Namatso Lake Tour

Trip Overview

Namtso Lake Tour is another popular tour in Tibet, which is situated in the nomadic county of Damshung. Namtso Lake is the highest saltwater lake in the world with an altitude of 4,718m, also the second largest saltwater lake in China (after the Qinghai Lake). Its touching beauty should not be missed by any visitors there. Its purity and solemnness are symbols of Qinghai-Tibet Platean. In Tibetan, Namtso means 'Heavenly Lake.' It is considered one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and famous for its high altitude (4,720 meters about 3 miles), vast area (1,961 square kilometers about 757 square miles) and beautiful scenery. While doing this tour, you can explore the nomads' way of life, as well as get a great view of Mt. Nyincheng Thangla and visit the famous hot springs in Yangbacheng. Namtso Lake has five uninhabited Islands of reasonable size, in addition to one or two rocky outcrops. The islands have been used for spiritual retreat by pilgrims, who walk over the lake's frozen surface at the end of winter, carrying their food with them. They spend the summer there, unable to return to shore again until the water freezes the following winter. In clear days, the lake looks like a beautiful turquoise surrounded by magnificent snow-capped Tanggula Mountains, and the lakeshore is green, wide and open, dotted with tents, yaks and sheep of local nomads. For travelers, Namtso is the ideal place for photography, while for Tibetans, it is a scared and magical lake for pilgrimage.

Trip Itinerary

Day 01: Kathmandu to Lhasa (3,656m)

After breakfast in Kathmandu, we will transfer to Airport and fly to Lhasa. Our Tibet Guide comes to receive you at Gonggar Airport. After immigration formalities, you will be driven to Lhasa (3650 meters). It takes around 45 minutes to reach the old city. After checking in at your hotel, you are advised to take rest and take it easy. Drink plenty of fluids and let your body get used to Lhasa’s high altitude. Note: There is no program arranged for today.

Day 02: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Potala Palace, the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama
Jokhang Temple is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet
Barkhor Bazaar is an area of narrow streets and a public square located around Jokhang Temple

Day 03: Sightseeing in Lhasa

Drepung Monastery is one of the "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. The other two are Ganden and Sera. Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse Mountain, 5km from the western suburb of Lhasa
Sera Monastery is attributed to a fact that the site where the monastery was built was surrounded by wild roses bloom.
Norbulinka Palace has been mostly identified with the 13th and the 14th Dalai Lamas who commissioned most of the structures seen here now.

Day 04: Visit Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery is located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of Lhasa River in Tagtse County, 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Lhasa City. It is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelugpa - a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Its significance as a religious, artistic, political and cultural relic led to it being preserved by the National Key Cultural Relic Preservation scheme in 1961 and is now known as being one of the 'Three Great Temples', together with the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery .

Day 05: Drive to Namtso Lake

Drive to the holy lake Namtso which is about 5 hours driving from Lhasa City. You will arrive at Namtso Lake around the early afternoon. Take some rest and throw yourself into the incredible landscape of holy lake.

Day 06: Drive back to Lhasa

In the morning, you will drive back to Lhasa from Damxung. En route, you have chance to bath in the spectacular hot springs which are formed from terrestrial heat in Yangpachen.

Day 07: Lhasa to Kathmandu

Fly back to Kathmandu from Gonggor airport. You will be arriving in Kathmandu by mid-day.

Cost Include

4 Nights Hotel accommodation in Lhasa at twin sharing room on BB plan
Sightseeing tour as per the program
Best available guesthouse accommodation in Namtso at twin sharing room on BB plan
An English speaking Tibetan Guide
All monuments and monasteries entrance fees.
Airport drop (Lhasa) and pickup (Kathmandu) from Lhasa and transfer to Hotel

Cost Non-Includes

Lunch and dinner in Lhasa and Namtso
Hotel in Kathmandu
Chinese Visa fee
Airfare and Train Tickets
Personal insurance such as travel, accident, medical, emergency evacuation and lost luggage
Tipping

Namatso Lake Tour

Trip Overview

Itinerary

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Trip Overview