Lhasa city tour / 4 days

 

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Daily schedule

1 Transfer from Lhasa airport or train station to hotel in center of Lhasa. Free day in Lhasa to acclimatize. Overnight in  Lhasa

2 Visit the Potala palace in the morning and the Jokhang temple in the afternoon. Overnight Lhasa

3 Visit the Drepung and Sera monasteries. See the monks debating the Buddhist doctrine. Overnight in Lhasa

4 Visit the Norbulinka Summer palace in the morning, visit orphanage or local school in the afternoon. Overnight in Lhasa

 

 

Itinerary:

Day 1: Pick up from Lhasa airport or train station, transfer to your hotel in the center of Lhasa, which is the Barkhor area. This area is actually old Lhasa, a charming bustling market area full of Tibetan goods and souvenirs. Many Tibetans from all over Tibet come to this area for shopping and for sight seeing, so you can see many different kinds of people here, with stunning clothes and head dresses. You are free to take a leisurely stroll around the charming Barkhor area.

Day 2: Your guide will take you to visit the Potala palace in the morning. This was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama but it is now a museum and World Heritage Site. The 5th Dalai Lama started its construction in 1645. In the afternoon you will visit the Jokhang temple. This temple is the most holy and sacred for most Tibetans. The Jokhang temple was first constructed by King Songtsän Gampo probably in 642. Both Bhrituti and Wencheng, the Nepalese and Chinese wives of Songtsän Gampo are said to have brought important Buddhist statues and images to Tibet as part of their dowries, and they were housed here.

Day 3: Car and guide to take you to Drepung and Sera monasteries just outside of Lhasa. The Sera monastery is famous for its daily debating, which attracts many people. It is so special to see the passion with which the monks use the debating system to increase their knowledge of Buddhism.

Day 4: The Norbulinka Palace was once the summer residence of many Dalai Lamas. It is now open to the public, a pleasant park with several residences of former Dalai Lamas. One residence still has many original things used by the last Dalai Lama. The park around the Norbulinka is a favorite place for many residents from Lhasa. In the afternoon we get an glimpse of real life in Lhasa, when we get the opportunity to visit either an orphanage or a local school.