Key Points:

This is the typical Tibet Tour itinerary. It offers the epitome of Tibet with some of the most impressive visions: snow-capped mountains and holy lakes, splendid monasteries and palaces, original villages and unsophisticated people. With the better road conditions and accommodations along the way, it is now the most popular route.

You will visit the 2 most important cities in Tibet: Lhasa and Shigatse.  We will also arrange you to visit a local Tibetan family!

Lhasa, literally meaning “Holy-Land”, is the heart and soul of Tibet, has history of more than 1,300 years. It rose to prominence as an important center of administrative power in the 7th century AD, when Songtsen Gampo, a local ruler in the Yarlung Valley, continued the task of unifying Tibet. Songtsen Gampo moved his capital to Lhasa and built a palace on the site that is now occupied by the Potala.

The fifth Dalai Lama also made Lhasa his capital. Supported by the Army of the first Emperior of Qing Dynasty in Beijing, 5th Dala Lama became the king for both monks and common people in whole Tibet and moved to Potala Palace from Drepung Monastery.

Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, is another political, economic and religious center other than Lhasa. Shigatse has been the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is traditionally based in Tashilhunpo Monastery.