You are here: Home » Private Tours » Tours in Northern Tibet » 8 Days Lhasa, Namtso and Reting Monastery
Prayer wheels by the Namtso lake in Tibet
Prayer wheels by the Namtso lake in Tibet

8 Days Lhasa, Namtso, Tidrum, Drigung Til monastery and Reting Tour Itinerary

Prices from $1025

The 8 days tour to Namtso Lake and Reting Monastery will take you to the most beautiful places in Northern Tibet. We will begin the tour in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. In Lhasa, we will visit the most significant and interesting historical and religious places. After that, we will head North, to the largest saltwater lake in Tibet.

Visiting Namtso lake in Tibet

KEY FACTS

Main Attractions: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera Monasteries, Namtso Lake, Reting Monastery.

Duration: 8 days

Cost: Prices start from $1025 (based on standard accommodation, double occupancy in the hotel rooms)

Maximum Elevation: 4,710 m/ 15,450 ft

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 – Arrival in Lhasa

You arrive at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or the train station. The airport is 62 km/ 39 miles away from the city, and it takes approximately one hour to get to the hotel from there. On the way to Lhasa, you will enjoy beautiful views of the mountains. The train station is located in Lhasa, and you will only need a short transfer to the hotel.

Depending on the time of your arrival, you might have some free time to spend in Lhasa. Our guides will be happy to advise you on what you can do with your time in Lhasa. Remember, that Lhasa is located at 3,650 meters/ 12,000 ft above sea level and you will need some time to acclimatize.

After you check in the hotel, you are welcome to explore the city, visit nearby temples, do some shopping, try delicious Tibetan food in one of the local restaurants, or just take a rest.

Walking around Bakhor Street can be an excellent choice for your first day in Lhasa. You will join crowds of pilgrims, local Tibetans, and monks circumambulating the Jokhang Temple.

Most importantly, on your first day in Tibet, be sure to relax, enjoy your day and allow some time for acclimatizing.

Day 2 – Lhasa city tour: Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple (Walking Tour)

This tour visits the two most important religious sites in Tibet.

The Potala Palace was the seat of the Dalai Lamas since the 17th century. We will go inside where you will see many of its most famous artifacts.

After the visit you will have free time for lunch.

Time permitting, you can walk around the Potala Palace and join many of the local Tibetans.

Next, we will walk towards the Jokhang Temple. It was built in the 7th century to display the Jowo Shakyamuni Statue – the statue of the 12-year-old Buddha before his enlightenment. The statue was created at the time when the historical Buddha lived. It is elaborately decorated with gold, jewels, and precious stones.

After visiting the temple, we recommend taking a walk around Bakhor Street.

More information about the Potala Palace andJokhang Temple

Day 3 – Lhasa city tour: Drepung and Sera Monasteries

We are visiting two most important monasteries in the capital.

First, we will visit Drepung monastery which once was the biggest monastery in the world with over 10,000 monks living there. It was the residence of Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was built.

We have lunch after the visit.

In the afternoon we are visiting Sera Monastery. It was founded by Tsongkhapa’s disciple in the 15th century. Nowadays it is famous for monks debate that you can witness. Debates are a very important part of learning and understanding Buddhism. Monks gather in the courtyard in the shade of trees to refine their knowledge.

Day 4 – Driving from Lhasa to Ganden monastery, Tidrum Hotspring and Nunnery

In the morning we will head East towards Ganden monastery. It is one of the most important monasteries of the Gelug or Yellow Hat sect. It was founded by Tsongkhapa, who was the founder of the Gelug sect in the 14th century.

The monastery is built on a mountain, overlooking the vast valley. It is also the starting point for one of the historical routes connecting Ganden with Samye – the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.

We will visit the most important chapels and the monastery’s Assembly hall.

After visiting the monastery, we will drive to Tidrum Nunnery. We will reach the nunnery in a beautiful natural setting. There is a complex of meditation caves on the hills surrounding the nunnery. Many visitors come here because of the Hotspring.

Day 5 – Driving from Tidrum to Drigung Til monastery and Reting monastery

Today the two highlights will be the important monasteries.

