9 Days Leisurely Nyingchi Lhasa Shannan Cultural Tour

Tashi Delek and welcome to Nyingchi!

When you arrive in Nyingchi in the morning, our friendly local Tibetan guide will be expecting you at Nyingchi Mainling Airport with a Hada, the traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarf, and warm blessings.

Then, our local guide will whisk you off to your hotel in the Bayi Town (2,900m) of Nyingchi. After checking in at the hotel, you can explore the hotel surroundings or have a good rest at your hotel for a smooth acclimatization.

In the afternoon, we are about to visit the Great Cypress Nature Reserve Area, which is 12min’s drive southeast of Bayi Town. You can see towering ancient cypress trees with 2,500 years old, the oldest tree in China. Since the holy cypress tree is related to the Bön founder Tonpa Shenrab. It’s also a sacred place for pilgrimage by local Tibetans.

Stay overnight in Bayi Town, Nyingchi.

Where to Stay?
Throughout your journey, our senior guests will stay in carefully selected 4-star or 5-star hotels in Nyingchi, Lhasa, and Tsedang, ensuring a comfortable and restful experience. All of these hotels are equipped with oxygen supply systems to help you relax after each day’s exploration.

• Tibetan tour guide greets you at Nyingchi Mainling Airport.
• Transfer to Bayi Town of Nyingchi via the enchanting Niyang River.

After breakfast, we’ll drive towards Lulang Forest, a stunning alpine valley known as the “Switzerland of Tibet,” where lush meadows, dense alpine forests, and snow-capped peaks come together in a breathtaking panorama.

From its Sejila Mountain pass (4,728m), you may marvel at the imposing Mt. Namcha Barwa (7,782m), credited as the most beautiful snow-capped peak in China (best viewed from late October to April).

Our adventure continues to the Lulang Forest, nestling in a vast, lush valley. Here, you can take in sweeping views of dense alpine forests and snow-capped peaks, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and enjoy a peaceful walk surrounded by untouched natural beauty.

Later, we’ll visit a traditional Gongbu Tibetan family. You can step into their warm home to enjoy homemade Tibetan sweet tea, make pancakes with an elder Tibetan mother, and chat with them with the help of our local experts by the fire.

At the dinner table, you will savor authentic Gongbu Tibetan dishes, including the famous Nyingchi delicacy, free-range Tibetan pigs for dinner. You’ll also have the chance to dress in traditional Gongbu Tibetan costumes for memorable photos.

As the day winds down, we will enjoy a 1h30min drive back to Bayi Town.

Stay overnight in Bayi Town, Nyingchi.

• Lulang Forest in Nyingchi
• Visit a traditional Gongbu Tibetan family and enjoy dinner there.

Today, you’ll continue westward toward Lhasa, with a detour to the serene Basum Tso Lake, widely known as one of the most beautiful lakes in eastern Tibet.

After breakfast, you will first visit Basum Tso Lake, a beautiful holy lake of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. You can hike to the Dagiela Viewing Platform and enjoy the panoramic view of Basum Tso Lake, which resembles a crescent moon nestled in a high mountain gorge. The lake is crystal clear, with rippling azure waves and playful fish, adding a delightful touch to the scenery.

Besides, you will visit the Tsodzong Monastery on the heart-shaped island in the lake. This Nyingma-Red Sect monastery boasts a 1500-year history. Encircled by dense, tranquil forests, the temple seems to guard the jade-like lake securely.

After that, you can jump on the tourist yacht and enjoy yachting on the serene Basum Tso Lake to get a close look at this holy lake and the surrounding snowy peaks.

Later, we will hit the road again, and by late afternoon, you will finally arrive in Lhasa, the cultural, political, and spiritual heart of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Check in at your hotel in downtown Lhasa for a good rest.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Spin prayer wheels around Tsodzong Monastery.
• Enjoy yachting on the serene Basumtso Lake.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will immerse yourself in the sacred Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet. Follow a long line of pilgrims in the dimly lit chambers to worship the life-size statue of a 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Then, walk clockwise with prostrating Tibetan pilgrims to experience the famous 1km Barkhor circuit kora (pilgrimage trek) and unwind in a local teahouse to rest your legs and enjoy Tibetan sweet tea, noodles, momos, and Sha Phaley (crispy Tibetan bread), while soaking in the lively local Tibetan life, chatting with friendly locals. If time and energy allow, you may enjoy a slow wander through the quiet backstreets of Lhasa.

In the afternoon, you will explore Sera Monastery, the second-largest Gelug monastery next to Drepung. You can appreciate the exquisitely made sand Mandala and admire Buddhist paintings.

The biggest highlight is to watch the dramatic monk debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). By clapping hands, jumping, yelling, and rolling a Buddhist mala, the standing monk furiously debates with the other monk sitting on the ground about Buddhist philosophy.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• A Tibetan pilgrim is worshipping Jokhang Temple
• Witness the dramatic Tibetan monk debate in Sera Monastery.

