Tour Overview
Code of Tour: SZW0000054Length of Travel: 4 Days
Departure City: Lhasa
Price of Tour: Request
Features of Tour: Lhasa Debating, Potala Palace, Holy Johkang Temple, Local Folk Activities, etc.
During this 4-day Lhasa tour, you'll have a unique, wonderful tour experience in the world's highest capital city -- the holy Buddhist city of Lhasa. You will visit the world's highest & grandest palace, the Potala Palace, the holiest Jokhang Temple, the Barkhor Street, as well as the largest monastery, Drepung Monastery. Also, you'll have an opportunity to witness the most spectacular and ceremonial Lhasa Debating in Sera Monastery.
Highlights
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Lhasa Debating in Sera Monastery: At Sera Monastery, the debating courtyard session takes place each afternoon at 3 o'clock. The monks will engage in lively debates, standing or sitting. They'll question and answer each other, discussing Buddhist philosophy. This ritual is one of the most intriguing and visually attractive activities during the visits to Tibetan monasteries.
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Potala Palace: Potala Palace is the world's highest and most magnificent palace. It once served as the administrative and religious center for past Dalai Lamas, equivalent to the imperial palace of old Tibet. And it houses countless stupas, murals, Buddha statues, and treasures, making it an absolute treasure among World Heritage sites.
- Holy Johkang Temple: Due to the presence of the 12-year-old golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, the Jokhang Temple is renowned holiest place of Tibet, Every year, thousands of believers from distant areas of Tibet pilgrimage to the Jokhang Temple. Circumambulating around the Jokhang Temple is an activity that Tibetans engage in every day.
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Local Folk Activities: You'll have an opportunity to engage in various local folk activities. You can join local Buddhist pilgrims in the kora around the Jokhang Temple, dance with the local Tibetan people at Dragon King Pond Park, and savor sweet tea at lively Tibetan teahouses to gain a close insight into the social culture of the local community.
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Drepung Monastery: The Drepung Monastery is located about ten kilometers west of Lhasa in the basin on the southern slope of Mount Gephel. It houses a vast collection of Buddhist scriptures, statues, thangkas, ritual implements, offerings, and murals. During your visit, you will explore the Great Assembly Hall, the debating courtyard, the monks' residences, and the large kitchen.
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Traditional Tibetan Cuisine: In Lhasa, we have carefully arranged an authentic Tibetan dining for you. You will gather with fellow travelers to taste genuine and traditional Tibetan cuisine, including butter tea, roasted lamb, barley cakes, yogurt, and more. The cuisine of the plateau is sourced from natural ingredients, making it a rare collection of organic foods in the world.
INQUIRY
Brief Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa, Airport/Train Station Pickup, Check-in at the Hotel
- Day 2: Lhasa City Tour: Visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Debating
- Day 3: Lhasa City Tour: Visit Potala Palace and Johkang Temple
- Day 4: Depart from Lhasa, Airport/Train Station drop off
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Lhasa
Attraction & Activities: Arrival at Lhasa, Check-in HotelMeals: None
Accommodation: Lhasa
Upon your arrival, the friendly local guide and driver will receive you at the airport, presenting you with a traditional Tibetan white scarf called "Khata". With just a one-hour drive on the expressway (70 kilometers), the driver will take you to the arranged hotel in downtown Lhasa. After checking in at the hotel, take your time to have a rest and acclimatize to the altitude (3,650 meters), ensuring a good and healthy start of your journey on the plateau.
Day 2: Lhasa City Tour
Attraction & Activities: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery DebatingMeals: Hotel Breakfast; Self-paid Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lhasa
This day, you will explore two distinctive monasteries in Lhasa, Drepung and Sera, both offering a unique insight into Tibetan Buddhism. You will visit the Buddhist halls, Buddhist colleges, and the monks’ kitchen, witnessing how they engage in special debates to study Buddhist teachings.
The Sera Monastery is renowned for its lively Buddhist debates, showing the essence of Tibetan Buddhism. Monks employ exaggerated body language to engage in dance-like discussions about Buddhist philosophy, demonstrating their knowledge in a spirited manner.
In the evening, the guide will accompany the group to a traditional Tibetan restaurant for a welcome dinner, marking the beginning of your journey in Tibet.
Day 3: Lhasa City Tour
Attraction & Activities: Potala Palace, Johkang TempleMeals: Hotel Breakfast; Self-paid Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lhasa
This day, you will explore into the treasures of Lhasa: the Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama, which is acclaimed as the world's highest palace; the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, which are the center of Tibetan Faith, both designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Potala Palace, towering majestically over the red hills in the center of Lhasa, was once the religious and political center of Tibet. As you climb the 365 steps to the main building, you'll explore the Dalai Lama's former political hall, the prayer halls, and the tomb stupa. Here, you'll encounter remarkable murals and exquisite Buddha statues, showcasing the accumulated wealth and treasures of ancient Tibet.
