6 Days Eastern Lhasa Discovery Tour

Highlights: Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. 

Tips: 

The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650m above sea level. Take time out to relax and acclimate to the high altitude after arrival at your hotel. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for the first few days. It is advisable that you not take showers. For first time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom. Drink more water, have fresh fruit and plenty of rest will help to prevent the sickness. Have a good rest tonight, and get ready for tomorrow's journey. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street 

Potala Palace: Which is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it. 

Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-storey timber complex with a golden top, with the combination of  Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photograpers.

Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to lear Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicarfts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka,  religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or famiy, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.

Tips: 

1) Some visitors might feel a bit hard to breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly. 

2) Some places are not allowed to take photos, please kindly inquire your guide for details. 

3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare and bargain for the unique souvenirs 

4) During the summer time, the musical fountain show at the Potala Plalace Square is 19:30—22:00PM. 

5) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and enjoy the debate. 

Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means 'Collecting Rice.. 

Sera Monastery: Which is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. From of Mon ~ Fri, every afternoon, you ll be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery.

Tips: 

1) Today's road condition is good. The tour involves some easy walking and climbing

2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Distance: 120km    Drive: 5hrs    Elevation: 4000m 

Highlights: Today we will drive 60km eastwards to visit the Ganden Monastery. Abnd then drive 110km to Tidrum to visit the Tidrum Nunnery and you may have a hot spring bath there if you like. 

Ganden Monastery: Located 47 kilometers from Lhasa, Ganden Monastery known as one of the 'Three Great Temples', together with the Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. Ganden Monastery stands at an altitude of 3,800m (12,467 feet) above sea level, it is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its great significance in religion, art, politics and culture, and is now being well preserved by the government. The the famous Buddha Painting Unfolding Festival is conducted here every year, which has attracted countless visitors and pilgrims. 

Tidrum Nunnery: Very close to the Drigung Til, in a secluded valley, lays the Tidrum Nunnery. The nunnery is secluded, one of the most notable attractions of the area is the hot springs facility, said to be both curing and medicinal. The springs are formed by the gorge and the pressure from the two rivers combining in this one location. History has it that Guru Rinpoche, King Trisong Detsen and Yeshe Tsogyal have connections to the nunnery. It is said that they found their way to Tidrum, loved its beauty and choose to meditate here for many years. The presiding spiritual leader of the homage is considered a reincarnate of Yeshe.

Distance: 120km    Drive: 5hrs    Elevation: 3800m 

Highlights: Today we will visit Drigung Til Monastery and then drive back to Lhasa. 

Drigung Til Monastery: Which survived from Cultural Revolution and being well preserved.  Tucked away on a high, steep slope, the monastery seems to be a watchful eye over the Zhorung-chu Valley below. The monastery offers great views of the area.  It serves as the head of the Drigungpa School with around 200 monks residing within its walls. Statues of Jigten Sumgon, founder of the temple, as well as a Skyamuni and Guru Rinpoche are housed here. Drigung Til is also known for its famous sky burials. It is one of the holiest and revered locations for these unique death rites. People from hundreds of miles away, coming from the remotest corners of the province, travel to Drigung Til with their deceased loves ones to give them a proper and holy sky-burial. While it is one of the fewer tourist-populated sites, it is at the top of the list for spectacular sights.

Highlights: Today our guide will send you to train station or airport for your next destination. Your lifetime Tibet tour is completed now.