Civilizations of Ancient Tibet

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3650m).

Settle into your hotel to relax and adjust to high altitude.

Day 02: Lhasa (Visit Potala Palace & Jokhang Temple).

In the morning, we will visit the Potala Palace, the greatest wonder of Tibet architecture. The Potala was built in the mid-7th century by the famous Tibet King, Songtsen Gampo. The Potala Palace is 130m-high and 13 stories high, and it commands a view of all Lhasa. The Potala has been the residence of the Dalai Lama lineage for hundreds of years. After lunch, we will also visit the Jokhang Temple, also known in Tibet as the Tsuglhakhang, it is the most important temple in Tibet. Every year thousands of pilgrims come to Lhasa from every corner of the Tibetan plateau to visit Jokhang Temple. This temple was built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampp, and is more than 1300years old. From the roof of the Temple, there is a wonderful view of Potala Palace and the bustling Barkhor.

Day 03: Lhasa (Visit Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery).

After breakfast, you will meet your guide in hotel and he or she will lead you to visit one of the three most famous monasteries in Tibet. Drepung Monastery, which literally translated as “rice heap”, was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa called Jamyang Choje, and once it was home to as many as 10.000 monks! Ganden Palace was established by the second Dalai Lama, and was home to the Dalai Lamas until the fifth Dalai Lama built the Potala. Next we will visit Sera Monastery, where you can watch monks debate Tibetan Buddhist philosophy in the debating courtyard.

Day 04: Lhasa—Samye Monastery 3650m /230kms / 4 HRS.

Today we will drive to Samye Monastery via Tsethang and along the Yarlung river; Yarlung is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Samye Monastery is the first monastery in Tibet and has a history of more than 1200years. It was founded by the great king Trisong Detsen, who invited Guru Rinpoche to Tibet from India, and this master paved the way for the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. The monastery is designed in the shape of a mandala and represents the universe. Next we will climb up on the Hepo Ri, known as the place where Guru Rinpoche vanquished the demons of Tibet. This place offers a great views of the Samye monastery. We will overnight in Samye Monastery Guesthouse.

Day 05: Samye—Chim-puk Hermitage-Tsethang (3650m).

In the morning, we will take a walk through the local villages and photograph the monastery and also enjoy some local teas. Afterward, we will head up to the most important meditation cave of Buddhism followers: Guru Rinpoche’s original meditation retreat. We will need to hire a local tractor in Samye to there. Once you are there, you will follow the pilgrims to explore the meditation cave there in the Chim-puk; here you will have a great views of the Yarlung River. In the afternoon we will come back to Samye and drive to Tsethang for the night.

Day 06: Samye—Yumbulakang--Tandruk Monastery—Lhasa 230kms / 4 HRS.

In the Morning we will visit Yumbulakang, the first palace in Tibet; there palace was constructed by the first king of Tibet. Next we will pay a visit to Tandruk Monastery, which is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, This monastery built at the same time as the Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple in Lhasa, dating back to the 7th century by the king Songtsen Gampo. We will stop for lunch in Tsethang and in the afternoon, we will drive back to Lhasa via Mindroling, one of the six major monasteries of the Nyingmapa sect in Tibet.

Day 07: Depart from Lhasa.

Leave for your next destination by air or train.

Map coming soon...