Meals: Breakfast/ Farmhouse Lunch Hotel: Shiga-Yangcha Hotel Shigatse or similar
Today's journey begins a classic tour blending Tibet's culture and nature. We leave Lhasa and travel west along National Highway 349, passing by Yamdrok Lake, and meeting the 5,020-meter-high Karola Glacier. Finally, we arrive at the center of Tibet—Shigatse. We will experience a geographical and cultural transition from holy lakes to glaciers, from river valleys to ancient cities.
We depart Lhasa in the early morning and drive south along winding mountain roads, cross the Kamba La Pass, and then meet the Yamdrotso Lake. It’s like a sapphire-blue and dazzling gem. The crystal-clear water incredibly translucent. You may sit quietly by the shore, while contemplating the legend that describes it as "the goddess's scattered turquoise earrings" in Tibetan folklore.
At noon, we'll enjoy a special lunch at a Tibetan farmhouse. After the meal, we will continue our journey and soon see the Karola Glacier leaning against Mount Nojin Kangsang. The glacier's tongue extends to about 300 meters from the highway, and we can hike closer to feel the chill and the beauty of ice formed over millennia.
Then we head to the "Hero City" of Gyantse to explore Kumbum Monastery. It’s a rare Tibetan Buddhist monastery that Sakya, Gelug, and Kagyu traditions coexist. You may climb the tower to overlook the Gyantse plain where history, faith and art live in harmony together.
After appreciating the serene beauty there, you’ll head to Shigatse and stay overnight there.