4 Day Holy City Tour

An unforgettable journey through the Tibetan Himalayas

Tour Summary

An enticing tour for four days in the heart of Tibet is perfect for sampling this extraordinary culture, exploring its main sites, and witnessing the colorful customs and people. Lhasa City is the heartbeat of the Tibetan people and nowhere else can you experience the spirit of the people and the land. From the commanding views of Potala Palace, to the ancient and secretive Jokhang Temple you will witness both the mysterious and the precious religion of Tibetan Buddhism. Drepung and Sera Monasteries are also highlights of this tour which are just waiting for you to come and discover its many surprises.

From $445

The price of this tour depends on the season and comfort class. Click here for pricing details.

Included

Excluded

Tour itinerary at glance

Day 1
Lhasa (Arrival)

Pick-up, rest, acclimatize

Day 2
Lhasa

Potala Palace, Jokhang temple, Barkhor Str.

Day 3
Lhasa

Drepung and Sera Monasteries

Day 4
Departure

Transfer

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 - Lhasa (Arrival)

You are welcomed warmly in Tibetan by the greeting “Tashi Delek” at Train station/ Airport by our professional Tibetan guide. After meeting your guide you will be transferred to your prearranged hotel in Lhasa. The choice is yours, either enjoy some time relaxing or take a stroll through the city’s’ streets to take in some of the local flavor. Whatever you choose it is important to take it slow as your body needs time to acclimatize. This will help you to have a more enjoyable experience for the rest of your time.

4-7 Days Tours

8-15 Days Tours

Day 2 - Lhasa

In the morning, we will begin the tour with the grand Potala Palace! Built in 7th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the highest building in Lhasa. With roughly 1000 stairs to climb, you will enjoy a commanding view of beautiful Lhasa City and the surrounding mountains. There are many rooms, courtyards, and views to explore in Potala Palace, so the better part of the morning will be spent here. In the afternoon we will visit Jokhang Temple, which is considered the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It was built approximately 1350 years ago in a mix of styles including: Tibetan, Tang Dynasty Chinese, Nepalese and Indian. After experiencing this incredible and ancient temple you will find it is the perfect opportunity to envelope yourself in the famous shopping district of Barkhor Street. Beautiful and unique handicrafts from all over Tibet can be found here, and the shopping is enjoyed by both tourists and locals alike! After perusing the wares, join in with locals and pilgrims from around the country and the world in a traditional “kora”. A kora is a clockwise walk done around Buddhists sites, and is traditionally done three times. You may see some walking counterclockwise, however this is only for Bon religion followers, and it is best to stick to clockwise as a tourist. After your kora, sit and watch the many faces and colorful clothed locals while sipping traditional Tibetan butter tea, made with fresh yak butter and yak milk. Free welcome dinner will be arranged for the first night!

Day 3 - Lhasa

First on the itinerary for your 3rd day is Drepung Monastery. It is considered to be one of the three great Gelug monasteries in Tibet. Drepung Monastery is also famous for hosting the unveiling and displaying of the enormous Thanka of the Great Buddha and the Tibetan Opera Show during the Shoton Festival. Later in the afternoon, we will explore another of the “Great Three” monasteries, Sera Monastery. Visitors will have the unique privilege in witnessing one of the magnificent traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, the courtyard debates among the monks. These lively debates contribute to the monks understanding of Buddhist philosophy and achieve a higher level of study. The debates are held on weekdays from 3pm to 5pm in the afternoon.