7 Days Tibet Travel Itinerary

7 Days Tibet Travel Itinerary

Tibet is a vast and beautiful land, perched on the majestic Tibetan Plateau and situated on the northern side of the Himalayas. Known for its extremely high altitude, it is revered as the Roof of the World, and has long been a sacred destination in the hearts of pilgrims. If you have seven days to explore Tibet, how can you make the most of your time and fully experience its allure? This guide will provide you with a detailed itinerary for an unforgettable seven-day trip, ensuring that you can explore Tibet to the fullest without missing out on its wonders.

7 Days Tibet Itinerary for Family with Kids

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa

Day 1: Acclimatize to the plateau environment in your hotel. You can walk around Potala Palace Square, admire the palace's grand silhouette from afar. You may also interact with the pigeons, feed them corn kernels, and soak in the everyday atmosphere of Tibetan life.

Day 2: In the morning, visit the Tibet Museum to learn about Tibetan history and culture. After lunch, explore the Potala Palace, where you can learn about Tibetan Buddhism and feel the mysterious and solemn atmosphere.

Day 3: Stroll along Barkhor Street, dress in traditional Tibetan attire and transform into a Drolma or Tashi, circumambulating the prayer route clockwise with pilgrims toward Jokhang Temple. After the visit, you can experience intangible cultural heritage handicrafts to feel the charm of Tibetan culture.

Day 4: Drive to Yamdrok Lake, stopping en route at the viewing platform of the Gambala Pass to observe the turquoise lake. Upon arrival at Yamdrok, you can interact with lambs and stack Mani stones for blessings. Then detour to the Karola Glacier to admire the majestic ice tongue from afar beneath the glacial snout. In the evening, arrive in Gyantse County.

Day 5: Travel from Gyantse to the Pala Manor, then continue to Shigatse. In Shigatse, visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of Tibet's most important and famous monasteries, and the traditional seat of the successive Panchen Lamas. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 6: Depart from Shigatse and drive back to Lhasa, on the way you will see the sight of the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley. In Lhasa, take a walk along the banks of the Lhasa River, gaze at the sunset over the golden rooftops of the Potala Palace.

Day 7: Stroll through Norbulingka, appreciate the artistry of Tibetan garden design, and enjoy a picnic on the shaded lawn beneath the trees. You can also head to visit Namtso.

7 Days Tibet Itinerary for Seniors with Slow Pace

Barkhor Street, Lhasa

Day 1: On the first day in Lhasa, Tibet, check in to your hotel and rest to acclimate to the plateau climate. Avoid any strenuous exercise or outdoor activities on this day. Staying calm and getting ample rest are the best ways to prevent altitude sickness.

Day 2: Head to Nyingchi, with a lower altitude, and on the way you can visit Lake Basum Tso. Next is the Lulang Forest, where you can enjoy the sea of clouds and the sea of forests to your heart's content, and also catch a distant view of Namjagbarwa Peak.

Day 3: Visit Lulang Forest to explore and observe the plateau's diverse vegetation. Then, try the local specialty in Lulang Town—stone pot chicken. If in spring, you can also choose instead to admire peach blossoms at Gala Village.

Day 4: Head to Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon to see the world's largest and deepest canyon, and to its south stands Namcha Barwa, slowly make your way there to admire the snow-capped peaks that remain covered year-round.

Day 5: Return to Lhasa, and on the way back, you will pass and take a visit of the Kading Valley, where you can see steep peaks rise dramatically, ancient trees tower to the sky, and plateau waterfalls surge in grandeur.

Day 6: Travel to one of Tibet's three sacred lakes, Yamdrok Lake, and when you admire it from above it resembles a sapphire embedded among towering peaks. If time allows, you can also continue on to visit the Karola Glacier, which glitters brilliantly under the sunlight.

Day 7: The last day in Lhasa, visit Potala Palace, and then wander around Barkhor Street, feel the religious atmosphere of the holy land.

