Tibet Tours

Tibet is still Open To Foreign Tourists, how travel for foreigners to Lhasa needs to be arranged:

1. Everyone must be part of a group tour.
We asked how may people makes a “group” and the TTB wasn’t 100% sure, but thought that 2 people would be enough to make a “group”. This minimum number could be changed to 3 or 4, but today we were told 2.

2. The difference of the nationality will be no problem to make a group.
compared with the rules in 2008, be changed since 2009, no matter you come from which country, you can make a group if you like.

3. The tour guide still necessary when you go to Tibet.
A tour guide still necessary when you go to any part of the Tibet area, anyone who visit wothout the guide is still not allowed by the local governemnt.

4. All foreigners must have all of the proper permits before departing to Lhasa.
This is nothing new, but you can be certain that all train stations and airports will be checking everyone’s permits.

5. All foreigners must be pick up by the local guide and driver.

Compared with the Chinese customers, all the foreign customers should be pick up by the local guide and driver from the travle agency.

6. Travel to Lhasa must be arranged at least 5 days in advance.
We have been told that an official itinerary must be given to the TTB 5 days before the customer plans to arrive in Lhasa. The TTB will be doing at least some sort of a background check before a permit is issued to travel to Lhasa. Although maybe you could get a permit in 2 or 3 days, but we still suggest arrange it at least 5 days to process in order to ensure that you can go on time.

How to go to Tibet

By Air:
From within China, most travelers fly to Lhasa from Chengdu,but it is also possible from Kunming and a few other Chinese cities.

From outside China, it is only possible from Kathmandu, Nepal. Tickets can be purchased abroad, but you can also get to Nepal or China and then book from there. All tickets must be purchased through a travel agency.

By Rail:
The Qinghai-Tibet railway was completed in July 2006 and is expected to bring in hoards of Chinese tourists. If travelling to Lhasa from within China, this is a great option as it might help you acclimatize to the altitude a bit better.You can take the train from Chengdu,Beijing,Chongqing,Xining,Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Overland:
Route 1:Via Nepal.
Many travelers book overland tours via the Friendship Highway that runs from Kathmandu to Lhasa. The 920km (570 miles) trip is spectacular although don’t expect a shower along the way. It takes three to five days with stops at sights along the way.

Route 2:Via Golmud.
The terrain is desolate so it’s not recommended unless you happen to find yourself in Golmud, wishing to be in Lhasa. If this is the case, you may have a better time on the train.
Route 3:Via Chengdu.
For this route,private tour is allowable.You may find a travel agency in Chengdu to arrange you a private tour with at least driver,guide & travel permit.

Tibet Travel Planner is dedicated to providing everything you want to know about Tibet travel. We have pages offering practical information on Tibet maps, Tibet travel documents, air travel or train travel to Tibet, standard Tibet tours, Tibet travel news, photos as well as tips for your Tibet tour, and other pages for you to learn about Tibet cities, Tibet attractions, Tibet history, Tibet religion, Tibet people, and Tibet festivals.

1. Why a trip to Tibet? Show me other visitors’ impressions of Tibet.

2. What documents do I need to travel to Tibet? How can I get the Tibet Travel Permit?

3. Do I have to join a group tour? Show me the rules for traveling in Tibet.

4. How to get to Tibet? Flight in–train out or train in–flight out? How is the train journey? Show me a better way to get to Tibet.

5. Is it easy to get the Tibet train ticket? Show me the current Tibet train schedule and ticket price.

6. Where should I go and what should I see? Show me maps of Tibet and the cities or attractions that are worth visiting.

7. I am concerned about the high altitude sickness. How to adjust to the altitude?

8. What shall I pack?

9. What is the best time to go? Show me the weather and climate for each month in Tibet.

10. Can you recommend some best Tibet tour itineraries? Can you recommend a reliable tour operator?

11. What about Tibetan food? Will I like it?

12.  Can I use credit card when I’m in Tibet? Can I depend on ATMs in Tibet?

Currency
In Tibet, you still use Chinese Yuan ‘RMB’. But in Tibet people don’t use coins as other big cities in China.