After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace, and the extraordinary treasures it holds. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Since visiting the Potala Palace involves a steady climb up stone stairs, for some of our senior guests who may find walking difficult, we can arrange a comfortable teahouse or café nearby, where you can relax and still enjoy beautiful views of the Potala Palace without the need for a long climb.

After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Zongjiao Lukang Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities like the traditional Tibetan circle dance.

In the afternoon, we head to Norbulingka Park, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Here, we’ll set up a traditional Lingka (Tibetan picnic) under lush trees. You can sip Tibetan sweet tea, snack on local pastries, and enjoy the cool afternoon breeze. Besides, you can follow our local guide to explore the traditional Tibetan palaces within walking distance.

After a full but gentle day of sightseeing, we return to the hotel for a comfortable rest.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Visit the iconic Potala Palace at a gentle pace.
• Stroll through the enchanting Norbulingka Palace.

After a hearty breakfast, we will enjoy a leisurely visit to Drepung Monastery, which was once the largest monastery in Tibet, capable of accommodating over 7,000 monks.

We take our time walking through the monastery at a comfortable pace, allowing you to explore its murals & mantras on the gigantic rocks, and spin Tibetan prayer wheels with locals. Our guide will provide detailed explanations of the famous Coqen Hall and Loseling College, and the worldview of Tibetan Buddhism and its history.

By exploring Tibetan monks’ dormitories, you will gain insights into the Tibetan monks' daily routines and living conditions.

In the afternoon, we will gather at our cultural center workshop. Here, you will be guided by local Tibetan experts through meaningful hands-on activities.

You will begin with a peaceful Tibetan meditation session, gently guided in a simple and easy-to-follow way.

After that, our local expert will introduce you to the art of traditional Tibetan incense making, where you’ll experience how natural herbs are carefully blended by hand. You will also print a Tibetan prayer flag pattern, symbols of blessings carried by the wind across the mountains.

What’s more, you’ll have a chance to try writing Tibetan script yourself and appreciate its unique, flowing beauty as an art form. You can take home these precious handmade Tibetan incense, prayer flags, or your own Tibetan calligraphy works as lovely gifts for your family and friends.

Finally, we return to your hotel in the late afternoon, leaving the evening free for rest or a peaceful stroll in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Drepung Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelug monasteries of Tibet
• Print patterns of traditional Tibetan prayer flags.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a comfortable one-hour drive from Lhasa to Shannan Prefecture, widely regarded as the birthplace of Tibetan culture and Buddhism.

Your first stop is the prestigious Samye Monastery, the very first monastery built in Tibet. According to local legend, its construction was guided by gods, demons, and humans together. As you walk through the monastery, you will experience its peaceful atmosphere and deep spiritual heritage.

Inside, you will visit the Utse Chapel, the main hall of Samye Monastery. This remarkable structure combines Tibetan, Chinese, and Indian architectural styles, representing the Buddhist concept of the center of the universe. The design and setting create a truly meaningful and contemplative space.

You will also explore the Chok Chapel, believed to be the last place the human soul will linger before entering the afterlife.

In the afternoon, we continue our journey to Tradruk Temple, one of the earliest temples in Tibet, built during the same period as Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple in Lhasa.

Here, you can admire the treasured 400-year-old thangka of Chenresig, carefully made with 29,000 pearls. It is believed to have been offered by Princess Wencheng to King Songtsen Gampo, adding a beautiful layer of history and devotion to the temple visit.

Stay overnight in Tsedang.

• Samye Monastery, the first Buddhsit monastery in Tibet
• Local Tibetans turnning prayer wheels in Tradruk Temple

After breakfast, we will tour the Yumbulakang Palace, the first Tibetan palace in Tibet for King Nyentri Tsenpo, but later used as the summer palace of Songtsen Gampo & Princess Wencheng. You can walk or enjoy a horseback ride to the Yumbulakang and enjoy the sweeping view of the first Tibetan fields from above.

In the afternoon, we will take a gentle and reflective journey to the Tombs of the Tibetan Kings in Chongye Valley. Spread across this peaceful landscape, the vast earth-mounded tombs serve as the final resting places of Tibet’s early monarchs. Among them are the legendary King Songtsen Gampo, his queens Princess Wencheng and Princess Bhrikuti, as well as the revered King Trisong Detsen.

Our local Tibetan guide will share gentle explanations along the way, helping you better understand the heritage and meaning behind this sacred landscape.

Finally, we say goodbye to the culturally rich Shannan and enjoy a comfortable drive back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Yumbulhakhang, the first palace built in Tibet
• Visit the historic Tombs of the Tibetan Kings in Chongye Valley.

Today marks the end of your Tibet tour. Please make sure to verify your departure flight or train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will offer you a transfer service to the airport or train station.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.

• Big farewell to Lhasa, and may you have a safe and pleasant journey back home!
• Your guide will escort you to Lhasa Railway Station if you depart Tibet by train.