6-Day Heritage Tour of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse with Tibet Monasteries

• Arrive in Lhasa either by train or by flight. Your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel.

• En route, view the Yarlung Tsangpo River / Brahmaputra River, the longest and largest river in Tibet, as well as the Lhasa River.

• After arriving in Lhasa, take some time to rest and acclimatize. Feel free to visit Potala Square, where you can enjoy the fountain with different colors and take amazing photos of the Potala Palace.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Today's tour begins at the Potala Palace, the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lama. It has been in use since the 7th century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. Among its most valuable collections are the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

• After lunch, head to Jokhang Temple, founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism.

• Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do Kora, circling the street with pilgrims and locals, and buy souvenirs.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• In the morning, visit Drepung Monastery, one of the "three great" Gelug monasteries of Tibet. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge, one of Tsongkhapa's main disciples.

• In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery, also one of the "three great" Gelug monasteries of Tibet. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of Tsongkhapa's main disciples.

• The highlight of the day is the monks' debate, which takes place from around 3 to 5 in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Today, drive from Lhasa to Gyantse.

• On the way, pass over the Gampala Pass (4790 m) and catch a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso (4400 m). The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains, and in the distance, you can enjoy spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191 m), the highest mountain near Lhasa.

• Continue westward along the lake and drive toward Gyantse. Gyantse was historically Tibet's third-largest city, after Lhasa and Shigatse.

• In Gyantse, visit the famous Pelkor Monastery, also known as Gyantse Kumbum. The Kumbum has nine floors, and each tier contains unique chapels. It is considered the largest stupa in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

• In the morning, visit the famous Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and see the well-preserved largest statue of Jampa (the future Buddha) in the world. This monastery is the seat of Tibet's second-highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama.

• In the afternoon, drive back to Lhasa on the Friendship Highway. The distance is around 280 km, and the journey takes about 6 hours along the Yarlung Tsangpo River / Brahmaputra River, the longest and largest river in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Your guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you board.