Tibet Tours

Day 01: Delhi (Arrival)
Around midnight arrival in Delhi. The cosmopolitan city and capital Delhi is the main gateway for travellers. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel.

Day 02: Delhi – Paro (by air)
In the morning you will drive to the airport for the flight to Paro. This beautiful valley with its rich terraced farmland, is home to some of the Bhutan’s oldest temples and monastries. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel in Paro. In the afternoon you will visit the Rinpung Dzong. It was built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngwang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan. Rinpung Dzong means the fortress on a heap of jewels. This fortress now houses the Paro monastic school and the office of the civil administration. Then you will visit the National Museum. After the visit of the National museum you will go for an excursion to Takstang monastery. In April 1998 a fire destroyed the main structure of Taktstang Monastery, perched on the side of a cliff 900 m above the valley floor. It is also known as “tiger’s den” because Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site on the back of a tigress in the eighth century.

Day 03: Paro
In the morning you will visit the Ta Dzong. The Ta Dzong was built in 1651 as a watch tower. This dzong is round more like parts of an European castle. In the afternoon you will visit the Drugyal Dzong. It means the victorious fortress which was built in 1647 by Shabdrung to celebrate his victory over the Tibetan invaders. Strategically built over the only passage into the Paro valley, the dzong helped to rebel various invasions through the course of Bhutanese history. Evening free for leisure.

Day 04: Paro – Thimphu (about 65 kms.)
Today after having breakfast you will drive to Thimphu. Thimphu is the modern capital of Bhutan. It lies at an elevation of 2300 m in a valley traversed by the Wang Chu river. This city maintains a strong national character in its architectural style. This morning you will set out on a sightseeing tour of Thimphu. First of all you will visit the Tashichho Dzong on the bank of the river. It is the main Secretariat building which houses the throne room of His Majesty, the King of Bhutan and is also the summer residence of the central monk body. After visiting the Secretariat building you will visit the national library to see the rare and precious collection of Buddhism.

Day 05: Thimphu
In the morning you will visit the 17th century Simtokha Dzong. It is the oldest Dzong in the country which stands on a lofty ridge at the end of the valley. It was built in the year 1627 and now houses the school for Buddhist studies. Today you will also visit a painting school. In this painting school the young children learn the ancient art of paintings. After visiting the painting school you will visit the centre of traditional medicines. Bhutan has its own brand of Himalayan herbal medicines.

Day 06: Thimphu – Paro (about 65 kms.)
In the morning you will drive to Paro. Enroute visit the 17th century Simtokha Dzong. It is the oldest Dzong in the country which stands on a lofty ridge at the end of the valley. It was built in the year 1627 and now houses the school for Buddhist studies. In the afternoon reach Paro. Rest of the day free for leisure.

Day 07: Paro – Kathmandu (by air)
In the morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy the first impression of Kathmandu.

Day 08: Kathmandu
In the morning you will start your sightseeing by visiting Durbar Square. Durbar Square is the spiritual heart of Kathmandu. The old royal palace at the centre of the city was surrounded by temples and other important buildings. This is the most important point in Kathmandu to observe the culture and religion of Nepal. After the visit of Durbar Square you will proceed to visit Swayambhunath. Swayambhunath Stupa is famous for the eyes of Buddha which seem to observing the world from all 4 directions. After Swayambhunath you will visit Bodhanilkantha. Bodhanilkantha is one of the most photographed sights. Here, you will see a Vishnu statue of 5th century reclining on his bed of serpents in the pool.

Day 09: Kathmandu
Today you will drive to Patan. Patan was the second largest town in the valley but it has been absorbed into Kathmandu. Patan was previously known as Lalitpur, the beautiful city. After visiting Patan you will proceed to Bhaktapur, the third biggest city of the valley. Bhaktapur has preserved it’s medieval character better than Patan. Here, you will visit the golden Door, the Palace of 55 windows (15th century) and Pagoda Nyatapola (18th century).

Day 10: Kathmandu
Today you will visit the temple city of Pashupatinath which is Nepal’s most important Hindu pilgrim site on the banks of the Bagmati river. The temple of Pashupatinath is dedicated to god Shiva. Pashupatinath is one of the seven most important holy cities to Hindus. After the visit of Pashupatinath you will visit Bodnath. Bodnath is the largest Stupa of Nepal. Around the octagonal base of Stupa there are 108 images of Buddha where prayer ceremonies of Buddhist Lamas are taking place since over 2000 years.

