Tibet hiking and camping tour is a beautiful Tibet tour of remoter and less visited parts of Tibet. This unique Tibet tour discover Namtso and Yamdrok lake differently. Namtso and Yamdrok lakes are the two most famous, largest and holiest lakes in Tibet. This easy Tibet hiking and camping tour fits to all the clients who are traveling to Tibet no matter whether you are over 70 years old or whether you are traveling with your five years old children in Tibet. You can easily book this Tibet hiking and camping tour from April until mid October. Our Tibet travel guide and driver will welcome you on your arrival in Lhasa, the ancient holy city of Tibet and the Buddhist pilgrimage center.
Two days sightseeing tour in Lhasa and visit the most famous cultural site of Tibet including the Potala Palace, the living quarter of the successive of the Dalai Lama and the great wonders of the world and world’s heritage site. This beautiful and unique Tibet tour will continue to Namtso lake (4718m ) through Qinghai Tibet highway dominated by beautiful Tibetan villages, nomad camps, Yak and sheep are grazing on the vast green plateau grassland, Nyenchen Thangla snow mountain range, Lagenla pass 9 5000m ) and a spectacular view of Namtso lake from the top of the Lagenla pass with full of beautiful and colorful prayer flags.
Walking around the shore of Namtso lake and explore Tashido hermitage. After Namtso, you will be driving back to Lhasa and continue to Langthang Dewachen, a remote and beautiful Tibetan village, to the south of Lhasa and continue to Yamdrok lake via visiting Gongkar Chode monastery with it’s very old wall painting. The three nights camping around Yamdrok lake makes this Tibet tour makes more unique and localized.
Continue Tibet hiking and camping tour around the Yamdrok lake and drive along several different arms of Yamdrok lake and have a fantastic view of Noejin kangsang snow covered mountain enroute. Taking a loop tour around Gyantse and Shigatse, the central part of the western Tibet and the capital of the Tsang region. To avoide another 280km distance drive, you will take train from Shigatse to Lhasa with a lovely view of Barhmaputra, beautiful Tibetan villages and their fertile agricultural land.
Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa
Arriving in Lhasa, the ancient holy city of Tibet and Our Tibet travel guide and driver will be welcomed you at airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest in the afternoon.
Day 02:Lhasa
After breakfast Sightseeing tour in Lhasa, Potala Palace, Jokang temple, Bharkor Bazar, travel to Potala Palace which will take you 10 minutes from your hotel.
THE POTALA PALACE is considered one of the great wonders of the world. It is held sacred by Tibetans as the former residence of successive Dalai Lamas, and is one of Tibet’s most holy pilgrimage sites. A palace was originally built in the 7 th century by King SongtsenGampo, and was believed to have been nine stories high, but around the 9th century, it is believed to have been destroyed by a big fire. The present Potala Palace was constructed by the great fifth Dalai Lama in the 17 th century after he became ruler of Tibet. The Potala Palace is divided into two sections, the White Palace (completed in 1653) and Red palace (completed 1694).
It has more than one thousand rooms and is thirteen stories high. The White Palace was secular in nature and mainly used for government administration, whilst the Red palace was mainly used for religious functions and still has numerous chapels, including those containing reliquary stupas of the successive Dalai Lamas which are richly decorated in gold, silver and semi-precious stones. Afternoon, visit Jokang temple and Bharkor.
JOKANG TEMPLE the Jokang is Tibet’s most sacred temple, the main point of pilgrims from the entire Tibetan plateau. Located at the heart of the ancient town of Lhasa, it was built in the 7 th century by the Tibetan King SongtsenGampo’s queen Bhrikuti on a site identified by Queen Wencheng according to her geomantic calculation. The temple is 3 stories high and it is constructed with enormous chapels including the most sacred statue of BudhhaShakyamuni, enshrined. It has around 70 monks nowadays.
ANCIENT BHARKOR STREET is the most sacred pilgrimage site in Lhasa and it is full of pilgrims from down till dusk. There are four huge prayer flags situated in Bhakor street which surrounds the Jokang, known respectively as GadhenDharchen in the northeast, JuyakDharchen in the west, KelsangDharchen in the southwest and SharKyaringDharchen in the southeast. The Bharkor street is the most active market in all Tibet and it is possible to purchase traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, modern goods, books, music, clothing, spices, fresh meat and vegetable.
Day 03: Drepung and Sera monasteries.
