Tibet
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Places not to miss:
- Potala Palace: Winter palace of the Dalai Lama
- Jokhang Temple: Spiritual Center for Buddhists in Tibet
- Sera Monastery
- Drepung Monstery
- Yamdrok-tso lake
- Tashilunpo Monastery
- Mt. Everest
Homestay, hostel, residential & hotel experiences all available along the way
Perfect trip to join forces with other departments in school - so much to see, & all programmes fully customizable
THIS PROGRAMME CAN BE APPLIED TO THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:
Natural Sciences
Global Citizenship
Geography
Travel & Tourism
DESCRIPTION
This is the Classic tour itinerary to visit Lhasa and Everest Base camp, and one of the best itineraries that cover the all the Lhasa main tourist sites like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street, Drepung and sera monastery with Gyantse Kumbum and Shigatse Tashi Lhunpho monastery.
For the geographers amongst you, there are chances for stops en route at Lake Yamdrok tso and Karo glacier with beautiful views of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, before reaching Everest Base Camp.
Like most of our programmes, this tour can be fully customized, but below you will find our suggested itinerary that has particular familiarities with religious studies, and geography/earth sciences.
Be aware, this programme is pretty full on, and does require a degree of fitness – probably a 6/10 in terms of effort (if 10 is the max). This is mainly due to the altitude in various parts of the trip which makes activity harder.
SAMPLE CROSS-CURRICULAR ITINERARY:
Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa
After arriving in Lhasa, local tour guide will welcome you at the airport/train station, then transfer the guests to the hotel. Acclimatise the high altitude in the hotel. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 2: Lhasa City, Potala Place and Barkhor Street
The tour will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site – Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It’s situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It’s a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.
Then continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.
Day 3: Monasteries in Lhasa, Drepung and Sera
In the morning, tourists are going to visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.
Afternoon, Sera Monastery—It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon.
Day 4: Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse
Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. Admire the Gampala pass (4790 m) on the way, and get a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Then continue to drive west towards Gyantse. In Gyantse, tourists will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. After one and a half hour’s drive, clients will arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet.
Day 5: Everest Base Camp
Drive to Lhatse where tourists can take lunch. Then drive to Shegar and if the weather is clear enough, tourists can view the Mt. Everest in the distance on the way back down. After 4 to 6 hours, arrive at Rongbuk monastery, but on the way there, clients will pass Pang la Pass, one of the highest passes in Tibet at 5050m. From that pass, enjoy view all of the five highest peaks in the world.
Day 6: Everest Base Camp Return to Shigatse
In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbu Monastery – the unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse.
Day 7: Shigatse – Lhasa
Today, explore Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha – the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa, which will take around 6 hours.
Day 8: Depart from Lhasa
Transfer to the airport or train station.
WHATS INCLUDED
As standard in our quotes we include the following (based on our experience this just works best):
- Half Board Accommodation
- Activities as mentioned above
- All excursions
- Private transfers in destination
- Group travel Insurance
- Assistance of local in-destination partners on the ground
- 24 hrs emergency contact locally & in the UK
- Parents evening representation
- Glo-Ed Basic Travel Pack: Travel t shirts, lanyards, ID cards, wristbands
WHATS NOT INCLUDED
As standard in our quotes the following are not included but most can be added for a supplement:
- Flights (unless otherwise stated - please add to your quote form)
- Visas - please see your country's embassy or home office website
- Inoculations - as above
- Airport transfers in your country of origin
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Glo-Ed Travel Pack Premium: Everything in Basic, plus team travel hoodies, water purification/filtration bottle, Glo-Ed trucker hat, day pack, micro-fiber towel, sweatband, sanitizer, torch, sunscreen.
- Glo-Ed Luggage Bonanza: Canvas backpack, canvas holdall, bumbag/fannypack, rip wallet
