Discover central Tibet
1 630,00 €
we will be able to approach these great monasteries which have made Buddhism great in its Tibetan form: Sera, Drepung without forgetting the Potala and at the end of our stay Samye the oldest monastery in the country. We will appreciate the priceless masterpieces that have spanned the centuries and the cultural revolution.
But we will also go to remote places where others do not go like the shores of Lake Yamdrok or the ruins of Ralung, nestled in the heart of the high plateau to taste the immensity of the Tibetan plateau.
- Tibet Country
- Culture and discovery Thématique
- Easy Difficulté
- 7 days Duration
- 5 200 m Max. altitude
- Yes Guide
- Hôtel Hébergement
- Samye Departure / Arrival
Itinerary
Flight to Gongkar airport 60 km from Lhasa. Welcome by your guide and transfer to your hotel near the old quarters then free time to rest and acclimatize. ?
Transport: minibus or minivan
Visit the well 2 minutes from our hotel in the heart of the old town, the Jokhang temple, where pilgrims from the farthest reaches of the Tibetan world wander, etc. Visit the monastic University of Sera where oratorical debates are still practiced.
known and lesser ; known sites of Lhasa: the great monastic university of Drépung which housed more than 7,000 monks in a maze of chapels, temples and oratories.
According to the schedule granted for visits: The Potala Palace which was the seat of the Dalai Lama until 1959 and which houses an impressive collection of works of Buddhist art, Excursion
Discovery of Turquoise Lake (Yamdrok) in a mountain setting, where yaks and sheep graze. Picnic at the edge of the lake then crossing the Karola pass (5200 m), we pass at the foot of the imposing NorjinKangsang glacier. En route discovery the incredible site of the forgotten Ralung monastery. One or two hours of easy walking to taste the immensity of the Tibetan plateau.
In the morning visit Gyantsé, one of the most beautiful towns in central Tibet where farmers and breeders meet for a picturesque market. Visit the monastery with its extraordinary frescoes and the famous Stupa (Kumbum) with 72 chapels. Then drive to Shigatsé (1h30) and detour to discover the Shalu site. . At the end of the afternoon, visit the Tashilhumpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, then stroll through the market where you can still find some beautiful (fake!) antiques.
Following the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Bhramaputra) downstream, the road to Tsetang where we have to do the paperwork to go to Samye and on the way visit the fortress and watchtower of Yambhu Lakhang. Then short transfer to Samye where the most ancient Buddhist monastery of Tibet is located, built on the plan of a mandala in the heart of an oasis under King Trisong Detsen following the directives of Guru Rinpoche. Night in Samye
Free morning in Tsetang, then transfer to Gongkar airport for the return flight.
Practical Info
What is included
- All transfers by private vehicle according to itinerary.
- Stay in Tibet with accommodation according to the program (Yalonghe a Tsetang****, Kyichu****, Yuthok, Shiga Yangsha)
- Breakfasts in Tibet
- English-speaking Tibetan guide for the entire Tibet stay
- Permits and authorization to enter sites in Tibet
- Entrances to national sites and parks in Tibet
- Hand delivery of Tibet permits at the transit point in China
- Online payment in France without bank fees
- Staff insurance
What is not included
- Flight to Lhasa & International flights
- Meals in Tibet excluding breakfast
- China Visa
- Mandatory repatriation insurance
- Tips, personal expenses and equipment, drinks, etc.
FAQ
This central Tibet cultural tour begins in Lhasa, among the great monasteries that made Tibetan Buddhism great: Sera, Drepung, the Jokhang and its Barkhor quarter, not forgetting the Potala Palace. Priceless masterpieces that have survived the centuries.
Over the Kampa La pass (4,900 m), the road reveals Yamdrok lake and its turquoise waters, before reaching the ruins of Ralung, nestled in the heart of the high plateau. Remote places where few travellers stop, to savour the immensity of the Tibetan plateau.
After Gyantse, Shalu and Shigatse, the journey ends at Samye, the country’s oldest monastery, and Yumbu Lakhang, considered the first palace of the Tibetan kings. A history-laden finale for this small-group tour.
