6 Day Tibet Golden Route Tour

An unforgettable journey through the Tibetan Himalayas

Tour Summary

In little under a week you may find yourself transported to another time and place with this 6 Day Tibet Golden Route Tour. Lhasa City is the bustling capitol of Tibet and here is where you will find all the color, flavors, and sounds of Tibet. The lively Barkhor Street where traders from all over Tibet come to sell their semi-precious stones and traditional clothes leads you to the ancient and mysterious Jokhang Temple. Potala Palace, and Sera and Drepung Monasteries round out your time in Lhasa. Then be prepared to explore and experience the vast countryside outside the city. Sweeping landscapes and snowcapped peaks beckon you onward and you will quickly fill your camera with incredible memories from this adventure.

From $694

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
Lhasa/Gyantse/Shigatse

Yamdrok Lake, Karo La, Gyantse Kumbum

Day 5
Shigatse/Lhasa

Tashilumpo Monastery

Day 6
Departure

Send to airport or train station

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.

Day 4 - Lhasa/Gyantse/Shigatse

On day four, our tour leaves the bustling and ancient city of Lhasa and heads into the Nyangchu Valley. The valley follows the Nyang River, one of the tributaries to the Yarlung Zangbo which later becomes the Bramaputra River. This wide floodplain is home to a host of wildlife and bird species. The road will also cross over the Gampala Pass(4900m), on the way to Yamdrok Lake(4400m). Yamdrok Lake with its turquoise waters looks surreal as it stretches from horizon to horizon. After driving along the picturesque lake, and leaving it behind we then meet the Karo-la Glacier(4960m) which is in easy view from the roadside. Once pictures are taken and memories made we continue on to Gyantse, a famous historical city, where we will pay a visit to Pelkor Monastery and Gantse Kumbum. Later we arrive in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Day 5 - Shigatse / Lhasa

In the early morning on day five, the tour will arrive at Tashilunpo Monastery which is the seat of the of Panchen Lamas. Built in 1447, the monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of the Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lamas. This enormous Buddha is decorated with jewels and precious stones, and many pilgrims come to rub their “malas” or prayer beads along the flanks of this statue. In the afternoon, we drive back to Lhasa (Shigatse to Lhasa’s transfer may be by train).