| Start: | Oct 5, '08 11:30p |
| End: | Oct 18, '08 |
| Location: | Macau-Guangzhou-Lhaza-Beijing-Macau |
Temporary Itinerary Exploring Tibet and Beijing
(Time and Schedule are subject to be re arranged or changed)
Pictures could be seen at:
http://loneknight.multiply.com/photos/album/37Here is the plan:
Tibet tour (7nights/8days) & Beijing tour (2 nights/3 days)
D01 Guangzhou/Lhasa by plane/
Accommodation: Kailash hotel 3 stars hotel or similar class
Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport, be greeted and offered a white scarf (called Kada) in a Tibet traditional way which brings you good luck. Then drive to the city proper (3650 m).Stay at the hotel for adapting to the high attitude upon your arrival. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now (be noted the first day’s acclimation is extremely to ensure you a good health status for the following tour, so please make sure you have yourself lie in bed for all the rest time of the day right after check-in of hotel).
D02 Lhasa Sightseeing
Accommodation: Kailash hotel 3 stars hotel or similar class
In the morning visit Jokang Monastery, then walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties. And in the afternoon go to visiting Sera Monastery.
Jokhang Monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet.
Sera Monastery 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. Luckily you could see the line-up for visit the god as long as you could imagine, also the exciting debating situation of monks there every afternoon.
D03 Lhasa Sightseeing
Accommodation: Kailash hotel 3 stars hotel or similar class
Visit Potala Palace, have a view of the Drepung monastery. And Norbulinka
Potala Palace 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.
Drepung Monastery, the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in.
Norbulinka: Dalai Lamas' summer place and also the place in holidays for local people to put up tents for the enjoyment.
D04 Lhasa/Gyantse/ Shigatse
Accommodation: Shigatse hotel
Drive to Gyantse, the famous historical city in Tibet, along the Kyichu River. On the Ganba La (4,796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake of Yamdrok Yumtso (4441 m). Upon arrival, have a tour to Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. And then drive to Shigatse the second largest city in Tibet
Yamdrok Yumtso (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 lie the holy Mt. Donang Sangwari (5,340m), and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7,191m) and Jangzang Lhomo rise in the distance. The lake and the Yarlungtsangpo River (3570) 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.
Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa, both of them built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse. This typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world.
D05 Shigatse/Tingri
Accommodation: Mt. Everest guesthouse (The only one guesthouse at this place)
In the morning visit Tashilumpu Monastery. Then stroll in its free market. Then continue drive to Tingri via Gyatsola Mountain Pass (5220m). It takes 6-7 hours to get there covering 310 km. The road is bumpy and dusty. Today you can appreciate the evening scenery of Mt. Everest enough.
D06 Tingri/EBC/Latse
Accommodation: Shanghai Latse hotel the highest altitude of Mt. Everest base camp is 5200m
Drive further in to the mountains to get to Mt. Everest Base Camp. Today have to get up and leave for Mt. Everest earlier than before. The road condition to the Base Camp is rough, back and forth distance is 220 km. On the way visit Rongbuk Monastery. After enjoy the view of Mt.Everest, we will drive back to Latse
D07 Latse/ Lhasa
Accommodation: Kailash hotel 3 stars hotel or similar class
In the morning drive to back to Lhasa
D08 Lhasa/Beijing
Today we will continuing our journey by train to Beijing, enjoying all beautiful scenery along the way by train. Taking pictures or amaze how beautiful this world is.
D10 Arrived in Beijing
Take a tour to Forbidden city, China Great Wall and some other beautiful objects around Beiing
D13 Transfer to airport to take flight to Macau
D14 Back home
