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Tibet is located on the immense Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with the altitude averaging 4,000 metres. Locked in its mountain fortress of the Himalayas, Tibet has long exercised a unique hold on the imagination of people the world over. It's only recently that outsiders have had open access to visit the holy city of Lhasa.
Our Classic itineraries cover the key attractions with carefully selected experiences to ensure you get the most out of your holiday. Classic itineraries include time for relaxation or for adding extra activities. Discuss itinerary options and extensions with our Asia Travel Experts.
Taking the weather condition into consideration, the best time to visit Tibet is from April to October.
You will meet your guide on arrival, transfer and check-in to your hotel. During the drive your guide will provide an introduction to Tibet, answer any questions you have, and make arrangements for the following day.
Tsedang is said to be the cradle of the Tibetan civilisation. The city has been a regional capital since ancient times having been the seat of the ancient Tibetan emperors. As such, it is a place of great significance within Tibet.
Enjoy free time for the remainder of the first day exploring the town and acclimatising to the Tibetan Plateau altitude.
Your guide will provide restaurant suggests for this evening. Consider trying some of Tibet's staple cuisines, like tsamba (roasted barley husks) with butter, enjoyed with Sichuan tea. Other common foods include sausages, yoghurt and stews. Tea and barley beer, called chang, are the most popular drinks.
Your first full day in Tibet starts with a visit to the Trandruk Temple, one of the first Buddhist Temples built in Tibet. Afterwards visit the Yumbulakhang Palace, the first palace of Tibet. This castle-like building rises on the spur of a hill, commanding an impressive view of the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley.
After breakfast travel along the mountain roads to Lhasa, stopping on the way to visit Samye Monastery. Located to the west of Tsedang across the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Samye is the oldest monastery in Tibet. A stunning ferry across the Yarlung Tsangpo River brings you to this ancient monastery.
Arrive in Lhasa in the afternoon. Your guide will introduce you to this mysterious city, and help you check in to you hotel.
Mountain locked and remote, Lhasa has a thousand years of cultural and spiritual history. The Tibetan capital is surrounded with a romance and mystique that captures the imagination like few other cities in the world.
Start your day with a visit to the golden-roofed Jokhang Monastery where you witness prostrating pilgrims shrouded with incense smoke in the half light of this ancient monastery. Later we visit Barkor Street, the fascinating Tibetan style stock exchange, a hive of market activity.
In the afternoon visit the Potala Palace. Imposing yet precarious on the top of Red Mountain, the palace was once the centre of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama.
This morning embark on a guided tour of Norbulingka, the former summer Palace of the Dalai Lama. The highlight today is a visit to the largest monastery in the world, the Drepung Monastery, that today houses up to 700 monks. In the afternoon we tour the Sera Monastery, built in the 15th century and one of the great Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet.
You will learn the history of these monasteries and their part in the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, when the monasteries were heavily shelled by the Chinese military. Many Tibetan rebels were killed with the surviving monks fleeing with the Dalai Lama into India and exile.
Visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery with its bejewelled golden roof. The official seat of Panchen Lama, second in importance to the Dalai Lama. In the afternoon we continue our scenic road tour to Shigatse.
Shigatse is Tibet’s second city and an important spiritual centre. Your guide will introduce you to Shigatse, and accompany you to a restaurant and introduce you to more of the local Tibetan delicacies.
Visit the Phalkor Monastery, notable for its superb Kumbum stupa reaching high into the sky. The Phalkor Monastery was one of the few ancient buildings in Gyangtse that was preserved from Chinese dismantlement following the 1959 Tibetan uprising. In the afternoon, you will continue onwards to the plateau town of Gyangtse.
Gyangtse is located in the fertile Nuang river valley at just under 4,000 (13,150 ft) metres in altitude. The town is easy to walk around and notable for its prominent fort, or Gyangtse Dzong, and the Phalkor Monastery which we visit tomorrow. Gyangtse is the last major town in China on the trade route to Kathmandu in Nepal, on the Friendship Highway.
