5 Days: Lhasa—Yamdrok Lake
The 5 Day Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake Journey will start in the holy Buddhist city of Lhasa, home to Tibet's most famous and important monasteries and temples. You will spend 3 days exploring all of the main sites in Lhasa including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Square, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery.
After your time in Lhasa, you will make the scenic drive over the 4700+ meter mountain pass of Kamba La to the turquoise-colored lake of Yamdrok Tso, one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet. The backdrop of Yamdrok is a stunning 7191 meter peak named Nojin Kangtsang. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa with enough time to explore the Old Town one last time.
This journey is ideal for those who only have a short amount of time to be in Tibet. For more information, please send an email to: info@himalayajourney.com
Day 1: Lhasa Elevation: 3600 meters
Arrive in Lhasa. When you arrive to Lhasa, you will be met by your guide and transported to your hotel. You can spend the afternoon wandering around the Barkhor, Tibet’s ancient market area that surrounds Jokhang Temple. Each day thousands of Buddhist pilgrims make their way around this sacred temple.
Day 2: Lhasa
You will explore the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in the Himalaya’s. Founded nearly 1400 years ago, Jokhang Temple houses the most sacred statue of Buddha. You will work your way through this fascinating temple alongside Buddhist pilgrims from the faraway regions of Tibet. The sound of pilgrims chanting mantras fills the air as does the smell of yak butter candle offerings. In the afternoon, you will go to the 600 year old Sera, one of Tibet’s largest Buddhist monasteries. Each weekday afternoon starting at 3pm, monks engage in Buddhist philosophy debates, which are fun to photograph.
Day 3: Lhasa
You will start the day by exploring the Potala Palace, Tibet’s most iconic building. Towering above Lhasa with more than 1000 rooms, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama’s for hundreds of years. After lunch, you will go to Drepung, another of Tibet’s huge monastic complexes. The pilgrimage circuit around Drepung takes about an hour or so and offers spectacular views.
Day 4: Lhasa—Yamdrok Lake—Lhasa Distance: 230kms
After breakfast, you will take a day trip from Lhasa to the turquoise-colored lake of Yamdrok Tso. This is one of Tibet's most beautiful lakes and a must-see attraction. You will follow the Kyi Chu River valley southwest from Lhasa to the top of the Kamba La Pass at an elevation of 4794 meters (15,725 feet). The top of the pass offers a panoramic of Yamdrok Lake. Mt. Nojin Kangtsang, rising to 7191 meters (23,590 feet) can be seen in the background. You will return to Lhasa in the late afternoon.
Day 5: Depart Lhasa
In the morning, you will be transferred to the Lhasa airport and depart Tibet.
Contact us today to begin arranging your journey to Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake! Send your inquiries to: info@himalayajourney.com
Our 5 Day Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake Journey is operated from mid April through late December each year. This journey is perfect for those who want to experience Tibet, but only have a short amount of time. This is a private tour that is ideal for those wanting to travel with a small group of family or friends.
For a price on this journey, please email us at: info@himalayajourney.com
Included in the price:
- All accommodations (based on double occupancy)
- Breakfast each morning in Tibet
- All ground transportation in Tibet
- All entrance fees for the itinerary listed
- All Tibet travel permits
- Local Tibetan guide fees
- Lhasa Airport or train station pick up and drop-off
Not included in the price:
- Passport and Chinese Visa fees
- International airfare to/from Lhasa, Tibet
- Lunch and dinner
- Travel vaccinations
- Insurance (travel, medical, etc)
- Souvenirs or personal items such as laundry, snacks, alcohol drinks, etc
- Photography fees inside temples and monasteries
- Gratuities to the Tibetan guide and driver
Travel Gear: Upon joining, each participant will be sent a list of required and recommended gear for this journey that they will be responsible for.
Accommodations: In Lhasa you will be staying in a comfortable, highly rated 3 or 4 Star Tibetan-owned hotel.
Meals: Breakfast is included in the price for each morning you are in Tibet. Lunch and dinner are not included in the price.
Eligibility: Participants must be in good health and be able to spend each day walking around towns, villages and monasteries. Most of this tour will take place in mountainous or high-altitude terrain between 3600 meters and 4800 meters (11,800 feet to 15,725 feet) above sea level. While there will be plenty of walking each day, no trekking or climbing is required for this journey.
Responsible Tourism: Himalaya Journey is foreign-owned, but Tibetan staffed. All of our guides and drivers are local Tibetans who have been working in tourism for many years. It is a top priority for us to support as many Tibetan-owned businesses as possible. During this tour, all of the hotels you will be staying at in Tibet are locally-owned. The preservation of the culture of Tibet, as well as the protection of the environment of Tibet, are extremely important to us. In fact, when we are not out leading and arranging journeys across Tibet, we are working with local Tibetans in numerous eco-tourism and conservation projects.
