9 Days Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival via Shigatse Tour

April 2, 2024: Nyingchi Arrival-Bomi

Today we will arrive at Nyingchi as our first destination of the trip starts. Our tour guide will wait for you at the airport. Welcome to Tibet. Because everyone's flight is not the same, if you arrive earlier, please be patient and wait for other team members. After all group members arrived, we will drive to Bomi Peach Blossom Valley, the entire valley stretches for around 30km and is the most beautiful peach blossom area in Nyingchi region. After enjoying the vast peach blossoms, we will drive to Bomi county to spend the first night.

Notice: recommend the flights transfer from Chengdu/Chongqing to Nyingchi, and the flights' arrive before 11:00 am.

Meal: Dinner

Driving Hours: about 300km, 5hrs

April 3, 2024: Bomi-Midui Glacier-Ranwu Lake

In the morning we will pay a visit to the Midui Glacier first. It is located in Yupu town, 100km east of Bomi. The glacier is close to Sichuan-Tibet highway. With large scale and convenient access. It has glaciers, lakes, farmland, villages, forests, and other elements blend together. Then let's proceed to the Ranwu Lake. It is surrounded by snow mountains. The melting water of ice and snow constitutes its main source of supply. Ranwu Lake is also the source of the famous Palong Zangbo River. Beside the lake, there are green grassland, farmland and vast forests.

Meal: Breakfast

Driving Hours: about 200km，3.5hrs

April 4, 2024: Ranwu-Lulang Forest-Nyingchi

After having breakfast, we will drive to Lulang Forest. The area is covered by numerous different types of trees that are inhabited by many cuckoos, found here in their native habitat. Among all of the trees we will still be able to find broad meadows filled with herds of cattle around the small villages in the area. We will visit a viewing platform in the Lulang Forest that will give us great views of Namche Barwa (peak elevation 7756 meters), Gyala Pelri, and other high snow-capped mountain peaks. After that, we drive to Basumtso for the night. Then we will pass by the Segrila Pass. If the weather is fine, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the far view of Namjagbarwa (Namcha Barwa) from a distance in Segrila Pass (the specific viewing effect depends on the weather conditions).

Meal: Breakfast

Driving Hours: about 370km，7hrs

April 5, 2024: Nyingchi-Basumtso Lake-Lhasa

Today our highlight is Basumtso Lake. Basumtso integrates snow mountains, lakes, forests, waterfalls, pastures, etc. The scenery is different at different times, it is a national forest park and 5A scenic area. Then we will continue to visit the Jieba Village. It is the best place to watch Basumtso and the surrounding two snow mountains, which called "King's Throne" and "Burning Flame".

Meal: Breakfast

Driving Hours: about 490km，7hrs

April 6, 2024: Lhasa City

In the morning, we will start to explore the Lhasa City. Firstly, let's go to the Johkang Temple. It is the final destination for pilgrims. A statue of the 12-year-old Sakyamuni, who lived in India in the fifth century BC, and who was the creator of Buddhism, is collected in the monastery. This is the reason why Buddhists consider Lhasa a Sacred Land.

Ticketing tips for the Jokhang Temple

1. The Jokhang Temple needs real-name online ticketing. Every day, from 7:00am to 23:59pm the tickets for the next day will be open to book through the WeChat applet "Jokhang Temple Reservation" until the number of reservations is full. Therefore, tickets must be reserved one day in advance. Please follow tour guide's instruction to make the reservation.

2. The Jokhang Temple is a religious temple rather than a tourist attraction. Please note if encountering important religious activities, it will close to tourists.

Then we will continue going to the Barkhor Street. Located near the Jokhang Monastery, the Barkhor Street was only a place for Buddhists to do a religious circumambulation in ancient times. Nowadays, tourists can buy exquisite souvenirs on the street, such as handicrafts, costumes, tea, prayer wheels and Tibetan incense. Later we will visit the Sera Monastery. The famous monk debate is held in the courtyard almost every day between 3:00pm and 5:30pm. Please note that in case of some special monastery activities such as the Dharma Meeting or the reception of VIPs, the monk debates may be canceled that day. After our visit to the monastery, feel free to stroll around the streets of Lhasa as you absorb the atmosphere and spirit of the devoted Tibetan people, or you may return to your hotel to rest and relax from this wonderful Tibetan cultural experience.

