Lhasa to Namtso Lake Trek - 11 Days

Our guide will assist you to check in Tibet with your permit at Lhasa airport. After completion of immigration formalities, you will be dropped to your hotel. The distance between airport to Lhasa city where you hotel is located is 65km, 1 hrs drive is required.

Full day guided tour in Lhasa. In the morning visit Potala, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet? In the afternoon visit Jokhang monastery, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship every day. The temple, built in 647, is the earliest wood-and-masonry structure still existing in Tibet. Walk on the Barkhor street surrounding Jokhang, a big free market with its prolific stalls for selling local specialties.

It is another full day sightseeing in Lhasa, In the morning visit Drepung monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect., which was established in 1416 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. Afterwards visit Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. The "Buddhism Scriptures Debate" in Sera is very famous.

In the morning, head for Reting Monastery 180 kilometers north to Lhasa and have lunch on the way. The monastery Reting lies in the midst of an expanse of cypress forest. It was established in 1057 by Drom Toenpa, Atishas most important pupil. It was said the cypress forest had developed from a tuft of hair from Drom Toenpa, who buried that beneath the soil. The visitors can take part in such activities, like walking outside of the monastery, and hiking along the Lingkhor (outside Zhuanjing route; approx. 1 hour). In the afternoon, visit the Reting Monastery or villages down the Kyichu River valley.

In the morning, drive on rugged road before reaching Damxung (4130 m) along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, where our trek begin. Today we will not only have a short trek and go through a beautiful meadow, but also visit a monastery en route. Damxung is small Tibetan village town from where our trek start and camp near Damxung village.

Pass through glaciated valley and reach a herder's camp, where we camp for the night.

Cross Kong La from where you have spectacular views of Nam Tso Lake and the Nyenchen Thangla ranges. Descend to a broad basin and hike along green meadows.

Hike along green meadows and pass through several nomad camps and their herds of animals. Have lunch by the lake. Then follow the jeep trail all the way to Tashi Dorje hermitage. Nam Tso, the biggest salty lake of Tibet, is 70 kilometers long from east to west and 30 kilometers wide from north to south, covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers with an altitude of 4,700 meters above sea level. It is said the holy lake and the holy mountain Nyenchentangla are a couple of lovers, who guard the vast pasture and cattle together.

Explore the Tashi peninsula by walking around the holy hill, the cliffs of which have been eroded over the centuries. Piles of mani stones stand on the way. Then visit the nomads in yak hair tents who have been living on the pastures between the holy Nam Tso and Nyenchentangla and day time Head for Yangpachen. Cross over the Lhachen La and stop at Damxung to have lunch. Afterwards drive about 2 hours along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway to Yangpachen. Yangpachen is 90 km to the north of Lhasa and is rich in terrestrial heat and densely distributed with various fountains, geysers, hot springs, boiling springs as well as hot-water lakes. It is a wonderful enjoyment to take a bath in an indoor swimming pool, which is supplied by fresh hot springs of Yangpachen. In the afternoon, drive back to Lhasa.

Free until your flight and train time and drop to Gongar airport or train station for final departure toward your home or extend your trip to mainland China.