TT-13 Lijiang-Shangri-la-Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake-Gyantse-Shigatse-Lhasa (9D8N)

Day 1 Drive to Shangri-la, visit Tiger Leaping Gorge on the way, which is believed to be the deepest gorge in the world. From the top of the gorge you look down the steeply angled ( 70-90 degrees ) mountain sides to the rushing Golden Sands ( Jingsha ) River with its 18 frothing rapids more than 200 meters (about 700 feet) below. In the afternoon visit Songzanlin Tibetan Buddhism monastery, which is 5 km from the seat of Shangri-la County. Construction began in 1679 and was completed in 1681. It is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama chose the site of the monastery through divination and named it "Gedan Songzanlin Monastery". In 1724, during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty, the monastery was renamed the "Guihua Monastery". During its time of greatest prosperity, there were more than 3,000 monks in the temple, now there are still 700 monks nside.

Day 2 After breakfast in the hotel, take flight from Shangri-la to Tibet. If Tibet is the "roof of the world", then its capital, Lhasa, is certainly the "city of the sun". Standing on a plain over 13,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by towering mountains, Lhasa is a town bathed in sunlight.  Meet the local guide and transfer to hotel to have an acclimatization rest in the hotel. In the afternoon visit visit Jokhang Temple, home of the most precious of the Buddha images in the region. Brought from Chang’an (what is now Xi’an ) by the Tang Princess Wen Cheng when she married Tibetan King Songsten Gampo, the Sakyamuni Buddha is truly magnificent. Then walk through the colorful bazaar on Barkhor Street known as the Pilgrims’ay prior to visiting a carpet factory where you can marvel at the skill of the carpet weavers and admire the Buddhist designs.

Day 3 After breakfast visit Potala Palace, Tibet’s best-known landmark. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery. Sera was a strong rival for importance and had three Tantric Colleges, famous for their Bon tradition of teaching.

(B/L/D)  Overnight in Lhasa

Day 4 Today leaving for Gyantse. On the way visit Yamdrok lake, one of the three famous Holy Lakes in Tibet. Situated between Nhagarise and Gongkha, with an altitude of over 4 thousand meters and a coverage of 638 square kilometers, the lake, like a glittering jade inlaid in the mountains is quite well-known as an amazing and pleasant natural scenic spots, where visitors can find snow-capped mountains tranquil islands, ancient monasteries, hot springs, rare birds, wild animals and plants, and enjoy the leisure time in this vast hunting ground! In the afternoon visit Sangding Monestery, was founded in the fourteenth century, destroyed in 1959 during the Cultural Revolution, and rebuilt in the 1980s. The monastery is renowned for being headed by the only female incarnate lama in Tibet, Dorje Phagmo. A mani-wall and chorten can be seen in the foreground. Cross over Kangpa-La Pass (5000 m) to arrive in Gyantse in the afternoon where visit Kumbum Pagoda also called 100-thousand-Bouddha's-pagoda as well as Pelkor Monastery famed with its splendid Buddhist Tibetan art, both of them were built in the 15th century.

Day 5 In the morning drive to Shigatse. Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the main attraction in Shigatse is the seat of the Panchen Lama—Tashilhunpo Monastery. Built in 1447 by a nephew of Tsong Khapa, the monastery once housed over 4000 monks, but now there are only 600. Apart from a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha ( nearly 27 meters high ) in the Temple of the Maitreya, the monastery is also famed for its Grand Hall with its opulent tomb ( containing 85kg of gold and masses of jewels ) of the fourth Panchen Lama. 

Day 6 In the morning drive back to Lhasa.   

Day 7 After breakfast to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung was once the largest and wealthiest and a Yellow Hat monastery where the Dalai Lamas were trained In the afternoon drive to visit Norbu Linka, which is a beautiful park in the western suburbs of Lhasa. It used to be the Summer Palace for the dalai Lamas where they handled political affairs, and practiced religious activities The construction started in 40s of the 18th century, covering a floor space of 46 ha. The whole park has more than 370 rooms of ifferent sizes, and lawns, shaded by green trees and embedded by various flowers. With the clear water, and the flowers and trees around, it is known as the "park within the park".

Day 8Free time in Lhasa.