Day 11: Kathmandu
Today you will drive to the Changu Narayan Temple. This temple is 125 m above the Kathmandu valley and dates from 4th century AD. This temple is famous for its sculptures of god Vishnu showing him in different reincarnation. In the afternoon you will drive to Nagarkot. Nagarkot has the best vantage point for a view of the Himalayas from the Kathmandu valley. On clear weather you can enjoy the view from Annapurna range upto Mount Everest.

Day 12: Kathmandu
Today you will drive to Dakshinkali. On the way you will pass through the villages and small localities. On the way to Dakshinkali you will see the rural area where most of the people make their living by cultivating their fields. The temple of Dakshinkali is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus where still animals sacrifices for the goddess Kali are performed. In the afternoon you will drive to Dulikhel. Dulikhel lies at an altitude of 1650 m and offers a beautiful view of Himalayas on clear days. Later return back to Kathmandu.

Day 13: Kathmandu – Lhasa (by air)
In the morning after having breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Upon arrival at Gongor airport at Lhasa, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel. Rest of the day free for acclimatization in Lhasa.

Day 14: Lhasa
In the morning after having breakfast you will visit the Sera Monastery. Sera is more like a small town on the outskirts of Lhasa at the base of Tatipu hill. It is the main teaching monastery and one of the three great Gelukpa Universities – once housing more than 5500 monks. Here one can see the young novices learning scriptures in the Debating Garden. After visiting the Sera Monastery you will drive to visit the Jokhang temple. Jokhang temple was built in the 7th century AD and houses the most prized Buddhist relic, a 1300 year old Sakyamuni Buddha statue. The main section of the temple is topped with golden roofs found nowhere else except in Tibet. In the evening you will have a walk in the Barkhor Bazaar. It is a lively and colourful market where you can bargain over such treasures like ornate long bladed knives, prayer wheels and exquisite jewellery.

Day 15: Lhasa
In the morning you will visit the Potala Palace. Potala Palace is the dominant landmark of Lhasa which is situated at a height of 117 meters above the sea level. It was both the residence of the current Dalai Lama and tomb of the former head of state. The Potala is full of elaborate art work and frescos that tell many stories. After the visit of Potala Palace you will visit the Norbulingka Summer palace. On the banks of the Kyichi River, there is a tree and flower filled pard known as the Norbulingka or the Jewel Park. Covering a total area of 360,000 square meters, the park was originally laid out in the year 1750. Norbulingka is also the site of the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas (8th to 14th). In the evening you will visit the Drepung monastery. This monastery is situated in the west suburbs of Lhasa city. It was formerly the largest and richest monastery in the world with 10,000 monks. Of particular interest is the medieval monk’s kitchen with its great cauldrons of steaming barley ’stamp’ sitting on top of huge earthen stoves and tented by saffron robed monks wielding massive ladles. From the roof of the monastery one can enjoy the natural beauty of the Lhasa valley.

Day 16: Lhasa – Kathmandu (by air)
In the morning after having breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for personal activities.

Day 17: Kathmandu – Delhi (by air)
In the afternoon transfer to airport for the flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel.

Day 18: Delhi (Departure)
Around midnight flight to home destination.

Brief / profile

With an area of about 638 square kilometers, the Yamdrok Yumsto Lake is one of 3 largest holy lakes as well as the largest freshwater lake in Tibet. Surrounded by many snow-covered mountains and small streams, the lake with the length of 130 kilometers is not only a scenic spot but also a pilgrimage destination, attracting numerous devout worshippers every year.

Location
It’s located in Nankartse County on the southern bank of the Yarlong Tsangpo River in the Shannan Region of Tibet.