Drigung Til monastery near Lhasa, Tibet
Drigung Til monastery

Drigung Til monastery is about 150 km to the East from Lhasa (4,150 meters above the sea level) dates back to the 12th century. It belongs to the Kaguy sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery has a large sky burial site nearby, however, only Tibetans can visit it nowadays.

Reting monastery was founded by Dromton, the main disciple of Atisha, in the 11th century. Originally, it belonged to Kadam sect of Buddhism. Later, it became an important Gelug center. Rinpoches from Reting monastery were responsible for the search of successive Dalai Lamas. Reting Rinpoche was also a Regent during the time when Dalai Lama was young.

Day 6 – Driving from Reting monastery to Namtso lake.

Today we will head towards the largest lake in Tibet – Namtso lake. We will take the scenic road towards the lake driving through nomadic grassland area. There will be high mountain passes providing fantastic views. We will reach the Namtso lake in the evening. You can spend time, walking on the lake shore and enjoying the views. We will spend a night in the closest city – Damxung.

Day 7 – Driving from Damxung to Lhasa: Yangpachen hotspring

On the way back to Lhasa we will stop by the Yangpachen hot springs. The hot springs have two large swimming pools and a number of smaller ones. They are filled with the mineral water that is naturally hot. You can swim in the pools for an additional fee.

Day 8 – Departure from Lhasa

Please prepare in advance for your departure. It takes approximately one hour to drive to the airport and around thirty minutes to reach the train station. We will arrive at the airport three hours before your departure flight if you are traveling to Nepal and two hours before any domestic flight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

INCLUDED

  • All necessary Travel Permits to travel in Tibet
  • All accommodations based on double occupancy
  • Breakfast in hotel
  • Assistance with your Chinese visa application
  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • Ground transportation in a clean and comfortable vehicle or taxi
  • English speaking Tibetan guide
  • All entrance fees, tickets to the attraction sites and monasteries outlined in the itinerary

EXCLUDED

  • Passport and Chinese visa fees
  • International airfare to and from China or Nepal
  • Photography fees inside monasteries
  • Flight or train tickets to Tibet
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Travel insurance
  • Medical expenses
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Personal expenses: laundry, shopping, phone calls, etc.

TOURS YOU MIGHT LIKE

TOUR INQUIRY

PREPARE FOR YOUR TOUR IN TIBET

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Tibet reopened for all travelers in 2023

TIBET REOPENING 2023

TIBET TRAVEL UPDATE FOR FOREIGN VISITORS – MARCH 2023 Tibetan tourism bureau announced that starting from April 1, 2023, we can apply for Tibet Travel Permits and all visitors from all countries can finally visit Tibet. TIBET TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS All foreigners visiting Tibet need Tibet Travel Permit. To apply for it we need clear photos…
Meditation Places in Tibet

The Best Meditation Places in Tibet

In this article, we explore the best meditation places in Tibet. Tibetan Buddhist monks have been practicing meditation for centuries. Meditation is an essential part of studying Tibetan Buddhism. At the same time, it is also beneficial for anyone. No wonder meditation is becoming increasingly more popular as people experience it’s positive effects on everyday…
Stupas of The Dira Puk Monastery by the Kailash Mountain in Tibet

Prepare to Visit Mount Kailash – Complete Guide

PREPARE FOR MOUNT KAILASH TOUR In this article we will cover everything you need to know to prepare for Mount Kailash trek, known as kora in Buddhism and yatra/parikrama in Hinduism. You will find information about required documents, when is the best time to visit, how to travel to Mount Kailash from Tibet, Nepal and…
Northern ascent to Mount Everest in Tibet

Mount Everest is Closed for Spring 2020 Climbing Season

UPDATE: Nepal will reopen Himalayan Mountains including Everest for Fall season in 2020. On July 30th Nepal started issuing climbing permits. Tibetan side remains closed for all foreign climbers. In 2021 only domestic tourists were visiting Everest from Tibetan side. We post all updates in travel regulations on Tibet side in the following article: With…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *