7 Days Lhasa, Samye Monastery and Chim-puk Hermitage Meditation Tour

Highlights:
Receive the auspicious White Hada and Tibet Travel guide from our Tibetan guide;
Get a glimpse of Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city; 

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa, the modern utopia as well as the spiritual heart of Tibet; Your hospitable Tibetan guide and friendly drivers have already been expecting you at the designated places at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station.

As you receive our auspicious white Hada, simply leave your hassle to our staff to take care and enjoy the scenic ride to your hotel in Lhasa city. Our handful Tibetan guide will help you check in and inform you of the travel plan the next day. Then have a good rest at the hotel for tomorrow’s exciting tour.

Meal: No Meal is included today

Accommodation:
Lhasa Yak Hotel(3 star), Cang-Gyan Lhasa Hotel (4 star), upgrade available when needed.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers to Tibet, never rush to visit attractions downtown as your body needs time to get acclimatized to the high altitude on Tibetan Plateau. Slight headache, dizziness, and rapid pulse are pretty common. They will disappear in a couple of days. Feel anything you need, please feel free to reach your Tibetan guide. Pay special attention to sun protection when meditating in the wilderness in Tibet.

Highlights:
Explore the White House and Red House in Potala Palace;
Enjoy the bird’s eye view of Lhasa city from Potala;
Visit the sandalwood statue of Sakyamuni in Potala; the life-size statue of Sakyamuni in Jokhang;
Experience the famous Barkhor Kora;
Taste Tibetan sweet tea and other local food 

Basking in eye-blinding sunshine, Lhasa is teeming with magnificent Buddhist temples and monasteries, devoted Tibetan pilgrims and historical backstreets, pleasing culinary discovery.

Follow the footsteps of your guide to hike the long stairs of impressive Potala Palace for the commanding view of Lhasa city; the UNESCO heritage site perched on the Red hill used to be the winter palace of the generations of Dalai Lama. Now, it is the most iconic building of Tibet. You will have a chance to explore the residence of Dalai Lama in White Palace and religious chambers in the Red Palace and gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas, etc.

After lunch, we will head to Jokhang Temple, the holiest Buddhist site in Lhasa. Traveling in the dimly-lit rooms, you can hear the constant mumbling of Buddhist chanting and see local Tibetans adding butter oil to the oil lamps. Never miss the chance to worship the life-size statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Outside the Jokhang Temple, follow the prostrating Tibetan pilgrims for the famous Barkhor kora nearby. You may also look for the delicately-made souvenirs in the boutiques that flank the Barkhor Street.

When you head starts to spin, delve into the quiet backstreet of Barkhor and treat yourself with a couple of tasty sweet tea and local delicacy and fully immerse yourself in the distinct vibes of a local teahouse.

At the light falls, the lively music bars and restaurants take on a different splendor for you to explore.

Meal:
Breakfast

Accommodation:
Lhasa Yak Hotel(3 star), Cang-gyan Lhasa Hotel (4 star), upgrade available when needed.

Insider Tips:
As each traveler only has one hour for visiting Potala Palace, do closely follow our guide’s guidance; walk slowly and take a rest if needed when you hike the Potala Palace;
Dress properly when visiting the Buddhist site and no photo is allowed inside the Buddhist hall.

With time permitting, you may also visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center and farm produce market in Tromsikhang Market. You can upgrade your service to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD)

Highlight:
Visit Pabonka Palace
Meditate in Pabongka Rizhui
Enjoy the Birds’ eye view of Lhasa city
Experience the lively monk debate and colorful sand mandala in Sera Monastery

Have an early rise for the breakfast at hotel; later we will enjoy the ride to the cliff-side Pabonka, a Tibetan palace 15km from the Lhasa; briefly visit the holy cave where Songtsen Gampo the 33rd Tibetan king used to meditate.

Keep following the scenic hike that takes around 30 mins behind Pabonka; we will reach Pabongka Rizhui, an exceedingly peaceful and remote Buddhist temple that has a commanding view of the Lhasa city. You may enjoy the perfect solitude and meditate here for hours.