7 Days Tibet Itinerary for Young Travelers

Mount Kailash

Day 1: Depart from Lhasa, cross Lhasa River, and traverse over Mount Gambala, where you will encounter the pristine waters of Yamdrok Lake. Next, explore the magnificent Karola Glacier, then continue to the tranquil Manla Reservoir, and finally arrive at Shigatse.

Day 2: Travel to Saga County, and along the way, you will pass the Lake Lang Co, where the water shows two hues, deep blue up close and emerald green in the distance, surrounded by grass meadows along the shore. Stay overnight in Saga.

Day 3: Visit the sacred Lake Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal, known respectively as the Sacred Lake and the Ghost Lake. Stay overnight in Tarchen, Purang County. Tarchen is the starting point for the Mount Kailash kora pilgrimage route. If you plan to trek around Mount Kailash, you should allocate an additional two days.

Day 4: Witness the magnificent views of Mount Kailash, then continue to Zanda County to explore the unique earthen forest of Zanda Earth Forest. Afterwards, visit the ruins of the ancient Guge Kingdom, where exquisite murals crafted a thousand years ago, remain vivid in color and lifelike in detail. Finally, return to Tarchen in the evening.

Day 5: Return to Saga. Along the way, you will pass the Maquan River and Gongzhu Co. The wide valley's Maquan River flows like a silver ribbon, stretching beneath mist-softened snow peaks, while mountains, rivers, and lakes all rest upon an expanse of grassland.

Day 6: Travel to Tingri and admire the reflection of Shishapangma in Pelku Lake, a lake embraced by mountains on three sides. Listen to the roaring waves of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Then proceed to Rongbu Monastery, the highest-altitude monastery in the world and a prime location to photograph Everest. Finally, arrive at Everest Base Camp.

Day 7: Return to Lhasa. At Gawula Pass and Gyatso La Pass, you can capture multiple snow-clad peaks at once, including different viewpoints of Mount Everest. In Shigatse, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in the region.

7 Days Tibet cultural Immersion Itinerary

Sho Dun Festival

Day 1: Check in your hotel first and take a rest. Then take a leisurely walk along Barkhor Street, flowing with local pilgrims and tourists alike toward Jokhang Temple. Sit down at the square in front of the temple to feel the devotion of the Tibetan people.

Day 2: In the morning, visit the majestic Potala Palace. At lunch time, head to the Nyainre Folk Custom Park for sightseeing and to sample authentic Tibetan cuisine. Before 3:00 p.m., make your way to Sera Monastery to watch the traditional Tibetan-style Buddhist scripture debate (Monk Debating), and continue touring the monastery afterward.

Day 3: Drive to Namtso, with a distant view from the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. Then continue along the lakeshore, listening to the prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Finally arrive at the Sacred Elephant Heaven Gate and feel the serenity as if you were in paradise.

Day 4: In the morning, visit the Tibet Museum to gain insight into and learn about Tibet. In the afternoon, head to the cultural experience hall at Lukhang Park to live a day as a Tibetan. You can also stroll through Norbulingka and watch the Tibetan Opera performance.

Day 5: Drive to Tsetang, the cradle of Tibetan civilization and history. Visit Yumbulagang, Tibet's first palace, older in history than the Potala Palace. Nearby lies Tradruk Temple, where, according to legend, Princess Wencheng once practiced meditation.

Day 6: In the morning, visit Samye Monastery. You can also hike up the nearby mountain for a panoramic view of the entire complex. After lunch, head to Chimpu Hermitage, a sacred retreat site where many high monks and tulkus once practiced, and which still draws streams of devoted pilgrims today. Afterward, return to Lhasa.

Day 7: Visit Drepung Monastery. If you travel during the Sho Dun Festival, you will witness the most magnificent Buddha-unveiling thangka display ceremony. In the afternoon, head to a thangka workshop to paint your very own thangka by hand.

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Informative Articles for Your Tibet Trip

Prayer wheel, Tibet

• Tibet Travel Guide: attractions, weather, food, culture, tours, etc.
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• Travel itinerary: various itineraries for your reference
• Weather: the best time and seasons to visit Tibet
• Attraction: well-selected top attractions
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• Tibet Tours: tailor-made Tours for your reference