Embrace Peace with a Spiritual Tibet Meditation Tour

Your guide will welcome you when you reach Lhasa, be it by plane or train. Along the way, you can view the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the longest and widest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River.

At Potala Square, you can capture mesmerizing photos of the area, with the fountains of several colors adding an extra charm to the spot. New visitors in Tibet are advised to take it easy and let their body adjust to the high altitude before exploring more of Lhasa City. A good rest in your hotel is surely recommended.
Accommodation: Ganggyen Hotel (4 Star)

This tour will first take you to the Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai lama since the 7th century. It houses invaluable collections such as gilded burial stupas and a meditation Cave.

Following lunch, visitors can explore Jokhang Temple which dates back to when it was constructed by the 33rd king of Tibet. Inside is a statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at twelve years old and outside pilgrims prostrate before it. Surrounding the temple one finds Barkhor street, where one can take part in kora with others, as well as an old market.
Accommodation: Ganggyen Hotel (4 Star)

In the morning, you'll be headed to Drepung Monastery, one of the "great three" Gelug monasteries located in Tibet, founded back in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Besides visiting the largest kitchen inside the monastery, you'll get to experience Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.

A hot attraction at Sera Monastery is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. It is another of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. You can also visit the Tibetan religious scripture printing house, which has three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Paintings of Buddha inside the monastery.
Accommodation: Ganggyen Hotel (4 Star)

We'll leave in the morning and drive to Drak Yangdzom, approximately a 3 hour journey. Once we arrive at the nunnery beneath the Drak Yangdzong caves, we can have lunch at the vegetarian restaurant there; it offers bread, rice, vegetables and noodles. Then it's time to ascend 2 hours up Drak Yangdzom Caves, a veritable maze of limestone tunnels and caverns associated with Padmasambhava and Kamdro Yeshi Tsogyel. Legend has it that Padmasambhava dispatched two of his newly anointed disciples – Nubchen Sanggye Yeshe and Nanam Dorje Dudjom – to meditate at these very caves. Furthermore, this is believed to be an important place for treasure revelation; both Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal concealed riches here.
Accommodation: Drak Yanddzom Guesthouse

Rise early to join the nunnery's puja or morning prayer session. Afterwards, grab some breakfast before we take a one-hour drive to Dzong Kumbum. Once there, the hike is going to be 1.5 hours to celestial caves of Guru Rinpoche and his blessed water. Afterwards, investigate Kamdro Yeshi Tsogyel Lake for a big tree, which is said to be related to Yeshi Tsogyel's birth story - reputedly a reflection of her future can be seen in the lake if concentrated on hard enough!

Lastly, we will motor off down to Samye Monastery - believed to be Tibet's first Buddhist monastery with an impressive 1200+ year history; where the grounds are arranged in a mandala-like pattern, that depict an ideal universe as described in Buddhist scriptures. To end this, Hepori awaits us in the afternoon with its astounding aerial view of Samye Monastery complexes.
Accommodation: Samye Monastery Hotel

Take a morning hike to Chimphu Hermitage, situated above Samye. This is a sacred space in which Guru Rinpoche taught the Twenty-Five Disciples and, it's said, many attained deep realizations here. Nowadays, over 100 yogis reside at this retreat, of all genders. During the journey there you have lots of opportunities to meet with them and present offerings. It's an approximate 2-hour trek each way; when you return to Samye, you can explore the monastery if time allows.
Accommodation: Samye Monastery Hotel

Take a drive in the morning to the hidden Yamalung Hermitage located 20km from Samye Monastery. Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche, was known to meditate at this sacred place and it is said that he received empowerment from Amitayus. It also occurred that the fifth Dalai Lama meditated here for 14 months. So many blessings and prayers can be encountered at Yamalung Hermitage making it an exceptional place for pilgrims. Afterwards, you can go to Tsethang - the third biggest city in Central Tibet.
Accommodation: Hotel in Tsedang

Drive to Shedrak cave, a much-revered pilgrimage site for Tibetans of the Nyingma Lineage. This was Guru Rinpoche's first meditation space in Tibet and the place where he subjugated demonic influences. Numerous accomplished spiritual teachers, including Orgyen Lingpa, achieved realization at this location.