Your guide will organise dinner for you again this evening.
Today you travel along mountain roads passing Tibetan nomad camps with herds of yaks and sheep. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Tibetan Plateau, surrounded by snow capped mountains and the pristine Yamdrok Lake with its many small islands. Residing at an altitude of 4,400 metres (14,400 ft) the lake is sacred to Tibetan people.
We drive back to Lhasa in the afternoon.
On your last day enjoy free time until your departure transfer.
Phone now to discuss options to personalise your itinerary.
Ideas to extend your itinerary:
All Get About Asia trips have been designed to make sure you have an unforgettable travel experience. We have developed several trip styles to cater for our diverse range of travellers. Read what your ideal Get About Asia experience might look like here.
Superior: | from AU $2,922 |
Deluxe: | from AU $3,395 |
All GetAboutAsia prices are based on twin share and depend on availability and season. All our itineraries can be customised including international flights and extra nights. For questions or further information, Enquire Now!
Hotels each night of the itinerary (excluding your departure day). All GetAboutAsia accommodation is handpicked by us. Upgrades are available for this itinerary.
Visas for China
Almost all nationalities require a visa for mainland China. You must obtain your Chinese visa in advance. Give yourself at least 3-4 weeks. It is not possible to get a visa on arrival and Chinese visas can be very difficult to obtain outside your country of residence.
Hong Kong and Macau are not considered part of mainland China for immigration purposes and most nationalities (please check) do not require a visa.
Availability of accommodation and season.
Start: | Tsedang, China |
End: | Lhasa, China |
Physical: | Medium (light hiking) |
Dates: | Daily Departures |
Details: |
Suggested Itinerary Accommodation Options Important Information |
"Getaboutasia and local office in Nepal and Tibet (Palpasa) have probably provided the best service from any tour operators I have ever had....which has made my whole trip so much easier and enjoyable. Tibet guide Purbhu even helped celebrate my birthday with a cake! How awesome! Tibet is just the most interesting, unspoilt and clean destination....just WOW......! " — Kerry, Coffs Harbour, April 2019
"The guides, particularly the Tibet guide Mr Tawa, and drivers were very good. We were very well looked after. Accommodation was good, indeed very nice in Lhasa at Fourpoint. Overall, we were very happy. " — Mr and Mrs Jayasuriya, Melbourne, September 2018
"Enjoyed China and Tibet! People were very friendly. Location of Lhasa hotel was superb. I had two days travelling outside of Lhasa and I am glad I organised it that way to see rural Tibet. My wish came true when I sat next to a pure white shaggy yak on the shores of Namtso Lake!" — Elizabeth , Mt Tamborine, July 2018
"We enjoyed our trip to China, Nepal and Tibet. This is our 3rd trip with Getabouatsia and we liked the guides and drivers. Our highlights of our trip included China - Shanghai, Tibet – drive to Mt Everest, Nepal – Kathmandu. Thank you for your help. " — Paul and Caroline, Sydney, May 2018
"We had always looked forward to enjoying the history and culture of China and Tibet but our 28-day experience through GetAboutAsia was so much more than we had anticipated. Very memorable. " — Mr and Mrs Whimp, , November 2017
"The back door of St Regis led us onto the old town. It was close to the Nunnery and the Muslim area. one night we had amazing sate and pulled spicy hand cut noodles from there. Anyway the hotel room has serviced well and a fridge brought in just for us. Samie is a wonderful Monastery plus the beautiful countryside in peace without hordes of tourists. The Tibetans are lovely people!" — Mr Hammett, Sydney, November 2017
"We were constantly amazed at the value of the trip. The drivers were great and patient - the guides were very good. The accommodation was good - very comfortable and food was excellent. It is always difficult to pick favourites as each place has something of its own to offer. Attached a photo of us at 5,000m at the Lake Yamdork in Tibet. Thanks again for dealing with the visa and permits- everything went exceptionally well. It was a great trip." — Kate & Robert, Adelaide, SA, June 2015