Exchanging Money
In Tibet, the only place to change foreign currency and travellers cheques is the Bank of China. The top end hotels in Lhasa have exchenge services but they are only availbale for guests. The sensible thing to do is to change as much money in Lhasa as you think you need. The only other places to change money are in Shigatse, Zhangmu and Purang(or perhaps Ali). If you are travelling upcountry, try and get your cash in small denominations: RMB100 and RMB50 bills are sometimes difficult to get rid of in rural Tibet. If you don’t like the idea of turning up at the border with no Chinese currency you can buy cash RMB from banks in Hong Kong and the Bank of China in large cities.

Credit Cards
Credit cards are not recommended as a way of payment in Tibet. Flights out of Lhasa can not be paid using a credit card. The Lhasa branch of the Bank of China is the only bank in Tibet which provides credit card advances. Most of time you couldn’t get cash by ATM from small branches, usually you need to go to the Main one nearby Potala Palace. A 3% commission is usually deducted and the minimum advance is normally RMB2000.

Sichuan is the home to big Panda bears and the main entry port to travel Tibet by train and plane; while touring Sichuan, you can see world’s highest seated Leshan Buddha statue, enjoy amaizing, natural beauty of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, see colourful Tibetan folklores and grand landscape in Ganzi and Aba in western and northern Sichuan; at Chengdu, you can rent car with a driver, and then begin your DIY Sichuan tours to Kangding, Hailuogou, Danba, Tagong, Luhuo, Dawu, Derge, Seashuel, Litang, Batang, Daocheng, and Yading nature

travel tibet tours
‘individual tour without escort of local guide service’ inside Tibet is not available; your stay requires local escort of guide service; this will be arranged before your arrival.

Tibet (Xizang) is located on world’s highest plateau in China southwest; on its north is Xinjiang Uygher A.R. and Kekexili of Qinghai province, to its northeast is Yushu Tibetan prefecture of Qinghai province, to its east is Ganzi Tibetan prefecture of Sichuan province and to its southeast is Diqing Tibetan prefercture of Yunnan province, and on its south is India, Nepal, Buthan, and Burma; the grandest Himalayas mountain range winds from the west to the east, and turns southward at the east of Tibet A.R.. For centuries, Tibet has been the dreamland of foreign adventurers and the most welcome destination of tourism to tourists of all ages; in Xizang, you have numerous choices on sightseeing, such as Potala palace, Jokhang temple, parkhor street, Ganden monastery, Samye monastery, Sakya monastery, Chupu monastery, Shigatse Tashilunpo monastery and holy mountains like Mt. Everest, Mt. Kailash, holy lakes like lake Manasarovar, lake Namtso and lake Yangdrok.

6 days tibet tour (Lhasa, lake Namtso, Reting and Tsigongti monastery)
6 days tibet tour (Lhasa, Gyangtse and Shigatse)
7 days tibet tour (Lhasa, Gyangtse, Shigatse and Samye monastery)
8 days tibet travel: from Lhasa to Kathmandu of Nepal (with tour to EBC)
9 days tibet travel: Lhasa – Mt. Everest – Sakya – Shigatse – Lhasa
travel Sichuan tours in its west and north, those tours are between Ganzi, Aba, and Yushu, but you do not travel into Tibet.
Kham area refers to a vast area in geography on Qing-Zang Gaoyuan (Qingihai-Tibet plateau); in general, Kham covers such territeries as Jyekundo (Yushu) Tibetan prefecture, Chamdo of Tibet A.R., Ganzi Tibetan prefecture of western Sichuan province and Diqing Tibetan prefecture of Northern Yunnan province, there is no difinite answer on the real geogranphic coverage of Kham; There are 4 big rivers flowing from the north to the south in Kham area, they are, respectively, Nu River (Salween), Lanchangjiang River (Mekong), Jinshajiang River (Yangtze) and Yarlong River; there are numerous high mountain peaks over 5000 meters; if you are not very desired to go to Tibet, it will be your best choice to travel around in Kham area, further more, touring in Kham area, you can travel freely and are not required to get travel permits like you travel Tibet.

