5 Days Tibetan Hermitage and Yamdrok Lake Meditation Tour

Overview

Embark on a transformative journey to the majestic Tibetan Hermitage and the enchanting Yamdrok Lake, as you immerse yourself in a unique meditation tour that promises serenity and spiritual enlightenment. This extraordinary trip offers an exquisite blend of natural beauty, ancient traditions, and inner reflection, providing a profound experience for those seeking solace and inner peace.

As the only local Tibet travel agency with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu and Chengdu, we can easily help you get Tibet permit and book flight or Tibet train or overland tour from major Tibet entry cities to Lhasa. Our dedicated Lhasa-born Tibetan guides will also ensure your travel safety and be a great narrator to legends and history of Tibetan Buddhism. And our helpful customer service manager Kunga will jointly be attentive to your needs and also help you take care of all the hassle to create the best environment for the spiritual journey.

As the tour draws to a close, you will carry with you the profound sense of peace and enlightenment gained from this transformative journey. The Tibetan Hermitage and Yamdrok Lake Meditation Tour promises an unforgettable experience, allowing you to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul while immersing yourself in the spiritual essence of Tibet’s sacred sites.

Tour Type:

Escorted by private guide and vehicle; leave 365 days a year!

Trip Level:

Easy – suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.

Season:


Spring春
Summer夏
Autumn秋
Winter冬

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

Highlights:
Receive the auspicious White Hada and Tibet Travel guide from our Tibetan guide;
Get a glimpse of Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city;

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa, the modern utopia as well as the spiritual heart of Tibet; Your hospitable Tibetan guide and friendly drivers have already been expecting you at the designated places at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station.

As you receive our auspicious white Hada, simply leave your hassle to our staff to take care and enjoy the scenic ride to your hotel in Lhasa city. Our handful Tibetan guide will help you check in and inform you of the travel plan the next day. Then have a good rest at the hotel for tomorrow’s exciting tour.

Meal: No Meal is included today

Accommodation:
Lhasa Yak Hotel(3 star), Cang-Gyan Lhasa Hotel (4 star), upgrade available when needed.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers to Tibet, never rush to visit attractions downtown as your body needs time to get acclimatized to the high altitude on Tibetan Plateau. Slight headache, dizziness, and rapid pulse are pretty common. They will also disappear in a couple of days. Feel anything you need, please feel free to reach your Tibetan guide. Pay special attention to sun protection when meditating in the wilderness in Tibet.

Day 2: Lhasa Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Basking in eye-blinding sunshine, Lhasa is also teeming with magnificent Buddhist temples and monasteries, devoted Tibetan pilgrims and historical backstreets, pleasing culinary discovery.

Follow the footsteps of your guide to hike the long stairs of impressive Potala Palace for the commanding view of Lhasa city; the UNESCO heritage site perched on the Red hill used to be the winter palace of the generations of Dalai Lama. Now, it is the most iconic building of Tibet. You will also have a chance to explore the residence of Dalai Lama in White Palace and religious chambers in the Red Palace and gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas, etc.

After lunch, we will head to Jokhang Temple, the holiest Buddhist site in Lhasa. Traveling in the dimly-lit rooms, you can hear the constant mumbling of Buddhist chanting and see local Tibetans adding butter oil to the oil lamps. Never miss the chance to worship the life-size statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Outside the Jokhang Temple, follow the prostrating Tibetan pilgrims for the famous Barkhor kora nearby. You may also look for the delicately-made souvenirs in the boutiques that flank the Barkhor Street.

When you head starts to spin, delve into the quiet backstreet of Barkhor and treat yourself with a couple of tasty sweet tea and local delicacy and fully immerse yourself in the distinct vibes of a local teahouse.

Day 3: Lhasa Tour: Pabonka, Pabongka Rizhui, Sera Monastery

Have an early rise for the breakfast at hotel; later we will enjoy the ride to the cliff-side Pabonka, a Tibetan palace 15km from the Lhasa; briefly visit the holy cave where Songtsen Gampo the 33rd Tibetan king used to meditate.

Keep following the scenic hike that takes around 30 mins behind Pabonka; we will reach Pabongka Rizhui, an exceedingly peaceful and remote Buddhist temple that has a commanding view of the Lhasa city. You may enjoy the perfect solitude and meditate here for hours.

Then we will travel back to Lhasa for the lunch at around noon. After lunch, make it to the prominent Sera Monastery; the second biggest Gelugpa monastery in Lhasa now is the major stage for the “monk debate”. Find a spot in the boisterous debate courtyard to enjoy this dramatic “monastic defense”. Though you may not understand what they say, the slapping of hands, yelling and jumping and rolling of Buddhist mala give you a vivid display of long-held tradition of Buddhist study. Besides, you may also enjoy exquisite sand mandala and Buddhist scripture printing press and visit the main assembly hall in this Buddhist academy.

Day 4: Lhasa Surroundings: Drak Yerpa Hermitage, and Yamdrok Lake

Enjoy the scenic ride, 32km from downtown Lhasa; we will also arrive at renowned Drak Yerpa hermitage, one of the best off-the-beaten paths for Buddhist exploration. Follow the steps slowly to hike to the monastery; then visit multiple meditation caves used by Guru Rinpoche and King Songtsen Gampo; we will spend around 1hour and a half meditating in the caves.

Then after having lunch, we head south to famous Yamdrok Lake. After around 3hrs’ drive around the bend appears the glittering turquoise Yamdrok Lake; enjoy the stunning panorama of Yamdrok with the backdrop of snowy Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m) or pet the tamed Tibetan mastiff for a lovely shot.

Of course, enjoy the gentle breeze and meditate or do yoga around the enchanting Yamdrok Lake; after having a lovely picnic on the grassland, we move back to Lhasa for dinner.

Day 5: Depart from Lhasa

Your guide will also transfer you to the airport or train station for the next onward flight or journey.

Meal:Breakfast

Included:

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
  • Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
  • Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
  • Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
  • All meals also listed in the above itinerary;
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
  • First aid kit;

Excluded:

  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Chinese visa (Note: we could also help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
  • Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can also provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  • Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.