The Highlights
- Highlights of Lhasa
- Potala Palace
- Gelugpa monasteries
- Norbulingka
- Ganden Monastery
- Cliff-top of Drak Yerpa
The Tibet extension tour offers you the possibility to extend your Nepal trip with an extra trip to Tibet. From Kathmandu, we fly to Lhasa and visit all the highlights.
The Tibet extension tour is a unique opportunity to visit magical Tibet when you’re traveling in Nepal.
We depart on an early morning flight to Lhasa.
Arrival at Lhasa Airport (3700m) after an hour and ten minutes flight which flies over the panoramic peaks of Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and the southern Tibetan Plateau.
Transfer and check-in to your hotel.
After a short break, we will explore Lhasa’s old quarter. Here you find the interesting pilgrimage kora (circuit) of Barkhor where some pilgrims perform ritual prostration around the entire Kora. Barkhor is also known for its typical Tibetan open market where hundreds of merchants, traders and artisans set up shop to sell their wares to the people of Lhasa and the innumerable pilgrims.
In the late afternoon, we visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of the region. Founded in the mid-7th century, today it hums with pilgrims murmuring chants and spinning prayer wheels amidst a myriad of flickering yak butter lamps. We will also attend an evening prayer recital in the temple.
If you’re imagining Tibet, chances are you’re picturing the Potala Palace. It remains a symbol of Tibetan autonomy and seat of the government in-exile of the Dalai Lama. It’s also a treasure trove of traditional culture, an amazing architectural marvel, and a World Heritage Site. Climb through some of its 13 levels, housing 1000 rooms.
Later, we offer the opportunity to gain an insight into the world of ancient Tibetan holistic healing at the Metzekhang medicine center.
In the morning we travel north of central Lhasa to one of two great Gelugpa monasteries. Founded in 1419, Sera Monastery became famous for its Tantric teachings.
At Sera, the monks perform a clapping ritual which is good-natured, boisterous and fun, and visitors are welcome to join.
Just outside Lhasa lies the Drepung Monastery, once the largest in the world. Within the periphery of the monastery lies the Ganden Palace which was the home of the Dalai Lamas from the time it was founded by the 2nd Dalai Lama until the 5th built the Potala. The Dalai Lama’s former Summer Palace, Norbulingka, is a shady retreat out of town and a pleasant place at which to spend an afternoon.
Morning drive 40 km’s north-east of Lhasa to Ganden Monastery (4500 m). Perched at the edge of the bowl-like Kyi-chu Valley, Ganden has dramatic views up and down the Lhasa River Valley. Attend a ritual prayer session in the monastery before taking a low ‘kora’ walk (1 hr) to visit a surreal-looking sky burial site.
Later, set out for the cave dotted cliff-top of Drak Yerpa, a citadel of Tibetan Buddhism. The most famous landmark here, amongst many, is a holy cave which has served in the past as a meditation retreat for numerous sages and ascetics, most noteworthy of them being Guru Rinpoche and King Songsten Gampo. Late afternoon we drive back to Lhasa.
Today we fly back to Kathmandu. Rest of the day free for leisure and end of the Tibet extension tour.
Following items are included in the Tibet Extension Tour:
Following items are excluded from the Tibet Extension Tour:
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT LIST FOR THE TRIP – ‘Tibet Extension Tour.’
Items which can be rented locally
Optional
The minimum number of participants for this Tibet Extension Tour is 2 persons.
Before you book the Tibet extension tour always contact us first at info@mundooz.com. VISA regulations tend to change. We might have to modify the itinerary accordingly.
There is a Single room supplement charge whether due to odd pax/sex ratio or opted by pax
Please contact us at info@mundooz.com if you have any questions about this tour.