TIBETAN TREKKING TRAVEL CO. LTD. The Eight

The Sky Lake

Tibetan for "Heavenly Lake," Namtso is regarded as one of Tibetan Buddhism's three holiest lakes. The lake is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, who consider it the seat of Paramasukha Chakrasamvara. Buddhists believe that buddhas, bodhisattvas and vajras will assemble at Namtso in the Tibetan year of the sheep. This trip shows the route from Lhasa northward to this holy lake then heading east to the monasteries hidden in the Nyainqentanglha Mountain.

Tour Style:	Small Group Tour
Start:	Chengdu
Finish:	Chengdu
Duration:	10 days
Area visited:	Central tibet

Highlights:

	The traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park
	Potala Palace
	Jokhang temple
	Barkhor Bazar
	Sera monastery
	Drepung monastery
	Nechung monastery
	Namtso Lake
	Reting monastery
	Drigung Monastery
	Ganden monastery
	Giant Panda Sanctuary

Altitude:

Chengdu: 500m

Lhasa: 3650m

Namtso Lake: 4720m

Reting monastery: 3700m

Drigung monastery: 3700m

Ganden monastery: 4240

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Detail program:

Day1: Arrive in Chengdu

After arrives in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.
Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day2: Chengdu to Lhasa.

Fly to Lhasa, the guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to Lhasa city with about 1h30 driving (100 km). On the way, we'll visit to Nie Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the mountain face. Afternoon an easy walking visit to Luophuk lingkar - the summer palace of Dalai Lama.
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day3: Lhasa

We visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazar. Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa's most holy destination for a pilgrimage. Winding up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels lining the path a clockwise spin as they make their way up to the entrance. The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statutes are magnificently robed in colorful brocade adorned with pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of yuen (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day4: Lhasa

Visit Sera, Drepung, Nechung monasteries Sera is one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, sits at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a longer history. Sera in Tibetan means Wild Rose Garden since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it. Drepung monastery. Drepung once housed 10,000 monks, If we're lucky, we'll quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate. Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet's State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m

Day5: Lhasa to Namtso Lake

Departure from Lhasa, along Amdo-tibet highway for about 160km to reach Damshang, where the road turns to northwest about another 60km to reach Namtso Lake that lies beside snow-capped Mt. Nyainqentanglha, the son of Namtso and leader of sacred mountains. The lake with the highest sea level in the world is far away from the pollution of modern civilization. Natural wildlife -- animals, birds and fish -- is a summer attraction.
Driving hours & distance: 220km on paved road, about 4 - 6 hours
Altitude: Namtso Lake: 4720m

Day6: Namtso Lake to Reting monastery

Reting is a place where covers Juniper forests. Reting Monastery is an historically important Buddhist monastery in central Tibet, was founded by Atisha's chief disciple Dromtonpa in 1056 in the Reting Tsampo Valley north of Lhasa as the seat of the Kadampa lineage. Tsongkapa reformed the Kadampa School which then became known as New Kadampa or Gelug School and Reting became an important Gelugpa monastery, the seat of the Reting Rinpoche.
Driving hours & distance: 180km on paved & dirt road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Reting monastery: 3700m

Day7: Reting monastery to Drigung monastery

Drigung Monastery was founded in 1179, known for performing sky burials. The monastery is named after its location in a valley about 150 km east from Lhasa, in Drigung district, and is the mother monastery of the Drigung Kagyu tradition. After being destroyed, the reconstruction works began in 1980.
Driving hours & distance: 90km on dirt road, about 2 - 3 hours
Altitude: Drigung monastery: 3700m

Day8: Drigung monastery to Lhasa via Ganden monastery

Departure from Drigung monastery, drive to Ganden monastery, which is located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of Brahmaputra River. Ganden Monastery is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelukpa tradition. The temple is comprised of over 50 structures. The main halls in the temple are the Main Assembly Hall (or Coqen Hall), Zhacangs, Khangtsens, and Myicuns. After visit to this holy site of Tibetan religion, we will drive to Lhasa - the capital of the central Tibet.
Driving hours & distance: 360km on paved road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m, Ganden monastery: 4240m

Day9: Lhasa to Chengdu

Drive to Lhasa Gangkar airport, by flight from Lhasa to Chengdu, after arriving in Chengdu, transfer to Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, one of the most important centers in the world for the conservation of the Giant Panda.
Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day10: Chengdu to the airport for departure

After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timings will depend on the flight schedule)