Classic Tibet (9 Days)

FLY OR TAKE TRAIN TO LHASA
Arrive Lhasa and meet with your local Tibetan guide and transfer to the town of Tsedang. During the drive the guide will tell you about the area and offer some insights into Tibet's long and recent tragic history. The afternoon is left free for acclimatisation.

If energy permits, you can visit Yumbu Lagan or Changzhu Monastery.

TSEDANG TO LHASA
After breakfast, we will drive along the Tsangpo river to visit the fantastic Samye monastery, believed to be Tibet's first monastery, built between 775 and 779. The original building is no longer intact, but has been rebuilt and remains the symbol of Tibet's national identity. Its main building is a three-story tower with an interior influenced by Tibetan, Han and Indian styles.

The wide expanse of the river and sand dunes give an almost eerie sense of remoteness here. After lunch, we drive back to Lhasa and stroll onto Barkhor Street. This is the kora, or pilgrimage route, around the Jokhang Temple.

LHASA
This morning's destination is the famous Potala Palace, an immense structure stacked atop Marpo Ri (Red Hill) high above the Lhasa Valley. It contains more than 10,000 shrines, 200,000 images, and 1,000 rooms. After lunch, visit the Drepung Monastery. Situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, this Monastery houses many cultural relics.

Whilst visiting the monastery, you will have the opportunity to have a private half-hour conversation with the master lama, the head of the monastery. Drive back to Lhasa and visit a Tibetan carpet factory and showroom, where weavers still use old-style vertical looms to create carpets in the traditional way.

JOKHANG TEMPLE AND TIBETAN FAMILY VISIT
Depart early to the nearby Jokhang Temple, spiritual heart of Tibet. Each day, pilgrims from all across Tibet journey to this holiest of temples, some even prostrating themselves with each step throughout their trek until they reach the door. Visit a Tibetan hospital and meet an expert, who will share with you the history of Tibetan Medication.

Afterwards, visit a local Tibetan at home, where he earns a living by making traditional Tibetan furniture. There will be an opportunity to converse with the family members and get a more personal and grounded understanding of their daily life.

PABONGKA AND SERA MONASTERIES
In the morning visit the ancient and seldom-visited Pabongka Monastery. Afterwards you can follow a trail up to the Tashi Chöling Hermitage [for fantastic views of the Lhasa Valley] and visit the Sera Monastery. Inside the monastery, stroll among the vast temples and college complexes, and mingle freely with monks going about their daily duties.

Visit the printing centre, where sutra texts are still printed by hand on the traditional Tibetan long paper. You will have an opportunity to print our own as well. Proceed to the animated debate courtyard, where Tibetan monks energetically challenge each other's view and interpretation of the scripture, simultaneously honing their understanding of Tibetan Buddhism and debating skills. When the monk's point is made, he claps his hand loudly in front of his opponent to signal to this opponent to respond.

LHASA TO SHIGATSE
Head to the second largest city in Tibet, Shigatse. En route stop for a picnic and stroll by the Yamdrok Tso Lake, one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. On arrival in Shigatse, if time permits, visit the local market and walk the Kora of Tashilunpo Monastery.

SHIGATSE
Today is predominantly a hiking day. Drive to a village called Chack and embark on an easy trek towards Ngor village, which takes around 5 hours. This moderate climb takes you to the Chack-La pass at (4470 metres high), where you can enjoy the stunning views of the Ngor monastery below and the Narthang monastery in the distance.

Founded by one of the Sakya masters in the year 1429, the Ngor monastery established a sub-order with a distinctive school of Buddhist thought. En route, we visit a local Tibetan family and learn about their rural daily life in contrast to the life of Tibetans in Lhasa. The night is spent camping near a Tibetan village.

Day 8

SHIGATSE TO LHASA
After breakfast, drive back to Shigatse and visit the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Founded by the first Dalai Lama in 1447, this is the largest monastery in the Tsang area. After lunch, drive back to Lhasa.

DEPART TIBET
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport or train station