10 Days Buddhism Tour in Tibet: A Spiritual Journey to Tibet
This 10-day Buddhism Tour in Tibet will baptising your eyes and heart by watching the most beautiful natural landscape on the way and visiting the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Tibet. After this tour, you will gain a better understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.
Trip Highlights
- Watch monks debate at Sera Monastery
- Discover the ancient stories and secrets of Potala Palace
- Try your hand at making Tibetan incense with an ancient method
- Meditate at Chimpu meditation cave
- Visit various Tibetan monasteries with diverse traditions
Customizable Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Tibet Arrival
Once arrive, you will meet your private guide holding your name sign at arrival hall. Settle into your centrally located hotel in Lhasa with the help of the guide. Take rest of the time to adjust to jet lag or to explore the city on your own.
Meals: No meal, advice freely available
- Hotels: The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa
Day 2 Sera Monastery with debating, Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka
After your breakfast, we’ll start the day with a visit to the historic Sera Monastery. It is one of the great Tibetan universities famous for its open debates among monks. You’ll listen to the hot debates among those monks on the Buddhist doctrines. Later, drive to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet. This monastery was the residence of Dalai lamas before Potala Palace was constructed. Then, tour Norbulingka, a surrounding park of Lhasa and former summer resort of Dalai Lama. Those buildings in Norbulingka reflect a strong sense of Tibetan culture and have remained spiritually relevant even through Tibet’s turbulent history. From here, return to your hotel, dine and explore the city on your own.
Feature Dinner option: Tibetan Family Kitchen, Phin Tsok Ge Don Restaurant
Notes:
- Slow down your movement, even if you feel energetic. Moving slowly is the best way to avoid mountain sickness.
- The first two days arriving in Tibet, we suggest visitors keep warm, not take a bath, smokers smoke as little as possible, and do not drink alcohol.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 3 Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, making Tibetan incense in traditional way
Greeted by your local guide in the hotel lobby after breakfast, you will be escorted to Potala Palace, regarded as landmark and the symbol of Tibet. After lunch, you will visit Jokhang Temple, the spiritual centre of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. Later, tour Barkhor Street where you’ll spot monasteries, prayer wheels locals in traditional Tibetan costume. At the end of the day, try your hand at making Tibetan incense in traditional way, which is an important part of Tibetan culture.
Note:
- Follow all the taboos of Tibetan Buddhism when visiting Potala Palace, such as not wearing a hat, not taking pictures inside.
- There are 1080 steps to the Potala Palace. It may be a little tiring, so you can stop for some rest from time to time.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 4 Day tour to Ganden Monastery
57 kilometres away from the city centre of Lhasa, Ganden Monastery is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Visiting the Ganden Monastery will not only be a tour for you to get to know the religion and culture of the Tibetans, but also a tour for you to enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the trip and around the monastery.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Day 5 Lhasa to Samye Monastery (2hrs), Samye monastery, Meditation at Chimpu caves
This morning, we’ll hit the road early and head southeast from Lhasa to Samye Monastery. Samye Monastery is the first monastery in Tibet, founded in 775AD, and where Tibetan Buddhism was established. Follow your guide to study its unique mandala design and its pivotal history. Spend the day here and meditate in Chimpu Hermitage meditation cave on a mountain slope near Chimpu Hermitage. These caves and cells have been used by practitioners and monks for centuries for their meditation retreats. On your way up the mountain, you can spot some monks staying for long meditation.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Ngagzha Business Hotel
Day 5 Samye to Tsetang (45mins), Yumbu Lakang, Tradruk Monastery, Tombs of Tibetan Kings
After breakfast, drive to Tsetang. Start the sightseeing from Yumbu Lakang, which was said to be the first palace in Tibetan history. From the palace, you will also enjoy a bird's eye view of the beautiful Yarlung Valley.
Then move to the winter palace of the King and Princess Wencheng in Tsedang, Tradruk Monastery. The most important treasure of Tradruk is a Tangka embroidered with thousands of pearls, which is said to have been made by princess Wen Cheng herself. End the whole day tour with a visit of Tombs of Tibetan Kings, which is the tomb group of Tibetan Zampu (governors), ministers and princesses from the 29th to the 40th (last) dynasties of the Tang Dynasty (7th-9th century).
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Tsedang Hotel, Yalong River Hotel
Day 7 Tsetang to Gyantse (5.5hrs), Mindroling Monastery, Yamdrok Lake
Be ready for the long drive from Tsetang to Gyantse. On the way, you will pay a visit to Mindroling Monastery. It is believed to be the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in the Utsang region. Continue your journey and visit Yamdrok Lake. Embraced by the uninterrupted snow-capped mountains and lying under the clear blue sky, the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake appears very holy and evokes solemnity.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Gyantse Hotel, Yeti Hotel Gyantse
Day 8 Gyantse to Shigatse (1.5hrs), Palkhor Monastery, Shalu Monastery, Tashilunpo Monastery, Local Market
Head to Shigatse today by private transfer. The first stop of today’s tour is Palkhor Monastery. It is a monastery having the characteristics of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture. Do not miss the various murals in the monastery. Afterwards, continue your drive to Shalu Monastery, a holy site for many worshipers. The four treasures (the printing board of Tibetan Buddhist scripture, a holy jar made of brass, a stone tablet inscribed with six characters and a huge stone like a basin) in it enhance the charm of Shalu Monastery.
After lunch, continue to appreciate plenty of treasured sutra and cultural relics at Tashilunpo Monastery. It is one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in China and the biggest Tibetan Gelugpa Buddhism monastery in back Tibet area.
At last, wander in the local market to get a closer view of the local Tibetan life. Here you could find souvenirs, daily supplies and local specialties.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: Qomo Langzong Hotel, Tashi Choeta Hotel
Day 9 Shigatse to Lhasa (5hrs), Brahmaputra River, Nyemo County, Far View of Himayala Mountain Range
After a night in Shigatse, you will go back to Lhasa. On the way back, you will see Brahmaputra River, pass by Nyemo County and have a far view of Himayala Mountain Range.
Spend one more night in Lhasa before your departure.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
- Hotels: The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa
Day 10 Lhasa Departure
Today is the end of your Tibet Buddhism tour. Hope you get a better understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, culture and history after the visit. Meet the guide at the set time and head to the airport for your departure flight.
- Meals: Breakfast,
Price Includes
- In-country transportationas noted in the itinerary.
- Admission fees and activity expenses as noted in the itinerary.
- Luxury or boutique hotels centrally located.
- Meals in local restaurants as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water.
- Your own English-speaking guide service.
- Your own chauffeur and vehicle service.
Price Excludes
- International transportation.
- Chinese tourist visa. (which enquired for most foreign passport holders)
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Meals, snacks, alcohol, etc. apart from those included in the itinerary.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Personal expenses.
- Sights, excursions and activities not included in the itinerary.
- Gratuities to guide and driver.
ANY QUESTIONS?
This tour is tailor-made and we can tailor to meet your reqeusts. Your personal travel consultant will contact you within 24 working hours!
FABULOUS TOUR COMPANY
CHINA OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019 We researched several companies and studied reviews on Trip Adviser before contacting who did a very China Culture Tour with an initial query. Right from the outset Grace who owns the company was excellent. She emailed detailed with pictures information and a suggested…read more details
Karen from US
Ready to Create a Unique Dream Travel?