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Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Spirituality, Heritage
Destinations
Tibet

Those who wish to take a closer look at Tibetan spirituality will love this itinerary, designed to satisfy such curiosities. Starting in what is known as the center of Tibetan Buddhism, Lhasa, the journey will take you from the city’s great spiritual sites, including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and more, to the holy waters of Namtso Lake. You’ll continue onwards to Tidrum, stopping in important monasteries and nunneries along the way. You’ll wind up your journey once again in Lhasa, where you can spend a final night at the luxurious St. Regis hotel.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Namtso Lake: The "Heavenly Lake" is known for its pure blue water as much as the local legends, which claim the saltwater pool is home to dragons.
  • Spirituality: Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, and Drepung Monastery are just a few of the significant spiritual sites travelers will visit in Tibet.
  • Medicinal Hot Springs: The steaming waters of Tidrum Valley are said to cure ailments such as arthritis, stomach ulcers, sores, and scabies, among many other health problems.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Lhasa

Arrive in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, where you’ll be greeted and driven to your luxurious hotel. Along the way, you’ll enjoy your first view of Potala Palace - an important religious site for Tibetans. Once you’re all checked in to your room, you may enjoy spending the rest of the day at your leisure to acclimatize to the altitude. 

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location:The Shangri-La Lhasa is located in the center of the city, within walking distance to Lhasa’s historic sites.

History:Lhasa is rich with history, and the hotel pays homage to this heritage by promoting local traditions and creating a luxurious environment with traditionally Tibetan appeal.

Service: Guests can enjoy true Tibetan hospitality through various customs in addition to the Shangri-La's world-famous five-star service.

See Hotel
Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: At just three miles away from the most important Tibetan structure in the world, the location of the Songtsam Linka Lhasa is hard to beat.

Style: The hotel’s Thangka paintings and wall tapestries produce an environment reminiscent of how noble Tibetan families lived centuries ago.

Comfort: The inviting beds and sitting rooms are a perfect place to unwind and refresh after long days spent exploring the cultural and natural wonders of Lhasa.

See Hotel
Songtsam Linka Lhasa Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This hotel is located in the famed Barkhor area, surrounded by stunning landscapes, and nearly 4,000 meters above sea level - among the highest city altitudes in the world.

History: Lhasa has a rich and colorful history that dates back over a millenium, and the St. Regis Lhasa faces one of the most important historical sites in the city - the once chief residence of the Dalai Lama.

Service: Guests can benefit from 24 hour bespoke butler service so that they need not lift a finger.

See Hotel
St. Regis Lhasa Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Lhasa

Wake up this morning and enjoy a pleasant breakfast at your hotel. Next, you’ll head out into the city, where you’ll start your sightseeing tour with Potala Palace, the one-time home of the Dalai Lama. Continue onwards to Barkhor Square, a bustling pilgrimage site made up of busy, cobbled lanes. Finish off your tour with Jokhang Temple, considered by many Tibetans to be their country’s most important and sacred temple. 

Lhasa
Lhasa

Day 3

Lhasa

For your final day of touring in Lhasa, you’ll visit the magnificent Sera Monastery, home to hundreds of monks from all over Tibet. Continue your spiritual exploration to Drepung Monastery, which was once the mother temple of Dalai Lamas. If you like, we can also arrange a visit to a local Tibetan family’s house. Alternatively, you may choose to receive sacred blessings from high Lamas.

Day 4

Namtso Lake

Now that you’re acclimatized to the altitude of the plateau, you’ll take a journey over the northern nomadic grassland, driving along the Qinghai-Tibet highway, where you’ll merge into the Changthang-Northern nomadic plain. From here, you’ll cross the Lekan La Pass, 5,190 meters above sea-level. Now you’ll get your first sighting of Namtso Lake, believed by local families to house dragons. If you feel up to it, take a walk around the pilgrimage trail around the hill, fringed by mani-stone walls and mystical caves. Spend the night at a simple but comfortable local guesthouse.

Hotel Options
About

Along the foothills and remote areas are small towns and rest stops for hikers and travelers. Basic guesthouses are available and offer a bed and shower for travelers on their journey along the Himalayas.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Namtso Lake
Namtso Lake

Day 5

Mt. Gangi Rarwa Base

Today you’ll embark on a journey off-the-beaten-path, deep into the alpine valleys. You’ll pass isolated villages and nomadic tents, before arriving at Reting Monastery. This historically-important monastery is nestled amongst juniper trees, at the base of Mt Gangi Rarwa. Spend another night at a simple guesthouse.