After breakfast, drive to Drepung monastery which will take you 15 minutes drive from your hotel. DREPUNG MONASTERY is the largest monastery in Tibet, built in the 15 th century by JamyangChoeje who is one of Tsongkapa’s foremost disciple. The monastery is beautifully located up in a hill at the distance of 7 Km from the old section of the city and it is the biggest monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery has four main colleges with numerous small chapels and house chapels, known as Khangtsen in Tibetan. There are around six hundred monks nowadays.
Afternoon, visit Sera and NorbuLingka. SERA MONASTERY was founded in around 15th century by JamchenChoeje who is another famous disciple of Tsongka pa and it is the second largest monastery of Tibet. There are three big colleges with numerous chapels and house chapels. The most attraction to visit this monastery is to see the monks debating which hold from 3-5Pm everyday apart from Sunday.
NORBU LINGKA is the first summer Palace which was founded by the seventh Dalai Lama in 18 th century and the first Palace KelsangPodrang was also constructed as the same name as the 7 th Dalai Lama, KelsangGyatso. The eight Dalai Lama JampelGyatso (1758-1804) did more initiated work on the Norbulingka, expending the gardens and digging a lake which can be found south of the new summer Palace.
The thirteenth Dalai Lama (1876-1933) was responsible for the three Palaces in the north west corner of the park and the fourteen the Dalai Lama built the new summer Palace in 1956. Nowadays there are some monks who are taking care of the Palace.
Day 04: Drive from Lhasa to Namtso lake (4700Mts/ 250Km)
After breakfast, start your journey to Namtso lake along the Qinghai Tibet highway and you will enjoy the most beautiful scenery of NyenchenThangla mountain range and the Janthang plateau and grassland with many nomads on the way. Explore around Tashido and lakeNamtso.
Day 05: Drive from Namtso to Langthang Dewachen.(3950Mts/ 343Km)
After breakfast, drive on the same way back to Lhasa and continue to Langthangthrough the tunnel towards south, Lhoka in Tibetan and continues journey along the YarlungTsangpo and some beautiful villages of Lhoka and reach Gongkarcountyand Jedishol town after one and half hours drive. The road condition for today is very good. Jedisholis one of the biggest farming land counties of Tsetang or Lhoka where people grow barley, wheat, beans, potatoes and many other vegetables.
Day 06:Langthang Dewachen-Gongkar Chode-Kyarola La-Drilung village.
Camp nearby the lake, 4490Mts/90Km/ 3 hrs drive / 3hrs & 30 minutes walk
After breakfast, half day walk to Bumthang monastery and around the villages. hike up to Bumthang monastery, visit the monastery and walk down to Shizhol village, visit a Tibetan family and have lunch in a Tibetan family and experience how the traditional family of a farmer village in Tibet and the way of their living. After lunch, we will drive back to Gongkarcounty where the airport is and then continue towards south west from the airport. Reach GongkarChoede monastery.
We will visit the Choede monastery.GonggarChoede monastery, which was built in 1464, belongs to the Zung branch (meaning grey earth ) of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The principal founder of the Dzongpa Tradition was Dorje Chang KungaNamgyal (1432–1496). The main monastery of the Dzongpa is GongkarChode just south-west of Lhasa on the south side of the Tsangpo River at the distance of 55Km from Lhasa. In the 16th century, the monastery was beautified with wall paintings of the Khyenri school of Tibetan paintings done by the well-known artist of the times, JamyangKhyentseWangchuk The history of the monastery is traced to the first visit of Jowo-je PaldenAtisha (980–1054 CE), Buddhist teacher from the Pala Empire.
During his first visit, Atisha had stopped close to the location of the monastery, prostrated in the direction of the monastery and prophesised that one day a monastery would be built at this location, which would become famous. He had marked the location with a mound of white pebbles in the form of a Mandala (this mound got destroyed during the Cultural Revolution). The Dzong was under the stewardship of Dorje-denpa Kun-gaNamgyal also known as Dorje Chang KungaNamgyal (1432–1496), who was a well-known Guru who had received training in the Sutra, Tantra and Tantric rituals from masters of all traditions.
He was the holder of the Dzongpa tradition of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Bhuddism. When he was sitting on the roof of his house in the GongkarDzong, while reciting the religious scripture, the Vajradhatu, a leaf of the scripture was flown away by wind and it fell at a location where the present GongkarChoede Monastery is located.