14 days’ tour in western Sichuan
travel to Chengdu, Ganzi, Derge, Baiyu, Litang, Kangding, Hailuogou, and return back to Chengdu in the end
19 days’ travel in western sichuanl
travel to Chengdu, Ganzi, Derge, Baiyu, Batang, Xiangcheng, Daocheng, Yading, Litang, Kangding, and getting back to Chengdu
16 days’ road travel from Sichuan to Qinghai
tour Chengdu, Rilong, Danba, Daofu, Ganzi, Paryuel, Derge, Jyekundo, Mardo, and finally arriving in Xining
20 days’ tour from Qinghai to Yunnan tour
going along Mardo, Jyekundo, Seashuel, Manigange, Derge, Ganzi, Litang and Zhongdian
more travel Kham/Amdo tours …

Travel tibet and sichuan for local festivals and celebrations
On this unique plateau, the major nationality is Tibetans; they are scattering, like stars, through this highland, the living conditions are very hard to them, a festival or gathering can give them rare chance to get together; especially Tibetan new year, horse raceing festival (held in Litang, Jyekundo and Nakchu) and Shoton festival are the most popular ones.

23 days’ tour to Baiyu for Katoc religious rituals (held in Katoc monastery, Paryuel, Ganzi)
11 days’ tour to Litang for Litang horse raceing festival + tour Mt. Siguniangs (held in Litang)
9 days’ travel to Nakchu for Tibet horse raceing festival (held in Nakchu of Tibet)
7 days’ travel to Lhasa for Shoton festival ( held in Lhasa, capital city of Tibet)
more tibetan festival tours
rent car and travel to lhasa from chengdu, xining, lijiang and kathmandu
These types of road travel Tibet tours are a type of challenge to you, the distance of every road to Lhasa is more than 2000 kilometers, and all these roads pass over high mountains, through deep valleys by zigzagging mountain roads, which are winding its way, like a snake, to its destination – Lhasa.
You can start these types of tibet tour, from any of such places as Chengdu, Xining, Lijiang, Zhongdian and Kashigar, and even from Kathmandu of Nepal. Among these, the road travel from Kashigar to Lhasa, which goes through the far west of Tibet, is the most dangerous and challenging one, the second but the most beautiful road trip is the road tour from Chengdu to Lhasa passing through Ganzi, Derge, Chamdo, Sok and Nakchu.
First of all, anyone who prefers a comfortable trip cannot find comforts among these tours, but an tour you select will impress you in your whole life.

Travel to Tibet – Discover the Roof of the World!Local Time
22:20:14
CSTRatings:3.88 out of 5 (60 votes) Reviews: Be the first to write a review Vast and desolate with an average altitude of 4,900 metres Tibet is a huge plateau with a unique, vibrant and distinguished cultural inheritance. It’s desolate wastelands of stark beauty – deserts, mountains and rivers embrace isolated gompas – Buddhist monasteries and a people with a spirit of survival fuelled by their devotion to the Dalai Lama.

An adventure holiday to Tibet, Known as the “Roof of the World”, is a once in a lifetime experience rewarding visitors who brave harsh conditions with an insight into a long-surviving cultural traditions that manifest themselves in amazing temples and palaces such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Kumbum Stupa, Yumbulagang Palace and the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery.

See to Mt Everest from the Tibetan side of the border at Rongbuk Monastery as you make your way to Kathmandu along the Friendship Highway. There are lakes and rivers to discover too, like Lake Manasarovar, overlooked by Mt Kailash, holy in 4 great Asian religions.

Travel is tough but the natural beauty bathed in an unmatched clarity of light, the friendliness of its indomitable people and the amazing cultural sights make this one of the world’s greatest travel destinations.

