Buddhist monks, Lhas, Tibet

Vibrant colors adorn Tibet's legendary monasteries. On our Tibet Private Journey, savor ancient Buddhist cultures and amazing Himalayan scenery from Lhasa, Tibet's Holy City, to the snow-capped mountains of Gyalthang in eastern Tibet.

Photo by Robert Fried

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Tibet Private Journey

Sacred Monasteries on the Roof of the World

Enjoy a Private Journey on the Roof of the World! Journey into the cultural heartland of Tibet, including the peerless monasteries of the Holy City of Lhasa, then visit Gyalthang, a Shangrila world on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, home to traditional Khampa culture. Along the way, meet monks in their monasteries, Tibetan nomads on pilgrimage paths, and Khampa villagers in their magical homeland.

Highlights

  • Lhasa’s sacred temples and stunning monasteries
  • Khampa horsemen of Gyalthang
  • Optional extension to ancient Lijiang, a World Heritage Site

Details

  • 8-day trip begins and ends in Lhasa, Tibet
  • 7 nights in hotels
  • All meals included
  • Overland travel, light day hikes, altitudes between 7,000-12,500 feet

When to Go

May to mid-October

For our Private Journey trips, you choose your own group and your preferred dates—there are no set departure dates. Private Journeys are available to groups as few as two people or as large as you like. Contact us for availability, questions, or to book your adventure!

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Tour Costs

First Class Option

$3795 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $375

Deluxe Option

$4295 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement: $825

Internal Airfare: $425 (subject to change)
Optional Lijiang Extension: from $795
Groups of 4 or more: Call for discounts

*Prices valid through 2010
Includes all land transportation and private guides throughout

Itinerary at a Glance
Tibet Private Journey route-map

Days 1-3
Lhasa

In Tibet’s sacred city, join pilgrims who gather at the candle-lit altars of the Jokhang, holiest of temples, and walk the Barkhor kora (pilgrimage route). Visit with monks at Sera Monastery, explore the extraordinary Potala Palace, and discover the Norbulingka, official summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. Hike with your guide to a hilltop hermitage for spectacular vistas of the Lhasa Valley.

Day 4
Samye, Tsethang and the Yarlung Valley

Tibet’s oldest monastery is 8th century Samye, set between the legendary Tsangpo River and beautiful dun-colored hills. Samye was built to represent the Buddhist cosmos, its 108 chapels surrounding the massive central chanting hall. In the Yarlung Valley, birthplace of the Tibetan dynasty, explore Yumbu Lakhang, Tibet’s first palace, and see a precious thangka painting protected in 7th century Trandruk Monastery.

Days 5-6
Gyalthang, Heart of Kham

Fly to Gyalthang, a historic trading post and enclave of Tibetan culture on the eastern edge of the Himalayas. This is the heartland of the Khampa people, with their age-old traditions as swashbuckling horsemen and caravan traders. Meet the welcoming Khampas in their homes, and walk up to Ringha, a sacred 13th century temple on a hill. At Sumtseling Monastery, join monks for morning prayers, sip tea with a high lama, and enjoy a fascinating guided exploration of this remote monastery including areas typically closed to tourists.

Days 7-8
Kunming

Join your guide for a stroll in the quaint neighborhood on the shores of Kunming’s Green Lake and savor a dinner of Yunnan specialties. Depart on Day 8.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Lijiang Extension
Days 7-10

From Gyalthang, journey to Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the mighty Yangtze courses between two grand mountain ranges, forming one of the deepest gorges on earth. The glorious World Heritage Site of Lijiang, nestled beneath the protective gaze of Jade Dragon Mountain, is the ancient capital of the matriarchal Naxi people. Explore cobblestone lanes of Lijiang’s Old Town, and Naxi villages where life has remained unchanged for centuries.

Please call us or Download Full Trip Brochure for more information

First Class Option

  • The Kyichu Hotel, one of the oldest Tibetan-owned boutique hotels in Lhasa, in walking distance to the Barkhor and Potala Palace.
  • Songtsam Hotel set at the foot of Songtsam Lama temple in Gyalthang, a Tibetan home beautifully renovated as a boutique hotel with a traditional library and coutyard café.
  • Zen Garden Hotel in Lijiang (optional extension), an elegant property with a tranquil garden in the historic Old Town.

Deluxe Option

  • The Brahmaputra Grand Hotel in Lhasa, a 5-star property combining elements of traditional Tibetan architectural style with all the modern comforts.
  • Banyan Tree Ringha Resort, a lavishly appointed hideaway featuring individual 2-story Tibetan chalets in a serene valley outside Gyalthang, with a teahouse, spa and sweeping views of the snow-capped Himalayas.
  • Banyan Tree Lijiang (optional extension), exquisite Naxi-style villas set below mist-covered mountains.

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.