4 Days Lhasa Glimpse

Trip Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive at Lhasa

Altitude: 3600 m. / 11811 ft.

• Upon arrival at Lhasa, you will be received by our representative
• Transfer to your hotel and rest for remaining of the day for acclimatization
• Overnight at hotel

Lhasa, which means ‘the land of the gods’ is the heart and soul of Tibet. It is a city of wonders, the capital of the Tibet autonomous region of China. The city contains many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist religious sites and lies in a valley next to the Lhasa River. For centuries this holy city has attracted travelers from all over the world, drawn by beautiful scenery, cultural heritage and its mysticism leaves the travelers captivated.

Day 02: Visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

• After breakfast, enjoy an exciting visit to Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery
• Drive back and overnight at hotel

Drepung: About 8 km to the west of central Lhasa, Drepung is one of the “great three” Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. The other two are Ganden and Sera. Seen from afar, Drepung’s grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice hence; Drepung literally means ‘heaps of rice’. For over 500 years Drepung served as the major pillar of the theocratic state, serving as the main political headquarters for the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism

Sera Monastery: 5km North of Lhasa, the Sera Monastery’s setting is one of the prettiest in Lhasa, hugging the ridge that forms the Northern wall of the Kyi Chu Valley. The monastery is magnificent, featuring a unique style quite different from other famous monasteries in Lhasa and covering an area of 114,946 square meters (28 acres). Its main buildings are the Coqen Hall, Zhacang (college) and Kamcun (dormitory).

Day 03: Visit Potala palace, Norbulingka, Johkang and Barkhor market

• You will be led towards Potala palace, Norbulingka, Johkang and Barkhor market
• Overnight at hotel

Potala Palace, the chief residence of the Dalai Lama since the 7^th century has been the focus of the travelers for centuries. It stands 300m above the valley floor, atop the hill called MarpoRi, the ‘Red Hill’. The Potala Palace is an immense structure with an interior space of about 130,000 square meters, it has thirteen stories of buildings containing 1000 rooms, 1000 shrines and about 200,000 statues that date from 1645. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Norbulingka: Built 100 years after the Potala palace, Norbulingka means ‘Treasure Park’ in Tibetan and is situated in the western suburb of Lhasa City, on the bank of the Kyichu River, about one kilometer southwest of the Potala Palace. It is the biggest man-made garden in Tibet. Norbulingka reflects both the ethnic and religious traits of the Tibetan people and embodies the architecture style of inland China. It is of great cultural value and was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2001 as an extension of Potala Palace.

Jokhang meaning ‘House of the Lord’ in Tibetan is located at the center of the old Lhasa and is the oldest and the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Jokhang Temple also houses many invaluable cultural relics. Every year, the Great Prayer Festival is held here. The rites of Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas’ initiation into lamahood are also held in the monastery.

Barkhor Street is the oldest street in Lhasa and runs through the center of the old city. It is a circular street where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Tibetans walk clockwise around the Jokhang Temple to pay their respects to Sakyamuni, establishing Barkhor Street as Tibet’s “Sacred Way”. Each day hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims flow in from every corner of Tibet and across China to make the trek through Barkhor Street. Barkhor will allow you to experience firsthand the religious fervor of Tibet.

Day 4: Departure Transfer

• After breakfast, you will be transferred to Lhasa airport for your flight to onward destination