Then we will travel back to Lhasa for the lunch at around noon. After lunch, make it to the prominent Sera Monastery; the second biggest Gelugpa monastery in Lhasa now is the major stage for the “monk debate”. Find a spot in the boisterous debate courtyard to enjoy this dramatic “monastic defense”. Though you may not understand what they say, the slapping of hands, yelling and jumping and rolling of Buddhist mala give you a vivid display of long-held tradition of Buddhist study. Besides, you may also enjoy exquisite sand mandala and Buddhist scripture printing press and visit the main assembly hall in this Buddhist academy. 

Meal:
Breakfast

Accommodation:
Lhasa Yak Hotel (3 star), Cang-gyan Lhasa Hotel (4 star), upgrade available when needed.

Insider Tips: In fact, if you prefer, you may spend days mediating in Pabongka Rizhui. However, sleeping in the Buddhist compound is not allowed according to the Tibet travel policy for international tourists. However, we can arrange the transfer service for you from Lhasa or you may stay with our Tibetan guide in the local guesthouse nearby. And “Rizhi” literally means a place for meditation in Tibetan.

Highlight:
Tour and meditate at Drak Yerpa Hermitage
Window view of Shannan

Enjoy the scenic ride, 32km from downtown Lhasa; we will arrive at renowned Drak Yerpa hermitage, one of the best off-the-beaten paths for Buddhist exploration. Follow the steps slowly to hike to the monastery; then visit multiple meditation caves used by Guru Rinpoche and King Songtsen Gampo; we will spend around 2hrs meditating in the caves.

Then after having lunch, we will travel to Tsedang (around 3hrs), capital city of Shanan prefecture, which is believed to be the cradle of Tibetan civilization. On the way, we will make a brief stop for you to enjoy the majestic Yarlung Tsang (Brahmaputra River). Have a rest in Tsedang for tomorrow’s visit to prestigious Samye Monastery and Chim-puk hermitage.

Meal:
Breakfast

Accommodation:
Tibet Shannan Yulong Holiday Hotel (3 star), Tsedang Hotel (4 star), upgrade available when needed.

Insider Tips: walk slowly when visiting Drak Yerpa Hermitage (4,885m) for its high altitude. While meditating in the open air, take precautions against powerful UV light and chilly wind on the lofty mountain passes.

Highlight:
Explore the Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist academy in Tibet
Scenic hike and meditation in Chim-puk Hermitage

Since the layout of Samye monastery itself mirrors the Buddhist philosophy of universe, be ready to explore it unique architecture; visit the all three flowers of this magnificent Buddhist monastery and get amazed by century-old Buddhist artifacts, statues and ornaments and precious collection of Buddhist mantra, etc. 

After lunch, we travel to mysterious Chim-puk hermitage, which is only around 10mins drive from Samye. Go for a scenic hike around the hill adorned by colorful Tibetan prayer flags and visit the mediation retreat for Guru Ringpoche; the lush hills and serenity and air of holiness give you the inner peace for the real meditation. We will find a safe and nice place for camping tonight here.

Meal:
Breakfast

Accommodation:
Camping or stay in the guesthouse around Chim-Puk Hermitage

Insider Tips: Our Tibetan guide will help you get Alien’s Travel Permit before the visit of Samye. Camping facilities are available for rental in our company. You may buy some food before leaving your hotel or have a private chef with your. 

Highlights:
Enjoy the Buddhist chanting by nuns
Half day mediation at the hill of Chim-puk Hermitage

Wake up to the beauty sunrise that gives warmth and life to the hills of Chim-Puk; after a quick breakfast, walk to the foothill to enjoy the Buddhist chanting by nuns; then we will do mediation at the nearby cave shrine till around noon. Then pack up and say farewell to Chim-puk through the rear mirror of the tour vehicle and head back to your hotel in Lhasa.

The rest of the day is yours. You may have a good rest or buy some souvenirs at Barkhor Street.

Accommodation:
Lhasa Yak Hotel (3 star), Cang-gyan Lhasa Hotel (4 star), upgrade available when needed.

Insider Tips: take enough clothes because the night quite be quite cold. Sleeping bags and portable battery recharge are available for rent in our company. Shops are hard to find at Chim-puk. 

Your guide will transfer you to the airport or train station for the next onward flight or journey.

Meal:
Breakfast