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10 |
Trek |
DAYS |
Voir les photos
Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
Highlights
- Namtso Lake: It is the "Heavenly lake" which is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt-lake
- Potala Palace: Winter palace of the Dalai Lama
- Sera Monastery: One of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, the hot attraction is monks debate.
- Yamdrok-tso: One of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet
- Tashilunpo Monastery: the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
This trip is
designed for the travelers who don't have a long time for the exploring Tibet
but are keen on the Tibetan culture and the amazing highland scenery. It will
start in Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet, where we will explore its
monasteries, temples and local Tibetan's daily life under the guidance of our
experience Tibetan Guide. Then spend two days to holy
Namtso Lake, it is a second largest saltwater lake in Tibet with an altitude of
4718 meters above sea level and acreage more than 1920 square kilometers,
Tibetans look at it as one of the famous Buddhist holy lands. We will
also make our way to Gyantse and Shigatse to visit the famed Gyantse Castle,
Yamdrok Lake one of the most sacred Lake in Tibet, Karola Glacier and
Tashilhumo Monastery. And the end of the trip, visit Samye monastery.
Holiday Itinerary
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ARRIVE IN LHASA
Take flight to Lhasa. Met and greeted on arrival by your local guide and driver. Transfer to the hotel for a good rest. Stay in 3-star hotel in the center of the old town.
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Accommodation 4*/5* hotel in Lhasa
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LHASA
Since we have just made a sudden ascent from lowland to an altitude of over 3,700 meters (12,139 ft), today’s itinerary is not so tight. Visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Norbulingka. Drepung is about 8km west of central Lhasa, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Sera Monastery sits at the foot of the mountains. One of the three main Gelupka monasteries in Lhasa, Sera is an important spiritual center for Buddhist monks. If we are lucky enough, we could watch the Lamas in their traditional theological exercise of lively debating. is recognized by “the summer palace of dalai lamas”. "Norbu Linka" means beautiful gardens. This garden covers an area of 36 hectares and it is the annual vacation home for the 7th to the 14th Dalai Lama, who would move here from the Potala Palace to this summer palace and spend most of their summer here.
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Accommodation 4*/5* hotel in Lhasa
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Meals B
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LHASA
We will visit the Potala Palace, landmark of Lhasa and spiritual symbol of Tibet - you will join many pilgrims on your way to the top of a hill where this 13-storey architectural wonder is perched upon. The approach to the Potala is not easy, and requires climbing many steep steps, so we take it slowly and allow ourselves to leisurely enjoy the Palace and its surroundings. We enjoy strolling through its winding corridors and peaking in some of its thousand rooms, and can only imagine what life here was once like. In the afternoon, we visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Lhasa. As we make the inner circuit around the courtyard, spinning numerous prayer wheels as we go, we are swept up in the energy of the devout. From the rooftop, we get stunning views of the Potala, and the snow capped peaks off in the distance. Around the Temple runs the Barkhor, a holy circuit which pilgrims undertake and a bustling commercial market. The rest of the time is left free for you to venture around Bakhor market, where you will feel you are right at the heart of Tibet.-
Accommodation 4*/5* hotel in Lhasa
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Meals B
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LHASA / TSURPHU MONASTERY / DAMXUNG
After breakfast, we will have a travel explanation meeting and then our driver will take us to Tsurphu Monastery for the acclimatization. It takes about 2 hours, and the altitude will up to 4,480m. Around 60km west of Lhasa, Tsurphu Monastery is the seat of The Karma branch of the Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism. It was built in the middle of the valley facing south with high mountains surrounding the monastery complex. As the birthplace of the Reincarnation System of the Living Buddha, this over 800-year-old spiritual hub still pulsates with religious activities. After that we will drive to Damxung for night.
On the way, you will visit Yampachen Hot Spring (The price includes the entry fee, but excludes bathing Fee, $8-$15/person for different pools). Yampachen lies just south of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, famous for Yampachen Hot Springs, at an altitude of 4290–4500m making it the highest altitude set of hot springs in China. Both indoor and outdoor swimming pools have been set up here, in which visitors can enjoy a bath.
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Accommodation Damxung Hotel
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Meals B
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DAMXUNG / DRIVE TO NAMTSO / LHASA
In the quiet morning, take a short drive to Namtso, beat the cold and get up early to the lakeside of Namtso to appreciate the sunrise and beautiful scenery. In Tibetan, Namtso means 'Heavenly Lake.' Namtso Lake, considered one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, is the second-largest saltwater lake in China and the highest lake in the world. As the sun rises, cloud lifts from the mountains and the scene is bathed in golden sunshine. When the weather is clear, the water is a stunning shade of turquoise and we will be surrounded by magnificent views of the nearby Mount Nyenchen Tanglha range with peaks of more than 7,000m. The wide open spaces, dotted with tents of local nomads, are breathtaking. We may also walk along the lake or climb up the hill near the lake to explore the area. After visiting the lake, we will drive back to Lhasa.
