Highlights
Visit sacred temples and monasteries
Learn more about fascinating Tibetan arts and culture
Explore the iconic Potala Palace, the centerpiece of Tibet's capital city
Take a guided tour of Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery
Itinerary
This 4-Day Lhasa City Essential Tour is the perfect introduction to the capital of Tibet. Ideal for travelers with limited time who still want a high-quality experience, the tour covers all the major highlights of Lhasa, including the famed Potala Palace, the mystical Jokhang Temple, the sprawling Drepung Monastery, and the Dalai Lama's royal garden, Norbulingka.
Led by a local English-speaking guide, you will not only visit the popular sites around Lhasa but also gain an in-depth understanding of the history and significance of each location. This short tour is also a great way to become acquainted with Tibetan arts, culture, and the local way of life.
day 1 - Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)
When you arrive in Lhasa, our staff will pick you up at Lhasa Airport/ Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel. Once you have checked into your hotel and settled down, you might want to visit the local market and wander around the city on your own. But try not to overtax yourself; take it easy, breathe, and relax to acclimatize your body to high altitude.
day 2 - Lhasa Sightseeing
After breakfast in the hotel, your tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. It's also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug sect, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.
day 3 - Lhasa Sightseeing
On your third day, you will be feeling much more acclimatized to Lhasa’s high elevation. It is an excellent idea to spend the day exploring the Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. It's best to explore the inside of the Potala in the morning for 2-3 hours. Afterward, you may walk the pilgrimage route around the Potala Palace.
In the afternoon, you will head to the Jokhang Temple, which is well known as the center of Tibetan Buddhism and features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers. Also, you can see many pilgrims praying in front of the temple and doing kora.
After visiting the Jokhang Temple, you will stroll in the old alleys of Barkhor Street, where you can drink sweet tea, chat with locals, and even bargain with the street vendors to understand the real life in Lhasa.
day 4 - Lhasa Departure
Your tour ends today. After breakfast, you will be free in the morning. Our staff will transfer you to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station.
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Customer Reviews
Read what other travelers have to say about 4 Days Lhasa City Essential Group Tour
Really Enjoyable
I really enjoyed my time in Tibet and I appreciate all of your hard work which made everything go smoothly. I was pleasantly surprised that only one other person was on my tour which made it so much easier to travel around the monasteries and the Potala Palace. I particularly enjoyed meeting our tour guide and I'm so glad that your company employs local Tibetans to share their knowledge. The hotel was in the perfect location and the breakfasts there every morning were so delicious. The airport transfers were so helpful, too and the driver did a great job keeping us safe. My only wish is that we could have squeezed in one small sightseeing trip the last morning before heading to the airport around noon, but I understand that would be complicated with larger groups where people fly out at different times of the day.Thanks again!
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By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
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