A trip to the "Roof of the World" guarantees to be an amazing experience. The majestic moon-like landscape and the stunning cultures make this one of the world's most alluring destinations. The 7-day tour covers Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and Shannan (south prefecture).

Lhasa, in the southeast part of Tibet, surrounded by colossal mountain ranges to the north and south, is the heart and soul of Tibet, its center of politics, economy, religion and culture. Not only the world famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion, the Potala Palace, is a great and breath-taking site of this city. Also for example the Jokhang Temple is an UNESCO site, the spiritual center and the holiest shrine of Tibet.

In Tsetang one can visit the ‘cradle’ of Tibetan civilization and the first monastery in Tibet, the Samye Monastery.

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Travel is possible at all times of year. Peak season runs from May to mid-October. Summers are warm, but not really hot, though the sun can be very strong due to the altitude. But it rains frequently in Summer. In winter, the temperature in Tibet is roughly the same as in Beijing, so travel there is no problem.

We will stay in Lhasa at 3,658 meters above sea level, then in Shigatse at 4040 and in Gyantse at 4044 meters above sea level.
People respond to an increase in altitude differently, with responses including general discomfort, breathlessness, poor sleeping patterns or limited capacity for physical exertion. Please consult with your local travel clinic or physician for specifics about altitude sickness and your personal health.

Travel in Tibet:

01. At the beginning of arrival to Tibet, you are better not to eat greasy and hard food, because it'll increase the burden of your digestive system. Do not smoke and drink alcohol, and eat more types of food that are rich in vitamins like vegetables and fruits.

02. Tibet is cold in winter, cool in summer and generally dry and windy.

Remember to bring sun block, hat and lip cream, sunglasses with good ultraviolet protection. Drink plenty of fluids during your trip.

03. The temperatures between day and night can be quite different. Clothing should be simple and consist of layers which can be added or removed as the temperature varies during the day because being cold is one of the reasons for causing acute altitude sickness.

04. Doing everything on the Tibet plateau, you have to feel like you are on the moon, slow and slow and slow.

05. Each person has a different tolerance for altitude. The symptoms of mountain sickness include headache, nausea ,shortness of breath, and dizziness. All of these symptoms are normal. There is nothing to worry about.

* 06. Canned oxygen is available and useful for thin air like Tibet. An Oxygen pillow can be provided one time by the Local Travel Agency to the clients during your stay in Tibet without fee. After that clients have to buy their own from the hotel or nearby shop.

07. Avoid taking a shower on the first day in Tibet. The shower may use too much of your energy and make you fatigued.

08. Prepare your own medicine for normal sickness. To help with the high altitude symptoms there is some herbal medicine to buy in lhasa.

09. In the airport, if someone volunteers to load your luggage into a van or carry the bags from the hall to the bus,please do not hand your things to them.

10. Most of the hotels in Tibet will provide heat during the winter. They will not provide air conditioning during the summer. This is because of the large difference in temperatures between day and night during these seasons.”

11. June to August is the golden season in Tibet(it is also a raining season at same time). You can enjoy blue sunny skies. It can be cool in the morning and evening.,especially when raining. During these months you will see the snow-capped mountain tops,so clothing should be consist of layers which can be added or removed as the temperature changes during the day. A warm windbreaker and sturdy, comfortable shoes are recommended.

*12. Any bank credit card can swipe in the machine in the hotel and shops in Lhasa, but it doesn’t work in Gyantse. There is no Bank of China in Gyantse.

Tibet Entry Permit Notice

Travel into Tibet requires a special permit prior to arrival to the Autonomous Region. Previously, a permit required a minimum of five travelers of the same nationality.  However, the situation has recently changed, and the minimum number of people now allowed entry on a Tibet travel permit has been lowered to one.  Diplomats, journalists and norwegians are not allowed to visit Tibet at the moment. It is unknown right now if this current policy is only temporary or will remain in effect long-term.  It is possible that it may be changed or revoked at any time.  We will keep you updated and let you know immediately if the situation changes.

CCC needs to arrange the Tibet entry permit at least 15--20 days in advance. Please make your plans and book your trip early. To settle the entry permit to Tibet, we need from you a photocopy of your passport and Chinese visa, or your China residence permit with a letter from your place of work as proof of employment. 

Suggested Itinerary for a Private Custom-made tour

- includes extended tour options 

Day 1: Fly into Lhasa

           Beijing departure: Beijing -- Lhasa by air about 09:15--15:05. 
           Shanghai  Departure:  Shanghai Pudong - Lhasa 08:05--14:30
           Other locales: we welcome those to join us from other locales and meet us in Lhasa.

