Trip at Glance:Trip Length: 11 days & 10 nights
Lodging available: Both Hotels and guesthouses
Type of the trip: Long train ride to Tibet and easy spiritual expereinces
Transportation: 4WD, SUV, Van and Buses available Today you will be greeted by our local guide and driver at the airport/train station, then transfer you to the hotel to rest and acclimate the plateau environment, Xining is the capital of Qinghai province with altitude of 2295m. Rest of the day you can explore around the town and take easy for the day. Overnight in Xining.
 
Attractions; Stunning view of Kokonor lake (Qinghai Lake) and beautiful nomadic surrounding with blossomed flowers.
Today our local guide and driver meet you at the hotel and then drive to Kokonor lake, it is 151km west from the city, it takes less than 2 hours, Kokonor lake is largest salt water lake in China and the surrounding nomadic environment is beautiful with blossomed rapeseed specially in June and July. Then we will drive back in the afternoon and catch the flight to Lhasa that depart late in the afternoon around 7p.m. You may have few hours repacking time at the hotel and then our guide and drive deliver you to the train station per the train schedule.
 
Attractions; Perennial snow covered Thangula ranges, Tibet northern lakes and vast pastures, lone wild animals and scattered nomads families.
 
Attractions; Fertile Yarlung valley-ancient Tibet capital, Samye monastery.
Today we will drive southern part of Tibet to Samye monastery, we will stop at Tsedang for lunch, Samye monastery is the 1^st ever Buddhist monastery in Tibet which was build in 7^th century during the regime of King Trisong Desen, it exist for centuries despite of culture revolution and other means of destruction in different period of time, the Manadala design monastery is beautifully located at the Northern bank of the Brahmaputra river, in the small valley mingled with villages around, visit Samye Tsuglhak Khang at the arrival and you may have a short hike up on the Hepu hill close from the monastery, Hepu hill has a very prominent historical value as in the 7^th century when Samye monastery was first built, lots obstacles by Bon devils made it failed several times, finally Indian Guru Padmasambhava had controlled all the devils on the Hipu hill and punished with a stone rainfall. Overnight at Samye monastery guest house.
 
Attractions; Chimpu nunnery, Yogis in the caves, Yumbo Lhakang, Tramduk monastery.
Today we will drive back toward Tsedang, en route we will drive to Chimpu hermitage, there were several caves that Guru Rinpoche and Khangdo Yeshi Tsogyal(one of three consorts of Guru) mediated in the 7^th century and since then it became very famous for retreatants and hermits from different part of Tibet, after visiting the nunnery at the bottom of the hill we will hike up through the caves to experience the life of Tibetan yogis, you may get chance to interact with some yogis if you are lucky. Afternoon drive back to Tsedang, Tsedang is the cradle of Tibetan civilization and capital of Tibet prior to Lhasa, so we will visit the 1^st King’s palace Yumbu Lhakang there, which is only few kilometer south of the town. Overnight in Tsedang.

Attractions; Yamdrok lake, Mt.Nyechen Kangsar glacier, Gyantse Kubum stupa and Pelkhor Choede monastery.
Today we drive upstream of the Brahmaputra river to Gyantse, after passing numbers of Tibetan towns villages we will climb up the Kampa la pass (4700m) through a distorted road, right from the top of Gampa la pass you will have the first glimpse of the breathtaking view of the holy Yamdrok lake with its turquoise color deep within the mountainous valley, then continues drive along the lake for few kilometers. En route we will stop at Karo la (5150m) to see the holy mount Nyenchen Kangsar glacier. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying the many magnificent valleys and exquisite Tibetan villages that we pass through. Arrival at Gyantse we will visit Kumbum stupa and Palkhor Choede monastery.This magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, it is not only well known for its architecture but also its old sculptures and paintings all around the inner walls have centuries of history. Overnight at Gyantse.

 DAY 09. GYANTSE-SHIGATSE(3800m), 90km, 1.5hrs.
Attractions; Villages and farms, Shalu monastery, Tashi Lhunpo monastery.
Today it is short drive to Shigatse on a very good road, en route we will visit Shalu Monastery which is the seat of Buton Rinchendrub(1290-1346) who was the great codifier of the Tibetan translations of the Indian Buddhist canon, Shalu monastery is the only one that combines Tibetan and Chinese styles in its design, though the whole monastery gone under several renovations in different period but the green tiled Chinese style is clearly visible in these days. afternoon drive to Shigatse and visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery, Tashi Lhunpo monastery is built by the 1^st Dalai Lama-Gedun Drup in 1447 and later it became the seat of the Panchen Lama lineages, there you will see tombs of 7 passed Pachen Lamas lineages. Overnight at Shigatse.
 
Today we will drive back to Lhasa along the northern friendship highway, the road cuts through numbers of villages and we will stop at Nyimo local home based incense factory, this region is well known for their incense production since centuries ago, they use primitive water operated tools to process incense materials and each incense sticks are hand made, you may see locals making it on the spot, then we will arrive in Lhasa later in the afternoon and you have plenty of time to explore around the Bakhor to shop gifts for your families and friends at home. Overnight in Lhasa.
 

Tour Cost Includes:
- All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
- Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included), SEE VEHICLE PHOTOS HERE;
- Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide;
- Lodging: available from 5 star hotels to budget guesthouses, SEE HOTEL PHOTOS HERE;
- Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Oxygen canisters: 2 canister for each person;
- Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
- First aid kit;
- Liability travel insurance;
 
- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation(recommended);
- Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
- International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
- Gratuities for the guide and driver;