Hotel Options
About

Along the foothills and remote areas are small towns and rest stops for hikers and travelers. Basic guesthouses are available and offer a bed and shower for travelers on their journey along the Himalayas.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 6

Tidrum Valley

Hit the road again today, tracing the Reting river. You’ll pass Kampa stupas along the way, with beautiful scenes as their backdrop. The Tidrum valley is replete with prayer flags, and famous for its medicinal hot springs. Pay a visit to the nunnery, before checking in to a local guesthouse and resting your head for the night.

Hotel Options
About

Along the foothills and remote areas are small towns and rest stops for hikers and travelers. Basic guesthouses are available and offer a bed and shower for travelers on their journey along the Himalayas.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Tidrum Valley
Tidrum Valley

Day 7

Lhasa

You’ll head to Drigung monastery today, perched on a cliff 4,150 meters above sea-level, towering over the valley below. You’ll also see Gandan Monastery, also perched high in the sky - this one, at the top of Wangbur Mountain. You’ll then journey back to Lhasa today, where you can check in to your hotel once again, ahead of tomorrow’s departure.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location:The Shangri-La Lhasa is located in the center of the city, within walking distance to Lhasa’s historic sites.

History:Lhasa is rich with history, and the hotel pays homage to this heritage by promoting local traditions and creating a luxurious environment with traditionally Tibetan appeal.

Service: Guests can enjoy true Tibetan hospitality through various customs in addition to the Shangri-La's world-famous five-star service.

See Hotel
Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: At just three miles away from the most important Tibetan structure in the world, the location of the Songtsam Linka Lhasa is hard to beat.

Style: The hotel’s Thangka paintings and wall tapestries produce an environment reminiscent of how noble Tibetan families lived centuries ago.

Comfort: The inviting beds and sitting rooms are a perfect place to unwind and refresh after long days spent exploring the cultural and natural wonders of Lhasa.

See Hotel
Songtsam Linka Lhasa Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This hotel is located in the famed Barkhor area, surrounded by stunning landscapes, and nearly 4,000 meters above sea level - among the highest city altitudes in the world.

History: Lhasa has a rich and colorful history that dates back over a millenium, and the St. Regis Lhasa faces one of the most important historical sites in the city - the once chief residence of the Dalai Lama.

Service: Guests can benefit from 24 hour bespoke butler service so that they need not lift a finger.

See Hotel
St. Regis Lhasa Preferred Hotel
Lhasa
Lhasa

Day 8

Departure

Today you’ll check out and be transported by your guide and driver to the airport in time for your departure flight to your onward destination. 

Suggested Hotels For Days 1–3

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa
Preferred Hotel

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa

Opened in April 2014, this luxury property is a fitting new addition to the Lhasa hospitality scene. Shangri-La is, after all, the mythical kingdom believed to inhabit the Tibetan plateaus. Located in the city center, this stylish urban retreat allows guests to experience time-honored Tibetan customs - being welcomed with a local drink called chima, for instance, and being presented with a ceremonial khata scarf. Visitors at the Shangri-La Lhasa can enjoy being within strolling distance of this historic city's main attractions, including Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. For those who find Lhasa's high-altitude landscapes literally breathtaking, there's an oxygen lounge and relaxation center at the resort primed for guest recuperation. As with all Shangri-La properties, local culture plays a vital role in both the hospitality and the décor. At the Lhasa resort, this manifests in traditional architecture and design, with contemporary, luxuriously appointed guest rooms accented with local Tibetan textiles and artworks. Guests are also spoiled with far-reaching views of the mountains, the city and the spectacular Potala Palace.  

See Hotel
Songtsam Linka Lhasa
Preferred Hotel

Songtsam Linka Lhasa

When people close their eyes and imagine Tibet, the iconic Potala Palace may come to mind, and the Songtsam Linka Lhasa positions its guests just a stone’s throw from the famed structure. The palace is located a mere three miles away and is directly visible from the windows and balconies of several of the hotel’s rooms. The hotel itself features slaked lime walls, indigo-carved windows, and a fish-fin-shaped facade – all nods to traditional Tibetan artisans and culture – and the interior maintains an aura of reverence with decorations like wooden floors covered by warm carpets and exquisite wall tapestries. Rooms are spacious, with sitting spaces, balconies, and comfortable beds, and they are equipped with oxygen concentrators to help guests deal with Lhasa’s demanding altitude. There is a Chinese and Tibetan restaurant, which serves excellent home-style dishes, as well as a Western restaurant, where guests will find a breakfast buffet and a selection of wines later in the day. There is also a library and a boutique where guests can purchase souvenirs. Besides Potala Palace, visitors to Lhasa can also explore Jokhang Temple and the Drepung and Sera monasteries, and there are also many natural landscapes to explore in the region.
See Hotel
St. Regis Lhasa
Preferred Hotel