Why got its this name
This lake is also named Coral Lake due to its irregular shape. Besides, the lake boasts smooth clear water just like the surface of jade. Under the sunshine, the water is really like a mirror, hence it also another name: the Green Jade Lake.
Architecture / Structure / Each scenery
With a length of 130 kilometers and width of 70 kilometers, the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is fan-shaped, extending from northwest to southeast. This salt lake of low consistency usually freezes every mid-November.
Moreover, there’re many isles providing ideal living environment for the abundant fishes in the lake. Here is also the largest habitat for water birds in the north of Tibet. Every year, numerous birds such as swans, pigeons and so on will fly here from south to spend the winter. If looking from the nearby mountain, you will see the holy sapphire-like Yamdrok Yumtso Lake with small islands.
Besides, the lake is also rich in hydroelectric power and there’s a power station completed in 1996. Furthermore, it’s the largest one in Tibet.
Nowadays, a large number of tourists and pilgrims come here to enjoy the tranquil scenery along the lake, the snow-covered mountains as well as the sporadic villages nearby.

Legend and Story
It’s said that a female Guardian of Buddhism in Tibet turned into Yamdrok Yumtso Lake after her departure of the Heaven, adding mystery and holiness to the lake.
Therefore, the locals believe it will bring happiness and protect them.

Transportation
Tourists can take a bus in Lhasa and get off at the Great Bridge of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and then take a taxi to the lake. Besides, renting a car is also good choice to have a tour and may cost you RMB 1,500 to 2,000 a day.

Eventually it was time to travel back. 1000 km Lhasa – Kathmandu. But this time I managed to get a bus which would need two days to take me to the Nepali border. Two days in a vehicle with no heating, tons of dust and God knows how many high passes, but hey. At least I had a proper seat. Well, sort of. A seat. I met a bunch of Germans in the bus (they are bloody everywhere, aren’t they?) and we had a great time. The Chinese soldiers travelling in the bus were not amused, ah well. Almost no Tibetans in the bus which was a shame. Bus tickets were too expensive. Which says a lot, doesn’t it?

Qinghai-Tibet-Railway-map shows  which provinces and municipalities the Qinghai-Tibet Railway goes through.Qinghai Tibet Railway is safer and cost less than airplane.

Transportation has been improved a lot for Tibet in recent years. There are flights and trains to Lhasa
from many cities in China incl. Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc. We can also drive overland
to Lhasa via the five main routes from Yecheng (XiJiang), Gelmud (Qinhai), Chengdu (Sichuan), Kunming (Yunnan) and Kathmandu respectively.

For transport in Tibet, it forms a road network with Lhasa as the center. Except some remote and dangerous areas, we
can get to most places in Tibet. We have different types of vehicles to cater for your needs. The most commonly used is
the 4WD Toyota 4500 Land Cruiser. But for travelling in Lhasa, Tsedang, Nyinchi, Shigatse, Gyantse, an ordinary car will
be good enough. And our Toyota Haice coach can even take you to the Mt. Everest Base Camp and Zhangmu. Every year, the local
government invest a lot of money in developing and maintaining the roads in Tibet. When
consulting with our travel advisors, they can provide the updated information regarding the main
roads in Tibet.

The charming autumn scenery of Nyingchi Prefecture in Tibet Autonomous Region, photo from Xinhua.

The charming autumn scenery of Nyingchi Prefecture in Tibet Autonomous Region, photo from Xinhua, Oct. 16.

The charming autumn scenery of Nyingchi Prefecture in Tibet Autonomous Region, photo from Xinhua, Oct. 16.

Located in the southeast of Tibet at 3,100 meters above the sea level, Nyingchi Prefecture has been entitled as the “Little Jiangnan of Tibet”, boasting gorgeous natural beauty of forests, snowy mountains, fresh air and profound ethnic cultures.

What is high altitude sickness?

Almost every visitor is affected by the high altitude in Tibet. The reaction may varies from person to person. This has nothing to do with age or sex, but it does have to do with physical fitness. Most of the visitors get acclimatized to the high altitude by taking it easy for one or two days.

Most of Tibet is high enough to produce some adverse reaction in most people. For the majority of people, the reaction will be a matter of discomfort, breathlessness, poor sleeping patterns or limited capacity for physical exertion. In some, more serious reactions can develop. These can be potentially life-threatening conditions that may only be relieved by moving to a lower altitude; travelers should inform themselves about the symptoms so that they can recognize them.

How to prevent high altitude sickness?

Here we have some precautions and tips to lessen the effects of altitude sickness and prevent acute mountain sickness, according to previous experiences in Tibet. 

1. Before you visit Tibet, ensure you are in good health. Avoid catching a cold before entering Tibet, for it is difficult to recover from a cold on high altitude and it might lead to more serious illnesses. Mentally adjust yourself to the forthcoming trip and don’t feel too nervous or worried.

