You will be greeted by your Tibetan guide once you arrive in Lhasa Gonggar airport or train station. From airport to Lhasa city is 68km, around one hour and half drive will take you to the holy city Lhasa; from the train station it is only 15km and takes 20 minutes by drive. Afternoon, have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. Overnight in Lhasa.
The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark-Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels. In the afternoon, we will drop a visit of the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then we will visit Barkhor, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet.
Today, you’ll also visit a Thangka workshop in the city to learn about this traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting, observe the process of making and participate in the ancient art form. You can keep the Thangka painting you create as a personal memento of the experience.
Today, we’ll have a tour to Samye Monastery, which is located in Shannan (Lhoka) region near the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and is celebrated as the first Buddhist monastery ever built in Tibet. Founded in the 8th century during the reign of King Trisong Detsen, it marks the formal establishment of Buddhism in Tibet. The monastery’s layout is said to mirror the Buddhist vision of the universe, with a central temple representing Mount Meru surrounded by smaller chapels symbolizing continents and oceans. Samye also boasts a large number of exquisite murals which have been well kept for thousand years, with the three most famous themes accounting for the history of Tibet, the history of Samye Monastery and the biography of Guru Padmasambhava.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Trandruk Monastery, a historic Buddhist temple located in the Yarlung Valley of Tibet, believed to have been founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo. One of the monastery’s most remarkable treasures is its famous thangka—a large, exquisite tapestry made of approximately 29,000 pearls along with precious stones (diamond, rubies, and sapphire, etc.). This thangka depicts Avalokiteshvara and is said to have been created by Princess Wencheng herself. It measures about 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, weighing around 1.3 kilograms. The thangka is kept in the central chapel on the upper floor and is revered not only as a stunning artwork but also as a sacred religious artifact.
This morning, we start heading west and first pay a visit to Gongkar Chöde Monastery, a major institution of the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism established in 1464. This monastery is famous for its 15th-century murals painted in the distinctive Khyenri style, which is an important school of Tibetan murals and painting, founded by the artist Khyentse Chenmo. Khyenri paintings are known for its vivid colors, attention to detail, realism, and its innovative use of Chinese landscape elements.
Then, we continue driving to Gyantse County, and stop by Yamdrok-tso (4,441m) along the way, which is one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dotted with small islands, its turquoise waters are believed to hold spiritual power.
After arrival, we’ll visit the iconic landmark of Gyantse - Palkhor Monastery. The murals of Palkhor Monastery represent the most significant aspect of its cultural heritage, encompassing three principal themes: Sūtrayāna (Exoteric Buddhism), Vajrayāna (Esoteric Buddhism), and depictions of historical figures. The mural paintings of the monastery began in 1418, and the creation process spanned nearly two decades, finally concluding in 1438. This protracted twenty-year endeavor rendered the murals a rare systematic religious art project in Tibetan art history.
Today, we drive west to Shigatse. En route, have a tour to Shalu Monastery, which is renowned throughout Tibet for its fusion of Tibetan and Han architectural styles. The monastery's murals represent a masterpiece of Yuan Dynasty Tibetan Buddhist mural art. The themes encompass both exoteric and esoteric traditions. Exoteric subjects primarily feature Tibetan legends and Buddha's previous lives, depicted in grand compositions using a grid-like layout encircling the outer walls of the corridors. These resplendent murals, adorned with gold and vibrant colors, constitute a unique highlight of Shalu Monastery. Among them, the series of Manjushri mandala murals in the Eastern Palace of Infinite Light, personally painted by Abbot Buton Rinchendrub in the 14th century are exceptionally precious.
Then, you’ll visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the throne of Panchen Lama. Afternoon, drive back to Lhasa along Yarlong Tsangpo River via south path with a slightly different route. So, sit back and enjoy another full day of breathless mountains under an endless Himalayan sky. After you arrive in Lhasa, you will have plenty of time on your own to explore what you have missed last time, free walk on the old town street, try unique Tibetan food & tea, etc.
Today after breakfast, set out on a scenic drive southwest toward Phuntsoling Monastery, located in Lhatse County, about 105km away from Shigatse city. Built in 1615, this lesser-visited monastery was originally part of the Jonangpa school before being converted to the Gelug school. The mural arts of Phuntsoling Monastery in Tibet are among the finest examples of traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting, with wide range of subjects - from scenes in the life of the Buddha and complex mandalas to portraits of revered masters and protective deities. Each image is carefully composed according to precise iconographic rules, blending artistic beauty with religious meaning.
Then, continue your journey toward Sakya, a historic town known for the distinctive gray-and-red walls of the Sakya Monastery, the spiritual heart of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. The drive takes around two to three hours, with beautiful views of the rugged Tibetan plateau along the way. Once in Sakya, visit the monastery’s vast assembly halls and ancient library, which houses an impressive collection of Buddhist scriptures and artifacts. End the day with a quiet evening in Sakya town, taking in the unique atmosphere of this historic religious center.
Begin your day in Sakya town, enjoying an early breakfast before starting the drive back to Lhasa. The distance is about 410 kilometers and takes roughly seven to eight hours, following the well-paved Friendship Highway. As you leave Sakya, you’ll pass through small villages and open stretches of the Tibetan plateau, with wide views of mountains and rivers along the way. Stop at roadside towns for short breaks or lunch, where you can experience local hospitality and simple Tibetan or Chinese-style meals. Continue your drive in the afternoon, gradually descending toward the Lhasa River Valley. Arrive in Lhasa by evening, check into your hotel, and rest after a full day’s journey on the road.
Today, Lhasa airport or train station dropping off, the time to say your farewells to your guide and driver, end the trip.
Potala Palace
Mt. Everest
Yamdrok Lake
Sera Monastery
Namtso Lake
Mt. Kailash
From Jan, CzechThe trip went exactly as planned and we saw exactly everything that was promised in the program. I chose this travel agency by chance, but it turned out that I could not have chosen a better one for seeing Mount Everest, so I highly recommend it to everyone.
From Vicki, United KingdomOur guide in Lhasa called Phurbur was excellent and answered all our questions on Tibet as well as giving us loads of information and taking us to some cheap local eating places (as we requested) where he ate with us.
