Tibet Lhasa Shangri La Tour

Trip Itinerary

• 01

  Fly: Kathmandu to Lhasa (3,660 m)

  After breakfast in Kathmandu, you will transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport and take a flight to Lhasa, a journey of about 1 hour and 15 minutes with stunning views of the Himalayas. For the best scenery, try to sit on the left side to see peaks like Langtang Lirung, Shishapangma, Mount Everest, Makalu, and Lhotse, and watch the landscape change from green valleys to the colorful Tibetan Plateau with turquoise lakes like Yamdrok Lake. Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, at an elevation of 3,570 meters, your Tibet guide will welcome you and assist with immigration formalities and the issuance of your Tibet Travel Permit. From there, a comfortable 45-minute to 1.5-hour drive along the Yarlung Tsangpo and Lhasa Rivers will take you to your hotel in Lhasa’s Old City or Barkhor area, passing traditional Tibetan villages and offering your first view of the majestic Potala Palace. Once at the hotel, check in and take time to rest, hydrate, and acclimatize to the high altitude, as no activities are planned for the day. This gentle adjustment is essential to prepare your body for the exciting experiences ahead.

  Flight: 1.15 hours | Transfer: 60 km, 45 min-1 hour | Accommodation: Hotel |
• 02

  Lhasa City Tour

  After a nourishing breakfast, your guide will give an overview of the day’s itinerary before leading you on an exciting exploration of Lhasa’s main sites:

  • Sera Monastery: Insights into Tibetan Buddhism: one of Lhasa’s most famous Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, known for its vibrant monastic debates and rich religious history. Visitors can explore its beautiful halls, chapels, and courtyards while learning about Tibetan Buddhism and the daily life of the monks.
  • Norbulingka, Dalai Lama's Summer Retreat: the magnificent summer palace of the Dalai Lama, located in Lhasa. Famous for its beautiful gardens, intricate Tibetan artwork, and historical significance, it offers visitors a glimpse into Tibetan culture and royal life.
  • Jokhang Monastery: Cultural Heritage Unveiled: the most sacred temple in Lhasa and a central place of Tibetan Buddhism. Known for its spiritual significance, ancient architecture, and sacred statues, it draws pilgrims and visitors seeking to experience Tibet’s rich religious heritage.
  • Barkhor Square: Lively Hub of Lhasa: the vibrant heart of Lhasa, surrounding the Jokhang Monastery. Filled with bustling markets, colorful prayer flags, and local pilgrims, it offers a lively glimpse into everyday Tibetan life and culture.

  After a day of sightseeing, your guide will take you back to your hotel. Relax and think about the cultural treasures you’ve seen, and get ready for the adventures to come.

  Accommodation: Hotel | Meal: Breakfast
• 03

  Lhasa City Tour

  Start your day with an early breakfast, then set out with your guide to explore the stunning Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery. The Potala Palace rises majestically against the Lhasa skyline, leaving a lasting impression on all who see it.

  • Potala Palace: Majestic Wonder: a majestic fortress and former residence of the Dalai Lama, perched on Marpo Ri (Red Hill) in Lhasa. Famous for its striking red and white walls, intricate Tibetan architecture, and rich spiritual history, it is a symbol of Tibetan culture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Drepung Monastery: Tranquil Sanctuary: one of the largest and most important monasteries in Tibet, located on the Gambo Utse hill near Lhasa. Founded in 1416, it was once home to thousands of monks and is renowned for its impressive architecture, rich Buddhist traditions, and historical significance in Tibetan culture.

  After a full day of cultural exploration, your guide will take you back to your hotel to rest and recharge. Use this time to reflect on the day’s experiences and get ready for the exciting adventures ahead.

  Note: The Potala Palace allows only a limited number of visitors each day, so the order of your visit may change. Your guide will adjust the plan to make sure you still have a great and memorable experience.

  Accommodation: Hotel | Meal: Breakfast
• 04

  Day Excursion to Ganden Monastery (4,300 m). Overnight in Lhasa

  Start your day with a drive east from Lhasa along the Kyi Chu (Lhasa River), passing modern areas, barley fields, and small villages. The road then climbs steep, winding switchbacks, offering amazing views of the river below, until you reach Ganden Monastery, a striking white-and-ochre fortress on the mountainside. Spend the middle of the day exploring the monastery’s highlights, including the Serdung (Tomb of Tsongkhapa), the Tsokchen (Main Assembly Hall) with its large statues and detailed woodwork, and the peaceful Ngamacho Chapel, where Tsongkhapa is said to have reached enlightenment. In the afternoon, enjoy a high-altitude picnic before walking the Great Ganden Kora, a ridge trail with colorful prayer flags, sacred landmarks, and stunning views of the Lhasa River and surrounding snow-capped peaks. Walk through the monks’ quarters to see daily life, then return to Lhasa along the scenic switchbacks, stopping for photos, and arrive at your hotel or the Barkhor area for an overnight stay.

