8 days of Tibet in depth

Lhasa - Tsedang - Gyantse - Lhasa
Length: 7 nights/8 days

Introduction:An 8-day tour of Tibet that can be added as an extension to travel or tours elsewhere in China, providing a broad overview of the main sights of central Tibet. A fully escorted group tour, using the best available hotels.

Visit the world famous Potala Palace which is located on "Moburi (Red) Mountain" west of old Lhasa. Declared as world cultural heritage site in 1994, originally built in the 640's, during the reign of King Songtsan Gampo. The palace has sculptures, murals, scripture, Buddha figures, murals, antiques, and religious jewelry; they are great examples of cultural and artistic expression.   The Potala has been a sacred place for hundreds of years. Thousands of pilgrims from Tibet, other parts of China and abroad come every year to pay homage to their “Holy City”.

            Tibetan Kid                                      On the Way to Pilgrim    

Tsedang, located by Yarlung Valley, is the capital of Shannan Prefecture. It’s reputed as “the cradle of Tibetan Civilization”, mainly for two reasons: First, the mild weather and fertile land in Shannan gestated the great Tibet dynasty. Second, it’s the birthplace of the first Tibetans who were said to be the offspring of a monkey and a female devil. So Tsedang literally means “monkey’s playground”.  See the Samye Monastery the first in tibet, there are several tombs of early Tibetan kings. North to the monastery are the  chenpu meditation caves a famous place for devoted Tibetan Buddhism practitioners.

Gyantse the third largest town in Tibet it was the scene in 1904 of a major battle between Tibetans and British troops under Colonel Younghusband as the British advanced on Lhasa. See the Kumbum and the Pelkor Chode monastery,  its name means 10,000 image, it rises over 4 symetrical floors with two upper floors and finished with a golden dome it is the focal point of the town a must see.  There are many intricate mandalas and three large mandalas, butter sculptures and ceremonial drum.  It contains 77 chapels in its six floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals.