The Shigatse and southern Tibet region has many sights of interest, most of which are richly cultural and historic monastaries. In the town of Shigatse, there is the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the core of the Gelugpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Outside of Shigatse on the way to Gyantse is Shalu Monastery, which while not easy to get to is quite worth visiting.

In Gyantse, there is the Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its Kumbum, a stupa-like structure that houses thousands of Buddha images, both golden statues and colorful wall murals. Also in Gyantse is a famous fort known as the Gyantse Dzong.

In the west, there is the small town of Sakya with its famous fortress-like Sakya Monastery. Further towards the southwest on the road to Mount Everest sits Rongphu Monastery, the highest monastery in the world. Then, on the the base camp at Mount Everest.

Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa
Our guide will pick you up at Lhasa airport, where the altitude is 3,600 meters above sea level. On the way to Lhasa, visit the Nietang. Check in in the Hotel . The a la carte dinner will be arranged for you at a local best restaurant.

Day 02: Lhasa
Visit the magnificent Potala Palace, the Sera Monastery, the Norbulingka Park and a Tibetan family. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 03: Lhasa
Visit Drepung Monastery, the Jokhang Temple and the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street, the Carpet Factory and the Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Sera Monastery in LhasaDay 04: Lhasa - Gyangtse
Take car to Gyangtse. Stop off at the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. Transfer to the Hotel . Visit the Palkhor Monastery and the Gyangtse Old Street. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 05: Gyangtse - Shigatse
Take car to Shigatse and transfer to the Hotel . Visit the Tashilunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen.

Day 06: Shigatse - Dingri
Take car to Dingri and transfer to the Hotel . Visit the Sakya Monastery and Lhatse city.

the Friendship bridge of the border from China to NepalDay 07: Dingri - Everest Base Camp - Dingri
Take car to the Everest Base Camp and visit Rongbuk Monastery. Return to Dingri.

Day 08: Dingri - Shigatse
Drive back to Shigatse and transfer to Shigatse Hotel .

Day 09: Shigatse - Lhasa
Return to Lhasa and transfer to the Hotel . Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 10: Departure from Lhasa
Visit the Tibet Museum, time permitting. See off.

Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa
Our guide will pick you up at Lhasa airport, where the altitude is 3,650 meters above sea level. On the way to Lhasa, visit the Nietang Buddha. Check in in the Hotel . The a la carte dinner will be arranged for you at a local best restaurant.

Day 02: Lhasa
Visit the Potala Palace, the Sera Monastery, the Norbulingka Park and a Tibetan family. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 03: Lhasa
Visit the Drepung Monastery, the Jokhang Temple, the thriving bazaar of the Tibetan Traditional Hospital and the Carpet Factory. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 04: Lhasa - Shigatse
Take car to Shigatse and transfer to the Hotel . Visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 05: Shigatse - Gyangtse
Take car to Gyangtse and transfer to the Hotel . Visit the Palkhor Monastery.

Day 06: Gyangtse - Tsetang
After visiting the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake and the snow mountain, take car to Tsetang and transfer to the Hotel .

Palkhor Monastery in GyangtseYamdrok Yumtso Lake on the way from Lhasa to Gyangtse

Day 07: Tsetang
Visit the Tomb of Tibet Kings, the Yumbu Lakang and the Trankdruk Monastery.

Day 08: Tsetang
Ferry the Yarlong Tsangpo River and visit the Samye Monastery.

Day 09: Departure from Tsetang
See off.

Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa
Our guide will pick you up at Lhasa airport, where the altitude is 3,650 meters above sea level. On the way to Lhasa, visit the Nietang Buddha. Check in in the Hotel .The a la carte dinner will be arranged for you at a local best restaurant.

Day 02: Lhasa
Visit the Potala Palace, the Sera Monastery, the Norbulingka Park and a Tibetan family. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 03: Lhasa
Visit the Drepung Monastery, the Jokhang Temple, the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street, the Tibetan Traditional Hospital and the Carpet Factory. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 04: Lhasa - Gyangtse
Take car to Gyangtse and transfer to the Hotel . On the way visit the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake and the Karola snow mountain. Dinner is served at your hotel.

Tashilhunpo Monastery in ShigatseDay 05: Gyangtse - Shigatse
Visit the Palkhor Monastery. Take car to Shigatse and transfer to the Hotel .

Day 06: Shigatse - Dingri
Visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the New Palace of Panchen. Take car to Dingri and transfer to the Hotel . On the way visit the Sakya Monastery.

Day 07: Dingri - Zhangmu
Take car to Zhangmu Town and transfer to the Hotel .

Day 08: Departure from Zhangmu
See off at the Friendship bridge of the border to Nepal.

