Chengdu

Meet your driver at hotel lobby and get your Tibet permit from him, then head to Chengdu airport for your flight to Lhasa. Please keep the permit for the whole trip.

Lhasa

Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, you will be greeted by your local guide, who will take care of your entry visa into Tibet. Your driver will transfer you to your hotel in the old part of Lhasa city to check in. Then you’re free to relax until your guided tour in the afternoon.

Sera Monastery

After lunch at your hotel, your guide will take you on a private tour of Sera Monastery, located just 3 miles (5 km) north of central Lhasa. Along with Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery – the home temple of the Dalai Lama – Sera Monastery is considered one of the great Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa, developed over the centuries as a renowned place of scholarly learning. Admire the imposing complex, built in 1419 by one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect. As you explore the site, your guide will explain the significance of the picturesque green and gold design, typical of Tibetan architecture. Learn about the 1959 revolt that destroyed some of the monastery structures and caused many surviving monks to seek refuge in Mysore, India, where another Sera Monastery was established. After your private tour, enjoy dining at a good local restaurant before your guide returns you to your hotel.

Potala Palace

After breakfast at your hotel, embark on a private sightseeing tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Potala Palace. As you approach Potala Palace, marvel at the 13-story fort, which dominates the Lhasa Valley at an altitude of 12,140 feet (3,700 meters). Established in the 7th century during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo, Potala Palace was built as a winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The complex, built on Red Mountain, covers 101 acres (41 hectares) and includes many sutras and painted scrolls -- a treasure of traditional Tibetan culture and Buddhism. Pass through the massive walled gates and turrets with your guide and visit the private rooms, shrine room and audience hall of the present Dalai Lama on the uppermost level of the White Palace. View the most sacred shrine, the Phakpa Lhakang Temple, as well as the entombed stupas of past Dalai Lamas. Marvel at the Namgyal Monastery assembly hall and its fascinating murals!

Jokhang Temple

Designated as part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is actually located in central Lhasa on about 6 acres (2 hectares) in the old part of town. A renowned pilgrimage destination for Tibetans, the Buddhist religious complex was founded by Queen Bhrikuti in the 7th century. Look with awe at the temple’s rich ornamentation, beautiful murals and harmonious integration with the striking landscape. Your guide will take you to the temple's most important chapels and point out the sacred Jowo Sakyamuni Buddha statue, which represents the Buddha at the age of 12.

Barkhor Street

Next, continue to Barkhor Street, which runs through the heart of the old city, where life has changed little over the centuries. As you walk in a clockwise direction along the circuit, you’ll find stalls selling everything from traditional Tibetan clothes to knives to prayer wheels and thangka, Tibetan scroll painting. In the evening, enjoy typical Tibetan dishes at a local restaurant with your guide before retiring to your hotel.

Yamdrok Yumtso Lake

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing Lhasa and the Kyichu Valley toward the Khampa La Pass, reaching an elevation of 15,518 feet (4,730 meters). When you arrive at the pass, relax for a short break and enjoy stunning views of major snow-capped peaks in the eastern region of the Himalaya. From the vista point, you’ll see Norjing Gang Sang glacier and look across the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake. Descending from the pass, drive close to the lake and stop for a short hike on the shore. Afterward, enjoy lunch at a restaurant by the lake before returning to the airport for your return 2-hour flight to Chengdu.