Xining Lhasa Tour - 11 Days

You have to come to Xining from mainland China and you can avail of the train or flight services to do so.

Upon arrival in Xining, the local guide of Himalayan Trekkers will meet you and escort you to your hotel room. The climate in Xining is much different from the climate in mainland China because of the effect of the mountains. Thus we request you to rest and acclimatize yourself in this new environment. You can take a trip through the city if you feel like it. Overnight stay will be at Xining.

Kokonor Lake has situated 151 km to the west of this city and takes about a 2-hour drive from Xining to reach. It is the largest saltwater lake in China and is an introduction to the kind of scenic visit that is waiting for you. If you are lucky enough to visit this wonderful place during June-July you witness the beautiful rapeseed blossom everywhere.

The train to Lhasa leaves the station at 7:00 PM and you need to reach the station about 1.30 hours prior to departure. So we will head back to the hotel by the afternoon and give you time for repacking. Then we will be taking the train to the exquisite and mystical city of Lhasa.

When you are taking a rode through the world’s highest train route, you are sure to get a look into a side of the world that is seldom seen. At 2:00 AM the train will be traveling at an altitude of 5072km and you will get a view of the snow-covered Thangalu range under a starry sky. Throughout the day you will move to and fro between vast pasture lands and wide barren lands.

The last station in this heavenly train journey is Lhasa from where Lhasa city is 25km. you will travel along Tsangpo, the largest and longest of the Tibetan rivers and then along Lhasa River. Get a goodnight’s rest at your hotel room for an amazing next day.

In the middle of old Lhasa city lays one of the holiest places in Tibet- the Jokhang Temple. It is dedicated to Buddha and has pilgrims, devotees, and tourists flocking the place all year round. The Jokhang Temple is surrounded by the Barkhor Street on which you can take a Kora. Bakhor Street also has a market place wherein so many people are selling their traditional Tibetan wares.

The Roof of the World has a much different type of climate and it requires some getting used to. Thus we are keeping the tour on the first daylight and breezy and will take you to the Sera Monastery in the afternoon. It was founded by Jamchenchoge Sakya Yeshi who is a disciple of Tsongka Pa in the 15th century. The monastery houses hundreds of monks from different parts of Tibet. There is a philosophical debate held among the monks every day in the afternoon which can’t be missed- you may end up getting a lot of wisdom from this tour too!

Potala Palace has been the cultural and traditional hub for the Tibetans for a long time. It was first built in the 7th century CE by the 33rd Great King of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo. Later on, it was renovated by Panchan Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It has been the home to Dalai Lama ever since and is the place from where he has conducted governance. You will find the golden burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas in this place and also a cave for meditation which was used by the king.

Monasteries are a main attraction of Tibet and the afternoon will see us visiting the Drepung Monastery. It is also one of the Three Great Gelug monasteries in Tibet and was the residence of the Dalai Lama before Potala Palace. It is one of the largest monasteries and has a capacity to house over 100,000 monks. For obvious reasons this monastery also has the largest monastery kitchen in the world. You will find both the places laden with Buddhist architecture of the most exquisite kind.

The first monastery ever built in Tibet was in 7th Century CE during the reign of Trisong Desen. The Samye Monastery has stood through centuries and has seen lots of natural and man-made destructions. It is located in the southern part of Tibet. We will pass through Tsedang where we will have lunch and follow the road to Samye Monastery. The monastery features a Mandala like design and is situated in the northern banks of the Tsangpo or Brahmaputra River.

There is a short hike up to the Hepu Hills located near to the monastery.

The story goes that the building of the Samye Monastery was prevented by lots of obstacles. One day, Guru Padmasambhava climbed on to the Hepu Hills and through divine powers hailed misery upon the devils bringing on the obstacles. He punished them with stone rainfall and it was only after this that Samye monastery could be built.

Samye Monastery has a guest house wherein you will be spending the night.

On our way back to Tsedang we will take a detour to Chimpu Hermitage. There are several caves here wherein Guru Rhinponche and one of his disciples Khangdo Yashi Tsogyal had meditated back in the 7th century. It has been kind of a holy spot since then and has attracted many hermits and ascetics since then. We will take a hike through the mountainous caves after visiting the Chimpu nunnery and then get back on the road to Tsedang.

Tsedang used to be Tibet’s capital back in the ancient days and houses the palace of the 1sr King, Yumbu Lhakang. A visit to this place will be the end of the journey on this day and we will retire for the night at Tsedang.

Our journey today will take us uphill and across many high altitudes passes. We will travel upstream along the Tsangpo River and after passing through several villages will reach Gampa La at 4700m. The holy Yamdrok Lake is visible from this pass and shines in a mystic blue light. The next high mountain to pass to fall in our way is Karo La at 5150m from where we will get a grand view of Mt. Nyenchen Kangsar Glacier, a holy place for the Tibetans. 

The long journey up to Gyangtse will take you through many villages which will give you a flavor of the Tibetan way of life. You will also come across many extraordinary sights of scenic beauty, some of which you will never see again. The arrival at Gyangtse will be marked by a visit to the exclusive Kumbum Stupa, the largest in Tibet and the Pelkhor Choede Monastery.

We spend the night at Gyangtse.

Shigatse is a short drive away from Gyangtse and at a much lower elevation. On the way to Shigatse will fall the Shalu Monastery. It was the place of worship for Buton Rinchendrub (1290-1346). He was the person to have codified the Tibetan translations of the Indian Buddhist ideas. You will find an amalgamation of the Chinese and Tibetan style of architecture in this monastery. Though it was renovated quite a number of times, the Chinese aspect still shouts out.

Tashi Lunpo Monastery in Shigatse was built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama Gedun Drup and is a site of historical significance. It is beautifully carved like all other Tibetan monasteries and you will also find tombs of 7 of the past Panchen Lamas. This night we will be spending in Shigatse and enjoying scenic views.

We have reached the last phase of our journey and the next day is time for all of you to return back to your daily lives. We will be taking the Northern Friendship Highway to reach our destination. En route, we will stop at Nyimo which is the cottage industry producing incense. They have been doing so for hundreds of years and produce incense of extraordinary quality.

We will reach Lhasa with plenty of time to spare for you to go on the last walk through these peaceful streets. You can also visit Barkhor Street to shop for gift items for family and friends.

On the 11th day, a representative of Himalayan Trekkers will wave you goodbye at the train station or the airport to commemorate the end of this tour.

Well, with the end of a new journey, you will commence a new one!