【CNY】Tibet：Lhasa·Everest Base Camp·Shigatse

Happy Spring Festival

Spring Festival: The holiday will have eight days off from January 28 to February 4

December 18-25

Dec 28-Jan 4 #Confirmed

January 8-15/18-25

Jan 28-Feb 4

Feb 7-14/17-24/21-28

Mar 25-Apr 1

Apr 1-8/4-11/10-17/15-22/20-27

Apr 27-May 4

Apr 30-May 7

About FCN's trip

😊 Seats will be confirmed at time of booking

👶 Children must be accompanied by an adult 

🌨 Pls note that the itinerary is flexible according to the weather or any unexpected conditions. 

🔆 Most travelers can participate

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♥About Tibet travel permits for foreigners

As we all know that ,There is a high chance that Tibet's travel permits get refused. But FCN has abundant experience and expertise, so we will try our best to provide good service for you. (In the past two phases of FCN Tibet trip, we have got permits for every foreign customer successfully.) 

In order to get the permits more effectively, you should submit pictures of your passport and visa, and information about How and when to enter/leave Tibet at least 20 days before the tour. These informations will be checked by Tibet's departments.

Here arerelevant materials needed for different kinds of visas

①Tourist visa，usually don't need other relevent materials.

②Student visa, need to follow the template to submit the studying certificate，FCN will provide the template.

③Working visa，need to follow the template to submit the working certificate，FCN will provide the template.

④Private affairs visa,need to follow the template to submit the Certificates of kinship，FCN will provide the template.

⑤Business visa，need to follow the template to submit the working certificate ，FCN will provide the template.

⏰Where do we meet?

【Day 1】

Meet at Lhasa

👉 All necessary Tibet travel permits, including Tibet Entry Permit-100RMB

👉 Border Pass of Mount Everest

👉 7 nights hotel ：

4 nights in Lhasa 3 star hotel (standard room)

2 nights in Shigatse 3 star hotel (standard room)

1 night hotel near Tibetan Tents Camp(multi-person room)

【If you want to live in a room alone, the spread is 1200RMB（pls notice: Tibetan Tents Camp C cannot arrange single room）】

👉 Professional English-speaking Tibetan guide

👉 Portable oxygen bottles (1 bottle/person)

👉 Entrance Fees: To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.

①Potala Palace-200RMB

②Jokhang Temple-85RMB

③YamdrokTso-60RMB

⑤Tashilhunpo Monastery-100RMB

⑥Mt. Everest Base Camp-180RMB+Scenic sightseeing car-120RMB

⑦Rongbuk Monastery-30RMB

⑧Sera Monastery-50RMB

👉 Meals:

Day1:Dinner(Without Tibetan song and dance performance)

Day2-8:Hotel Breakfast

👉 Transfers between hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing, by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver(Including pick up and drop off)

👉 Insurance

👉 FCN exclusive guidance&security services, A local English-speaking guide.

👉 Commission charge for buying tickets in peak period

👉 Transportation fee: Beijing-Lhasa

👉 Personal expenses: such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary.

Add me   “Kate” 

ID:katyabocharova

Photos of our past events

At 12,139 feet above sea level, Potala is the highest palace in the world. The 1,300-year-old structure was originally built as a gesture of love, commissioned by Tibetan king Songtsen Gambo for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. Eventually monks came to rule Tibet and the palace was expanded and converted into the winter residence for the Dalai Lama. But when the Dalai Lama was exiled to India in 1959, the Chinese government took over and made the grounds into a museum.

Still, the Potala Palace remains an iconic part of the region and a mecca for Buddhists around the world. The name Potala is a nod to a sacred mountain in India, where the Buddha of compassion is said to dwell. Year-round, thousands of religious pilgrims circle the perimeter of the palace with prayer wheels and beads to ask for blessing. Many have traveled thousands of miles by foot just to pay their respects.

With more than a thousand rooms, 10,000 painted scrolls, 698 murals, and thousands of exquisite statues made from precious alloys and jewels, the structure has become one of the most famous spiritual sanctums in the world. Inside are the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas, hundreds of sacred Buddhist scrolls, and numerous shrines. Butter lamps light the hallways and watchful monks are stationed in nearly every public room to ensure that decorum is maintained.

The building is divided into two sections—the Red Palace and the White Palace. The former serves as the religious section and the latter as the administrative area. They are literally colored red and white; a fresh coat of paint made up of milk, honey, and sugar is applied every autumn.

The Potala Palace was named a World Heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO, and the neighboring Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka and were added on as extensions in 2000 and 2001, respectively. The Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred temple in Tibet and the Norbulingka was the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama. All three structures are outstanding embodiments of Tibetan culture and despite waves of natural and human-induced damage, they are international icons that have remained spiritually relevant and intact over the centuries.

HOW TO VISIT

All visitors must visit the Potala Palace with a tour group. Groups are allocated an hour inside the premises and photos are not allowed. While the palace and its adjacent temples are very much tourist attractions, many of the guests are Tibetan pilgrims who have come to the sacred sites to pray.

Everyone who goes there takes a photo with the stone tablet that is engraved with “MT. QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP” to prove that they have been there.

When you reach Mt. Everest Base Camp, you'll see Mt. Everest right there in front of you. With a feeling of excitement and accomplishment, you'll find it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience; 

The Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), was characterized by economic prosperity and great progress in politics. During this time, China was considered the cultural and political center of the world. King Songtsem Gampo (617 – 650, the 33rd king of Tibet) was the leader of the Tubo (or Tibetan) Kingdom. He actively promoted Buddhism in that region and under his reign, Tibet achieved great progress in social innovation and realized the integration for the first time. In order to promote friendly relationships with the neighboring countries, he successively married Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang Dynasty. When the two wives arrived there, each brought a statue of Jowo Sakyamuni. During this time, most people lived in tents and there were few palaces. To house the Buddha brought by Princess Wen Cheng, King Songtsem Gampo constructed the Little Jokhang. Jealous of her, Princess Burikuti asked Gampo to build a Jokhang for her as well. Therefore, in 647 the giant complex was built.

Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

It's said that in 647, the first Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo (617 - 650) built the Jokhang Temple. Due to its magnificence, it quickly attracted thousands of Buddhist pilgrims. As a result, a trodden path appeared. That is the origin of Barkhor Street. Today even still many pilgrims hold the prayer wheels to walk clockwise there from dawn to dark. Also you can see some pilgrims walking or progressing body-lengths by body-lengths along Barkhor Street. Even some of them are teenagers or have experienced thousands of miles' walk to reach this sacred place. The way they express their piety could make you understand the holiness of religion.

The holy Yamdrok Yumtso Lake lies to the south of Yarlong Tsangpo River in the Shannan Region of Tibet. It is one of three holy lakes in Tibet. As the largest freshwater lake at the south foot of the Himalayas with an area of about 638 square kilometers (about 246 square miles), it is in a length of 130 kilometers (about 81 miles) and a width of 70 kilometers (about 43 miles). Its surface is about 4,441 meters (about 14,570 feet) above the sea level. It is quite deep as the average depth is about 20-40 meters (about 11-22 fathoms) and the deepest point is almost 60 meters (about 33 fathoms) below the surface.

The Yamdrok Yumtso Lake has some beautiful and vivid names like Coral Lake or Green Jade Lake. The former name is derived from its irregular shape, as the lake has many short streams winding into the nearby mountains and it appears much like the coral. The latter name implies its beautiful appearance for pure clean water there is as smooth as the surface of fine jade. Lying under the sunshine, the peaceful water seems like a bright mirror. The reflection of sunshine in different depths lends the lake gorgeous and mysterious colors. Overlooked from the nearby high mountain, one could see the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, like a holy sapphire, set in the group of mountains. In the lake, are dotted several small islands. On the islands, fertile grasses and groups of wild birds betray peaceful but vigorous natural scenery. Embraced by the uninterrupted snow-capped mountains and lying under the clear blue sky, the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake appears very holy and evokes solemnity.

Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is also said to be the female Guardian of Buddhism in Tibet. People here believe that it will bless and protect them. Every year, many devotional followers in Tibet or from other places would come here for pilgrimage. Some of them start on foot and give one prostration every three steps even from hundreds of kilometers away. All of these visitors bring much mystery and dignity to the charming holy Yamdrok Yumtso Lake.

Built between 1418 and 1425, the Palkhor Monastery is an interesting religious center where multiple sects of Tibetan Buddhism coexist. The complex of structures includes the Tsuklakhang Monastery, the main temple, and its Kumbum Stupa, believed to be the largest of its kind in Tibet. The monastery is unique and has a relaxed atmosphere.

History

A Nyingmapa Lama founded Rongbuk Monastery in 1899. The monastery is built in the area that was originally used by communities of monks and hermits for meditation about 400 years ago. This is evident in the several hermitage meditation caves that dot the cliff walls all around monastery complex and the paths leading to the valley.

In the past, the monastery served as a regular meeting place for Buddhist teachings and was particularly active at certain times of the year. Even today, it remains a site for special Buddhist ceremonies where devoted pilgrims from as faraway as Nepal and Mongolia come to pay votive offerings and watch lamas play operas.

Impression on Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery is the largest monastery in Shigatse, the center of religion, politics and culture in Tsang region and the seat of Panchen Lama. Tashilhunpo Monastery and three major monasteries (Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery) in Lhasa are referred as Four Greatest Monasteries of Tibetan Gelugpa Sects. Combined with Kumbum Monastery in Qinghai and Labrang Monastery in Gansu, they become the Six Greatest Monasteries.

Occupying an area of 150,000 square meters, Tashilhunpo Monastery is surrounded by 3000-meter-long wall. The whole monastery was constructed against the background of mountain, facing to the sun. There are 58 sutra chapels and about 3600 rooms. In Tashilhunpo Monastery, you can see many erected buildings with golden glazed tiles, interlaced red walls and white walls and Thangka Exhibit Platform. You can also meet these pilgrims from afar.

History of Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery was originally founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup who was one disciple of Tsongkhapa – the founder of Gelugpa Sect and recognized as first Dalai Lama after his Death. He employed skilled craftsmen from Tibet Nepal to make statues of Buddha financed by Tibetan Nobles. In 1459, Tashilhunpo Monastery began to take shape and enjoyed several Buddhist palaces, statues of Buddha and hundreds of Lamas. In 1601, the fourth Panchen Lama took charge and preached to raise funds to expand this monastery. Because of his elaboration, Tashilhunpo Monastery got the equal status of three major monasteries in Lhasa. From the fourth Panchen Lama, it became the seat of Panchen Lama. Nowadays, the 11th Panchen Lama lives and met the followers and visitors in Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Features of Tashilhunpo Monastery

In sacred Tashilhunpo Monastery, you’ll have a grand view of buildings with Tibetan style, statues of Buddha and precious art and culture relics, and you will also have a culture encounter to feel the melting devotion.

Located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa City, Sera Monastery  is one of three famous monasteries in the city along with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. It is dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsong Khapa. Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsong Khapa's disciples built it in 1419 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when it was built.

The monastery is magnificent and covers an area of 114,946 square meters (28 acres). Its main buildings are the Coqen Hall, Zhacang (college) and Kamcun (dormitory). Scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloth and unparalleled murals can be found in these halls. Colorful debates on Buddhist doctrines are held here and these employ a style distinctive from those at Lhasa's other famous monasteries.

Tibet Dining