Fourteen-day Qinghai-Tibet Sightseeing Tour

    You will meet your guide and driver at Xining Caojiapu International Airport and be escorted to your hotel in downtown Xining. Xining is the capital city of Qinghai Province, is the most easily accessible city to travelers in Qinghai Province. Its average altitude is 2,261 meters(7,418 feet) above sea level. The airport is located 30 kilometers(18.6 miles) to the south of downtown Xining. It operates flights to 46 domestic cities, such as Chengdu, Lhasa, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan.

    After breakfast, you will set off for Chaka Lake. On the way to the lake, you will pay a visit to Kumbum Monastery and the Sun-Moon Mountain. The route is totally 340 kilometers(211 miles) in length. It takes about six and a half hours to get to the lake from Xining via the mountain and the monastery. A hotel near the lake will be booked in advance for you.

    Kumbum Monastery was built in the year of 1379. It is one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries, is the birthplace of Master Tsongkhapa who founded the Ge-lug-pa Sect of Lamaism. The monastery houses many priceless art treasures, such as murals and Tangka paintings. It is also called Ta’er Monastery by locals. Both Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas preached the word of Buddha at the monastery.

    The Sun-Moon Mountain is situated about 100 kilometers(62 miles) to the west of downtown Xining. It is called Riyue Mountain by the locals. The mountain pass is 3,520 meters(11,549 feet) above sea level. It was an important point of the Ancient Tang-Tibet Path. It is said that Princess Wencheng passed the mountain pass when she traveled to Tibet with her retinues in 641.

    You will pay a visit to Chaka Salt Lake in the morning and ride your car to Qinghai Lake after having lunch. The distance between the two lakes is about 100 kilometers(62 miles). It takes about 2 hours to travel by car. In the afternoon, you will spend two or three hours at some sightseeing spots of Qinghai Lake. You will spent the night in a hotel on the south shore of Qinghai Lake.

    Chaka Lake lies about 300 kilometers(186 miles) to the west of Xining. It is one of the top four attractions in Qinghai Province. Chaka Salt Lake is well-known as China’s Mirror of the Sky. The salt lake covers an area of 105 square kilometers(41 sq.mi). The view of the salt lake is breathtaking. It can rival the famous Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia.

    Qinghai Lake lies in the northeast part of Qinghai-Tibet High Plateau, 145 kilometers(90 miles) to the west of downtown Xining. It is the largest inland saltwater lake in Mainland China. The lake measures about 4,500 square kilometers(1,737 sq.mi). It is also called Tso-Ngonpo by Tibetans. Tso-Ngonpo is a Tibetan word which means a blue lake in English. The view of the lake is stunning. Some of the most ideal sightseeing spots along the shore of the lake are Erlangjian Peninsula, the Ear-Shaped Bay, the Golden-Sand Bay, the Sandy Beach Peninsula, the Fairy Maiden Bay and the Birds’ Isle. A vast field of oilseed rape lies on the north shore of the lake. The rape plants bloom between July and August. Qinghai Lake is not only a wonderful place for landscape photographers, but also an ideal destination for birdwatchers. Some islets are surrounded by water. One of the islets is called the Birds’ Isle. It is a paradise for over 100,000 migratory birds, such as bar-headed geese, wild ducks and brown-headed gulls. The best time for bird-watching is between April and June.

    In the morning, you will be guided to visit some sightseeing spots on the west and north shores of Qinghai Lake, such as the Birds’ Isle and the Fairy Maiden Bay. After having lunch, you will set off for downtown Xining. You will be escorted back to your hotel in Xining in the late afternoon.

    You will be taken to visit Dongguan Grand Mosque in the morning, and then, be transferred to Xining Railway Station. You will travel to Lhasa by train along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway which is considered as the Heavenly Railway on Earth. The view along the railway is breathtaking. The ride takes about twenty one and a half hours. You will spent the night on the sleeper train.

    You will be picked up at Lhasa Railway Station in the morning, and be guided to visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery in the afternoon. A hotel in downtown Lhasa will be booked for you for three nights.

    Drepung Monastery is situated in the west suburb of Lhasa, about 10 kilometers(6.2 miles) to the downtown. It plays the most important role in the Ge-lug-pa Sect of Lamaism. Lamas in Drepung Monastery were responsible for training Dalai Lamas. The monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje Tashi Palden, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples. It is one of the top three lamaseries in Lhasa and one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China.

    Sere Monastery is also one of the top three lamaseries in Lhasa and one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China. It was constructed in 1434 by Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples. It is famous for its daily debate on Buddhist doctrine.

    You will have a whole day inner-city tour in Lhasa. The attractions you will visit during the day are Potala Palace, Norbulingka Summer Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. An optional activity suggested for enriching your tour is to watch an impressive Tibetan dancing show.

    Potala Palace is a huge castle situated on the Red Hill. It was originally built in the seventh century by King Songtsan Gambo. The king built it for his two wives, namely Princess Wencheng from the Tang Empire and Princess Khridzun from Nepal. The castle was reconstructed in 1645 by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Then, Potala Palace became Dalai Lamas’ official residence. It was added to the list of world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO in 1994.

    Norbulingka Summer Palace is located about 2 kilometers(1.2 miles) to the west of Potala Palace. It was built by the Seventh Dalai Lama in 1755. It used to be the summer house of Dalai Lamas. The compound is hidden by trees. It covers an area of 36 hectares(89 acres). Nowadays, Norbulingka Summer Palace has become a garden and a museum open to the public. It is also the place where local people celebrate some grand traditional festivals.

    Jokhang Temple is the most sacred Buddhist monastery in Tibet. It was built by King Songtsan Gambo in the seventh century. The temple houses the statue of Sakyamuni which was brought to Lhasa by Princess Wencheng. It is one of the must-go attractions in Lhasa.

