5-Day Lhasa Cultural Tour with Potala Palace and Ganden Monastery

• You will arrive at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, Tibet's administrative capital and one of the highest cities in the world. If you fly into Lhasa from Nepal, you will enjoy an hour of breathtaking views of the Himalayas on what is considered one of the most beautiful air routes in the world. If you choose to travel via mainland China, you may fly in or take the world's highest train route to Lhasa.
• You will be greeted by a representative of the Alpine Club of Himalaya upon your arrival at the airport or train station. You are advised to rest for the remainder of the day to adjust to the altitude and minimise altitude sickness, as Lhasa has an elevation of about 3,600 m (11,800 ft) and lies in the centre of the Tibetan Plateau, with the surrounding mountains rising to 5,500 m (18,000 ft). The air here contains only 68 percent oxygen.

Overnight in Lhasa. 3* Accommodation

Lhasa, which means the "Place of the Gods", is also the religious capital of Tibet. Buddhist master Padmasambhava is said to have magically pinned down the earth demoness and built the foundation of the Jokhang Temple over her heart.

• Visit the Potala Palace, which was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama and is now a museum and World Heritage Site. The palace has thirteen stories containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and about 200,000 statues, and is situated 117 metres (384 ft) above Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 m (about 1,000 ft) in total above the valley floor. It is magnificent and provides a breathtaking view of the valley.
• Visit the Norbulingka Palaces, built by the 7th Dalai Lama, which served as both the administrative and religious centre and was the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Also a World Heritage Site, the palace has what is considered to be the largest human-made garden in Tibet.
• Proceed to the Tibet Museum, the official museum of Tibet, which has a permanent collection of around 1,000 artifacts related to the cultural history of Tibet.

Overnight in Lhasa. 3* Accommodation

• In the morning, head to Ganden Monastery, one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain at an altitude of 4,300 m. Ganden Monastery has extremely delicate and fine murals and sculptures, with more than two dozen major chapels containing large Buddha statues. The monastery also houses artifacts that belonged to Tsongkhapa, including his tomb. It also has an armour suit decorated with gems worn by Emperor Qianlong, which was bestowed on the monastery as an offering to Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug sect.
• Drive to Drayerpa Cave, located in a beautiful valley with a stunning landscape, where more than 30 caves are used by lamas who wish to meditate here. In the evening, drive back to Lhasa.

Overnight in Lhasa. 3* Accommodation

• Visit the Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Bazaar.
  • The Drepung Monastery, built in the 14th century, is believed to have sheltered around 10,000 monks in the past. The history, culture, and religious beliefs of the Tibetan people are strongly concentrated and centred in this marvellous monastery.
  • The Sera Monastery is a preserved monastery with white-washed walls and golden roofs.
  • Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site that unravels more deep-seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Stroll through Barkhor Bazaar. With its open-air stalls, shops, and crowd of pilgrims, it is the epicentre of Lhasa.

Overnight in Lhasa. 3* Accommodation

• This is the departure day, and you can complete your last-minute shopping.
• You will be transferred to the airport.