During the previous years I made many journeys to China and every time I wished to go to Tibet. It was throughout my China journey along with my son in 2015 that lastly I visited Tibet. I began with him within the Yunnan province the place we spend 14 days after which we continued for 7 full days to Tibet. With a half day earlier than and after for arrival and departure making it 7 in whole for our Tibet itinerary. To go to Tibet there are some things to remember and on this article I offers you some sensible ideas. I will even share with you my itinerary which doesn’t embrace the arrival and departure day. Enjoy the roof prime of the world with me.
Tibet itinerary day 1: The Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple is probably the most sacred place of the Tibetans and the middle of Buddhism in Tibet. Inside you will note a maze of corridors and small prayer rooms whereas butter candles are burning in all places giving the air a really specific odor. It needs to be visited with a information as he can clarify all you wish to know. After the go to to the temple the information left us so we might go discover extra across the Jokhang Temple by ourselves. It’s a fantastic space to observe the Tibetan pilgrims. A very good begin of a Tibet itinerary and to get even higher used to the altitude.
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TIBET – My first expertise in Lhasa: a half day on the Jokhang Temple
Tibet itinerary day 2: Drepung and Sera monastery
Both the Drepung and the Sera monastery are situated on the outskirts of Lhasa. They kind an ideal day journey at first of a Tibet itinerary because the altitude doesn’t improve to a lot. In the morning it’s finest to start out on the Drepung Monastery as on the Sera Monastery within the afternoon the monks will debate. You mustn’t miss that half! Both monasteries are one of many three foremost Gelukpa monasteries in Tibet. A go to to every lasts about 3 hours and the spotlight of the day is to see the monks debating on the Sera Monastery.
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TIBET – Drepung and Sera monastery in Lhasa with monks debating
Tibet itinerary day 3: Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier and Samding Monastery
The third day marked the primary journey exterior of Lhasa which is inconceivable to do with no information and driver. The drive to Yamdrok lake is a really scenic drive by an extended street of hairpins. It’s one of many three largest holy lakes in Tibet. The surroundings is in contrast to every other I had seen earlier than. Snow-capped mountain tops at a distance and clear blue waters of the lake within the entrance. Just handed the lake is the Karola Glacier at an altitude of over 4330 meters. I felt the air getting extra skinny there nevertheless it was bearable. After the glacier I visited the Samding Monastery which isn’t visited by many vacationer and provides a peak into the extra native lifetime of the monasteries. One tip: ask the information to take you to an area restaurant and never one of many vacationer locations. It was an extended day however nicely price it.
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TIBET – Yamdrok Lake tour from Lhasa and the Karola Glacier and Samding Monastery
Tibet itinerary day 4: Ganden Monastery and Drak Yerpa
The Ganden Monastery is the top of the Gelugpa motion inside Buddhism in Tibet. It’s situated at a excessive altitude over 4000 meters. If you’re as much as it, it’s attainable to stroll across the mountain prime however as I had additionally Drap Yerka and an area village as stops in the present day I couldn’t stroll it. The monastery comprises the tomb of the founder which is roofed in gold. It was additionally attention-grabbing to see the printing of Buddhist texts. Drak Yerpa predates the Tibetan Buddhist motion and is claimed to be the oldest meditation website in Tibet. It consists of an unlimited quantity of meditation caves and never an enormous monastery like the opposite locations. After the go to I visited an area small Tibetan city simply down the street.
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TIBET – A day journey from Lhasa to Ganden Monastery and Drak Yerpa
Tibet itinerary day 5: Namtso Lake
Namtso Lake is among the different three giant holy lakes of Tibet. This 20-65-million-year outdated lake is a 5 hour drive away from Lhasa. Yes; it’s price to go for a day journey as you want simply 2-3 hours on the website. You can’t stroll round it; you’ll be able to take a look at it. Snow-capped mountains encompass the lake which truly don’t look tall however you shortly neglect you’re already standing at 4500 meters excessive. There are choices to remain in a single day there however except you journey additional into Tibet I counsel to make the day journey. The cross simply earlier than the lake at 5190 meters’ excessive was the very best level I visited throughout this journey. It’s fairly powerful at such altitudes. The scenic drive is a fantastic one already making it price to go.
