Day01 Arrive in Chengdu. (D)
Today we arrive in Chengdu, the capital of province Sichuan, the hometown of Panda, transfer to hotel.
Chat Online: 
Tour Map
Today we arrive in Chengdu, the capital of province Sichuan, the hometown of Panda, transfer to hotel.
In the morning transfer to airport, fly to Lhasa (CA4401 0740/0930), the Capital of Tibet. Upon arrival at the Gongga airport, take another 1.5-hour-drive to the city proper (3650 m). On the way you will enjoy the spectacular scenery, and the typical Tibetan villages as well as the Yak-skin-boat cruising on Yalung Tsangpo River. 
In the morning visit Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. In the afternoon visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there.
In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. The crowds of pilgrims, innumerable magnificent murals, Buddhist statues, scriptures and rare treasures altogether create a dense religious and art atmosphere that impresses every visitor. 
In the morning leave Lhasa for Basum Tso, the holy lake of Nyingpa Sect. On the way get across the Mi La pass (4865 m). In Tibetan Basum Tso means “Green Water”. Like a crescent inlaid in the deep valleys, the lake, with an area of about 400 hectares, is 12 km long with a width ranging between hundreds to thousands of meters, the deepest depth being 60 meters. The surrounding snow mountains and wildwood are reflected in its clear water. Yellow ducks, Sand-Gulls, white cranes as well as fishes swarm on-and-beneath the water surface. We boat around the Zhashi Island and then disembark to visit the Tsodzong monastery built in the later part of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Drive to Nyingtri. Upon arrival, visit the Lamalin of Nyingma Sect, which the biggest and most important Buddhist temple in the Nyingtri area. Surrounded by mountains in three directions and facing the delta at the mouth of the Niyang River, the monastery is built on the third flights of relief by the left bank of the lower reaches of the river. The whole temple is made of wood and stone. The flying eaves and painted timber columns in the resplendent and magnificent monastery have shown the perfect fusion of different art styles between Tibetan and Han on construction.
We drive 75 km eastwards to the Lulang forest. On the Serkhyem La Pass (4,515 m) we will have spectacular views of Mount Gyala Pelri (7,150 m) and Mount Namchak Barwa (7,782 m), if the weather is good.
Drive via Milin to Nang Dzong. On the way visit the old 108 tombs in Lieshan.
On the way we visit the relic site of the Mansion of Lhagyari situated in Chusum County. It was originally built in 13th century and symbolizes the local ruling privilege of the descends of the Tuobo Kingdom through the Sakya and Phagdru regimes. In the late afternoon we reach Tsetang (3500 m) the “Playground of Monkeys” in legend.
In the morning drive 40km westwards to visit Samye. Located in the north of Yarlung Tsangpo River and hold in the arms of mountains, it is the oldest monastery of Tibet (8th century). The stele hanging on the entrance to the main temple shows that king Trisong Detsen took Buddhism as the state religion in 779. The monastery complex consists of several buildings, whose arrangement reflects the Buddhist conception of the structure of the universe. Meru, the world mountain in the center of the universe, is represented in the building of great hall, around which are 4 halls representing the 4 continents swimming in the world sea. 
In the morning drive to Gyantse. On the Kamba La (4796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On one of the peninsulas of the spear-shaped lake lies the holy Mt. Donang Sangwari (5340 m), and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7191 m) and Jangzang Lhomo rise in the distance. The lake and the Yarlung Tsangpo are separated by a mountain and the shortest distance between them is only 6 kilometers. The 800m-high difference contributes a rich water resource to this region. Many Tibetans believe that the life of Tibet will no longer continue when the lake dries up. Visit Samding Monastery by the lake. 
In the morning drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang. On the way we have an excursion of the monastery Shalu (Xialu). It was initially built by Chetsuen Sherat Jungna in 1087 with a unique Tibetan-Han construction style in Tibet. It was said Atisha once spread Buddhist teaching in this temple. In the afternoon visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. 
In the morning drive back to Lhasa (3650 m; approx. 290 km).
Drive northward through the vast Qiangtang Grassland to Nam Tso Lake. On the way cross over the grand Nyenchentangla Range and conquer Kyogche La Pass (4900 m) up to Damxung, a small but important station on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway which starts from Golmud of Qinghai province and ends in Lhasa. Have lunch at Damxung and then drive another 60 kilometers to Nam Tso Lake. Meaning “Heaven Lake” in Tibetan, it is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet and the highest lake in the world with an elevation 4,718 meters above sea level. With a length of 70 kilometers from west to east and a width of 30 kilometers from north to south, it covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers. Nam Tso is acclaimed to be the largest lake in Tibet and the second largest salty lake in China. Plains, grasslands, swamplands and sand beach are spread abroad by the lake. 
In the morning leave Nam Tso for Tsurpu Monastery along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and then the rugged countryside road. Since 1992 the master monastery of the Karma Kagyu Sect had been presided by Urgyen Thinley Dorje the 17th Karmapa. Tsurpu was established in 1189 by Duesum Khyenpa, a pupil of Gampopa and the first Karmapa. He introduced the principle of reincarnation into Tibet. He told his disciples that he would reincarnate and pointed out the location of the second Karmapas reborn. In contrast to Yellow Caps, (Gelug) the Karmapa Kagye are called as the Black Hat and the Karmapas the holder of this sect. 
Transfer to the airport in the morning and fly back to Chengdu by flight.| Destinations | Superior Class | Deluxe Class | Tourist Class |
| Chengdu | |||
| Lhasa | |||
| Basum Tso | |||
| Nyingtri | |||
| Nang Dzong | |||
| Tsetang | |||
| Gyantse | |||
| Shigatse | |||
| Nam Tso | |||
| Price(USD/Person) | |||
| 2-5 pax | |||
| 6-9 pax | |||
| 10 & above | |||
| Remark | |||