Arrive at Lhasa International Airport . Meet with our representative and transfer to your pre-booked hotel. Lhasa International airport is around 95 kms from city center and takes around 1.5 hours of driving time to city.

Lhasa at 3660 meters is the political, religious and economic capital of Tibet with beautiful palaces, monasteries, temples and markets with  numerous Tibetan artifacts. Lhasa is a city which expects you to know a lot about it before you set out to explore its magical charms. The most important is your acclimatization with its climate and environment. So you will relax and sleep for some time to get your self acclimatized with high altitude.

Later in evening, You will have your first introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and its culture when you talk with a Buddhist monk.

Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast in your hotel, Visit Lhasa city visiting Potala Palace which was the residence of Dalai Lamas  and was the headquarter of government of Tibet until 1959 AD when 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the Chinese invasion. The construction of the palace was started by 5th Dalai Lama in 1645 AD. Thirteen stories of the Potala Palace containing  over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even today, Potala Palace is the home to more than 1000 Buddhist monks and lamas.

Later in afternoon, visit Jokhang Temple in the center of Lhasa which is is the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism and is the holiest destination for all Tibetan pilgrims. The temple’s architectural style is a mixture of Indian Vihara design, Tibetan and Nepalese design. The oldest part of the temple was built in 652. Over the next 900 years, the temple was enlarged several times with the last renovation done in 1610 by the Fifth Dalai Lama.

Later in evening, walk at Barkhor Street is an ancient round street surrounding Jokhang Monastery. Even today , many pilgrims holding prayer wheels walk clock-wise from dawn to dark. The street is always full of religious atmosphere and a world of  exotic articles. Varied shops on both the sides of the street are selling Tibetan ornaments, knives, prayer wheels, Long sleeve chuba ( Traditional Tibetan dress ) and Thangka ( Traditional Tibetan scroll paintings ).

Overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, You will visit Drepung monastery which is around 15 kms from Lhasa city. Drepung Monastery established in 1416 AD is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the ‘Three Great Monasteries’ of Tibet. The conservation of the monastery is excellent and frescoes using mineral colours can be seen on the walls of the rocks.

Visit Sera monastery which is at the out-skirts of the city.Sera Monastery is located at the foot of Tatipu Hill was built in 1419 AD. 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 it was built. Scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloth and unparalleled murals can be found in the monastery.

Norbulingka Palace or The Park of Treasures is the biggest man made garden in Tibet. Constructed in 1755 AD by 7th Dalai Lama , the palace has been the summer residence of all the Dalai Lamas from 7th to 14th. Norbulingka is mainly made up to several palaces where Dalai Lamas kept study and lived during summer.

Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.

After breakfast an early breakfast, you will drive to Gyantse ( 280 kms / 6 hours ). You will first stop at holy Yamdrok lake which is the largest fresh water lake and among the 3 most sacred lakes in Tibet. Yamodrok means Turquoise ( in English ) due to the colour of its water. Viewing from a distance, you can see fertile pastures full of yaks and sheep, and some small Tibetan villages along the lakeshore. Your next stop shall be Gyantse which is the 3rd largest city in Tibet.

Check-in and lunch at your hotel.

Later in afternoon , visit mysterious Palcho monastery where three important traditions and sects co-exist in harmony. The Kumbum with its 77 chapels on six floors in Palcho monastery was established in 1427 AD by a Gyantse prince and is the largest such structure in Tibet.  This 35 meters high Kumbum has thousand of murals and carved wooden statues. The towering image of Sakyamuni (Sakya Thukpa) is flanked by the Past and Future Buddhas.

Gyantse Dzong (fort) is the one of the best preserved dzongs in Tibet. The fortress was constructed in 1390 AD by local king and is a marvelous example of typical Tibetan palace architecture. The views of Palcho monastery and Gyantse old town below are magnificent.

Overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast , a small drive of 2.5 hours will take you to nearby town of Shigatse which is the 2nd largest city of Tibet. Before start driving to Shigatse, visit Pala Manor where you you witness the old Tibetan society of privilege and slavery, which is a good place to know the Tibet history.

Continue driving to Shigatse. Check-in at your hotel.

Later visit famous Tashil Hunpo Monastery which is the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. Founded by the First Dalai Lama, it is an important monastery in Tibetan history. It keeps many treasures, including, precious Buddha Stupas, manuscript Buddhist texts and numerous murals. Here you will also see a giant statue of Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind on earth ( 26.2 meters high and 11.5 meters wide ), decorated with precious pearls, turquoises, corals and amber.

Overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, drive back to Lhasa which is around 275 kms and will take around 6 hours including a stop at Nyemo Tunba which was the home of Tunmi Sangbuzha who invented the Tibetan character as well as the famous Tibetan Tibetan Incense. Here in Tunba, you also have a chance to witness the process of making Tibetan Incense with water mill.

Arrive Lhasa and check-in at your hotel.

Later time free to explore Barkhor street or visit a Tibetan’s family which will be happy to host you for tea and snacks. Tibetans are very hospitable (as they are very religious ) and your host will be happy to talk to you about day to day life of Tibetans.

Overnight at your hotel in Lhasa.

After breakfast, transfer to Lhasa International airport for onward flight to Kathmandu / China.