Meal: Breakfast

April 7, 2024: Lhasa City

Today we will visit the most important sites in Lhasa-Potala Palace. Initially built in 641 AD and listed as a world heritage site in 1994, the Potala Palace is the most popular tourist attraction in Tibet. The halls, murals, statues and mountain views will make you shocked even if you are not a Buddhist.

Ticketing tips for Potala Palace

1. The Potala Palace needs real-name online ticketing and valid document (such as ID card, household registration book or passport) is required to make the reservation. After the reservation is successful, the ticket cannot be re-booked within 7 days from the day of the visit. If you can not enter the Potala Palace due to the wrong documents provided by yourself, we do not bear any responsibility and consequences.Therefore, it is important to take the valid documents. If the name or ID number or document does not match the information provided before, you will not be able to enter the Potala Palace. Please note the ticket fee has actually been incurred and cannot be refunded.

2. The visiting time of the Potala Palace is randomly issued by the Potala Palace Management Office and it can not designate the visiting time. Please note the actual visiting route sequences may be different from the provided one.

3. In peak season, there has restrictions in visiting the Potala Palace and each travel agency has only a limited number of group bookings every day. In order to ensure the group tour visiting, we solve the problem through different channels. Due to the special requirements for ticket purchases in different channels, you are requested to obey tour guide arrangement. The normal arrangements are as below：
1）The group tour may be divided into multiple small groups (tourists who book together might be divided, and they join with other small group to visit the Potala Palace).
2）Each small group is divided into different times/dates to visit.
3）Each small group follows the different guide to visit.

Then we will also visit the Traditional Handicraft Art Center. This day will take you to fully immerse yourself in experience traditional Tibetan handcraft art center, including making Tibetan incense, Tibetan calligraphy-the methods behind Tibetan calligraphy and the secrets of block printing.

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

April 8, 2024: Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse

This morning we'll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you'll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier as seen from the Karol la Pass. Later on we'll be able to visit the Karola Glacier.

Notice：

1. Except Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens' Travel Permit for those who will visit Mt. Everest will be processed in Shigatse. The tour guide will arrange itinerary considering the process of permits. You shall obey tour guide arrangements.

2. Please note the Aliens' Travel Permit processing time might be longer than as usual because of peak season or system failure occurs.

Meal: Breakfast

Driving Hours: about 380km，7hrs

April 9, 2024: Shigatse-Lhasa (by road or train)

Today we will drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse and pay a visit to the Tashilumpo Monastery. It is the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation-the Panchen Lama. The immense complex is a rambling warren of chapels, shrines, and halls linked by mysterious alleyways and steep staircases. At the center of the monastery is a courtyard that was used as a theater for religious dances. Just off the great courtyard in Tashilumpo’s main hall, where, like the explorer Sven Hedin, we may hear “the monks…intone a chant…enthralling, mystical, full of yearning…soothing as a cradle, intoxicating as wine, and sedative as morphia.” We'll visit this dark and evocative chamber and its many side altars, as well as a distinctive red building called the Jamkhang Chenmo, which houses a massive yet lyrical 90-foot tall statue of Maitreya, the Future Buddha, built in 1914 by the Ninth Panchen Lama while Europe was madly at war.

Notice: Please note we will arrange you to take train or tourist vehicle back to Lhasa from Shigatse according to conditions. No designation will be acceptable.

Meal: Breakfast

Driving Hours: about 300km，5hrs

April 10, 2024: Lhasa Departure

Today you will have free time until your tour guide escorts you to the Lhasa train station or airport for your departing train or flight from Lhasa. This will end your tour services in Tibet.

Meal: Breakfast