5 Days Tibet Shannan Tour: Lhasa Tsedang Samye & Yamdrok Lake

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region! Upon your arrival at the airport in Lhasa, the tour guide and driver will meet you at the exit, and then escort you to the hotel in downtown Lhasa (100km, about 1.5 hours’ drive) . You can have a good rest to get used to the altitude (3,650m) in your hotel and get ready to explore Lhasa with your guide the next day.

Arrival Ideas: Lhasa is located in the southern part of the Tibetan Plateau and southwestern China. Traveling to Tibet is convenient by air, railway, or road. There are five airports in Tibet, with Lhasa Gonggar Airport being the most popular for flights from Chengdu (which is also popular), Chongqing, Xian, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Xining, Shangri-La, and other cities. One international airline even connects Lhasa and Kathmandu. Moreover, travelers can take the train to Lhasa from Xining (21 hours, the starting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway), Lanzhou (24.5 hours), Chongqing (35.5 hours), Chengdu (36.5 hours), Xian (31 hours), Beijing (40.5 hours), Shanghai (47 hours), Guangzhou (52.5 hours), Shigatse (2.5 hours), Nyingzhi (4 hours), and other cities.

Kind Reminds:
1. It is good to avoid altitude sickness by slowing down, keeping warm, drinking water frequently, avoiding showers for the first one or two days, taking it easy, and sleeping well.
2. You should always follow your doctor's advice regarding altitude based on your health condition.
3. Be sure to let your guide or the hotel staff know whenever you feel unwell or need help. The people there are always willing to help and are good at dealing with altitude sickness.

Today you will explore Lhasa for its brilliant architectures, culture, and history, then stroll through the famous Barkhor Street with locals and experience the daily kora life of Tibetans.

In the morning, you can walk up to the Potala Palace to explore. Not only is it the landmark of Tibet, but it is also the traditional residence and winter palace of the Dalai Lama (1649-1959). After climbing 365 steps from the gate of the Potala Palace to reach the Red Palace, you will arrive at the highest palace in the world at an altitude of 3,700m, where you can enjoy an excellent panoramic view of Lhasa city. As you explore the principal halls, chapels, and shrines of past Dalai Lamas in the Red Palace, you will be amazed and moved by its remarkable paintings, gorgeous jeweled works, skilled carving, colorful ornamentation, and the mystery stories behind the treasures. Inside the Potala Palace, you will meet many Tibetan pilgrims who come from afar to pray at this sacred site, making it a lifetime destination for them. You can also ask your guide to provide more stories about Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of Tibet, who first built the Potala Palace in the 7th century for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

Please note that the visit order may be adjusted based on the visiting time specified on your Potala Palace ticket. All visitors are required to visit the palace with a tour group and remain inside for one hour. Please be advised that photography is prohibited inside the palace.

After exploring the Potala Palace Museum, move to the 1300-year-old Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet and a world cultural heritage site. It is said that the Jokhang Monastery is built for King Songtsen Gampo's two brides: Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepal Princess Bhrikuti. "Jokhang" means "House of Buddha", it houses the statue of the life-size 12-year-old Sakyamuni which is the treasure of the Buddhism world. That is why Buddhist pilgrims take it as the holiest destination. The time seems to stand still when you watch them pray in front of the temple during the day and night.

Afterward, take a walk on busy Barkhor Street near the Jokhang Monastery, which was a place for Buddhists to do a kora (pilgrim circuit) in ancient times. Nowadays, it has become a thriving local market where you can drink a pot of yak butter tea, dress in Tibetan clothes for photos, and pick up some local Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.

Today, your guide and driver will take you southeast to Tsedang, the capital of Shannan Prefecture (about 2 hours' driving). Known as the cradle of Tibetan civilization, Tsedang serves as the political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub of Tibet's Shannan region.

After arriving in Tsedang, the first stop is Yumbulhakhang Palace, the first palace in Tibetan history. Situated on the Tashi Tsé Mountain on the eastern bank of the Yarlung River, this ancient palace has a history of over 2,000 years. It was the residence of the first Tibetan king, Nyatri Tsenpo, and served as a summer palace for Princess Wencheng and King Songtsen Gampo. Inside the palace, you’ll find statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, as well as figures of Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, and others. The murals on the walls vividly depict many legends from early Tibetan history. From the top of Yumbulhakhang Palace, the panoramic view of the Yarlung River Valley is truly breathtaking.

Next, visit Trandruk Monastery, one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibet, originally built in 641 AD by King Songtsen Gampo to ward off evil spirits and promote the prosperity of his kingdom. It later became a winter residence for both King Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng. The monastery houses a wealth of rare treasures and historical artifacts, among which the most famous is the "Pearl Thangka" – a stunning depiction of Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), known as the "Resting Guanyin" Thangka.

After the tour, you'll proceed to Samye (about 1 hour's driving). Stay overnight in Samye Town.

This morning, you will have a wonderful visit to Samye Monastery. Founded in 775 AD, Samye Monastery is Tibet's first Buddhist monastery and has a history of over 1200 years. Surrounded by barren mountains and rolling sand dunes, Samye Monastery has a unique circular design, symbolizing the Buddhist mandala. The design was chosen by guru Padmasambhava and incorporates Indian, Tibetan and Chinese styles.

Entering the monastery, you will be surprised by its exquisite layout, which is designed according to the structure of the “Great Thousand World” in Buddhist scriptures. It is constructed as a mandala of Esoteric Buddhism: The Utse Great Hall represents Mount Sumeru, the center of the world; the four halls surrounding the main hall represent the four continents and eight subcontinents in the four oceans; the Sun and Moon Halls symbolize the Sun and Moon halls in the universe; the monastery walls symbolize the Iron Encircling Mountains at the outer edge of the world. Four red, white, green and black pagodas are built around the main hall to suppress evil spirits and prevent natural and man-made disasters.

Then, your guide will take you to Yamdrok Lake from Samye (120km, about 2.5 hours) to appreciate the amazing natural landscapes.

When reaching Kampala Pass (4,797 meters), you’ll have a breathtaking view of Yamdrok Lake (a freshwater lake) down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You'd better have your camera ready to capture its beauty. It is one of the four largest sacred lakes in Tibet along with Lhamo Latso Lake, Manasarovar Lake, and Namtso Lake. Yamdrok Lake offers stunning views of the Tibetan plateau and is said to be able to help Tibetans find the reincarnated soul of the Dalai Lama. Moreover, you will be happy to see dressed-up Tibetan mastiffs/dogs, goats, and yaks there. It is optional for you to pay 5-10 yuan to pose with and take photos of them, for local Tibetans, it’s a subsidy income for their family. Also, you will descend down the hill to the serene lake and relish in a leisurely walk along the picturesque shoreline, taking in the breathtaking views of the glistening waters.

Leave Yamdrok, and drive about 105km to Lhasa city for accommodation.

It is time to end your 5-day Tibet Shannan Tour. You will have some free time in Lhasa and explore more on your own till your guide escorts you to the airport/train station for your flight or train to your next destination.

Extension Ideas: If you prefer to travel longer in Tibet, you can extend your trip to other highlighted parts of Tibet, including Shigatse, Gyantse, Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!