    Barkhor Street lies in the center of downtown Lhasa. It is the oldest traditional Tibetan styled street encircling Jokhang Temple. The street could be traced back to the seventh century. It is a place where visitors can bargain with the local Tibetan vendors for handicrafts which are rear to be seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is a very important path along which Buddhist pilgrims have walked to Jokhang Temple for centuries.

    You will ride your car or coach to visit Namtso Lake in the morning, and return to Lhasa in the late afternoon. You will have a long hard day. It takes about five hours to get to the lake from Lhasa.

    Namtso Lake lies about 240 kilometers(149 miles) to the north of downtown Lhasa. It is the third largest salt lake in Mainland China, is a vast alpine lake with the highest altitude in the world. Its altitude is 4,718 meters(15,479 feet) above sea level. Visitors need to stay in Lhasa for a few days before heading for Namtso Lake, so that they would have acclimatized themselves to the high altitude. The lake measures 70 kilometers(43 miles) by 30 kilometers(19 miles), and covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers(741 sq.mi). It is 120 meters(394 feet) at its deepest point. Namtso Lake is considered as one of the most holy pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists. It is also one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet.

    After breakfast, you will leave Lhasa for Shigatse. Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet. It is located 275 kilometers(171 miles) to the west of Lhasa. You will travel to Shigatse via Gyantse County. The route is 360 kilometers(224 miles) in total length. It takes about 7 hours to drive from Lhasa to Shigatse. On the way to Shigatse, you will pay a visit to Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier and Gyantse Dzong Castle. You will spend the night in downtown Shigatse.

    Yamdrok Lake lies about 110 kilometers(68 miles) to the southwest of Lhasa. It is well-known as one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. The three holiest lakes are Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake and Manasarovar Lake. Yamdrok Lake attracts visitors with its sapphire water and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. It is one of the most lovely lakes in Tibet. The lake measures 675 square kilometers(261 sq.mi) and 60 meters(197 feet) at its deepest point. Its altitude is 4,441 meters(14,570 feet) above sea level.

    Karola Glacier lies on the southern slope of Noijin-Kangsang Mountain. It is one of the top three glaciers in Tibet and is the most easily accessible one. The summit of the mountain is 7,191 meters(23,593 feet) above sea level. The view of the glacier is quite gorgeous.

    Gyantse Dzong Castle is situated in Gyantse Town. It was originally built in 967. The castle was the battlefield where Tibetans fought against British invaders in 1904.

    Before you set off for Lhasa, you will go to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery which is one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China. The monastery was constructed in 1447 by Gedun Drup, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples, the First Dalai Lama. The compound was expanded by the Fourth Panchen Lama in the year of 1601. Since then, Tashilhunpo Monastery has become the official residence of Panchen Lamas.

    You will stay overnight in your hotel in downtown Lhasa.

    After breakfast, you will travel to Nyingchi by car or coach. Nyingchi is a prefecture in Southeastern Tibet, is located 390 kilometers(242 miles) to the east of Lhasa. The prefecture lies in the lower reach of Yarlung Zangbo River. It is nicknamed “the Land of Milk and Honey on the Roof of the World”, due to its relatively low altitude and warm climate. The ride from Lhasa to Nyingchi takes about five hours. On the way to Nyingchi, you will visit Ganden Monastery. A hotel in downtown Nyingchi will be booked for you for three nights.

    Ganden Monastery is one of the top three Ge-luge-pa Lamaseries in Lhasa. It is located in Dazi District, 55 kilometers(34 miles) to the east of downtown Lhasa. The monastery was built in 1409 by Master Tsongkhapa, the founder of Ge-lug-pa Sect. It is well-known as the Oldest Ge-lug-pa Lamasery and has topped the list of Six Most Famed Ge-lug-pa Lamaseries in Mainland China.

    After breakfast, you will ride your private car or coach to visit Lamalin Monastery and Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon. In the late afternoon, you will be taken back to your hotel in downtown Nyingchi.

    Lamalin Monastery is also called Bujiu Lama Monastery or Sangduobai Monastery. It is the biggest lamasery in Nyingchi prefecture. Lamalin Monastery belongs to the Nyingma Sect of Lamaism. It was built in the early Twentieth century. The lamasery is situated on a mountain slope in Buqu Township, overlooking the Nyang River, 29 kilometers(18 miles) to the south of downtown Nyingchi.

    Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon lies 84 kilometers(52 miles) to the east of downtown Nyingchi. The Yarlung Zangbo River makes a horseshoe-shaped turn at the foot of Namcha-barwa Mountain. It is the deepest and longest canyon in the world with a total length of 504.6 kilometers(314 miles) and an average depth of 2,268 meters(7,441 feet). Namcha-barwa Mountain is the highest peak on the east mountain range of Himalaya. Its altitude is 7,782 meters(25,531 feet) above sea level.

    You will be guided to visit Pagsum(or Basum) Lake in the morning and be escorted back to your hotel in downtown Nyingchi in the late afternoon.

    The lake lies about 120 kilometers(75 miles) to the northwest of downtown Nyingchi. It is a five-star scenic area. Pagsum Lake measures about 27 square kilometers(10.4 sq.mi) and 120 meters(394 feet) in depth. It is the largest lake with lowest altitude in Tibet. Its altitude is 3,480 meters(11,417 feet) above sea level. The view of the lake is extremely beautiful.

    You will be transferred to Nyingchi Mainling Airport according to your flight timings. The airport is located 52 kilometers(32 miles) to the south of downtown Nyingchi. It takes about one hour to drive from the downtown to the airport. Tourist can fly to some major cities in Mainland China, such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Beijing and Guangzhou.