2. In addition to the normal medications for traveling, like the Aspirin and Ibuprofen etc, it is advisable to bring high altitude medication. Some visitors take Diamox pills one day before you ascend to Lhasa. However, you’d better ask your doctor for suggestions. Click to learn more about what to pack for Tibet travel.

3. Many visitors who have been to Tibet suggest flying to Xining (the capital city of Qinghai province) and then taking the train to Lhasa from there, instead of taking a direct flight up to Lhasa. Getting acclimatized in Qinghai can be a wise decision and will make a big positive change. For comparison, the elevation at Lake Qinghai is already 3200m compared with the 3700m at Lhasa that will greatly help when you arrive in Lhasa. Besides, you can have the opportunity to enjoy the unique high plateau scenery passing by the train windows. Click to find out more about air travel and train travel to Tibet

4. Upon your arrival, just take a good rest, drink more water, and don’t take shower at the 1st day, usually you will be fine in following 2 days. It is better to spend the first two or three days at ease to get accustomed to the high altitude in Tibet. Lhasa lies considerably above the altitude at which one’s body begins to feel oxygen deficiency. Headaches, vomiting and heart palpitation are common ailments that appear in the first two or three days. That’s why most travel agencies do not arrange any activities for their guests on the first day upon arrival.

And whenever you feel shortage of breath, just drink more water, or the dry air and evaporation of sweat may cause dehydration. Avoid alcohol as it may increase the risk of dehydration, and don’t smoke to prevent upper respiratory infection.

Please don’t take shower at the first two days, for it is easy to catch cold and make you feel exhausted.

5. Remember to take things a little slowly when climbing stairs etc.

6. If you lack of oxygen, you can take the oxygen in the hotel, clinic or hospital. Oxgen canisters are easily available in Tibet and can be purchased from hotels. However, if you do not feel too bad, it is suggested to try to avoid take any oxygen and adapt to high altitude by yourself. Because there is still a long way to go, and if you quite depend on oxygen, you will find it harder to adapt to higher altitude at Shigatse, Rongpu Monastery and Everest, which are above 3400m.

Chinese Embassy in Nepal is preparing a series of programs to celebrate the upcoming Earth Rat Tibetan Losar, embassy officials said Saturday.

In celebration of the Earth Rat Tibetan Losar, the Embassy is scheduled to host a New Year Reception on Jan. 22, 2008 in Nepali capital Kathmandu to extend season’s greetings and sincere wishes to all Tibetan compatriots residing in Nepal.

This is the sixth Losar Reception held by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and nearly 1000 Tibetan compatriots will be invited to celebrate the traditional Tibetan New Year together with the staffs of the Embassy.

On this auspicious occasion, the attendees can enjoy colorful pictures of the new social and economic development of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China and admire a beautiful culture show performed by Yarlung Art Troupe from Shannan Area of TAR China.

After the reception, the troupe will offer two public performances in Birendra International Conference Center on Jan. 23 and Jan. 25.

Shigatse is Tibet’s second largest city and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas with a history of more than 600 years, which will be connected with Lhasa city by an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.

On Sept.26th, China started the 253-km extension from Tibet’s capital Lhasa to Shigatse, which will pass through five counties and over the 90-km long Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon. The construction will take about four years.

Since the Qinghai-Tibet Railway was opened in July 2006, It is the first extension. With a budget of 13.3 billion yuan, the Lhasa-Shigatse section has a designed transport capacity of 8.3 million tonnes annually, which is a key project in China’s long and medium-term railway network expansion and will speed up Tibet’s social and economic development.

As the beginning of the use of Common Use Self-service at the airports of the region, the first CUSS machines were introduced and put into use at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa on Sept.28th, 2010.

Now at Gonggar Airport, passengers are also able to enjoy the convenience service with the installment of CUSS from September 28. Passengers can freely choose seats when checking in with the machines. For group passengers, it is very useful and considerate to choose neighboring seats.

Besides, passengers with E-tickets of Shandong Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines can share the same CUSS machine at least two hours prior to boarding. Though CUSS only has provided more convenience to passengers without luggage, self-service baggage shipping counters will be introduced to the airport in the next few years.

Sources from: China Tibet Online