Tibet - Lhasa 3 Nights/4 Days Tour
Day 01 (Sat) - Flight to Lhasa
You can fly into Lhasa from major Chinese cities, Bangkok,
Hong Kong or Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Lhasa’s Gongaar airport, we
will meet our local Tibetan guide and we are transferred to our hotel
in the city (75km/47 miles, 1 hr.). About 17km (11 miles) before
Lhasa, we stop to see a small but a significant monastery of Drolma
Lakhang, associated with Bengali scholar-Atisha, known as Jowo Je by
Tibetans. The temple is full of ancient relics and hidden treasures. 6
km from Drolma Lakhang, we stop briefly to see the rock engraving of
Medicine Buddha at the base of a cliff. We check in hotel and take
rest for the day to cope with altitude sickness.
Overnight hotel in Lhasa
Day 02 (Sun) - At Lhasa, Potala Palace, Norbulingkha Palace,
Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street.
Today, we have a full day to explore the highlights of Lhasa.
We begin the day from Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace-the principal
attraction of Lhasa, which was residence and power center of Tibet
until Dalai Lama’s departure from Tibet in 1959. From here, we head to
Norbulingkha Gardens to see the summer palaces of the Dalai Lama. Of
all the palaces, current Dalai Lama, the 14th’s palace is the major
attraction. We visit his private chambers and audience hall. In the
afternoon, we head to Barkhor and we will have a lunch break there.
After lunch, we visit the ancient Jokhang Temple, built in the 7th
century by King Songtsen Gampo to house the image of Buddha brought to
Tibet as part of dowry of his Nepali wife Bhrikuti. After that, we
will take a stroll in the pilgrimage path of Barkhor that surrounds
the Jokhang Temple. Barkhor area is truly Tibetan, with Tibetan shops
lining up on the either sides of the street and that the streets
packed with Tibetan devotees with their prayer wheels spinning or
beads counting with utterance of sacred mantra and some in
prostration.
Overnight hotel in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast
Day 03 (Mon) - At Lhasa, Drepung Monastery, Nechung
Monastery, Sera Kora and Pabonka Monastery.
In the morning, we drive about 5 miles to visit Drepung
Monastery-the largest, richest and the most powerful of the three
major Yellow Sect monasteries of Tibet. Drepung commanded the
administration of Tibet before establishment of Potala Palace. At
Drepung, we visit the Ganden Palace, the main Assembly Hall and some
of the colleges of Buddhist studies. From Drepung, we descend to
Nechung Monastery which is 10 minutes walk downhill. It was the seat
of state oracle until Dalai Lama’s departure in 1959. From Drepung, we
head to Sera Monastery other major Gelugpa monasteries of Lhasa. If
you are hiking enthusiast, one hour long Sera Kora (pilgrimage path
around Sera Monastery) is worth. Along the trail, we will see the rock
paintings and hermitages of Tsongkhapa (Founder of Gelugpa sect).
After Sera kora, we enter the monastery and visit its main assembly
hall and some of its several Buddhist colleges. We will also take
chance to attend the monks debating session. We have also option of
hiking to Pabonka Monastery, which takes about one hour from Sera.
Pabonka is one of the most ancient Buddhist sites in the Lhasa region
and unfrequented by tourists.
Overnight hotel in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast
Day 04 (Tue) - Flight Lhasa-Kathmandu
After an early morning breakfast you are transferred to the
airport for flight to Kathmandu. Depart Lhasa @ 1105Am and arrive in
Kathmandu @ 1030Am.
Meals: Breakfast
