Day 1 Arrival in Lhasa

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, either by train or plane, our Lhasa guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day will be in your hands. Please take the time to acclimatize the high altitude. 

Day 2 Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

After breakfast, you will admire the holy Potala Palace, the very landmark of Tibet. As the political center of Tibet, Potala Palace was built by the 33rd Tibetan captain Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and has been the winter palace for Dalai Lamas in later generations. Inside the palace are numerous collections of Tibetan treasures. By admiring all these arts and the fine buildings in Tibetan style, you will have a complete sense of the enigmatic Tibetan culture.

At noon, your guide will introduce and take you to taste some authentic local food for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will head for the Jokhang Temple. As one of the most sacred places in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple is always packed with earnest Buddhist disciples. You will be deeply moved by those devout locals.




Afterwards, you will spend some time around Barkhor Street. It’s an ancient street surrounding the Jokhang Temple. There are many Tibetan-style buildings on both sides of the street where you can find local food, crafts, and specialties. 






    

Day 3 Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

After breakfast, your adventure today begins with the Drepung Monastery - the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect. “Drepung” in the Tibetan language means “piles of rice," which symbolizes prosperity. The fact is that the monastery has housed over 10,000 monks by now. It will be a journey of the spirit.

Your lunch will be arranged at a nice restaurant frequented by locals.




In the afternoon, we will leave for the Sera Monastery, another great local monastery where the Debates over Buddhist Scriptures are very famous. Our guide will make sure you have a chance to observe the vigorous debating.






    

Day 4 Drive to Namtso Lake, Overnight in a Namtso Guesthouse

After breakfast, you will leave for the Namtso Lake from Lhasa, the journey takes about 6 hours. It’s the second largest salt lake in China and the only one with the high altitude. On your way to the lake, you will view the miracle work - the grand Sky-Road Railway.

By the early afternoon, you will arrive at Namtso Lake. Your guide will give you some time to adjust before leading for the adventure. “Namtso” means “Heavenly Lake” in Tibetan. The lake did live up to its name. The whole lake is like a giant glass being surrounded by the Nyenchen Tanglha perennially covered with snow in the south, a vast expanse of plateau and lakeshore in the north and west. If you visit in Summer, you will be deeply impressed by the pure azure. If you visit in winter, you will see a frozen fairyland.

This night will be spent in a local Namtso Guesthouse; please prepare some warm clothes. The night can be chilly.




    

Day 5 Namtso - Lhasa

After breakfast, you will enjoy the breathtaking sunrise of the Namtso Lake and trek around Tashi Island. Afterwards, we will drive back to Lhasa. We recommend a stop in the Yampachen Hot Springs where you can wash off all your fatigue. It’s only optional.






    

Day 6 Lhasa Departure

Your guide and driver will be ready to take you to the airport or the railway station today. Your Lhasa adventure ends here.