Lhasa Tour

Touch the sky in Lhasa the city that Tibetans hold dear as the economic and spiritual center of their homeland. Lhasa is home to a number of important monasteries and views of snowcapped mountains and breathtaking valleys. Visitors can peacefully enjoy the spiritual qualities of this majestic city while locals go about their business under the clouds.

At night, to accommodate adventurers from around the world, Lhasa is home to a number of bars and restaurants which have added a new international energy to this ancient city.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Lhasa is at an altitude of 3,800m, so we suggest visitors spend the first day relaxing and acclimating to prevent minor acute mountain sickness (AMS). Enjoy the local sites near your hotel and take in the exterior of Potala Palace. Drink some butter tea and listen to the Tibetan cultural experts who will tell you the history of Tibet.

Day 2

In the morning, you will visit the Potala Palace after breakfast. The Palace used to be the seat of government of the old Buddhist theocratic government and is now the largest museum in Tibet. It was originally built around 640 AD and comprised of the Red and White Palace. Here a large number of precious cultural relics and wall paintings are preserved. After lunch, go to the Jokhang Temple, which exhibits the most magnificentarchitecture during the Tubo Period, or the period when ancient Tibetan kings ruled. The temple is seen by Buddhists as the most sacred place and it is where the Jowo Shakyamuni Buddha statue is housed. The statue is of the same size of the Buddha at age twelve and was brought by Princess Wencheng from Changan, capital of ancient Tang Dynasty. Then stroll around Barkhor Street, the most ancient street in Lhasa, where Indian and Nepali craftwork, as well as local specialties, are for sale.

Day 3

Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake- Shigatse : You will drive to the Shannan Prefecture, the source of Tibetan civilization. In the distance is Yamdrok Lake, which is a salt water lake and one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet. After lunch you will pay a visit to Gyantse town, long recognized as the Hero City. The Tibetan army had a fierce battle with the British army in 1904 and you can still see the remains of the battle scattered throughout the town. In the evening you will arrive in Shigatse, one of the most important cities in Tsang, or Back Tibet.

Day 4

Shigatse, Museum of Tibetan characters, Lhasa : After breakfast, you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, home of all Panchen Lamas. It is one of the six monasteries of Gelug sect, and used to be the seat of government during Tsang rule. On your way back to Lhasa in the afternoon, you will visit the Museum of Tibetan characters where you will see the production of Tibetan incense and paper. Adjacent to the museum is the 1,300 year old home of Thonmi Sambhota who created the Tibetan written language.

Day 5

Departure