For many people this is the Tibet that they discover on their first visit and the route along the Friendship Highway to or from Nepal is one of the true greats of the travel world. Major highlights litter the route, Shigatse where lies Tashilhunpo Monastery and the spectacular tombs of the Panchen Lamas, and Gyantse, home to Kumbum Stupa, to Rongbuk Monastery and Mt Everest Base Camp. Superlatives can’t do this area justice, it has to be seen, felt and experienced.

Views along the route are simply breathtaking and it’s no wonder this is the most visited part of the country – where else can you get close up views of Mount Everest without trekking, but if trekking is your thing then head hear with an experienced travel specialist and you’ll have some astounding experiences.

Choose the to travel along the Friendship Highway for a superb adventure holiday to Tibet!

Yunnan Province is unique in China for its combination of natural beauty, cultural diversity and its quaint old towns. Yunnan is also the ancient trading post & salt trading route. We explore the enchanting & multi-ethnic towns of Kunming, Lijiang & continue our journey into Zhongdian or Gyalthang, a Tibetan enclave in Yunnan & the home of the Shangri-La legend – its spectacular mountain landscapes, Tibetan towns, ethnic minorities and traditional life. From Zhongdian we fly to Lhasa, the forbidden city & the ultimate pilgrim destination for Tibetan Buddhist all over.

YUNNAN TOUR – THE LOST SHANGRILA ITINERARY

DAY 01: KUNMING
Meet at the airport, if time permits, visit the Flower and Bird Market.

DAY 02: LIJIANG
We drive to Lijiang and take time to explore the enchanting town and its rich Naxi minority culture including visits to Black Dragon Pool and the Museum of Naxi Culture, as well as time to walk the winding cobbled streets. Outside of Lijiang, we stroll through some classic Chinese villages and see the Yufeng Monastery.

DAY 03: TIGER LEAPING GORGE & ZHONGDIAN
From Lijiang, we travel north by road into the mountains and visit the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge where the mighty Yangtze has carved one of the world’s deepest chasms. We continue on to Zhongdian, a town set high in the mountains on the remote Tibetan border and home to numerous ethnic minority people including a large Tibetan community.

DAY 04: ZHONGDIAN
In the morning visit the Sumsanling Monastery, which was built in 1679 by the Fifth Dalai lama. It is considered as the most important monastery of Gelukpa-sect in Yunnan province. In the afternoon visit local market & the old town of Gyalthang & Lake Napa Nature Reserve, a bird-watchers’s paradise & sanctuary for rare species such as the Black-neck crane.

DAY 05: FLY ZHONDIAN TO LHASA or to your onward destination.

Tibet-13 Days Classic Tibet Trekking Tour of Everese Base Camp from Old Tingri to E.B.C
In this 12 days tour,you will not only have a  chance to see the beauty of the Lhasa city,such as:Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple,Sera Monastery,Drepung Monastery,but also can have a look of Yamdroktso Lake,Tashilunpo Monastery,Rongphu Monastery and you even can have a more specific view of the life of the Everest Base Camp and do lots of trekking around Everest Base Camp which will make you never want to leave.
Everest Base Camp trek is the second popular trekking route in Tibet. And most of the time you will walk on a plateau over 4300m, even you will cross over one pass Nam-la 5300m, so this trekking route is a really difficult high-elevation. But, however, because of the high-altitude, it offers a splendour views of north face of Everest and other snow mountain peaks around. The Everest Base Camp Trek tour can be done from April to late October. Our tour involves a few day sightseeing at Lhasa at first and some detour off the Friendship Hwy to Old Tingri to acclimatise.

Itinerary Briefing:
Day01: Arrive at Lhasa
Day02: Lhasa
Day03: Lhasa
Day04: Lhasa- Namtso Lake-Lhasa
Day05: Lhasa- Yamdrotso Lake- Gyantse
Day06: Gyantse- Shigatse- Old Tingri
Day07: Trekking
Day08: Trekking
Day09: Trekking
Day10: Trekking
Day11: Everest Base Camp- Rongpu- Shigatse
Day12: Shigatse- Lhasa
Day13: Lhasa dropping off, end the trip.