After sightseeing the cave, we will embark on our journey back to Tsethang and visit Yumbu Lhagang Palace - renowned as the very first palace built in Tibet. Originally constructed by King Nyatri Tsempo; this imposing structure is located in Yurlung Valley, 12kms away from Tsedang city. This historic city is deemed the 3rd largest one in Tibet and is widely regarded as being the cradle of Tibetan civilization. An exhilarating horse ride or an invigorating hike up can take you to this palace perched atop a rugged hillside. Spend a night in Tsethang before heading off on your next journey.
Accommodation: Hotel in Tsedang

After breakfast, we will set off for Tsurphu via Mindroling Monastery. It was built in 1676 by Rigzin Terdak Lingpa and the name stands for “Place of Perfect Emancipation”. During the journey you will cross the Lhasa Kyichu River and witness some stunning villages of Duilong. Drive into the valley until you reach your destination – Tsurphu Monastery. This is the traditional residence of Karmapa and belongs to Karma Kagyu or Black Hat lineage. Erected in 1159, it stands in the middle of a valley with gorgeous mountain ranges located all around the complex featuring ancient rock paintings and meditation retreats. Take a 2-3 hour kora (circumambulation) trail giving you amazing panorama views over Tsurphu valley. Spend night at Tsurphu Monastery guesthouse.
Accommodation: Tsurphu Monastery Guesthouse

As we travel 200km north, we can spot Tibetan Nomads with their livestock. We will soon reach the highest point of our journey - Lagen-la Pass (5130m above sea level) - before descent to Namtso Lake (4700m). The Eastern corner of the lake is a bird sanctuary, home to Black-necked cranes and other wildlife. Tashi Dor-Gompa, a small monastery situated on the peninsula stretching into the southeastern part of the lake features several cave dwellings, one said to be Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyel's. We suggest climbing up on the rock hill behind the guesthouse so you can get a great view of both the lake and snow capped Nyenchen Tanglha (7160m). If you have spare time, it typically takes 2hours to do a pilgrimage circuit around this rocky mountain.
Accommodation: Guesthouse at the lake

Reting Monastery is the first Kadampa monastery, established by Atisha’s main student Dromtonpa in 1056. Later, Tsongkhapa reformed it into a Gelug monastery. Located 150km away from Lhasa and at an elevation of 4225m above sea level, Reting Monastery was historically one of the most important and wealthiest monasteries in Tibet.

Moreover, it was highly influential politically and spiritually. Sadly, Reting was almost destroyed in 1960, however it has since been reconstructed and now consists of several temples surrounded by rare juniper trees believed to have sprung from Dromtonpa’s hair. Afterwards, you will drive to Tedrum Nunnery situated on a small mountain village with hot springs at the bottom and lots of green hills to explore. It's especially popular during summer time but if you do some exploring you may find yourself helping out an elderly nun carrying firewood!
Accommodation: Hotel at Tedrum

It is recommended to begin your day of hiking in the early morning. The pilgrim’s route leads to the Padmasambhava caves nestled high in the mountains surrounding Tidro. The trek can take up to 11 hours, and you will pass through a 15 meter long tunnel, passed down by legend as crafted by Padmasambhava himself, when he threw his Vajra at the ridge above. The remains of this can still be seen in the carving within the tunnel's entrance. He then created a hot spring for future pilgrims. After making your way, you'll visit Eshe Tsogyal’s secret cave Kiri Yangzong (5070m).
Accommodation: Hotel at Tedrum

It is 30km north of Lhasa to drive to Drak Yerpa, one of the holiest cave retreats in central Tibet. Drak Yerpa is a hermitage carved out of a mountain. To find and explore these caves, you need to follow small trails. Drive through a small village and explore the many caves at this location. You might see some pilgrims meditating in the caves! After that, return to Lhasa.
Accommodation: Ganggyen Hotel (4 Star)

Drive to Shugseb, a nunnery thirty miles from Lhasa on Mount Gangri Thokar. It was established by Lochen Chonyi Zangmo and is linked to the great master Longchenpa since this was the site of Orgyen Dzong in which he composed some of his most important works. After arriving, hikers can venture up Mt Gangri Thokar, also known as 'The White Skull Snow Mountain'. This peak has been held in high esteem for centuries and Shugsep Nunnery itself was founded on its lower slopes.
Accommodation: Ganggyen Hotel (4 Star)

You will be transferred to the airport or train station by the guide.