Tibet Cultural Tour

DAY 01: ARRIVE AT LHASA

Enjoy your breakfast, and then begin your Lhasa tour from Kathmandu by driving to Tribhuvan International Airport to catch a flight to Lhasa. After arriving, get in touch with our representative followed by a transfer to the hotel.

Stay overnight at the hotel.

Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet, as well as one of the highest cities in the world. In terms of its natural beauty, it shares the same characteristics as the rest of the country. It is more famous for its monasteries, palaces and other Buddhist structures. Tibetan Buddhism has been the traditional religion of the people, and heavily influences their way of life. The star attraction though, is the Potala Palace, a museum which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Life goes on at a leisurely pace here, and it’s one of things which win you over.

DAY 02: LHASA

A delicious breakfast is the perfect way to start the day. Then, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Lhasa. The places which your sightseeing tour will cover are Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Bakhor Bazaar.

Stay overnight at the hotel.

Potala Palace, with its white and red structure, stands in sharp contrast to the gigantic mountain ranges in the background. Its whitewashed walls and the crimson red color of the main palace cause it to stand out from the others. The impressive height at which it stands certainly does a lot to enhance its charm. It served as the religious and administrative seat of the lamas down until the 14th Dalai Lama.

Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, was destroyed and reconstructed several times throughout its history. It reflects a variety of styles in its architecture and design, from Chinese to Tibetan. The temple, aside from its immense religious significance, is famous for hosting the Monlam Prayer Festival. During the festival, thousands of monks visit the temple to offer prayers and perform other rites and rituals. A particularly impressive piece of architecture inside the temple is the Buddha hall, with its enormous courtyard. The temple also boasts a rich collection of artefacts and sculptures like Tang dynasty bronze sculptures, famous paintings, and 108 carved sandalwood boxes with sutras (Buddhist scriptures) engraved on them.

Barkhor Bazaar is a street quite unlike any other. Here, the shopkeepers and those displaying their wares go about their business in the traditional way. It is one of the oldest streets in Lhasa with a history going back 1300 years. If you are on the lookout for souvenirs and authentic handicrafts, then this is the place to come to. The street is lined with stalls displaying a variety of exhibits. Some of these include local handicrafts like carpets, Pulu (traditional Tibetan fabric woven from wool), Tibetan costumes, Tibetan knives, wooden bowls and ornaments. The street also possesses a religious significance as it surrounds the Jokhang Temple and devotees to the temple circumambulate it.

DAY 03: LHASA

Your day starts with a wonderful breakfast. After that, you will visit Sera Monastery followed by Drepung monastery.

Stay overnight at the hostel.

Sera Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in the city of Lhasa. Its name means wild rose in the Tibetan language, since wild roses were in bloom when it was built. It’s dedicated to the Yellow Hat sect of Buddhism, also known as the Gelugpa Sect. Inside the halls of the monastery, you come across scriptures written in gold powder, scent cloth, fine statues and different types of murals. Debates are held in the monastery from time to time and are notable for their distinct style and tone.

Drepung Monastery, when seen from quite a distance, looks like an enormous pile of rice. In fact, its name, Drepung, means collecting rice in the local language. The main attractions inside the monastery are its two pagodas, along with other building like Coqen Hall, four Zhacangs, Kamcums and Ganden Potrang. The latter served as the residence of second, third, fourth and fifth Dalai Lamas.

DAY 04: LHASA-YAMDROK LAKE

A delicious breakfast awaits you in the morning. After that, drive your way to Yamdrok Lake and return to Lhasa in the afternoon.

Stay overnight at the hotel.

Yamdrok Lake is one of the sacred lakes in Tibet and like many other lakes, is associated with a religious tradition. Tibetans believe that the existence of their country is tied with this lake. If the lake dries up at any point of time, it would render the entire country uninhabitable. Devotees also perform a pilgrimage to the lake and perform circumambulation to cleanse themselves of any sins. Buddhists also believe that the lake possesses spiritual energies which are radiated by Guru Padmasambhava, or the second Buddha, who introduced Buddhism to Tibet.

DAY 05: LHASA-KATHMANDU

Your day starts with a breakfast followed by a drive to Gonggar Airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu and resume with your onward journey.