Day by day Itinerary:
Day01: Shanghai/Beijing/Chengdu/ Xian flight to Lhasa ( 80km, asphalt road, 3595m,  15-19centigrade)    Overnight at Lhasa stander room
- Depature from Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Chongqin: You will use your copy of your Tibet Entry Permit, your passport and flight ticket change the broding pass flight to Lhasa by yourself.

- Depature from Chengdu: Morning time our staff pick you from your hotel in Chengdu then dropping of you to Chengdu airport help you check in. 2 hour fligth you will arrive at Lhasa Gongga airport. Tibet local guide will pick you from airport to Lhasa city. Rest in hotel.
 

Day02: Lhasa city tour     Overnight at Lhasa

Morning time visit Potala Palace. Then visit Jokhang Temple, walk around Barkhour Market.
                                                                                          
Day03: Lhasa city tour     Overnight at Lhasa

Morning time visit Norblingka Palace,afternoon to Sera Monastery.Night time have chance tast Tibetan cuisne and Tibetan culture show(own expense)

Day04: Lhasa- Namtso Lake-Yangpachen Hotspring- Lhasa( 500km, 7 hours driving, asphalt road in good condition, 4178m, 5-15centigrade)  Overnight at Lhasa
In the morning around 08:00am, our guide and drive pick you from your hotel, then we leave Lhasa to Namtso Lake. On the way you will see the huge grassland of Naqu and have a chance see the sky road- Qinghai Tibet Railway passing through it look likes a dragon. Then the Nyenchen Thanglha snow mountain ranges in front of you, and also you will pass the Nagela Pass. Then on the way back to Lhasa you have a chance enjoy the Yangpachen hotspring, back to Lhasa. 
Notes:
Depends on how long times you arrive in Lhasa and your body health, suggestion the traveler whol

Day05: Lhasa- Yamdrotso Lake- Gyantse(590km, 6hours driving)  Overnight at Gyantse.
Morning time driving to Shiatse, on the way pass Gangbala Mt. which is over than 5000m, then to Yamdrotso lake which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Arrive at Gyantse.

Day06: Gyantse- Shigatse- Old Tingri( 400km, 5 hours driving, asphalt road in good condition) Overnight at Old Tingri
Morning time visit Gyantse Kumbum, far view of Gyantse Dzong. Then driving to Shigatse. After lunch visit TashiLumpo Monastery which was Built in1447 , spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas, then driving to Shigatse, visit TashiLumpo Monastery which was Built in1447, spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas. Then driving to Old Tingri prepare for trekking.
Day07: Trek to Tsojan Village (4500M)               Camping
The elevation of Tsojan Village is 4500m and 4?C5 hours of trekking is needed. The trek begins in Old Tingri and you pass through Lunja as your head south towards Everest in the distance. The high flat plain typical of Tibet allows for gradual elevation gains during the day. A water-powered barley mill is passed along the way.
Day08: Trek to the beyond Nam- La Pass (5100M )    Camping
The elevation of Nam- La Pass is 5100m and you will need 6 hours for trekking. As you continue up the valley. Everest disappears behind the mountains and as the trail turns to the southeast and begins to climb to the pass. Camping at the beyond Nam- La.
Day09: Trek to Rongphu Monastery (4980M)     Overnight at Rongpu dorm bed.
Continue along the way towards the main road by passing Zemukh village, connect with the main road and continue on to the Rongpu Monastery.
Day10: Trek to E.B.C ( 5200M)            Everest Base Camp tent
Today you can have a good relax at Rongphu, and then head up to E.B.C. It only takes 2 hours hike to E.B.C from Rongphu, you can stay one night at E.B.C. Camping.
Day11: Everst Base Camp- Rongpu- Shigatse           Overnight at Shigatse. 
After sunrise at Everest Base Camp, start driving back to Shigatse, you may have Xiqian hot-springs nearby Lhatse.
Day12: Shigatse- Lhasa               Overnight at Lhasa.
Transfer by Friend-Shipa Highway back to Lhasa.
Day13: Lhasa airport or train station dropping off.
Dropping off end the trip.
Service Include:
1. Tibet Entry Permit
2. Tibet Travel Permit
3. 7N 3star hotel standeroom; 2N dorm bed, 3N tent
4. Landcruiser transportation with expert driver
5. Tibetan English speaking guide
6. Yak(or horse) and Yak(or horse) porters for luggage during trekking.
7. Travel insurance.
8. Three bottom of oxygen per car for urgent use.

