Tibet Shalu To Nartang Trekking Tour

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival-Lhasa (3650m)

Transfer to downtown Lhasa after arriving at the Lhasa Gongar airport or the Lhasa train station. Then transfer to the hotel, and have a rest in Lhasa to acclimatize to the high altitude. Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 2-3: Two full days of Lhasa Sightseeing(B)

Go sightseeing in Lhasa in the first two days in Tibet. Visit fabulous and typical Buddhist and historic sites, such as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, and Drepung Monastery.

In Potala Palace, explore the grandest of these myriad chapels, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens(stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and a tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, and figures of the Buddha.

You will visit three important monasteries in Lhasa, the first and foremost being Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, which attracts pilgrims all over the Tibetan Area. Built during Songtsen Gonpo's reign by Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, 647 A.D.

The other two, Monasteries Sera and Drepung Monastery, located in a suburb of Lhasa, are hosted by hundreds of Monks, learning, praying, studying, and living there. The famous Monks debiting held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon.

You will also explore the circular pilgrim route Barkhor while traveling at Johkang Temple, contact local folks, and if possible, purchase some traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instruments, Thangkas, and traditional Tibetan clothes, etc. Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 4: Lhasa／Gyantse／Shalu Monastery, Camping (D)

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse. On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m). The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains, and in the distance, you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa.

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang a prayer flag at Simila Mountain Pass; Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse).In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyantse Fortress.

After driving, we arrive at Shalu Monastery. Visit Shalu Monastery, the seat of Buton. Rinchendrub(1290-1346) was the great master of the Tibetan translations of the Indian Buddhist texts. Near Shalu is the beginning of our trekking tour. Moving to the best campsite site few kilometers away from Shalu, we will have our first camping here.

Day 5: Shalu (3980m)/ Upper Lungsang(4060m), Trekking 5 -6 hours, 12km, Camp (B, L, D)

We start trekking after breakfast at the camp to Upper Lungsang, which is 4060m above sea level. On the way, you will pass Ripu hermitage, the flood plain, Phunup village, and Showa-la pass. In this way, you will experience the Tibetan farmer's countryside life and see how local Tibetans in the countryside practise their Buddhist life.

Stay overnight at Upper Lungsang Camp

Day 6: Upper Lungsang/Ngor Monastery/Nartang Monastery/Shigatse, (Trekking 5 -6 hours, 14km) (B, L)

Trek through the farming fields to the Ngor village. The Ngor monastery is renowned for its Sanskrit library and Newar-style(a tribe in Nepal) murals. There were once five assembly halls, 18 colleges, and 400 monks. Cross the Char-la pass(4550m), there was once a trade link between Shalu and Sakya Monastery, but it has now disappeared. Need to trek across a steep slope of raw expanses of rock. Trek from Ngor to Nartang by passing several villages, saddles, and one electric utility.

Near the end, we will drive to Shigatse City, which is the second biggest city of Tibet, and also the seat of Panchen Lama.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Day 7: Shigatse/Lhasa (B), visit Tashilunpo Monastery

Drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse in 4 hours. On the way, visit the largest Monastery in western Tibet, the Tashilunpo monastery, as the last but famous historic sites for your Tibet tour.

Tashilunpo monastery is one of the six great Gelukpa institutions and was founded in 1447 by a disciple of Tsongkapa, Genden drup, who was the first dalai lama. Jamkhang Chenmo contains the world's largest gilded copper image (26m high) of the future god Jampa. Drive along the Friendship Highway back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 8: Lhasa Airport Dropping off (B)

Transfer to the Lhasa airport/Train station to end the service. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay longer in Tibet, you can extend your trip to other parts of China like Gyantse, Shigatse, Everest Base Camp, etc. - If you need, please contact us.

Service Included:

All travel permits and all other necessary permits for this trekking.

All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;

Knowledgeable English-speaking local tour guide;

Personal comfortable, clean, and safe vehicle with a reliable local driver; vehicle ranging from a 4WD Land Cruiser to a minibus, depending on the group size;

All lodging is listed in the itinerary.

All meals are listed in the above itinerary.

One shared big Oxygen tank in the car;

Tourist accident/casualty insurance;

First aid kit;