Spiritual Tibet Tour from Lhasa

Upon arrival at Lhasa airport or railway station, your Tibetan guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day resting and adjusting to the high altitude.

Overnight in Lhasa.

Start your sightseeing at Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Explore its historic chapels and prayer halls, which hold centuries of Tibetan Buddhist art and treasures.

Continue to Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s holiest temple, located in the heart of Lhasa’s old town. Afterwards, walk along Barkhor Street, following Tibetan pilgrims as they circle the temple clockwise, turning prayer wheels and offering prayers. If time allows, stop at a local teahouse for a cup of Tibetan sweet tea.

Overnight in Lhasa.

In the morning, visit Drepung Monastery, once Tibet’s largest monastery and an important center of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Explore its historic chapels and courtyards, where thousands of monks once studied and lived.

In the afternoon, head to Sera Monastery, famous for its lively monk debates. Watch monks challenge each other on Buddhist philosophy through animated gestures and loud clapping, if debates are taking place that day.

Overnight in Lhasa.

Leave Lhasa in the morning and drive west to Tsurphu Monastery, the traditional seat of the Karmapa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Located in a mountain valley, Tsurphu is an important pilgrimage site for followers of the Karma Kagyu school. Explore its chapels and, if time allows, walk part of the monastery kora for views of the surrounding hills.

Afterwards, continue north toward Damxung, passing through mountain valleys and the open grasslands of northern Tibet. During the summer months, stop to visit a local Tibetan nomad family, where you can learn about their traditional way of life, yak herding, and daily life on the grasslands, subject to the family’s availability.

Overnight in Damxung.

In the morning, drive from Damxung across Lagen La Pass (approximately 5,190m) for your first view of Namtso Lake, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes. Spend some time along the lakeshore, enjoying the turquoise waters and views of the snow-covered Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains.

Afterwards, head east toward Reting Monastery, traveling through northern Tibet’s grasslands and remote mountain valleys.

Founded in 1057, Reting was the original seat of the Kadampa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Explore the monastery and its surrounding ancient juniper woodland, one of the most distinctive features of this sacred site.

Overnight near Reting Monastery.

Leave Reting in the morning and drive through the Reting Tsangpo Valley, passing Tibetan villages and mountain scenery along the way.

Continue to Drigung Til Monastery, the main seat of the Drigung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Built high on a mountainside, the monastery is known for its religious history and views across the Drigung Valley.

Later, travel to Tidrum Nunnery, a small religious community in a mountain valley, famous for its natural mineral hot springs. Visit the nunnery and enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs.

Overnight near Tidrum.

In the morning, leave Tidrum and drive to Ganden Monastery, founded by Je Tsongkhapa in 1409 and the first monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Explore its historic chapels and, if time allows, walk along the Ganden Kora for views across the Kyi Chu Valley and surrounding mountains.

Afterwards, return to Lhasa, where you can enjoy some free time in the afternoon.

Optional excursion: On the way to lhasa, make an short excursion to visit Drak Yerpa, one of Tibet’s oldest meditation retreats, with caves and small chapels scattered across the mountainside. This visit requires another 3 hours.

Overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, your Tibetan guide and driver will transfer you to Lhasa airport or railway station for your onward journey.