Service Exclude:
1. Your own expense like Yangpachen hotspring
2. Tips for the guide and driver
3. Trekking equipment ( Sleeping bag, tent and mattress)
4. Meals
5. Airfares or train ticket in& out of Tibet.
6. Entrance fee above mentioned

Tibetan is spoken in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, and in parts of northern India (including Sikkim). It is classified by linguists as a member of the Tibeto-Burman subgroup of the Sino-Tibetan languages.

Tibetan is written in a very conservative syllabary script based on the writing system of the ancient Sanskrit language of India. Used in its present form since the 9th century, it was developed as a means of translating sacred Buddhist texts that were being brought into Tibet from India. The writing system derived from the pronunciation of the language as it was in about the 7th century, and varies in many ways from colloquial Tibetan as it spoken today.

Beginning in the 8th century, Buddhist texts written in Sanskrit were carried over the Himalayas, and were carefully translated into Tibetan by meditator scholars who had studied the true meaning of the teachings with Indian masters. The flow of texts and teachings ended during the 11th century, when the Indian originals were mostly lost or destroyed in the Muslim suppression of Buddhism in India. Fortunately, by that time the transmission of Buddhist textual, artistic, meditative, and philosophical traditions into Tibet had been largely completed. Over the years Tibetan scholars added commentaries and further teachings to this body of literature.

In recent times the Chinese invasion of Tibet and their attempt to destroy the influence of the Buddhist monasteries led many very advanced meditation masters and scholars to escape to the West, bringing as many of their precious dharma texts and sacred art works as they could carry. These works are now preserved at many Tibetan Buddhist centers in various Western countries, and copies are also available for study in many major libraries. The language in which these texts are written is known as Classical Tibetan. Of the thousands of volumes of these texts, it is said that less than one percent have been translated into any Western languages.

The language as it is actually spoken today is called Colloquial Tibetan by Western scholars. There are four major dialects, and people from widely separated regions may have trouble understanding each other. The “standard” dialect is that of the region around the capital, Lhasa. Another form of the language, found in current writing, is called Modern Literary Tibetan.

This Web site offers links to resources on the Web, books, training aids and tools for translators, and software for working with Tibetan on personal computers. Also, we point out a good source of spoken colloquial Tibetan, the Tibetan language news broadcasts which are available via “Internet Radio.”

These news broadcasts are also of interest to Tibetan refugees who have access to the Internet, and for them we have also included links to Indian and Nepali language broadcasts. Tape recordings of these broadcasts may be appreciated by Tibetans who don’t have Internet access.

Why Train to Tibet?
An amazing Tibet Train journey on the Qinghai-Tibet railway as you feels that you are exploring through the roof of the world. On the way to Lhasa, you can be in contact with different landscapes and the famous Lake KoKonor (Qinghai Lake), Tsonak Lake, Lunlun and Tanggula Mountain Ranges, glaciers, nomad tents and their uncountable sheeps and yaks dotted on immense grand land. Train to Tibet is now the most popular means of Tibet tour in recent years, Why don’t you explore an unforgetable Tibet Train tour?

We provide train tickets to Lhasa
You could start your Tibet trip by train from Beijing, Shanghai, Xining, Chengdu, Xi’an and Guangzhou. As our wealthy experience of Tibet Train Tours in recent years, we have stable channel to purchase train tickets these cites in regardless of peak season or low season.

