9 Days Tibet Student Tour to Major Cultural Attractions

Arrive in Lhasa by flight or train. Transfer to Lhasa downtown after arriving in the Lhasa Gongar airport or the train station.

Have a rest in Lhasa to acclimatize the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Puntsok Kungsa International Youth Hostel, 4-6 beds dorm.

In the morning, visit the famous Potala palace and explore its grand chapel,its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then, you will visit the Tibet Museum which was officially inaugurated in October of 1999, with a permanent collection that celebrates the History of Tibetan Culture. The History of Tibetan Culture Exhibition incorporates superb examples of several thousand years of Tibetan history, politics, religion, cultural arts, and customs.

After lunch, visit Sera Monastery which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. You can see motivated monks engaging in spirited debate on life questions and religious teachings! Many lamas sitting or standing in the yard debate a certain topic their teacher has given.

Stay overnight in Puntsok Kungsa International Youth Hostel, 4-6 beds dorm.

• Potala Palace, at the top of the hill in central Lhasa city, is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.
• Monk Debate is a highlight of Sera Monastery

After breakfast, drive to TUNBO Tibetan Incense and Thangka production center to explore the Tibetan incense making process and the production process of thangka painting. You can spend this morning to slowly watch and understand the material and production of Tibetan incense and Thangka constitute.

After lunch, drive to Potala Tibetan Carpet Factory. Tibet carpet in Tibetan called as CADEN. "CA" in Tibetan means "top". CADEN can be described as a small carpet, as big as a single bed.

Then visit the Tibetan Medical Expo Center under the Medical College. During the Ancient times in Tibet the customs of sky burial is there. In the regular process of the autopsy, they understand the position and role of the human body in bone, muscle, viscera, etc., and because the effect of Tibetan sky burial, ancient Tibetan invent the Tibetan medical.

Stay overnight in Puntsok Kungsa International Youth Hostel, 4-6 beds dorm.

• Visit Tibetan Incense and Thangka production center and closely see how they make Tibetan incense.
• See how Tibetan make the carpet in a traditional way.

In the morning, drive about 60 km eastwards to visit the Ganden Monastery, which ranks the first among the six largest monasteries of Gelugpa.

Then drive to Tidrum, 110km northeast of Lhasa). It has a great location in a narrow gorge at the confluence of two streams. You can have the famous medicinal hot-springs there and visit Tidrum Nunnery nearby.

Stay overnight in Guesthouse (Dorm bed).

• A close look at Ganden monastery
• Mysterious Tidrum Nunnery

Early drive to Drigung Til Monastery, which sprouts from a high, steep ridge overlooking the Drigung Valley. Drigung Til is the head monastery of the Drigungpa school of the Kagyupa order. Right now there are about 270 monks. Up to the hill of Drigung Til, there is one the holiest sky-burial site in Lhasa region. Please note that watching sky-burial ceremony is forbidden if you have not get permission of the bereaved family.

In the afternoon, drive back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Puntsok Kungsa International Youth Hostel, 4-6 beds dorm.

• Drigung Til Monastery is one of the handful Drigung Til Monasteries that practice Sky Burial
• Winter View of Drigung Til Moanstery

A few kilometers from Chushor is the famous pass Kangpa-la at 4700m. From the top of the pass in clear weather, you can see the fabulous shade of deep turquoise Lake Yamdrok-tso and visit the Tibetan Family located at the shore of Yamdrtso Lake.

Upon arrival in Gyantse, you can visit Gyantse Palkhor Monastery and its Kumbum Stupa.

Then continue to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

• Bathing in sunshine, Yamdrok lake is dispalying its dazzling beauty to visitors both home and abroad.
• A great view of Palkhor Monastery

After breakfast, visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery where you can see the well preserved largest statue of Jampa (future god) in the world.

Then drive along the Sino-Nepal Highway to Qushui, and to Tsedang, known as the capital of the ancient Yarlung Kingdom. You will be amazed by the stunning scenery of the Yarlung Zangpo Valley. It is a relaxing and pleasant day.

Stay overnight in Tsedang.

• Tashilhunpo Monastery, the home of Panchan Lama
• Appreciate the stunning scenery of Yarlung Tsangpo River en route

Visit three important cultural sites in Tsedang. Drive 7kms to visit Yambulakhang Palace, the first building of Tibet which was built in 2nd century for Tibetan Kings.

Then visit Trandruk Monastery which is one of the oldest monasteries and the first Buddha hall in Tibet, and the Samye Monastery is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

After sightseeing, drive back to Tsedang for a good rest.

Stay overnight in Tsedang.

• Yumbulhakhang, the first palace built in Tibet
• Samye Monastery, the first Buddhsit monastery in Tibet

Transfer to the airport (90km, 2 hrs) for your departure flight to next destination.