St. Regis Lhasa

Opened in November 2010, the St. Regis Resort in Lhasa stands on eight acres of land at “the roof of the world," with sweeping views of the Potala Palace. The spacious 162 rooms and villas with marble baths are decorated with carefully sourced artifacts that reflect the richness of Tibetan culture. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from, including the intimate private wine club Decanter by Haut-Brisson and Si Zi Kang, which serves traditional Tibetan cuisine. The health club boasts an indoor heated swimming pool, a yoga and pilates studio, and Iridium, a spa offering refined indulgence with Tibetan flavor. The business center offers 4 meeting rooms, copy and printing services, and faxing services. Other amenities include secretarial service and 24-hour butler service. The St. Regis Lhasa is located just minutes from the Potala Palace, the famous Barkhor area, Jokang Temple, Norbulinka, and is 46 miles from Gongga International Airport.

See Hotel

Suggested Hotel For Day 4

Guest House

Guest House

Along the foothills and remote areas are small towns and rest stops for hikers and travelers. Basic guesthouses are available and offer a bed and shower for travelers on their journey along the Himalayas.

Suggested Hotel For Day 5

Guest House

Guest House

Along the foothills and remote areas are small towns and rest stops for hikers and travelers. Basic guesthouses are available and offer a bed and shower for travelers on their journey along the Himalayas.

Suggested Hotel For Day 6

Guest House

Guest House

Along the foothills and remote areas are small towns and rest stops for hikers and travelers. Basic guesthouses are available and offer a bed and shower for travelers on their journey along the Himalayas.

Suggested Hotels For Day 7

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa
Preferred Hotel

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa

Opened in April 2014, this luxury property is a fitting new addition to the Lhasa hospitality scene. Shangri-La is, after all, the mythical kingdom believed to inhabit the Tibetan plateaus. Located in the city center, this stylish urban retreat allows guests to experience time-honored Tibetan customs - being welcomed with a local drink called chima, for instance, and being presented with a ceremonial khata scarf. Visitors at the Shangri-La Lhasa can enjoy being within strolling distance of this historic city's main attractions, including Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. For those who find Lhasa's high-altitude landscapes literally breathtaking, there's an oxygen lounge and relaxation center at the resort primed for guest recuperation. As with all Shangri-La properties, local culture plays a vital role in both the hospitality and the décor. At the Lhasa resort, this manifests in traditional architecture and design, with contemporary, luxuriously appointed guest rooms accented with local Tibetan textiles and artworks. Guests are also spoiled with far-reaching views of the mountains, the city and the spectacular Potala Palace.  

See Hotel
Songtsam Linka Lhasa
Preferred Hotel

Songtsam Linka Lhasa

When people close their eyes and imagine Tibet, the iconic Potala Palace may come to mind, and the Songtsam Linka Lhasa positions its guests just a stone’s throw from the famed structure. The palace is located a mere three miles away and is directly visible from the windows and balconies of several of the hotel’s rooms. The hotel itself features slaked lime walls, indigo-carved windows, and a fish-fin-shaped facade – all nods to traditional Tibetan artisans and culture – and the interior maintains an aura of reverence with decorations like wooden floors covered by warm carpets and exquisite wall tapestries. Rooms are spacious, with sitting spaces, balconies, and comfortable beds, and they are equipped with oxygen concentrators to help guests deal with Lhasa’s demanding altitude. There is a Chinese and Tibetan restaurant, which serves excellent home-style dishes, as well as a Western restaurant, where guests will find a breakfast buffet and a selection of wines later in the day. There is also a library and a boutique where guests can purchase souvenirs. Besides Potala Palace, visitors to Lhasa can also explore Jokhang Temple and the Drepung and Sera monasteries, and there are also many natural landscapes to explore in the region.
See Hotel
St. Regis Lhasa
Preferred Hotel

St. Regis Lhasa

Opened in November 2010, the St. Regis Resort in Lhasa stands on eight acres of land at “the roof of the world," with sweeping views of the Potala Palace. The spacious 162 rooms and villas with marble baths are decorated with carefully sourced artifacts that reflect the richness of Tibetan culture. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from, including the intimate private wine club Decanter by Haut-Brisson and Si Zi Kang, which serves traditional Tibetan cuisine. The health club boasts an indoor heated swimming pool, a yoga and pilates studio, and Iridium, a spa offering refined indulgence with Tibetan flavor. The business center offers 4 meeting rooms, copy and printing services, and faxing services. Other amenities include secretarial service and 24-hour butler service. The St. Regis Lhasa is located just minutes from the Potala Palace, the famous Barkhor area, Jokang Temple, Norbulinka, and is 46 miles from Gongga International Airport.

See Hotel

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