the Ngor to Nartang by passing several villages, saddles, and one electric utility. After arriving at Nartang Monastery, our driver will pick you up to Shigatse. Overnight at Shigatse.

Day 8Shigatse – Lhasa ( B, L )

Today after breakfast, you’ll be driven back to Lhasa, about 4 hours. En route, you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery, the oldest and largest Gelugpa Monastery in Tibet. Here you will see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth, decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers. And proceed to a free market to experience the stylish local life.

Overnight in Lhasa tonight.

Day 9 Lhasa Departure ( B )

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The day is free for you until to be transferred to the airport in time for your flight.

Recommended Add-on Options

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Read what other travelers think about this Tibet trip. We only accept reviews from actual, confirmed travelers who purchased the tour / activity from us, so you can be sure the reviews are unbiased and authentic.

 

Stephanie was a great tour guide! We had such a good time on the tour. Definitely worth every penny. I would even go again. I would recommend them.

USA, July, 2011

Renee W.‚ 

 

This was truly the trip of our lifetime! Tibet Discovery helped us get to the vast country where my Grandmother was born and the experience was spiritually and emotionally moving.

CA, 2010

Toni Morgan, Santa Cruz‚ 

 

I was very impressed!! I would definitely recommended!! The tours were very complete, organized and fun!! There are agents around to answer your...

U.S.A, 2011

MARIA B‚ 

Here are recent candid photos of this Tibet trip. If you want to share your own tour photos, simply email your photos to info@tibetdiscovery.com with your Booking ID Number. Thanks in advance for sharing!

Yamdrok Lake

Potala Palace

Tashilumpo Monastery

Shalu