Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m/11,972ft)
We arrive Lhasa either from Kathmandu or through Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian or any nearby hub by direct flights or travel on the world’s highest train route. On arrival in Lhasa, a Tibetan representative will pick us up from the airport or the train station after completing necessary immigration formalities, and transfer us to our pre-assigned hotel. We are advised to take rest
We are encouraged to take plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and allow our body to acclimatize to Lhasa’s altitude. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 02 : Lhasa sightseeing: Potala Palace, Norbulingka Palace, and Tibet Traditional Hospital: 5 - 6 hours
Our Lhasa sightseeing begins after our breakfast in our hotel. The tour will take us to visit and explore the grandeur of Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala Palace, the winter residential palace of the Dalai Lama will leave us stunned with the magnificence of architecture and aura it spreads around. Norbulingka, the Treasure Park, also known as the summer residential palace of the Dalai Lama, is the most prominent human-made park in Tibet. After spending some fantastic moments in these palaces, we will visit the Tibetan Traditional Hospital and learn about the traditional Tibetan medical science. We will have some idea of how the traditional Tibetan medical system works. After the sightseeing, we go back to the hotel and relax. Overnight in Lhasa
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 03 : Ganden Monastery and Drayerpa Cave: 5 - 6 hours
After breakfast, we drive to Ganden Monastery, known as one of the three most significant monasteries in Lhasa. It takes about one and a half hour to reach the monastery from the downtown area by driving, and it is about 57 km east of Lhasa. The monastery lies at the top of the Wangbur mountain, at 3800 meters. With an orderly architectural layout of standing Buddhist halls, towering roofs, and splendid stupas, Ganden monastery is arranged well with vivid colors of black windows, white walls and golden roofs, like a castle beneath the heavens. Along the winding twisty road up, we can appreciate the authentic holy land under the blue sky. In the afternoon, we drive to Drayerpa Cave (4885m) which is about 19km from Ganden monastery, located in a beautiful valley with a stunning landscape. It is a hermitage built on a hillside of the mountain which is composed of around 30 caves. The Lamas meditate in a silent environment in these caves. We drive back to Lhasa after visiting these caves. Overnight in Lhasa.
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 04 : Lhasa Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar: 5 - 6 hours
Today, we will be briefed on the day’s program after our breakfast, and an experienced guide will lead us to Sera Monastery (4000m), a preserved monastery of white-washed walls and golden roofs, where we get an insight into the essential aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. Later, we will visit the beautifully landscaped Drepung Monastery (3900m), which is believed to have sheltered around 10000 monks in the past. Here, we can observe nuns and monks chanting and performing religious discourses. Then we visit the Jokhang temple, another important site with more deep-seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. This temple houses a sacred image of Buddha, a golden statue of the Shakyamuni, which is regarded as the holiest object in Tibet. After visiting these monasteries, we will go to explore and experience local life at the bustling Barkhor Bazaar, which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa, and surrounds the Jokhang temple. Overnight in Lhasa
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 05 : Final departure
Our amazing trip on the ‘roof of the world’ comes to an end today. Depending on our scheduled flight time, our Tibetan representative will drop us off at the airport for our onward journey. If we have a late flight, we may stroll around the Lhasa streets, go shopping for souvenirs or just relax in our hotel room.
Included meals: Breakfast
Want to customise this trip? You can contact us