• Take the morning flight to the holy city of Lhasa. Located at 3700 meters above sea level, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. 
• Check into the hotel. Free time in the afternoon to tour the city or to adjust to the altitude.
  St.Regis Lhasa Resort or Shangri-La Hotel,Lhasa (L)

Day 2 Lhasa/ Potala Palace/ Sera Monastery

• In the morning visit the Potala Palace
  Potala Palace is the symbolic landmark of Lhasa, and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. As the winter residence of the successive Dalai Lamas, the Potala formerly served as the center of local Tibetan theocratic rule, hosting major religious and political ceremonies since the reign of Dalai Lama V (1617-1682). It also houses the relics of those eight past Dalai Lamas. Dominating the Lhasa skyline, the Potala is the highest building within the city.
• Climb to the top of the Palace to see the entire layout of the city.
• After lunch,
• Go to Sera monastery, one of the three major monasteries of the Gelugpa (Yellow) sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Lhasa (the other two are Ganden and Drepung). You will witness monks carrying out philosophical debate in the courtyard. 
• Take a stroll along the Barkhor.
  Barkhor means "intermediate circuit" in Tibetan. At the center of old Lhasa, the Barkhor is the middle circumambulation pathway for pilgrims around the Jokhang. The other two circumambulation pathways are the Nangkor (“inner circuit”) inside the Jokhang and the Lingkor (“the outer circuit”) around the old city. Buddhist pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau walk or progress by body-lengths prostrations along the Barkhor clockwise every day deep into the night. This sacred pilgrim path is also a marketplace where shaggy nomads, traders, robed monks and chanting pilgrims join together. Clustered shops and stalls sell printed scriptures, prayer flags and other religious vessels, jewelry, Tibetan knives, ancient coins and more. 
  St.Regis Lhasa Resort or Shangri-La Hotel,Lhasa (B,L)

Day 3  Lhasa/ Jokhang Temple/ Shigatse

• Visit the Jokhang Temple in the early morning.
  Another UNESCO site, and the spiritual center and the holiest shrine of Tibet, the destination of thousands of Tibetan pilgrims from all over the plateau every year. The Jokhang was built in the seventh century by Songtsen Gampo, the King who unified the Tibetan Plateau, and his two wives: the Tang Princess Wencheng and the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. It houses the statue of Jowo - Sakyamuni at 12 years of age - which Princess Wencheng brought from Chang'an 1,300 years ago.
  Optionally: enjoy free time visiting the Carpet making workshop, appreciate the exquisite craft or the Tibet Museum on your own. The museum houses a rich collection of cultural relics including handwritten Tibetan classics, colorful thangka paintings, musical and ritual instruments, and unique handicrafts and pottery.
• Drive to Shigatse, (280km) the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The Shigatse area was traditionally a territory controlled by the Panchen Lamas, as Lhasa was by the Dalai Lama.
• Check into the hotel in Shigatse in the evening.
  A local 4-star Hotel (B,L)

Day 4  Shigatse/ Gyantse

• Visit the Tashilunpo Monastery. Built in 1447, Tashilhunpo has been the residence of the Panchen Lamas. It is one of the four major monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow) Sect of Tibetan Buddhism inside the TAR.
• Drive to Gyantse.
• On the road stop by the Pelkhor Chode Temple Complex.
  The centerpiece of the Palkhor Chode Temple Complex is the Gyantse Kumbum, or "Place of 100 Thousand Images,” A spectacular stupa that consists of 9 tiers and more than 77 chapels and shrines. It’s one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet.
  View the Gyantse Dzong Fortress from far. This hilltop fortress lies at the center of Gyantse, and was the seat of the Gyantse government. In 1904, British troops invaded Tibet and occupied parts of Tibetan territory. However they met with strong resistance in Gyangtse at the hill and the battle lasted for 8 months.
• At night, we will have dinner in Gyantse.
  A local 3-star Hotel (B,L)

Day 5  Gyantse/ Yamdrok Yutso /Tsetang

• On the way, drop by the dazzling Yamdrok Yutso (4441m), one of the three biggest lakes in Tibet. We will have lunch by the lake. In clear weather, the lake is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise.
• Travel to Tsetang, the capital of the Lhoka (Shannan) district, which is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization.
• Visit the villages along the way and chat with the local people.
• Stay overnight in Tsetang.
  A local 4-star Hotel (B,L)

Day 6  Tsetang/Samye Monastery/ Hike the Holy Heburi Mountain

• Visit the many “firsts” of Tibet: first field, first village, first monastery, and first palace. Two hours' drive from Lhasa is Samye Monastery, the first monastery in Tibet. The magnificent and unique Central Hall is three stories high. The first floor is in Tibetan architectural style, the second in Han Chinese style and the third in Indian style.
• Hike up the Holy Heburi Mountain, it is one of the forth holy mountains in Tibet, 60 meters, enjoy the beautiful view of the bird eye view of the Brahmaputra River or Yarlung Zangbo and the Samye Monastery in the afternoon. 
• Stay overnight in Tsetang.
  A local 4-star Hotel (B,L)

Day 7  Tsetang/ Fly out

• Visit Yumbulagang, the first palace in Tibetan history. Magnificently perched on top of a hill, it overlooks the first field and first village of Tibet. You can either hike up to the palace entrance, or go up on a yak or horse. It was said that the palace was built in the second century B.C. by the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsanpo, who descended from heaven, accordingly to legend.
• After lunch, transfer to the airport and take the afternoon direct flight to Beijing / Shanghai. 
  A local 4-star Hotel (B,L)
  
• Please note that the flights or timing of flights mentioned in the above itinerary may change subject to ticket availability and airline scheduling. Alternative hotels of similiar standards will be used if any of the hotels mentioned in the itinerary is unable to provide enough accommodation.