4 days Lhasa City Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang & Monasteries
Discover the essence of Tibet on this 4-day Lhasa City Tour. Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, and the great monasteries of Drepung and Sera to experience Tibet’s deep spirituality and rich culture.
Itinerary
This 4-day Lhasa City Tour offers a perfect short visit to Tibet’s capital, the spiritual and cultural heart of the plateau. Discover the iconic Potala Palace, sacred Jokhang Temple, and lively Barkhor Street where pilgrims circle with prayer wheels. Explore the great monasteries of Sera and Drepung, witness traditional Buddhist rituals, and enjoy the sunshine and highland charm that make Lhasa unforgettable. Ideal for travelers seeking a short Lhasa tour that captures Tibet’s essence in just a few days.
Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport or train station, your Tibetan guide will warmly greet you. The distance from the airport to Lhasa city is approximately 68km, which takes around an hour by car. As you travel along the Brahmaputra river and Lhasa river, you'll be captivated by the breathtaking plateau scenery. Keep an eye out for flocks of black-necked cranes, wild ducks, and other fascinating bird species. If you're feeling up to it, you can make a stop at the Nethang Giant Buddha carving along the way.
If you arrive in Lhasa by train, you can expect to reach in the late afternoon or evening. A short 20-minute drive will then take you to your hotel in Lhasa city. Once you check-in, take the opportunity to rest and acclimatize to the high altitude. It's important to allow your body time to adjust. Enjoy a comfortable overnight stay in Lhasa.
Today is your first day of sightseeing on the high plateau. We have intentionally planned a visit to Drepung Monastery in the morning and Sera Monastery in the afternoon. Both monasteries belong to the Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect and serve as monastic colleges.
Drepung Monastery, once the seat of the Tibetan government before the Potala Palace, holds great historical significance. It was renowned as the largest monastery in the world, housing 10,000 monks from various Tibetan monasteries.
In the afternoon, we will explore Sera Monastery, famous for its Buddhism philosophical debates (unavailable on Sundays). Witnessing the passionate debates and the energetic expressions of the monks is truly captivating.
After acclimatizing to the high altitude for a day and a half in Lhasa city, you will be ready to embark on a climb to visit the magnificent Potala Palace.Today's itinerary includes visits to Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace. Jokhang Temple, built in the 7th century, is Tibet's most sacred shrine. Located at the heart of Lhasa's old town, it is surrounded by the famous Barkhor street. The Potala Palace, an iconic landmark known worldwide, is an immense structure that houses a world of its own. It holds great significance as the historical residence of the Dalai Lama lineages, particularly Avalokiteshvara.
Both Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace attract pilgrims from all corners of the Tibetan world, who express their deep devotion through circumambulation and prostration. Following the sightseeing, your guide will accompany you to a nearby sweet tea shop near Barkhor or the cave sweet tea shop near Potala Palace, where you can savor traditional Tibetan sweet tea. Afterward, you have the freedom to explore and stroll along Barkhor street at your leisure.
Your guide and driver will see you off at the airport or train station, end the trip.
Inclusions
Tour notes:
General inclusions:
General exclusions:
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Comments
I would like to travel with 4 other persons
from Chengdu to Lhasa by airplane
from Lhasa to Chengdu by train
stay for 2 nights and 2 days in Lhasa
sleeping in a 3star hotel
Is that possible to book completely (including visa, tickets, guide, hotel)?
How much would it cost?
Thanks a lot for the information
With friendly regards
Elmar Titz
Hi Elmar,
Thanks for your inquiry, before I send you the quotation. Can you tell me when you plan to start this trip?
Looking forward to hear from you back soon.
Cheers
Helen
please provide a quote from Chengdu to Lhasa:
4 people March 28 late pm (18:00 or 19:00) depart, March 31 afternoon return (3 nights, 3 days) in 3 star hotel - 2 twin rooms. Include name of hotel.
Dear Andrea,Thank you for your comments. I'm sorry to tell you that Tibet will be traditionally closed on every March. Tibet Tourism Bureau will stop issuing permit from end of February to end of March. It's suggested to start this tour after the first week of April.Please feel free to let me know if you have any further question on it!Kind Regards,Murphy
Hi, we are planning to travel from Malaysia to Chengdu and by airplane to Lhasa. departure from Lhasa by TRAIN to chengdu.
stay 2 night in Lhasa. 4star hotel.include all meal (vegetarian) english speaking tour guide. and other necessary documents. and kindly let us know which is the best suitable time from april 2013 onward for best travel time in your holy city Lhasa. please enclose me your quotation.
Thanks.
regards. from shirley
Hi there,
we (2 people) are from Vietnam & have just got China visa. We plan to visit Tibet by train from Xining & to Xian about 4 days. As known that you offer a 4-day standard tour in Tibet for $225 with from 7 people. We plan to visit Tibet in November 2015 so can you arrange for us the departure day with very reasonable price (from 08 - 12/11/2015 is the best time for us)? Is the tour included the permit to Tibet + hotel + food + transportation + admission fees to visit all places...? How about the tip for tour guide per day. How can we book & pay deposit? Can we stay 1 more day for relax without tour guide before take a long train to Xian? Pls inform us all excluded fee 'cause we travel 6 countries & have to be clear everything to control our budget.
Best wishes,
Nhi Phan
Hello Nhi,
Thanks for contacting us! Yes, we can certainly arrange this tour as you required. I have just sent you an email with all the details as you need, please check it. Looking forward to hearing from your thoughts soon!
Cheers,
Lycoris
Would it be possible to get the 4-day standard tour in Tibet for $225 with from 7 people with a December,2015, preferably Deceber 25-30, 2015 travel dates?
Thanks
Hi, I have been advised that a Tibet permit only given if tour booked? I wish to travel with one other person (total 2 pax) to Tibet in May / June 2017 to Lhasa... I'm from the UK, my partner is from Canada, we live in Singapore and would wish to travel to and from Chengdu. We can obtain our own Chinese Visas and flights / hotels in Chengdu. what we need is a travel permit for Tibet and flights to / from Lhasa... also, do we need to book hotels in Lhasa via a tour compay or can we book them independently? What about walking tours in Lahasa and airport transfers? I would be grateful for any information you can provide... Thanks!
Hello Eric,
Thanks for your comments!
Yes, overseas travelers must apply Tibet Permit to enter Tibet, our agency will help you to organize all of your Tibet permits.
For hotel in Lhasa, there is no restriction for where to reserve, our agency can assist you to book one, you can easily book them online as well. Based on current travel policy, overseas travelers are required to have guide accompanied when visit any attraction in Tibet.
I have sent you the tour proposal with quotation details via email, please go through the details and kindly let me know for any further questions on it.
Look forward to your reply soon.
Kind regards,
Yuki
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