7 days Tibet train Journey with Monasteries & Lakes Sightseeing of Lhasa
Trip Code: TTT-006
Route: Beijing-Tibet railway-Lhasa-Namtso Lake-Lhasa-leave Tibet
(We just take Beijing for exsample, and we are able to provide train tickets Beijing-Lhasa,Chengdu-Lhasa,Xining-Lhasa,Guangzhou-Lhasa and Shanghai-Lhasa.)
Main Resorts: Potala palace, Jokhang temple, Barkhor street,Sera monastery, Drepung monastery, Namtso Lake
Best time to travel: Early May to late October

Detailed Itinerary
Day 01-03 Train Beijing to Lhasa(45 hours train ride)
Take Train T27, depart from Beijing at 21:30 on Day1, arrive in Lhasa at 18:38 on Day3
With wonderful window excursion along Qinghai-Tibet Railway, you will see land of snows, desert, grassland, ice mountain and travel along the lakeside which will strongly go to your heart.
Overnight in Lhasa 
Train travel along lake side of beautiful Tsona-tso   Hohxil is one of the habitats of the Tibetan antelope, which faces the danger of extinction.

Day 04-05 Two full days of Sightseeing inside Lhasa(B)
Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery.
The first two days you are in Tibet will be put towards sightseeing inside Lhasa, to visit fabulous and typical Buddhist and historic sites.
In Potala palace, you can explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, figures of the Buddha You will visit 3 important monasteries in Lhasa, the first and foremost is Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, attracts pilgrims all over Tibetan Area, built during songtsen gonpo’s reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D. the other two Monasteries Sera and Drepung Monastery locate in suburb of Lhasa, are hosted by hundreds of Monks, learning, praying, studying, living there. The famous Monks debiting is held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon.
You will also explore the circular pilgrim route barkhor while traveling at Johkang Temple, to contact local folks here, and if possible purchase some traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition tibetan clothes etc.
Overnight at Lhasa
(Notice, the sequence of sightseeing will be based on the reservation of Potala Palace) 
The Palace of past Dalai Lamas   Famous Monks debiting is held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon
Day06 One day Lake sightseeing out of Lhasa (B)
Lhasa/Namtso Lake/ Lhasa ( 450km for round trip , asphalt road in good condition)
In the morning around 08:00am, we leave Lhasa to Namtso Lake. On the way you will go cross the huge grassland of Naqu with the Nyenchen Thanglha snow mountain range aside. Namtso Lake, one of the holist lakes in Tibet , also the highest salt lake in the world, lies on the foot of Nyechen Thanglha Mountain. And it comes into your sight when you reach the Pass of Nyechen Thanglha. You may take a very relax walk around the lake side and Tashi Island where was drawn some ancient cliff painting in caves. As for the altitude is as high as 5200m, it is uncomfortable to live by the Lake, we usually drive back to Lhasa in the afternoon.
Thousands of sheep and yaks are fed on beautifual north Tibet glassland.   Nyenchen Thanglha snow mountain lies aside deep blue Namtso Lake

Day07 Lhasa airport dropping off(B)
Morning time Lhasa airport/Train staion dropping off, end tour
 

Service Included
1. All Breakfast (Remarked in the itinerary,mixed style breakfast with Western, Tibetan, Chinese Style)
2. Transport in Tibet:
Airport/train station pick up
Day04 By Taxi or by foot, because tourist sites, hotel are very close to each other
Day05-Day06 Sera and Drepung in suburb, Namtso Lake out of Lhasa, we arrange comfortable private Mini Van with 9 seats
3. Accommodation: 2 nights train berth, 4 nights hotel twin room in Lhasa
4. Guide: English-speaking Tibetan guide( No tour guide on the train)
5. All Necessary Permits
6. Entrance Tickets of all tourist sites for tourists listed in itinerary
7. The entrance fee for car parking and tour guide in Mt. Everest Nature Reserve
8. Oxygen supply on Vehicle
9. Government Tax and Travel Insurance
10.Train Tickets from Beijing to Lhasa, Train T27

