6-Day Private Tibet Tour: Lhasa, Gyangtse, and Shigatse

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa – Altitude Acclimatization

Key Stop: Lhasa Gonggar Airport (Gonggar County)

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Experience: Your English-speaking guide will greet you outside the baggage claim area at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, situated at an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) above sea level. Enjoy a comfortable private transfer to your hotel in Lhasa. To avoid acute mountain sickness (AMS), we strongly recommend resting for the remainder of the day to acclimatize to the high altitude—take it easy, stay hydrated, and refrain from strenuous activities.
• Meals: Not included
• Accommodation: Tangka Hotel (4-star)

Day 2: Lhasa’s Iconic Monasteries & Royal Garden

1. Drepung Monastery (Zhebang Si)

• Duration: 3 hours | Admission Included
• Highlights: Explore one of Tibet’s largest and most influential Gelugpa monasteries, once home to thousands of monks. Wander through its grand courtyards, intricate temples, and sacred halls adorned with stunning murals, statues, and thangkas. Learn about its rich history as a center of Buddhist learning from your guide.

2. Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden)

• Duration: 60 minutes | Admission Included
• Highlights: Visit the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site blending Tibetan, Chinese, and Indian architectural styles. Stroll through lush gardens, serene ponds, and ornate palaces, including the Golden Linka and Takten Migyur Phodrang, while discovering the royal family’s lifestyle.

3. Sera Monastery

• Duration: 2 hours | Admission Included
• Highlights: Witness the famous “Monk Debate” (if scheduled—typically in the afternoon), where monks engage in lively philosophical discussions with rhythmic hand gestures and chants. Explore the monastery’s peaceful cloisters, ancient scriptures, and the stunning Main Assembly Hall (Trulng Go Khang).
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (authentic Tibetan or Chinese cuisine)
• Accommodation: Tangka Hotel (4-star)

Day 3: Lhasa’s Cultural Heart – Palaces, Temples & Old Town

1. Potala Palace

• Duration: 2 hours | Admission Included
• Highlights: Tour the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, a majestic fortress-like palace perched on Red Hill. Explore the White Palace (administrative quarters) and Red Palace (religious halls), housing priceless Buddhist relics, gold-plated stupas, and elaborate murals spanning centuries of Tibetan history.

2. Jokhang Temple

• Duration: 2 hours | Admission Included
• Highlights: Visit Tibet’s most sacred Buddhist temple, founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo. Marvel at its golden roof, ancient Buddha statues (including the revered Jowo Sakyamuni Buddha), and the devout pilgrims performing prostrations. Immerse yourself in the temple’s profound spiritual atmosphere.

3. Barkhor Street

• Duration: 2 hours
• Highlights: Wander along the ancient pilgrimage circuit surrounding Jokhang Temple. Browse colorful stalls selling Tibetan handicrafts, prayer flags, thangkas, jewelry, and local snacks. Observe pilgrims spinning prayer wheels and chanting mantras, while soaking up the vibrant blend of religious devotion and daily life.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Tangka Hotel (4-star)

Day 4: Lhasa → Gyangtse → Shigatse – Scenic Drive & Cultural Gems

1. Yamdrok Yumtso Lake

• Duration: 3 hours | Admission Included
• Highlights: Enjoy a scenic drive south of Lhasa to Yamdrok Yumtso, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes. Admire the lake’s crystal-clear turquoise waters reflecting the snow-capped Himalayan peaks (including Mount Nojin Kangtsang). Stop at viewpoints to capture breathtaking photos and learn about the lake’s religious significance.

2. Gyangtse Old Street

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Highlights: Explore the historic town of Gyangtse, a former important trading hub on the ancient Tea Horse Road. Wander through its traditional Tibetan streets, lined with whitewashed adobe houses, local markets, and small shops selling handicrafts and snacks.

3. Pelkor Chode Monastery

• Duration: 60 minutes | Admission Included
• Highlights: Visit this unique monastery housing three different Buddhist sects (Gelugpa, Sakya, and Kagyu). Admire the stunning Kumbum Stupa (108-Cell Stupa), a 12-story structure adorned with thousands of small Buddha statues and murals. Explore the monastery’s well-preserved temples and courtyards.

4. Pala Manor

• Duration: 60 minutes | Admission Included
• Highlights: Step back in time at Tibet’s best-preserved aristocratic manor, dating back to the 17th century. Tour the grand rooms filled with antique furniture, artworks, and personal belongings of the Pala noble family, gaining insights into Tibet’s feudal social system.

5. Shigatse

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Experience: Arrive in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city and a historic cultural center. Settle into your hotel and enjoy some free time to explore the city’s evening atmosphere.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Gasar Hotel (4-star) – VIP Building

Day 5: Shigatse → Lhasa – Spiritual Highlights & Return Journey

1. Tashilhunpo Monastery

• Duration: 2 hours | Admission Included
• Highlights: Visit the seat of the Panchen Lamas and one of Tibet’s most important monasteries. Explore its grand courtyards, the impressive Main Assembly Hall, and the Golden Stupa of the 10th Panchen Lama—covered in over 600 kg of gold and adorned with precious gems. Learn about the monastery’s role in Tibetan Buddhism and its architectural splendor.

2. Return to Lhasa

• Duration: 5 hours (including scenic stops)
• Experience: Enjoy a leisurely drive back to Lhasa, taking in the vast Tibetan plateau landscapes—rolling grasslands, nomadic tents, and distant snow-capped mountains. Stop at viewpoints along the way to stretch your legs and capture more photos of the breathtaking scenery.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Tangka Hotel (4-star)

Day 6: Departure from Lhasa

Key Stop: Lhasa Gonggar Airport (Gonggar County)

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Experience: After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will transfer you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport on time for your departure flight. Reflect on your unforgettable Tibetan adventure as you bid farewell to the “Roof of the World.” We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home!
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Not included