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Accommodation 4*/5* hotel in Lhasa
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Meals B
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LHASA - GANDEN - LHASA
Today we will drive from Lhasa to Ganden where we will visit the Ganden monastery. Ganden Monastery is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, famous for its Buddha Painting Unfolding Festival. It was founded in the early 15th century by Tsong Khapa, a well-known Tibetan religious philosopher. 45km away Lhasa City, the monastery is located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of Lhasa River. Its significance as a religious, artistic, political and cultural relic led to it being preserved by the National Key Cultural Relic Preservation scheme in 1961, and is now known as being one of the 'Three Great Temples', together with the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa.
After arriving at Ganden, spend at least a half day to explore the attractions in and around the ancient monastery, home to the earliest monastery of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Although the monastery is mostly in ruins, it is a fascinating place. Pilgrims arrive in Ganden from all over Tibet to walk around the site of the monastery, and one can observe the rituals they perform on this ‘Kora’ around the monastery.
After visit, drive back to Lhasa. Transfer to visit Tibet Museum. Free in the evening.
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Accommodation 4*/5* hotel in Lhasa
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Meals B
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LHASA / GYANGTSE / SHIGATSE
Drive from Lhasa to Gyangtse (3,950 m or 12,956 feet) and Yamdrok Tso Lake (4408 m), one of Tibet’s three holy lakes and located 110km outside of Lhasa. It takes three and a half hour to Yamdrok Tso Lake, most of the time we are driving on the mountain road, winding and bumpy. Far in the distance is the huge massif of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7,191m). At arrival at Gyantse visit the Pelkor Chode monastery and its associated Kumbum (three dimension mandala) temple. Gyantse is a relaxed town offering a splendid sight of the Kumbum Stupa situated at its Northern edge. Housed within the compound of a rather barren looking Pelkor Chode Monastery, Kumbun consists of 8 levels and a total of 75 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Drive back to Shigatse. It would be a long day for about 10 hours.
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Accommodation Shigatse Hotel or similar
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Meals B
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SHIGATSE / TSETANG
Today we will visit Shigatse---the second largest city in Tibet. We will have enough time to explore the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama built in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. Then drive back to Tsetang, the third largest city in Tibet. Tsetang is known as “the cradle of Tibetan Civilization” for two reasons: first, its mild weather and fertile land conceived the great Tibet dynasty; second, it’s the birthplace of the first Tibetans who were said to be the offspring of a monkey and a demoness.
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Accommodation Tsetang Hotel
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Meals B
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TSETAND - SAMYE - LHASA
Today you will visit the Yumbulakang and Samye monasteries.
According to a legend of followers of the Bon religion, Yumbulakang was erected in the second century B.C. for the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo, who was descended from the sky. Yumbulagang became a shrine and under the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, a monastery of the Gelugpa school. Yumbulakang monastery was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution, though it has been extensively rennovated since.
Then drive to Samye Monastery. Samye Monatery is regarded as the first Buddhist Temple in Tibet. It was founded in 779 by King Trisong Detsen and located in the quiet piedmont area of north bank of Yarlung Zangpo River. Samye is also the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. It has become a top destination for Tibetan Buddhists who will walk thousands of miles for weeks to finish their pilgrimage to this monastery.
Today we will also have a chance to enjoy a beautiful sunset view of the Yarlung Zangbo River.
At the end of visit, drive back to Lhasa.
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Accommodation 4*/5* hotel in Lhasa
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Meals B
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LHASA DEPARTURE
In the morning, transfer to the airport, see off.
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Meals B
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Price Policy
Tour Price Policy
Additional details
1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.
2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.
3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.
The price includes
1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary
2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;
3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.
4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.
5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available
6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast
7. Internal flights
** Day 11/ Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/ High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/ High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/ High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)
9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
10. Travel Agency Liability insurance
The price does not include
1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China
2. China entry visa fees
3. Excess baggage charges
4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way
5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary
6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
7. Single room supplement
8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival
9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).
10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
Payment conditions
To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.
Terms and conditions for cancelation
i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):
CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period
of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.
ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:
Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:
· More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost
· Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost
· Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost
· Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost
· Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost
All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.
No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.
