Visit Lhasa, Tsedang, Samye, Shigatse, Gyantse

Last updated on February 3rd, 2024 at 02:28 pm

Neykor or Nekhor is a spiritual immersion retreat that connects you with the sacred landscape of awakening. Neykor connects you with the sacred sites where awakened masters have lives, practiced, and benefited our world. Those seeking true wisdom can follow in their footsteps, and bring their blessings onto the spiritual path. Lhasa Neykor is one of the four Neykors introduced by us; Nepal Neykor, Lhasa Neykor, Bhutan Neykor and Sikkim Neykor.

Lhasa Neykor Tour Program Highlights Include

Follow the footsteps of great masters and spiritual kings; Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), Shantiraksita, Trisong Detsen and Songtsen Gampo
Visit the Yarlung Valley created by Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) and Chongye Rivers; Tsedang and Samye
Chim-puk Hermitage
Visit the Oval-shaped Samye Monastery and its sacred mandala design which is first Buddhist Gompa in Tibet built by second great King Trisong Detsen and inspected by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava).
Visit Drak Yerpa: the 7th century holy city built by Songtsen Gampo for third queen Monza Triucham and believed to be 108 practice caves where Guru Rinpoche disciples have meditated here.
Picturesque drive through Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo), beautiful and colorful Yamdrok-Tso Lake through green farmland of Nyangche valley with crossing over Kamba La (4,749m) high pass and photo session with Tibetan giant yaks
Visit most famous and important cities of Tibet; Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and Tsedang

Lhasa Neykor Tour Program Itinerary

Day 1: Kathmandu (1300m) to Lhasa (3650m) flight, 1.5 Hr. Drive to Tsedang/Tsetang

Day 2: Visit Tsedang/Tsetang. Drive to Samye (3540m), 2 hrs.

Day 3: Day hike to Chim-puk Hermitage

Day 4: Drive back to Lhasa. Visit Drak Yerpa Hermitage

Day 5: Visit Lhasa: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market Street

Day 6: Drive to Gyantse, stopover at the Yamdrok Tsho Lake

Day 7: Drive to Shigatse

Day 8: Drive to Lhasa

Day 9: Visit Lhasa

Day 10: Departure

Lhasa Neykor Tour Price:

(Lhasa Neykor private tour includes Kathmandu -Lhasa -Kathmandu flights, Tibet travel permit and visa, English speaking Tibetan guide, driver and vehicle throughout the tour, monumental entrance fee, accommodation with breakfast at the hotel and monastic guesthouses)

Lhasa Neykor Tour Price Include

Private transport to the Kyorung (Nepal –Tibet border) before the tour starts
Twin sharing accommodation with breakfast in the guest house throughout the tour (dormitory beds are available while in Rongbuk and Kyorung)
Tibet Travel Permit as well as the permit for hike to Everest Base Camp
English speaking Tibetan guide
Sightseeing and monumental entrance fee
Airport transfer to Lhasa Gonggar airport / Golmud Train Station for onward destination

Lhasa Neykor Tour Price Excludes

Onward flight or train from Lhasa after the trip finishes in Lhasa, visa fee (Nepal and Tibet or any others), insurance and personal expenses, single supplements, bar bills and laundry
Lunch and evening meals throughout the tour and any other expenses in Kathmandu
Tips for staff, bar bills and laundry
All except explained in “PRICE INCLUDES” section above

Last updated on February 3rd, 2024 at 02:28 pm

Samye Monastery is the first Buddhist Gompa in Tibet and built on the northern side of the Yarlong Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River by second great king Trisong Detsen. Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) was invited in the monastery for special inspection. The oval-shaped Samye Monastery is famous for its sacred mandala design. The central hall symbolizes the legendary of Mount Meru, the center of the universe, while the outer temples represent the oceans, continents, and other features of the Buddhist cosmology. Samye Monastery which is known as the architectural wonders in history combines Han, Tibetan and Indian architectural styles. The monastery surrounds a golden main hall, and four stupas in red, white, black and green respectively are scattered on the four corners of the monastery. Inside the monastery are solar and lunar halls, which symbolize 12 halls of 12 continents in the spiritual world of Tibetan Buddhism.

Chim-puk Hermitage is a home to great masters Guru Padmasambhava Shantiraksita and Trisong Detsen during the Tibetan regime. Padmasambhava meditated and taught Dharma to his disciple. He translated many practice ways in the Secret Vajra sequel, put these works in the indestructible small suitcase and sealed them, and wish the right person can find them. Santiraksita advocated Madhyamika, which has direct influences on some sects of the Tibetan Buddhism. Trisong Detsen has established the stable situation of Tibetan Empire, who might have practiced Buddhism in Chim-puk hermitage.

Drak Yerpa (Drak Yangdzong), Hidden in the holy city after the mystery place, is the 7th century holy city built by Songtsen Gampo for third queen Monza Triucham. The king found four other temples, and they are Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, Palubuk, and Pabonka Hermitage. There were once 108 practice caves. If you look up at the mountain from the foot, it seems like a statue of Tara. It is said that some Guru Rinpoche’s disciples have meditated here.

