6 days Lhasa highlight tour (horse riding, hiking and monasteries)

Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, your Tibetan guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to the hotel in Lhasa old town, it is only 68km and two hours from the airport, from 15km which take 20 minutes. Take good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. Overnight at Lhasa.

Today is your first day of sightseeing on the high plateau, so we have purposely arranged only to visit Jokhang temple and Potala Palace. Jokhang temple is the most sacred shrine in Tibet which was built in the 7th century and located at the heart of old town in Lhasa, the circuit around it called Barkhor street, which is a good place to purchase souvenirs. Potala Palace is the worldwide known cardinal landmark of Tibet. The massive structure itself contains a small world within it. Mostly it is renowned as residence of the Dalai Lama lineages (Avalokiteshvara). Both of them are the focal points of pilgrims from the Tibetan world, multitudinous pilgrims are circumambulating and prostrating in their strong faith. Overnight at Lhasa.

Today you will be arranged to visit Drepung, Sera monasteries. Both monasteries are Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect monastic colleges. Drepung monastery was the seat of the Government prior to Potala, it was once the world largest monastery in the history with 7,700 monks hailed from different monasteries all over Tibet. Sera monastery is famous for its Buddhism; philosophical debate practice, the clapping sound and aggressive expression of the monks are well worth to see. Overnight at Lhasa.

Drive to Ganden monastery and explore the monastery, Ganden was built by Tsongkapa himself and later badly destroyed during the culture revolution from 1966-1976, hike around the monastery and make the kora from there you can view and beautiful valley of Lhasa Kyichu river behind it. Late afternoon drive back to Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning drive to Thoilong village which is about 35km south west of Lhasa, there you will meet with your horse man in the village, take a rest in the typical Tibetan house and then ride horse through the valley, you have chance to see functional mill houses along the stream, mill house is mainly use to make Tsampa (roasted barley flour) since from early days, further on the small hill you will enjoy a small nomad community who keeps on moving places to places, you are arranged to visit there nomadic tent if there are available at that time, then hike down to the village and drive back to Lhasa. Overnight Lhasa.

Your guide and driver will see you off at the airport or train station, end the trip.