5 Days Lhasa and Black-Necked Crane Watching Tour in Winter

Lhasa - Linzhou County - Lhasa

From USD p.p

Black-necked Cranes (Grus Nigricollis), the only alpine crane and the last species of crane discovered in 1876, are regarded as the “holy birds” by the Tibetans. Tibet has become the hometown of black-necked cranes as 80% of the cranes fly into it to spend the winter from November to February.

As the Black-Necked Crane Observation and Photographing Base, Linzhou County is the best place to watch the cranes, especially Karze Reservoir, Pengbo River, and Hutoushan Reservoir.

After visiting the attractions in Lhasa, we will drive to Linzhou County to observe these graceful cranes and feel the harmonious coexistence of crane and nature.

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa

When you arrive in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit to welcome you. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel.You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on their way to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 2: Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street (B&D)

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then tourists will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the holiest statue of Buddha. Around the monastery is the famous Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different part of Tibet.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Optional: After finishing the sightseeing, if time allows, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center. Besides, you can also choose to upgrade your tour to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD).

Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B)

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, was founded by Jamyang Choje in 1416. Situated at the foot of Gebeiwoze Mountain, it was once home to more than 10,000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkhapa's disciple Jamchen Choje. The most interesting thing is to see monks debating in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan religious text printing house.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 4: Linzhou County: Karze Reservoir and Hutoushan Reservoir

You will drive to Linzhou county in the early morning around 6:30 am so as to arrive at Karze Reservoir around 8:00 am before the cranes fly away to look for food. 70 km away from Lhasa, Linzhou county is the best place to watch the cranes, especially Karze Reservoir, Pengbo River, and Hutoushan Reservoir.

After morning photographing, you will visit Linzhou county and have lunch there.

After lunch, you will go to Hutoushan Reservoir which is around 10 km away from Karze Reservoir. Bathe in the warm sunshine, take a good rest, walk around the Pengbo river nearby, and wait for the return of black-necked cranes. Usually, cranes fly back to the reservoir around 5 pm.

You will drive to Lhasa around 7 pm and stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 5: Depart from Lhasa (B)

The driver will take you to airport or train station.

Service end.

Route Map

Service Inclusion

  1. Tibet Travel Permit and all other necessary permit to Tibet
  2. A hard sleeper train ticket from Xining to Lhasa
  3. All lodging listed in the itinerary that based on 4-star standard. If you travel individually, you will need to share one room with another tourist. If you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement
  4. Meals listed in itinerary
  5. Entrance fees of all tourist sites listed in the itinerary
  6. Local Tour Transfers according to group size
  7. Local Tibetan English-speaking guide
  8. One shared big Oxygen tank in the car

Service Exclusion

  1. Chinese visa
  2. International flight to and out of China
  3. Domestic train/flight out of Tibet.(We offer domestic train/flight ticket booking service, please contact our travel experts for the details.)
  4. Meals not specified the itinerary
  5. Tips and gratitude to tour guide and drive
  6. Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.

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5 Days Lhasa and Black-Necked Crane Watching Tour in Winter

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