4 Days Lhasa City Tour with Tibetan Family Visit & Cultural Experience

Welcome to Lhasa - the Heart of Tibet! Tashi Delek! Your Tibet adventure begins upon arrival in Lhasa. Our friendly local guide and driver will greet you at the airport or train station and escort you to your downtown hotel (1.5-hour drive). Enjoy a restful night to acclimate to the high altitude (3,650m), and get ready to explore the wonders of Lhasa with your guide the next day.

Getting to Lhasa (Flight & Train Ideas):

Lhasa is easily accessible by air, train, or road. The Lhasa Gonggar Airport welcomes flights from major cities like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and even Kathmandu. If you prefer the scenic route, take the famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway from cities like Xining, Beijing, or Chengdu.

Travel Tips:

• To avoid altitude sickness, take it easy the first few days: drink plenty of water, stay warm, and get enough rest.
• Follow your doctor’s advice about altitude based on your health.
• Always inform your guide or hotel staff if you feel unwell -they’re experienced in handling altitude issues and are ready to assist you.

Start your day with a visit to Yaowang Mountain (Chakpori Hill), located just south of the Potala Palace. Climb a few steps to reach the white pagoda and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the majestic Potala Palace. This is the perfect spot to capture the iconic scene featured on the 50 Yuan banknote.

Next, move to the Potala Palace to explore. Not only is it the landmark of Tibet, but it is also the traditional residence and winter palace of the Dalai Lama (1649-1959). After climbing 365 steps from the gate of the Potala Palace to reach the Red Palace, you will arrive at the highest palace in the world at an altitude of 3,700m, where you can enjoy an excellent panoramic view of Lhasa city. As you explore the principal halls, chapels, and shrines of past Dalai Lamas in the Red Palace, you will be amazed and moved by its remarkable paintings, gorgeous jeweled works, skilled carving, colorful ornamentation, and the mystery stories behind the treasures. Inside the Potala Palace, you will meet many Tibetan pilgrims who come from afar to pray at this sacred site, making it a lifetime destination for them. You can also ask your guide to provide more stories about Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of Tibet, who first built the Potala Palace in the 7th century for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

Please note that the visit order may be adjusted based on the visiting time specified on your Potala Palace ticket. All visitors are required to visit the palace with a tour group and remain inside for one hour. Please be advised that photography is prohibited inside the palace.

After exploring the Potala Palace, head to the 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is said that the Jokhang Monastery was built for King Songtsen Gampo's two brides: Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. “Jokhang” means “House of Buddha”, and it houses the life-size statue of the 12-year-old Sakyamuni, a priceless treasure in the Buddhist world. This is why Buddhist pilgrims regard it as the holiest destination. Time seems to stand still as you watch them pray in front of the temple, day and night.

Afterward, take a stroll down the bustling Barkhor Street near the Jokhang Monastery, once a place for Buddhists to do a kora (pilgrimage circuit) in ancient times. Today, it is a lively local market where you can enjoy a pot of yak butter tea, dress in Tibetan clothes for photos, and shop for local Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.

Optional Experience: If you're interested, you can wear traditional Tibetan costumes and makeup, walk around the street, and take unforgettable photos. Let us know your preferences if you'd like to try this experience.

In the morning, enjoy the experience at the Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Center, fully immerse yourself by making Tibetan incense, Tibetan calligraphy, and the secrets of block printing. Tibetan incense is typically burned as an offering during religious ceremonies and rituals in Tibetan Buddhism. The ingredients used for Tibetan incense usually include juniper, sandalwood, cedarwood, cinnamon, cloves, and various medicinal herbs. Besides learning how to make Tibetan incense, you can also participate in writing your own name in the Tibetan Language with the help of a local teacher, and engraving and printing it out. Handmade Tibetan incense and printed text can be taken home as a souvenir of the Tibetan cultural experience.

In the afternoon, drive another 40min (14km) to visit Sera Monastery. Step on one of the most beautiful monastery compounds, and its white stone roads and walkways makes you feel almost Mediterranean. The highlight of Sera Monastery is watch the monks’ debate at around 15:00 - 17:00 (except Sundays). It is an interesting form of debate, you can see one monk, the questioner, standing while the answerer or group of answerers, sitting. The standing monk will ask question and slap his palms and stomp, each action has its special meaning, such as activating wisdom, and are not meant to be aggressive.

Then, you will visit a local Tibetan family to get an intimate look at their traditional home, learn about their authentic way of life, and try traditional Tibetan cuisine (such as zaba, butter tea, and other snacks).

After that, be escorted back to your hotel in Lhasa.

It is time to end your 4-day Tibet Lhasa tour. You will have some free time in Lhasa and explore more on your own till your guide escorts you to the airport/train station for your flight or train to your next destination.

Extension Ideas: If you prefer to travel longer in Tibet, you can extend your trip to other highlighted parts of Tibet, including Shigatse, Gyantse, Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash. Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!