Lhasa & Namtso Lake Tour

01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

This tour covers the major tourist sites of Lhasa City: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Bakor street, Drepung monastery and Sera monastery, and you can see Namtso, 180km Northwest of Lhasa, is one of the most beautiful places in the Nyenchen Tanglha mountain range. Namtso means "Heavenly Lake" In the Tibetan "Nam" means Sky and "Tso" means Lake. Namtso Lake is at an elevation of 4,718 meters, covering an area of 1,940 square kilometers. Namtso Lake is the highest salty-lake in the world, and one of the 3 holy lakes of Tibet. It is also the second largest salt lake in China. The water here is a storybook crystal-clear blue. Clear skies join the surface of the lake in the distance, creating an integrated, scenic vista. Soul of every visitor who has ever been here seems to be cleansed by the pure lake water.

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa — Fly to Lhasa airport and transfer to Lhasa (95 km - It takes approx. 2 hours to Lhasa through the Yerlung Tsangpo and the Lhasa Kyichu River). Accommodation: Hotel Day 2: Lhasa Tour — After breakfast, visit Potala palace, the seat of both religion and politics in Tibet. It was built in the 7th century by Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo and later renovated by the 5th Dalailama in the 17th century. Afternoon visit Jokhang Temple and Barkhor market, this is the holiest shrine in Tibet and houses of golden statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha which was brought to Tibet by the Chinese princess Wenchen. Accommodation: Hotel, Meals: Breakfast Day 3: Lhasa Tour — After breakfast, visit Drepung monastery, which is the largest Monastery of the Gelugpa sect in Lhasa, which was built in 1416 by Jamyang chojie a disciple of Tsongkhapa. Afternoon visit Sera monastery located in north of Lhasa city, It was built in 1419 by Jamchen Choeji, a disciple of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect. Sera monastery is one of the three major monasteries of yellow sect in Tibet. Accommodation: Hotel, Meals: Breakfast Day 4: Lhasa to Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours) — In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso. On the way, you can see Nyenchen Thanglha (snow mountain ranges) and lots of nomads tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated around the mountain side. Namtso Lake is the Heavenly lake which is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt lake. You can do a very relaxing trekking around the lake side and Tashi Island. To spend a night at lake shore is fantastic to see the stars. Overnight Guest house Accommodation: Guest House, Meals: Breakfast Day 5: Namtso Lake back to Lhasa via Yampachen (230km, 5 hours ) — Enjoy the clear morning at the lake shore, you can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Drive to Dumxung to have lunch. In the afternoon, you may enjoy Yangpachen hot spring (Optional) and have both indoor and outdoor swimming pool filled with hot springs water. Finally, drive back to Lhasa. Overnight Hotel. Accommodation: Hotel Day 6: Final Departure — Transfer to international airport and fly to onward destination. Meals: Breakfast

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Lhasa — Fly to Lhasa airport and transfer to Lhasa (95 km - It takes approx. 2 hours to Lhasa through the Yerlung Tsangpo and the Lhasa Kyichu River). Accommodation: Hotel+