6 Days Private Tour from Lhasa to Shigatse

Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be greeted by our Tibetan guide at airport or train station with auspicious white Hada. On the ride to hotels in the downtown, the guide will briefly introduce the itinerary and remind you of dos and dont's in Tibet. To acclimatize to Tibetan plateau, it’s advisable to take a good rest in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today you will visit the Potala Palace, the UNESCO world heritage site and the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Inside this grandiose palace, you can explore the former residence of Dalai Lama and the meeting room, and worship the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet. You can also enjoy a panoramic view of Lhasa City and Lhasa Valley from the top of the Palace.

After lunch, you will head to the most sacred Buddhist site in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple. You can see devout Tibetan pilgrims prostrating in front of the temple and long lines of Tibetans following the Barkhor circuit. Inside the temple, you can see the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni at the age of twelve.

Around the temple is the famous Barkhor Street, you can do the kora by circling the street with pilgrims and locals and buy some souvenirs. You can also enjoy the tasty sweet tea in local tea house and visit Tromzikhang, the famous farm product market.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will visit two of the “Great Three” Gelug monasteries in Tibet, Drepung and Sera Monastery. In the morning, you will visit Drepung Monastery founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. It is situated at the foot of Gebeiwoze Mountain and is the largest monastery in Tibet which was once home to over 10,000 monks and has the biggest monastery kitchen.

After lunch, you’ll visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Chojey. The highlight of Sera Monastery is the monks’ debate in the courtyard at around 3-5 pm in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will set off from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse. On the way, when passing over the Gampala Pass (4,790m), you can have a far view of Yamdrok Lake and the snow-capped mountains around it. You can also get spectacular views of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain around Lhasa. After visiting the turquoise Yamdrok Lake, you can admire the Korola Glacier on the roadside and hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass around Manak Dam Lake before arriving at Gyantse.

Gyantse was historically known as the Tibet's third largest city after Lhasa and Shigatse. In Gyantse, you will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and the Nepali-style Kumbum Stupa. After one and a half hour's car ride, you will arrive in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. You may also visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. It is the main stage where generations of Panchen Lamas carried out religious and political activities as well as the largest monastery of the Gelug Sect in Rear Tibet. You can worship the well preserved largest gilded statue of the Future Buddha (Jampa) in this monastery. After that, you will take a car ride along Yarlung Valley back to your hotel in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

The driver will pick you up from your hotel, and drop you off at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, and assist you to get on board.