Tibet Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake

Upon reaching Gonggar airport, Lhasa our Tibetan guide will be waiting outside the arrival gate and he will extend cordial greetings and welcome you with Hada, the customary Tibetan ceremonial scarf.

Then after the driver and guide will drive you to your accommodation in the heart of Lhasa. On the way to hotel, we will be able to see Yarlung Tsangpo River, also known as the Brahmaputra River, which is the longest and greatest river in Tibet, and also see Lhasa River.

After arrival in the hotel, we will take some time to rest and adjust with the high altitude. And spend our day in Lhasa. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

After having breakfast in hotel, we will get ready for Lhasa Tour.

At first, we will go to visit Drepung monastery which used to be home of over 10,000 monks once upon a time and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace. We can meditate in this monastery for maximum 1 hour, if any rituals is not being performed during our visit.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three greats” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa. Guide will help you understand on how Tibetan monks participate in these discussions in order to learn new things and improve their academic standing. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

After having breakfast in hotel, we will begin the tour from UNESCO World Heritage sites: Potala Palace. which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.

After visiting Potala Palace, we will visit Longwangtan Park which is located at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, we will be able to appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities as well.

Then after we will continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Inside we can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Next to the temple there is Barkhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry. Here, we can do Kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

In the end, we can follow our guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. We can sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

In the morning after having breakfast, we will drive towards Yamdrok Lake (4400 m) which takes about 2-3 hours (100 km). Surrounded by several snow-capped mountains, Yamdrok Lake offers breathtaking views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191 m), the highest mountain close to Lhasa. It is also possible to see local nomads grazing their yaks on the lakeshore.

Then, we will visit the Rutog Monastery and the lonely monk residing on the small island in the center of Yamdrok Lake. From Rutog Island, we can enjoy a broader view of Yamdrok Lake and the surrounding islands.

After the visit, we will return to Lhasa via the famous Gampala Pass (4900 m). From the Gampala Pass platform, we can see Yamdrok Lake stretching for tens of kilometers like a wide blue ribbon to the foot of Noijin Kangsang Peak (7191 m). Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

On final day of your Tibet journey, you will be transferred from your hotel in Lhasa to Gonggar Airport for your return flight to Kathmandu. Enjoy a spectacular Trans-Himalayan flight offering breathtaking aerial views of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu, if the weather permits. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel, carrying unforgettable memories of Tibet’s spiritual and cultural treasures.