Service Excluded
1. Flight tickets leaving Lhasa
2. Your own expense
3. Tips for the guide and driver
4. Lunches and Dinner
5. Single room supplement

On the steps of Drigung monastery, singing a dozen monks. Before she is on the floor of the court, a body in white linen, which had rolled onto a stretcher, carried out at the time. The monks pray for a spirit that was present, when here, but now emancipated from his former home. It is the visitor as a third day, after a specialty Gonpa Drigung profitable, but awful: the elimination of the dead.

My team and I came here last night after a long day trip from Lhasa to Meldor Gungkar County in central Tibet. Drigung monastery is located on a steep hill overlooking our camp. Above the temple complex is a site of “sky burial”, a term that is the removal of the body by being eaten by birds. The birds, which are summoned by incense and revered by Tibetans, issue their droppings on the tops. Sky burial is practiced in the tray, but Drigung is one of the three most famous sights and best prices.

After the song is over, take a furrow of a high ridge, keeping a respectful distance behind the funeral procession that went all the way from Lhasa, this obligation to his deceased friend to fulfill. The ossuary, or Durtro, is a large fenced meadow with a few temples and a stone circle of large stones at one end, where the ceremony takes place. Prayer flags hanging Chorten are numerous, and the smell of burning juniper purifies the air. General Vultures circle, and many others are clustered in the grass a few feet from the coffin.

Tibetans practice several methods of disposing of the dead, but the sky burial is the most common and a very good practice in a country where the fuel is often scarce and land too hard to dig. For me it is a great opportunity for the day, not a visitor to five hundred, had the privilege of the ceremony, which I see, will participate. But I’m afraid I also wonder how the stomach, the spectacle of death.

To pack men in long white skirts OUT the body, which is naked, stiff and swollen. The men have large leaves, which are only a few lines spurred keen on the rocks nearby. The bright sun and clear blue skies but my vague feeling of ill omen. Forensic doctors themselves are not heavy or ceremonial, but quite seriously, as they chat with each other and begin preparation.

Tibetans believe that more important than the body, the spirit of the deceased. After the death of the body three days should not be touched, except perhaps in the crown of the head, through which the outputs of awareness or namshe. Lamas guiding spirit of a series of prayers that the intermediate past seven weeks, as the person who is on his way through the Bard – before the Renaissance.

How to make the first cut, more people are vultures, but from long-wavelength, three men with sticks. Within minutes, the bodies are removed and scheduled for a later, separate disposal. The vultures, which prohibited the entry and waving sticks and shouts. Then the knife a signal and the people all at the same time be reduced. The herd was made that the entire body, including as head bent down, to snatch away the cuts. They are huge birds with wings that more than 2 meters above the dirty white feathers and cover large gray-brown back. Their heads are virtually featherless, not hinder, the bird came to feed in a body.

Thirteen minutes the vultures on a feeding frenzy. The only sound tearing flesh and screams competition for the best pieces. The birds are fed and take the other into the air, their huge wings sounds like steam locomotives in the overhead door. Now get men, what is left of the corpse – only a skeleton of blood – and drive the other birds. They bridge the huge, and started hitting the bone. The men talk while they work, sometimes even laugh, because according to Tibetan belief the mortal remains are merely an empty shell. The spirit of the deceased is gone, his fate will be decided by karma accumulated through all past lives.

The bones are soon reduced to rubble and ashes mixed with barley and then triggered crows and hawks who have been waiting in turn. Vultures remnants of cartilage softens catch and eat greedily. Half an hour later, the body has disappeared. The men also leave your workday ended. Suddenly it is the mountain restore calm. I think the people whose flesh upward leaps over the mountains, and decided that if I had to die in the Highlands, nor anything about it.

Note: At the request of the funeral attendees were no photos taken