Trip Overview

This mind-blowing 4 days private Lhasa City tour is the perfect way for a taste of Lhasa’s best in a short amount of time. During this tour, there are many “Wow” moments that set your heart racing and make your eyes widen, like the first time you go down into the bowels of the Potala, or walk amongst a sea of pilgrims around Barkhor Street, peer into the hidden life of chanting Tibetan Monks at Jokhang Temple, or take in a prayer meeting or some monk-debating at Sera and Drepung Monastery. It’s a journey where you scratch beneath the surface to get the real story, get to know the locals and experience more for less.

At a Glance

Detailed Itinerary

 Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa; get the first impression of Tibetan daily life

Welcome to the roof of the world! Your Tibet journey starts with a warm Tibetan style greeting from your local tour guide who will present you with Hada (traditional Tibetan scarves). Then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa city at the comfort of your own private vehicle. For most of the way, you follow the Kyichu River, you could see Tibetan homes with their trapezoid shaped windows and fluttering prayer flags, and Tibetans walking beside the roads wearing their distinctive national costumes. Do have a comfort stop near Nietang Buddha where a giant statue of Buddha has been carved out of a stone cliff-face centuries ago. One of the first buildings you could see as you enter the city is the Potala Palace, sitting majestically on a hill dominating Lhasa. Stay at the hotel after arrival for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 2: Lhasa Highlights Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street

After breakfast, we go to the Potala Palace, is the center of the holy city Lhasa, which was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. You will spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and the many Buddhist icons within.

In the afternoon we go inside of the Jokhang Temple. The Jokhang, like most of the larger temple structures have numerous individual temples within it dedicated to specific enlightened beings, protectors, high lamas, or saints. Images, both sculpted and painted, are everywhere. Every inch of wall and ceiling is brightly painted with images of clouds, beings, mandalas, or decorative patterns. Colorful silk banners, three stories high, hang in various places. Color, pattern, and images crowd in around you. The central image inside the building is a 30-foot high gilded image of Maitreya Buddha.

Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor area of Old Lhasa. The streets smelled of yak butter and incense while hordes of pilgrims shuffled along the main Kora (circumambulations) around Jokhang Temple. If someone just walked at a normal pace, one kora would take about 15-20 minutes. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

 Day 3: Visit Drepung and Sera Monastery

In the morning have a tour for Drepung Monastery, the ever largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, Buddhist debates often occur there. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given its name which, in the Tibetan language, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks there. The afternoon is spent touring Sera Monastery, have a little hike for the beautiful valley scenery nearby and picnic there, in the afternoon, visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. Catch the famous debate session of the monks before returning back to Lhasa. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 4: Finish This Unforgettable Tour and Depart from Lhasa

Our guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.