Kathmandu (1300m) to Lhasa (3650m) flight, 1.5 Hr. Drive to Tsedang / Tsetang, 2 Hrs

Upon arrival to Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) and finish the border crossing, our Tibetan guide and drive will meet us and start driving in the newly built (completed in 2015) 125km Lhasa -Tsedang highway for little more than two hours. The road passes through the sand dunes in Yarlong Valley created by Yarlong Sangpo (Brahmaputra) River for 2 hours. Spend 30-45 minutes climbing in Dunes for great photos. Beijing time is 2:45 hrs ahead of Kathmandu time which means flight lands in Lhasa airport in the afternoon and by the time you reach to Tsedang, it will already be evening..Overnight in hotel.

Visit Tsedang. Drive to Samye Monastery

7th century Gelug Tradruk Monastery is built by the great Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to subdue a dragon (‘druk’) by falcon (‘tra’) as an emanation of Songtsen Gampo. 2nd century Gelug Yumbulakhang is built by the Tibetan King Nyatri Tsenpo and considered first palace and fortress of Tibet. Mindrolling and Dorje Drak are six of two mother monasteries of Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Other four are in Kham, Eastern Tibet. In the evening, drive to Samye Monastery. Overnight at the guesthouse.

Visit Samye Monastery. Day hike to Chim-puk Hermitage

After breakfast, visit the Samye Monastery and its beautiful complex. Later, we explore the Samye region. Hike to Chim-puk Hermitage, nunnery and Hepo Ri for retreat caves and historic relics, stone statues and picturesque scenery. Hike to the chapels close to the top of the mountain and see meditation caves and chapels on the higher levels. Hepo Ri is the hill to the East of the Samye Monastery, where Padma Sambhava (Guru Rinpoche) subdued the demons, allowing the construction of the monastery. Those who climb the hill are rewarded by the splendid panoramic view of the Samye complex, Brahmaputra river, and the valley. Back to Samye for overnight stay at the guesthouse.

Drive back to Lhasa. Visit Drak Yerpa

Little less than an hour and half drive through Samye -Lhasa highway along-with beautiful Yarlung valley created by Tsampo River, arrive to Lhasa. Afternoon, drive to the Drak Yerpa monastery complex with retreat and meditation caves. It is a mountain said to be in the shape of Tara’s body, who is a Buddha-enlightened being of compassion.

Visit Lhasa; Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Bharkhor Market Street

Visit Jokhang Temple (situated in the heart of Old Lhasa and houses Tibet’s most precious religious relic, a golden Shakyamuni Buddha which was brought as a gift by the Chinese Princess Wen Cheng on the occasion of her wedding to the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gompo), Barkhor Market Street (religious and social focus of Lhasa), Potala Palace (winter palace of Dalai Lamas which is legendary palace built atop a single hill is synonymous with Tibet by the first foremost king Songtsen Gompo.)

Drive to Gyantse

After breakfast, full day picturesque drive through the Tibetan lifeline river Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo), beautiful and colorful Yamdrok-Tso Lake through green farmland of Nyangche valley with crossing over two high passes of Karola (5,010m), Kambala (4,749m). Overnight stay in Gyantse.

Drive to Shigatse

After breakfast, visit to the Kumbum Stupa (100000 image Pagoda, said to have hundred thousand images, either sculptured or painted), founded in 1583 in the historical Tibetan region of Amdo, the pagoda style stupa monastery is a perfect fusion of Newari arts from Nepal and Tibetan arts and houses the statue of Je Tsongkhapa –the founder of Gelugkpa school of Buddhism (first Dalai Lama) whose superior is Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. Phalkor Monastery (founded jointly by Kedup Je of the Gelugpa Sect and Rabten Kunsang of the Sakyapa Sect in 1418, the Monastery has a special influence over Tibet’s Buddhism owing to its unification of three different sects, the Gelugpa, the Sakyapa and Bhuton Sects, in a single monastery). Afternoon, scenic drive to Shigatse through the typical Tibetan countryside for approximately two hours. Overnight stay in Shigatse.

Drive to Lhasa

After breakfast, drive to Lhasa for six to seven hours. Retrace Lhasa -Shigatse route now with Shigatse -Lhasa with full day picturesque drive crossing over Karola (5,010m), Kambala (4,749m), Colorful Yamdrok-Tso Lake and the Tibetan lifeline river Brahma Putra (Yarlung Tsangpo). Overnight stay in Lhasa.

Lhasa Visit; Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

After breakfast, visit Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery is located at the foot of Mount Gephel and is one of the great three Gelug university Gompas of Tibet, other two being Ganden and Sera) and Sera Monastery (one of Lhasa’s prettiest monasteries with a community of more than 5,000 monks used to resided here). Overnight stay in Lhasa.