6 Days Lhasa, Shigatse and Shannan(Lokhor) tour

Arrive in Lhasa  by train/flight, the guide will meet you and transfer to your hotel, enjoy the view of Yarlung Tsangpo River(Bhamaputra river, the longest and largest river in Tibet)  and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.

Have a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude in the rest of the day,  for visitors eager to explore this mysterious land, you can visit the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around, but please BE NOTED TO SLOW DOWN YOUR PACES, as for the new-comers of Tibet,  to get acclimatized to the high altitude is crucial for the next few days' activity. 

Today, we will firstly visit the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was completed in the 7th Century during the reign of the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

After lunch, head to Jokhang temple which was founded in the 7th century too. Inside the temple, the real image statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve is on display and considered to be the treasure of the temple. Outside of the temple, groups of pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. The famous Barkhor street is encircled the Jokhang temple, where you can do kora (a religious meditation circling a building or mountain considered to be holy) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Afterwards, we can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house; then have a welcome dinner.

Optional:
Time permits, you may  visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center, in the evening you can enjoy Tibetan Culture Show for the nightlife.

Today, we will leave Lhasa for Shigatse city, lakes and snow-capped mountains are along the way. First, drive across the Gampala pass (4790 m), then you will have a glimpse of Yamdroktso lake, considering to be one of the holy lakes in Tibet .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .

Afterwards, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside,  at Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass, then, arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyangtse Fortress.

Continue our driving for about 1.5 hours, we finally arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet, visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer). 

Full day guided tour, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, Shigatse fair, after lunch visit the Lhokar - the Tibetan granary and see the local life, then drive about 4 hours and a half to Tsedang along Yalu Tsongpo river.Overnight in Tsedang.

After breakfast, drive to visit Yumbulakang which is a monastery has a history of 2,100 years, known as the 'Palace built on the hind leg of a femal deer'. After lunch drive to a small dock at the riverside of Yarlu Tsangpo river, take a local boat on Yarlu Tsongpo river for about 1 hour and a half to the other side of the river and change to the local jeeps or tractors which will send you to Samye monastery, the largest monastery in Shannan prefecture.then come back the same way and drive about 2 hours and a half back to Lhasa in the afternoon.Overnihgt in Lhasa.
Notice: On the boat to the samye monastery,you will see imposing gorges, verdent forests,sky-scraping snow mountains.The river bed of Yarlu Tsongpo river becomes much wider after it runs through several gorges, and water bebcomes much milder and smoother, enjoy a comfortable boat ride and the magnificent view of Yarlu Tsongpo river.The boat is local ferry boat which can hold 10 persons, the price in the low travel season is about RMB400 for a round ride, while in high travel season it is about RMB700 for a round ride.When you get down the boat at the other side of Yarlu Tsangpo river, you can change to the local Jeep or tractors which can drive you to Samye monastery with the price around RMB15/person.

After having breakfasts in the hotel, the guide will help you check out the hotel and transfer you to the airport or train station, leave Lhsasa for your next destination, end the mysterious Tibet tour.