6 Days Tibet Exploration Tour

Day 1

Lhasa Arrival

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

After your arrival in Lhasa you will be met by your local guide and then be transferred to the hotel. Take the rest of the day for free, to adapt yourself to the high altitude or have a first look around the town.

Day 2

Lhasa (B, L)

Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

We will go on a full day visit of Potala Palace. It is the greatest monumental structure all over Tibet. This ancient architectural complex is considered as a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, it is 3,700 meters above sea level and covers an area of over 360,000 square meters. The palace has 13 stories, and is 117 meters high. In 641, Songtsan Gambo, ruler of the Tubo Kingdom, built the Potala Palace for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, whom he was soon to marry.

Then we'll visit the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The sacred image of Jowo Sakyamuni is the most venerated and beautiful image all over Tibet

After lunch in a local restaurant, we will visit Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa as well as the center of old Lhasa which remains very traditional. Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple. Tibetan people are very proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, this street is also a must-see place.

Day 3

Lhasa (B, L)

Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery

In the morning we will visit the Sera Monastery, around 5 km north of central Lhasa, which was, along with Drepung, one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries. Its once huge monastic population of about 5000 monks has now been reduced to several hundred.

Then we will visit Norbulingka Park; Norbulingka meaning "Jeweled Garden", the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The gardens are poorly tended and the palaces themselves are something of an anticlimax, especially as most rooms are currently closed to the public.

Our next stop will be Drepung Monastery. It is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered as one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery

At last we will arrive at a local Tibetan Family. Common Tibetan people will welcome you to their homes; greet you in their traditional way and you will taste their typical food. You can feel Tibetan culture and religion vividly.

Day 4

Lhasa / Tsetang (Zedang) (B, L)

Sightseeing: Yumbulagang Palace, Trandruk Monastery

Drive to Tsetang (Zedang), visit Yumbulagang Palace, an ancient palace in the Yarlung Valley with a history of over 2,000 years. According to legend, it was the first building and the first royal palace in Tibet (the palace of the first Tibetan king). Now the Yumbulagang Palace is mainly dedicated to the worship of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Then we will visit Trandruk Monastery. In Tibetan, Trandruk refers to a roc and a dragon. Trandruk Monastery is famous throughout Tibet since it was the first Buddhist chapel ever built in Tibet. Trandruk is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. The main building in Trandruk is the Tshomchen, in which Padmasambhava is enshrined. The Tshomchen was built in the style of Tang Dynasty structures and adopted the characteristics of Nepalese and Indian architecture.

Accommodation: Tsetang Hotel

Day 5

Tsetang (Zedang) / Lhasa (B, L)

Sightseeing:Samye Monastery

In the morning, visit the Samye Monastery, then drive back to Lhasa. This is the first monastery in entire Tibet to be built comprising with the three Buddhist idols, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This monastery is hugely popular with all Buddhist pilgrims from around the world. And the beauty of its construction beckons tourist who comes to Tibet.

Day 6

Lhasa Departure (B)

Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement

Enjoy some leisure time until our local guide will transfer you to the airport where you will take the flight to your next destination.