2 Days Yamdrok Gyantse Shigatse Tour
If you have 2 days and want to explore further out of Lhasa, this 2 days highlight trip covers not only further Tibetan cultural and buddhism sites in Gyantse and Shigatse city (280 km to southwest of Lhasa city), but also you will take the scenic photography journey to Lake Yamdrok and Karola Glacier, as well as the Brahmaputra- the mother river of Tibet. Book with local, support locals! Better price for you and better support to our Tibetan guides!
What you can expect
Day 1: Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake-Karola Glacier-Gyantse-Shigatse(340 km) We will leave Lhasa in the morning around 9 am. Our local Tibetan English tour guide and driver will pick you up from Lhasa Ganggyan Hotel parking lot on Beijing East Road in the historic center. If you have a special request for meetup location we can happily accommodate that as well. Our adventure into the grand Tibetan plateau starts today! We head west towards the second largest city in Tibet, Shigatse. On our way, we cross Kampala Pass (4797 m) and then Karola Pass (5050 m). We will first encounter the stunning holy lake of Yamdrok-Tso and then Karola Glacier only steps off the main road. We will visit Pelkhor Chode Monastery in Gyantse that houses the most important Tibetan paintings in Kumbum Stupa, and the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) that overlooks the valley. We will finally reach Shigatse before dinner. Overnight in Shigatse Gesar Hotel or similar one.
Day 2: Shigatse-Lhasa(280km) We visit the prominent Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama, it has since been the seat of Panchen Lamas, the second highest incarnation only after Dalai Lama. We recommend that you do a Kora pilgrimage around the monastery. After spending some time exploring the local market, we will set out on your 6-hour drive back to Lhasa.