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TIBET – A day journey to the holy Namtso lake from Lhasa
Tibet itinerary day 6: Potala Palace and minor temples
The Potala Palace is the icon of Tibet on the rooftop of the world and possibly identified to most vacationers. Its development began within the 17th century on the highest of a 7th century outdated basis. Visitors are restricted and also you do must go by a information to see the Potala Palace. It’s a fantastic a part of the Buddhist tradition in Tibet and along with the Jokhang Temple a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s finest visited within the morning after which you’ll, alone or with information, discover another small temples scattered in Lhasa. Don’t neglect to drink buttermilk on the nunnery.
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TIBET – A day in Lhasa: Potala Palace & minor temples
Practical ideas for visiting Tibet
To go to Tibet there are some things to remember as a result of a go to just isn’t like each different nation. If you observe the next sensible ideas I’m certain you should have an awesome keep.
Tibet and China Visa
A visa is required for China. If you arrive to Tibet from China and return to China afterwards this isn’t a second entry to China. Tibet is taken into account a part of China thus a single entry visa for China will do. You then want a journey allow to enter Tibet. For the itinerary above a TTB (Tibet Tourism Bureau) allow is enough however if you happen to make a tour by Tibet different permits may be required. Do not fear as you can not journey alone (see beneath) and your tour operator will care for all permits.
Tour information & unbiased journey
Independent journey in Tibet just isn’t attainable besides if you happen to would keep solely in Lhasa. Even for a go to to Lhasa you’ll require to rearrange the journey by a tour company who will even organize for you the allow to enter Tibet. You can, nonetheless, completely organize the resort your self as I did. I booked the Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise with loyalty factors whereas it was on the promotional record of IHG Rewards Club. To give this a worth: I paid roughly 15-20USD per evening together with breakfast for the perfect 5-star property in Tibet. Within Lhasa you would completely wander round alone however to go to for instance the Potala Palace you would want the information to enter with you. For journeys exterior of Lhasa you require a information who will accompany you and deal with all of the verify factors. At the scenic spots you’ll be able to then wander round your self with out information if you happen to want. The nature spots I visited with out information however the temples he joined to additionally give background info.
Altitude illness
Altitude illness is usually a significant issue in Tibet if you’re not used to the heights. I counsel so as to add minimal 2 days earlier than the journey to acclimatize except you go to different locations earlier than. As I visited the Yunnan province for nearly two weeks I bought used to an altitude of about 2600 meters already. With Lhasa at 3600 meters this last adjustment was very straightforward with out issues. If you nonetheless arrive from sea stage, please be aware of altitude illness. If you’re feeling sick, headache or dizziness than seek the advice of a health care provider instantly. Most lodges have oxygen chambers to make use of as Tibet has simply 40% of oxygen in comparison with sea stage.
Clothing and native customs
Depending of the season you journey it is best to carry heat clothes. I’m all the time sizzling so even within the sunshine at 10-15 levels I can put on shorts. The smartest thing is to take layers so you’ll be able to gown and take off garments when it’s too sizzling. When you go to temples be sure you gown modest. Do not speak about politics with locals. Respect the Tibetans, even if you happen to assume your way of life is healthier. If you respect, then you definitely in all probability get much more smiles in return.
The above itinerary for Tibet is simply an instance nevertheless it does cowl every part you are able to do from Lhasa with out staying in a single day. I wish to return sooner or later to Tibet and do an overland tour to Nepal. Maybe subsequent yr as I’ve already flights booked to Nepal however I’d change this to a 2 week Jordan street journey. I hope with these sensible ideas you’ll be able to plan your journey to Tibet rigorously. I’m certain you’ll take pleasure in and when you have questions on visiting Tibet or China don’t hesitate to ask them within the feedback beneath.
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