The Jokhang Temple, revered for housing the statue of 12-year-old Shakyamuni, is considered the holiest site in Tibet and a lifelong pilgrimage destination for Tibetans. You can join the pilgrims to walk at Barkor street and experience the soul of the city. The guide will also accompany you to a local Tibetan teahouse, offering an insight into the social culture.
Day 4: Depart from Lhasa
Attraction & Activities: Lhasa DepartureMeals: Hotel Breakfast; Self-paid Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: None
Your Tibet journey will end today, and the guide will take you to the airport/train station.
Service ends.
Service Included
- Tibet Travel Permit application service and mailing service within China
- Entrance tickets to listed attractions and activities
- Accommodation in star hotels with breakfast throughout the journey
- Transportation in a comfortable tourist vehicle with attentive and reliable driver service
- Excellent Tibetan English-speaking guide
- Welcome dinner
- Travel accident insurance and High altitude sickness insurance
- On-board oxygen supply for travel in high-altitude areas
- Exquisite Tibetan gifts and travel map
- Shuttle service between Airport/Train station and Lhasa City
Service Excluded
- International and domestic Transportation to and from Tibet
- Single room supplement for solo travelers who require single room
- Some Meal expenses not included in the Tour (the guide will assist in arranging and recommending meals; you are responsible for the cost)
Required Tips
While you traveling in Tibet, it is kindly required to tip the guide and driver if you are satisfied and appreciate their services. We recommend tipping $7 per day per person to be shared between the driver and guide.Notice
Due to the inability to confirm the specific date for the reservation of Potala Palace tickets in advance, the preview order of the itinerary may undergo adjustments;If you wish to extend your stay in Lhasa by one day, you can extend the 4-day itinerary to 5 days. Our guide will take you to experience more of the beauty of Lhasa, such as ascending to South Mountain Park to view the distant Potala Palace and panoramic views of Lhasa, experiencing Tibetan medicine baths, learning to make traditional handicrafts, visiting more temples, and learning to cook traditional Tibetan cuisine, and more. If needed, feel free to contact us to customize a Lhasa journey tailored exclusively for you.
Tour Notice
Before applying for the Tibet Travel Permit, please ensure that your passport has a validity period of at least 6 months.When entering Tibet from Kathmandu, China visa needs to be processed in Kathmandu. Please do not apply in your home country in advance. If tourists previously had a long-term valid Chinese visa, it will be replaced with a 30-day valid group tourist visa when applying in Kathmandu.
Only Chinese Yuan is accepted in Tibet. If you need Chinese Yuan, you can exchange it with US dollars locally or withdraw cash from ATMs.
Maintain good health before entering Tibet and avoid catching a cold.
When traveling on transportation to Tibet, both the airport and train station will check the Tibet Travel Permit. Please keep this official document safe and avoid writing or drawing on it.
Before traveling to Tibet, please confirm that you have received the Tibet Travel Permit and check and verify your personal information.
People with serious hypertension, heart disease, asthma, pregnant women, etc., are not recommended to travel to Tibet.
If worried about altitude sickness after entering Tibet, you can take a moderate amount of Rhodiola oral liquid or capsules before entering.
During the Tibet tour, you are required to travel with the group throughout the journey and cannot leave the group activities at will.
Pack vitamins and regular medications in your luggage.
When traveling at high altitudes, drink plenty of water, engage in slow-paced activities, and consume fruits and vitamin supplements.
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol when you are new to high altitudes.
Application of Tibet Permits for Foreigners and Taiwanese
Foreigners (including overseas Chinese) need to provide information to the Tibet Tourism Bureau to apply for “ Tibet Travel Permission”. You need to provide documents according to our guidance.l If you are coming to China for tourism purpose with “L” Chinese tourist visa, you need to provide clear and complete passport page images and Chinese visa images.
l If you are working, studying, residing in China, or visiting China for business, in addition to your passport and visa images, you also need to provide certificate from your Chinese company or school.
l If you plan to enter Tibet directly from Nepal, you need to personally visit the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to apply for a Chinese visa(Single Entry 30 days). Please go to our local office in Kathmandu at least 3 working days in advance, We will arrange all the procedures for your Chinese visa application. If you previously have a Chinese visa, your existing visa will be revoked upon obtaining the new visa. In addition to the visa fee charged by the embassy, you are required to pay an additional $20 service fee for visa processing.
The entire procedure is fully serviced, you just simply provide the documents to our travel agency. The deadline for submitting the application is 10 working days before the tour departure. If want to go to Mt.Kailash, you need to send the documents to us 15-20 working days in advance.
Once all approval procedures are completed, we will send the Tibet Travel Permission to your designated address via email or mail (within China only). When boarding the train/flight, the staff at the port will check your Tibet Travel Permission, please ensure its proper safekeeping.
