Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Lhasa
You'll land in Lhasa and meet your Tibetan guide who presents you with a traditional white Hada scarf as a welcome. After settling into your hotel, your guide goes over the itinerary and fills you in on what to expect. The main task today is resting and letting your body adjust to the high altitude of the Tibetan plateau, so take it easy this afternoon and evening.
- Start point
- Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) ལྷ་ས་གོང་དཀར་རྫོང་, Shannan Shi, Tibet Autonomous Region 850700, China (ARRIVAL)
- Day 2
Lhasa
Start the morning at Potala Palace, where you'll explore its history, treasures, and the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas. From there, head down to Longwangtan Park at the palace's base for different views and traditional Tibetan activities. Later in the afternoon, walk through Jokhang Temple to see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni and watch pilgrims doing kora around Barkhor Street with its old market. Finish the day at a traditional Tibetan tea house where you'll learn about local culture and traditions.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome authentic Tibetan dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Potala Palace
- Explore Longwangtan Park
- Visit Jokhang Temple
- Explore Barkhor Street and old market
- Visit traditional Tibetan tea house
Landmarks Potala Palace Longwangtan Park Jokhang Temple Barkhor Street - Day 3
Lhasa
Travel out to Drepung Monastery, Tibet's largest monastery that once housed over 10,000 monks, and walk through Coqen Hall with your guide. You'll learn about Tibetan Buddhist history and check out Loseling College to see where monks live and how they study daily. After lunch, head to Sera Monastery to watch the Tibetan Monks Debate from 15:00 to 17:00 (Monday through Saturday) and see how monks use debates for their academic progress.
Included Activities
- Visit Drepung Monastery
- Explore Coqen Hall
- Visit Loseling College and monk dormitories
- Watch Tibetan Monks Debate at Sera Monastery
Landmarks Drepung Monastery Coqen Hall Loseling College Sera Monastery - Day 4
Lhasa to Namtso Lake to Damxung
Head north from Lhasa through the open prairie around Damxung, where nomadic herds of yaks and sheep roam and the Qinghai-Tibet railway cuts through the landscape with snow-capped mountains nearby. Cross the Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and reach Lagenla Pass at 5190m/17,027 feet for views of Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holy lakes. Spend time exploring Tashi Dor Island and its stone pillars, peaks, meditation caves, and Buddhist sites. The drive back takes you through the mountain pass again, and you'll stay overnight in Damxung.
Included Activities
- Travel through Damxung prairie
- Cross Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges
- Stop at Lagenla Pass
- Visit Namtso Lake
- Explore Tashi Dor Island
- Leisurely walk around lakeshore
Landmarks Namtso Lake Tashi Dor Island Lagenla Pass Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges - Day 5
Damxung to Lhasa
Drive back toward Lhasa, passing through Yangpachen which sits in a region known for its hot springs and views across the Tibetan plateau. The scenic route gives you time to take in the natural landscape and appreciate the terrain you've traveled through during the tour.
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Yangpachen
Landmarks Yangpachen Hot Springs - Day 6
Departure from Lhasa
Your Tibet tour wraps up today. Double-check your departure flight or train details with your guide, who'll help you get to the airport or train station for your journey onward.
- End point
- Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) ལྷ་ས་གོང་དཀར་རྫོང་, Shannan Shi, Tibet Autonomous Region 850700, China (DEPARTURE)