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Mount Jolmo Lungma (or Mount Everest as it is more commonly known), stands 8848 meters above sea level and means goddess in Tibetan. This is the highest mountain in the world, and is situated in the middle of the Himalayas on the border between China and Nepal. Snow covers the mountain all year round. The area around here is known as the 3rd pole of the world, and is surrounded by large glaciers and icebergs. Below the snow line is the forest of ice pagodas, scattered with deep ice caves and winding ice rivers. The highest temple in the world can also be found here —-Ronbu temple. Camps and sight seeing pavilions are dotted about at Everest base camp, 5000 meters away from the foot of the mountain.

Tashilhunpo Monastery, the home of the Panchen Lama, is located on the hillside overlooking Shigatse northwest of the town. It was established in 1447 by Genden Trup, a disciple of the founder of the Gelugpa Order. Genden Trup was later named the first Dalai Lama. Later, the fifth Dalai Lama named the Abbot of Tashilhunpo as the first Panchen Lama, second only to the Dalai Lama. Ever since then, the title of Panchen Lama has been one and the same with the Abbot of this monastery.

This temple for the most part escaped the ravages of the Cultural Revolution and its chapels contain countless statues and mural decorated halls. Find the Chapel of Maitreya as you enter the Monastery. Inside there is a 26 meter high statue of the Maitreya Buddha which is the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world. Also, the tombs (burial stupas or chorten) of most of the Panchen Lamas are housed in the Monastery. Worthy of note is the Tomb of the tenth Panchen Lama who passed away in 1989.

The most magnificent part of the Monastery is the Kelsang Temple in the northeast area of the compound. There, you’ll find enough chapels, statues and murals to keep you enthralled for several trips. Wander around and take it all in slowly. There is just too much in this one building, from Chapels dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha to the Tara protection goddesses.

How to get there: This is the main attraction in the town of Shigatse. You can’t miss it.
Opening hours: Theoretically from 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm, but the monks may occasionally close down early or change the hours. If they try to shoo you off, don’t get angry, but try to smile and show them your ticket. Your getting angry just makes them more determined to close the monastery.
Cost: RMB40 entry fee. Photography fees of around RMB80, but negotiable.

While Rongphu Monastery cannot claim to be the oldest monastery in the world, it is certainly the highest, standing at a towering 4980 meters with one of the best views in the world. It can only be a matter of time until one of the major hotel chains tries to buy this place and turn it into one of the craziest but most breath taking places in the world to spend the night!

The monastery here was first built in 1902 by the Nyingma Lama and originally housed more than 500 monks. Today, only about 50 monks and nuns remain, sharing the same prayer hall but with separate residences. The monastery was renovated in 1983 and there are some wonderful murals in the interior worth looking at. You can also stay the night here, although the standards are pretty basic! There is a shop and a small restaurant here too and you are permitted to put up a tent outside too.

The most spectacular thing remains however, the views of Mount Everest. Experts argue that this is THE best spot in the world to see the famous mountain. The Everest Base Camp is a wonderful two hour walk from here through valleys, along cliffs and past boulders. Alternately, the trip to the base can be done in 15 minutes by car. Try and get here early in the day (or spend the night) as the view of Everest is at its best first thing in the morning.

The Gyantse Kumbum is one of Tibet’s most famous and impressive sights- a gorgeous and ornate building, the art work here is studied by Tibetan art scholars across the world.

The Temple was built in 1440 by Rabten Kunsangm, a Gyantse Prince and named “Kumbum” or the “Hall of 100 thousand images”. This is a spectacularly well preserved chorten, crowned with a golden dome and still containing literally thousands of wonderful murals. The interior too is largely intact and spread out over six levels. It could take up to half a day to explore properly here and there are more than 70 chapels on the first four levels alone. Scholars arrive with bags of reference books and flashlights to see some of the oldest preserved murals in Tibet. Rare in most Tibetan Monastaries, the monks in the Kumbum will allow unlimited picture taking of the marvelous Buddha statues for RMB10. If you don’t pay, they will kindly request that you leave your camera with them while visiting.The real highlight are the views from the sixth level where you emerge next to the chorten’s eyes. The surrounding countryside and the city below look very impressive from up here.

Cost: RMB15 to enter and RMB10 for photos.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9am to 12pm and 3pm-5pm.

Although Shalu Monastery is one of the most difficult sights in this region to visit, it is worth the effort if you have a few days to spend in the area. Shalu is situated about 19km southeast from Shigatse off the main Shigatse-Gyantse road.

A monastery here was first built in the 11th Century although Shalu rose to prominence in the 14th Century when the resident abbot here was the world’s foremost interpreter of Sanskrit Buddhist texts. The building here is a mixture of Tibetan and Han style architecture. The Tibetan style part of the building dates back to the 10th Century although very little of this has actually survived today. The Chinese influence is evident in the inner section of the monastery, the Serkhang, which was built in the 15th Century and has undergone major renovations in recent years. 14th Century Chinese and Nepalese murals adorn the walls.

How to get there: Take a Gyantse bound minibus from Shigatse and get off at Tsundu. The turning for Shalu is about 100m past a hill dotted with prayer flags. From here it is a one hour walk to Shalu village and monastery.Alternately, hire a jeep and driver and visit the monastery this way.