It is mentioned that between Gongkar and Tsetang there are seven gompas of the Sakyapa sect, including the GongkarDorjeden, known as GongarChoede, the pillar of Sakyapa power, to the south of the Tsongpo valley. GonggarChoede monastery is three storey’s high and the assembly hall is dedicated to the old paintings and three big statues of SakyaPendita, Shakyamuni and Guru Rinpoche. The monastery survived many beautiful old wall painting date back to the 16th Century.
It is worthwhile to spend some time with torch to explore the wall painting both in the main assembly hall and on the second floors. The Gongkar Monastery also became famous because it was here that the artistic Central Tibetan painting of Kyenri originated. After visiting the monastery, we will continue our journey to Yamdroklake through some beautiful villages and Kyarola pass, 4900Mts on the top of the pass. From the top of the pass, you can have a beautiful view of another arm of Yamdroklake which usually rarely are seen by other tourists and a beautiful village called Drilung located near by the lake.
It will take only half an hour to get down to the campsite from the top of the pass. Reach the camp site. Have some snack and tea. walk around the village and lake shore for an hour before dinner. If the weather is good, you can also have a fantastic view of Noejingkangsangsnow capped mountain in the distance.
Day 07: Drilung – Yamdrok Lake
Drilung-Chichung nunnery-Chogongla-Tongra-Rido monastery-Kangmar-Kangru monastery-Rimpo. Camp,4480Mts / 70Km/4 hrs drive/ 3 hrs walk
After breakfast, start your journey and visit the Chichung nunnery and Rido monastery. Chichung nunnery is a Gelukpa sect with around 70 nuns. After Chihung nunnery, you will continue your journey and drive across the Chogong la pass,4800Mts above sea level. From the top of the pass, you will again see another arm of Yamdroklake and the beautiful Tongra village. We will drive to the foot of Rido monastery which is located on a small sacred hill where it is believed to be the abode of Tara.
A few years back, the hill where the monastery was a small island but within the last couple of years, the water of Yamdroklake has been decreased very much so now the island is appeared on the dried area. You will trek up to the monastery, visit the monastery, have a fantastic view of the Yamdroklake and Noekingkangsang in the distance. Walk down to the parking site and then continue the journey to Kangru monastery via Kangmar and Kangru village. You will visit the monastery and have some tea in the monastery and talk with the monks to share their monastic experience and lives.
Walk from Kangru monastery to Kangru village for an hour, visit the village, takes photos in the village and then drive back to the camp. Have some snack and tea. Then walk around the lake Yamdrok and the hills nearby the lake for an hour before dinner.
Day 08: Drive Yamdrok lake east- Gyangtse-Shigatse. (3900mts/ 290Km )
After breakfast at the campsite, you will be driving to Gyantse county and on the way, enjoy the most beautiful view of Yamdrok lake, and Karola glacier of Noejin kangsang snow mountain.
visit Taklung monastery on the way. After around three hours drive, you will reach Gyantse and visit Palchoe monastery and Kubum Pagoda stupa. After the sightseeing, You will have your lunch and then continue your journey to Shigatse by passing one of the biggest farming land in Tibet where people grow barley, wheat, different kinds of vegetables.
Day 09: Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa (3650Mts/ 280KM)
Morning visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery which is the seat of the Penchen Lama and the largest monastery in Shigastse. Continue your Tibet travel and drive along the Barhmaputra with a landscape of sandy hills, villages, and RulakYungdrung ling at the otherside of the river. You will have lunch in a small town called Nyenmo which is the border point between Shigatse and Lhasa . Free afternoon for shopping.
Day 10: Drive from Lhasa to Lhasa Gongkar airport.(3600Mts/ 60Km )
Departure transfer to Lhasa airport for flight to onward destination.
| City | Night (s) | Hotels / Camps |
| Lhasa | 03 | Shangri La |
| Namtso Lake | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Langthang Dewachen | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Drilung | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Yamdrok Lake | 01 | Tourist Lodge |
| Shigatse | 01 | Mangareva Hotel |
| Lhasa | 01 | Shangri La |
– 09 nights accommodation as mentioned in the program.
– All necessary Tibet entry and road permits.
– Transportation by good conditioned mini van.
– All entry fees to the sites and monasteries.
– Namtso lake conservation fee.
– Yamdrok lake conservation fee.
– Karola glacier conservation fee.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– All camping equipments except sleeping bag.
– All camping fee.
– Cook and assistant with all utensils.
– Different kinds of snack like biscuit, cheese, dried and fresh fruit during the camp.
– Oxygen in the vehicle and during the trek in case needed.
– All taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.