Smells Like Tibet...

The local tour agencies in Lhasa, Tibet seems to be more efficient that I thought... Replied me within 24 hours!

It's beginning to smell a lot like Tibet in December already...

Day 01-Day 03 09/12-11/12 Arrive in Lhasa
Accommodation: Train/Shangbala Palace Hotel or Similar if late booking
You are supposed to take the train T22/3 from Chengdu (18:18-18:28, 48hrs10min). Our Tibetan tour guide will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. Upon arrival, just take rest for high altitude acclimatization.

Day 04 12/12 Sightsee in Lhasa
Accommodation: Shangbala Palace Hotel or Similar [B]
We will start from the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism - Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is the famous bustling Barkhor Street where you can get a close touch with local Tibetans.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the Potala Palace, the symbol of Tibetan people's wisdom and power. Beside numerous art pieces it stores, you can also have a bird-eye view of the whole Lhasa City and the undulating mountain ranges in distance.

Day 05 13/12 Sightsee in Lhasa
Accommodation: Shangbala Palace Hotel or Similar [B]
Today we will visit the great Gelugpa monastery - Drepung Monastery about 8km west of central Lhasa. It was once the world's largest monastery housing more than 10,000 monks. If we are lucky, we can enter into a dark columned hall quiet easily to see and hear the lilting, booming, chanting of sutras.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery, about 5km north of central Lhasa. Here you can see the interesting "Buddhism Scriptures Debating" between Lamas.

And in the evening, pay a visit to a Tibetan family.

Day 06 14/12 Lhasa-Gandan Monastery-Lhasa
Accommodation: Shangbala Palace Hotel or Similar [B]
In the fresh morning air, we'll drive 70km to Gandan Monastery for its extremely delicate murals and sculptures. On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful countryside view of the high plateau.

Day 07 15/12 Lhasa - Gyantse
Accommodation: Gyantse Hotel or Similar [B]
Drive about 270km to Gyantse, a famous historic town in Tibet, crossing the Karola Pass (5010m) and the Khambala Pass (4800m) with a beautiful panoramic view of Yamdrok Yumtso Lake on the way. Upon arrival, visit Pelkhor Monastery for its superb Kumbu Stupa, a stunning architectural wonder in Tibet.

Day 08 16/12 Gyantse - Shigatse
Accommodation: Shigatse Holy Lake (Shenhu) Hotel or Similar [B]
It's about 90km from Gyantse to the second largest city of Tibet - Shigatse. Upon arrival, visit the foremost attraction there - Tashilumpo Monastery and then wander around the old town for its nicely decorated Tibetan houses, interesting market and bazaar...

Day 09 17/12 Shigatse - Lhasa
Accommodation: Shangbala Palace Hotel or Similar [B]
Get back to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpu River with in about 4hrs.

Day 10 18/12 Leave [B]
The guide will transfer you to Gonggar Airport and help you board the plane to Chengdu. Your wonderful trip ends.

Gotta book tickets to fly into and out of Chengdu, China, first... The rest, I'll have to trust that the local agency is trustworthy enough to connect me from Chengdu to Lhasa... Worse come to worse, I'll just stay at Chengdu and see pandas in the zoo...

Btw, I emailed PLong last night asking if he's got any lobang for Tibet... He told me that there's a few deaths on the Qinghai-Tibet high altitude train already... Gosh... I mustn't be another one...