Tour Overview
Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet and an object of devout pilgrimage, is still a city of wonders. The Potala, a vast white and ochre fortress, dominates the Lhasa skyline. Once the seat of Tibetan government and the location of the tombs of previous Dalai Lamas, the Potala serves as a symbolic focus for Tibetan aspirations of self-government. The Jokhang temple, 2km (1.2mi) to the east, is the spiritual heart of the city. The medieval push and shove of crowds, the street performers, the stalls hawking everything from prayer flags to jewel-encrusted yak skulls, and the devout tapping their foreheads to the ground at every step is an exotic brew that few newcomers can resist.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Lhasa, TibetArrive Gonggar airport (3400m,) you are met for a 90-minute transfer to Lhasa (3650m.) The heart and soul of Tibet, it is a city of wonders. Hotel check-in and balance of day to rest and acclimatize. Located at 3,600m above sea-level is Lhasa Hotel. Only ten minutes by Tibetan rickshaw lies the ancient city center and even closer Lhasa's famous landmark-the mystical Potala Palace. Just next door to the hotel is the Norbulingka-the Summer Palace.
Lhasa Hotel or other options Day 02: Lhasa
Enjoy a full day tour of Lhasa. Visit Potala the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. It is one of the most famous architectural works of Tibet & the cream of Tibetan culture. Built in the colossal monastic style of Central Tibet by Gyelwa Ngapa the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century, it stands 300m above the valley atop the hill called Marpo Ri. This thousand room Potala dates from 1645 when the fifth Dalai Lama began erecting a palace that would serve as a sacred and administrative center. This afternoon visit the Sera Monastery, one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1414, by Jamchen Chojey (Sakya Yeshe,) a disciple of Tsong Khapa. Sera Monastery is still standing in Tibet, and once again houses some Tibetan Buddhist monks.
Breakfast, Lunch
Lhasa Hotel or other options
Day 03: Lhasa
Morning visit to 7th century Jokhang Temple, which has architectural features from the Tang Dynasty and from Indian & Nepali Buddhist Temples. Explore the Barkhor market, which was until early fifties a grand, exciting year-round trade fair, crowded with merchants from all over central Asia. This afternoon, drive (20-minutes) to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet and belongs to the Gelugpa sect. This monastery has plenty of historical relics, Bhuddist scriptures, arts & crafts. Drepung literally means “ heaps of rice” and the fertility of its fields supported a monastic community that before 1959, ranked as Tibet’s largest monastery with 7,770 monks.
Breakfast, Lunch
Lhasa Hotel or other options Day 04: Lhasa
Full day excursion to Ganden Monastery. Ganden Monastery is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located on Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County, 47 kilometers from Lhasa. The Ganden Tripa or 'throne-holder of Ganden' is the head of the Gelukpa school (and not the Dalai Lama as is widely misunderstood.)
Breakfast, Lunch
Lhasa Hotel or other options Day 05: Lhasa - Depart
Early morning return transfer to Gonggar airport, you are assisted to your onward flight.
Breakfast
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