Namtso Lake Tour-06 Days
This is the Classic tour itinerary to visit Lhasa and the holy lake Namtso Lake. Meanwhile, if you are not used to the high altitude, then this is one of the best itineraries that cover the all the main tourist sites in Lhasa like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkor street, Drepung and Sera monastery.
Of course, the highlight of this tour would be the one of the must-see attractions sacred lake Namtso.The heavenly lake is the second largest alpine saline lake in Tibet with an altitude of 4,718 meters above sea level. Its surrealistic beauty will take your breath away in no time. Just as a tourist noted:” It is one of those rare places on Earth where you feel the beauty of Nature as something material. You can drink the air and taste the wind admiring mountains in a place where you feel reluctant to leave.”
At a Glance – Namtso Lake Tour
Day | Itinerary | Place | Altitude |
01 | Arrival in Lhasa | Lhasa | 3,656 m |
02 | Lhasa Tour – Potala Place, Johkang Temple, Barkor Street | Lhasa | 3,656 m |
03 | Drepung and Sera Monastery | Lhasa | 3,656 m |
04 | Lhasa to Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours ) | Namtso Lake | 4,718 m |
05 | Namtso Lake back to Lhasa via Yampachen (230km ) | Lhasa | 3,656 m |
06 | Depart from Lhasa | 3,656 m |
Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa
When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.
After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 2: Lhasa Tour – Potala Place, Johkang Temple, Barkor Street
Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market. Besides, We can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house; The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly;
Optional: With time permitting, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center. You can upgrade your service to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD)
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 3: Lhasa Tour – Drepung and Sera Monastery
In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.
In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 4: Lhasa to Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours )
In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland ( in summer) . Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Lagenla Mountain Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake.
Then we can do leisure trek around Tashi Island and enjoy sunset of Namtso. At night, we you enjoy night view of the milky way at the lake shore.
Stay overnight at Namtso Tent Guest house ( Basic facility)
Day 5: Namtso Lake back to Lhasa via Yampachen (230km,5 hours )
Enjoy the sunrise view of the Namtso Lake at the lake shore, you can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Drive to Dumxung to have lunch.
In the afternoon, you may enjoy Yangpachen hot spring (Optional,Price $25 not included in package) and have both indoor and outdoor swimming pool filled with hot springs water. Finally, head back to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 6: Depart from Lhasa
The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.