  Accommodation: Hotel | Transfer: 110 km | Duration: 7-9 hours | Meal: Breakfast
• 05

  Day Excursion to Namtso Lake (4,718 m). Overnight in Lhasa

  Start early from Lhasa at dawn and head north along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, passing the Damxung Valley and the vast Changtang Plateau, where nomadic herders tend their yak and sheep. Stop briefly in Damxung Town to refresh and prepare for the ascent to Laken-la Pass at 5,190 meters, where prayer flags flutter and you catch your first stunning view of Namtso Lake against the snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha mountains. Descend to the southern shore and explore the Tashi Dor Peninsula, visiting sacred cave hermitages and limestone formations like the "Two Fingers" and "Gate of Heaven," and walking along the serene shoreline reflecting the towering peaks. Enjoy a packed lunch or a simple teahouse meal, then begin the return journey in the afternoon, taking in the scenic Laken-la Pass, the Yangpachen geothermal area, and possibly a nomad encampment. Arrive back in Lhasa by evening, relax, hydrate, and enjoy a quiet dinner after a long but unforgettable day at one of Tibet’s most spectacular high-altitude lakes.

  Accommodation: Hotel | Transfer: 230 km | Duration: 8-10 hours | Meal: Breakfast
• 06

  Drive: Lhasa to Tsedang (3,500 m). Overnight in Tsedang

  In the morning, you leave Lhasa and drive south along the G349 highway, entering the Yarlung Tsangpo Corridor, where the braided river meets vast sand dunes, showing the unique high-altitude desert landscape of southern Tibet. Crossing into the Lhokha region, the air feels a bit warmer as you descend slightly to 3,500 meters. By midday, you reach Tsedang for lunch at a local tea house, sampling Lhokha-style Tsampa, before visiting Trandruk Monastery on Mt. Zhaxi Ceri, where the legend of the falcon and the famous Avalokiteshvara Pearl Thangka await. In the afternoon, a short drive brings you to Yumbulagang, Tibet’s first palace, where you can hike or ride a horse up to enjoy panoramic views of Zortang, Tibet’s first cultivated field, and see murals depicting the early Yarlung kings. In the evening, you return to Tsedang, check into your hotel, and explore the local market, soaking in the authentic provincial life.

  Accommodation: Hotel | Transfer: 160 km | Duration: 4 hours | Meal: Breakfast
• 07

  Drive: Tsedang to Samye. Drive back to Lhasa

  In the morning, you leave Tsedang and follow the northern bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo, where the deep blue river winds past pale dunes and barren mountains, until you reach Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first officially ordained monastery, founded in the 8th century. Midday is spent exploring the monastery’s remarkable mandala layout, with the central Utse temple representing Mount Meru, surrounded by temples symbolizing continents and subcontinents and featuring Tibetan, Chinese, and Indian architectural styles, colorful stupas, and a perimeter wall with 1,024 small stupas. Lunch in Samye Village offers traditional barley bread, yak-butter tea, and local vegetables in a rustic setting. In the afternoon, you drive back to Lhasa along the northern riverbank, enjoying scenic bridges and tunnels, with a possible stop at the intimate Netang Tara Chapel, home to ancient statues of the Twenty-One Taras. As you re-enter the Lhasa Valley, the Potala Palace comes into view, and the evening is free for a quiet dinner or a reflective stroll along the Barkhor Circuit, absorbing the peaceful atmosphere of pilgrims and the scent of burning juniper before overnighting in Lhasa.

  Accommodation: Hotel | Transfer: 170 km | Duration: 7-9 hours | Meal: Breakfast
• 08

  Fly: Lhasa to Kathmandu

  After a final breakfast in Lhasa, you will be transferred to Lhasa Gonggar Airport to catch your flight back to Kathmandu. As you leave Tibet behind, take in the last glimpses of the snow-capped peaks and vast plateau that made your journey so unforgettable.

  You are expected to arrive in Kathmandu around midday, where a dedicated transfer will be waiting to escort you to your hotel. Relax during the drive and reflect on your experiences, knowing that your journey concludes in comfort and style. This marks the seamless and memorable end to your remarkable Tibet adventure, leaving you with lasting memories of the stunning landscapes, rich culture, and spiritual beauty you explored.

  Meal: Breakfast