5-Day Small Group Lhasa and Ganden Monastery Tour

A local tour guide will welcome you at the airport or train station when you arrive in Lhasa, then you will be transfer to the hotel. Please take a rest and acclimatize the high altitude in the hotel and no need to rush for sightseeing.

This small group-joined tour departs on fix date and request minimum number of people to form the group, if you want to decide your own tour date, please contact with us to check, highly recommended don't issue the tickets in advance by yourselves without checking with us for dates and permit, based on long-term good relationship with airlines, we can guarantee to get tickets for you, even with very good discount. It's also possible for arranging you go to Lhasa one or two days before tour date to get acclimatized to high altitude, of course, need to pay accommodation and picking up with guide service extra. The tour economy class which hotels in the cities are 3 and basic dormitory at Mt. Everest Base Camp, if you want to upgrade to 4 or 5* hotel (only possible in Lhasa), please contact with us for available and cost. If you are solo traveler, we will try to arrange you share the room with other odd people, but if not possible, you need to pay single supplement to get your own room.

Your tour will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site - Potala Palace. As you approach Potala Palace, marvel at the 13-story fort, which dominates the Lhasa Valley at an altitude of 12,140 feet (3,700 meters). Established in the 7th century during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo, Potala Palace was built as a winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The complex, built on Red Mountain, covers 101 acres (41 hectares) and includes many sutras and painted scrolls -- a treasure of traditional Tibetan culture and Buddhism. Pass through the massive walled gates and turrets with your guide and visit the private rooms, shrine room and audience hall of the present Dalai Lama on the uppermost level of the White Palace. View the most sacred shrine, the Phakpa Lhakang Temple, as well as the entombed stupas of past Dalai Lamas. Marvel at the Namgyal Monastery assembly hall and its fascinating murals!

Designated as part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jokhang Temple Monastery is a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. . A renowned pilgrimage destination for Tibetans, the Buddhist religious complex was founded by Queen Bhrikuti in the 7th century. Look with awe at the temple’s rich ornamentation, beautiful murals and harmonious integration with the striking landscape. Your guide will take you to the temple's most important chapels and point out the sacred Jowo Sakyamuni Buddha statue, which represents the Buddha at the age of 12.

Next, continue to Barkhor Street, which runs through the heart of the old city and filled with pilgrims and street vendors. Life here has changed little over the centuries. As you walk in a clockwise direction along the circuit, you’ll find stalls selling everything from traditional Tibetan clothes to knives to prayer wheels and thangka, Tibetan scroll painting. In the evening, enjoy the welcome dinner before retiring to your hotel.

In the morning, visit Drepung monastery ---- the home temple of the Dalai Lama and known as one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Drepung monastery used to be a seat of central government until the 5th Dalai Lama built Potala Palace.

In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and developed over the centuries as a renowned place of scholarly learning. Admire the imposing complex, built in 1419 by one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect. As you explore the site, your guide will explain the significance of the picturesque green and gold design, typical of Tibetan architecture. Learn about the 1959 revolt that destroyed some of the monastery structures and caused many surviving monks to seek refuge in Mysore, India, where another Sera Monastery was established. The highlight will be monks debate around 3 pm - 5 pm.

In the morning,drive to Ganden Monastery, one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries in Tibet. It is also one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in this area, and stands the top six famous temples of Gelugpa - a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.

Transfer from hotel to airport(at specified time) or train station(anytime).