Welcome to Tibet! When you land the Lhasa airport, your thoughtful guide and driver will pick you up, and then escort you to a comfortable hotel for a good rest. Lhasa gets high altitude and thin air that may cause discomfort and sickness to first timers, while a sound sleep at the hotel or a leisure walking outside would help to get accustomed to the climate as soon as possible. Please do not take a shower to avoid getting a cold. 

Your Tibet exploration unveils from the magnificent Potala Palace, once the political center of Tibet and the winter residence of Dalai Lamas of generations. Ascend to get to the palace and discover the incredible treasures, antiques, murals and artworks hidden in the maze-like chambers, chapels and prayer halls.

Afterwards, you will be taken to marvel at the 1300-year-old Jokhang Monastery, which is regarded as the spiritual center of Tibet. Lingering outside the temple, you could witness flows of pious pilgrims prostrating themselves to worship the Buddha, which is the most awestruck practice of a Buddhist pilgrimage. Enter the temple to admire the golden Buddha statues brought by King Songtsen Gampo's Han wife Wencheng Princess from Tang Dynasty.

Next, proceed to the bustling Barkhor Street, from which tourists start to discover local Tibetan people's life by the busy street vendors and eateries. You could follow the flow of pilgrims for a short circuit to have an overview of the street. At last, you will be transferred back to your hotel for a good rest.

Your first sightseeing attraction is Norbulingka, which used to be the summer palace of Dalai Lamas, and now is a public leisure park for locals. Reputed as the House of Treasures, Norbulingka is blessed with brilliant buildings of Tibetan architecture, precious historical relics and artworks. Discover the resplendent palaces by savoring the exquisite Thangkas, Buddha statues, murals and delicate chinaware, and seek the rare flora and plants in the garden.

Then move to the Drepung Monastery, one of the three pillars of the Tibetan Buddhism. It is the largest-scale monastery among the ones of the same kind, which seems a heap of rice seen from a distance. The pilgrim circuit of the monastery is a highlight for you to get inspiration of pious disciples.

Afterwards, proceed to the brilliant Sera Monastery where 600 monks are now in residence. Beside admiring spectacular prayer halls and chapels, the most not-to-miss event is the monk debating between 2pm and 4pm in an open-air courtyard in the northeastern corner of the monastery, where you could watch monks'shouting, hand clapping and exaggerated gesticulation during their fierce debating.

In the morning, you will be transferred to the stunning Yamdrok Lake, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet. The best way to absorb its beauty is to gaze from the viewing platforms near the Kamba-la as when you drive en route between Lhasa and Gyantse, and the lake in turquoise waters is just like jewels inlaid in the pastures. Then continue the ride to the dazzling Karola Glacier. The driver would make a stopover by the road, from where you could capture the splendid appearance of the snow mountain and take some great photos by a distance.

Then drive to the 15th-century Palkhor Monastery famous for exquisite murals and statues. Over 100,000 Buddha images are painted on the pagoda of the temple, which display the harmonious co-existence of different religious sects of Tibetan Buddhism.

When you reach Gyantse, hang out at the Old Street to explore the age-old storied residence of Tibetan locals, and get lodged in a local hotel in Shigatse for an overnight stay.

Start your exploration of Shigatse from the Tashilhunpo Monastery, where Panchen Lamas of generations are in residence. Enter the unscathed monastery to discover the aged buildings along the twisting lanes, and wonder at the gilded golden Buddha statues.

After that, continue to uncover the life of Panchen Lama by visiting the New Palace of Panchen Lama, a resplendent summer retreat built by the 10th Panchen in 1954. Panchen enjoys lofty status in Tibetan Buddhists, and their splendid and imposing palaces also collect numerous historical relics and delicate artworks. Take a paced stroll inside to unlock more Buddhist stories and legends through the exquisite murals and relief sculptures.

At last, you will be transferred back to Lhasa.

Your wonderful Tibet journey concludes today. Our guide and driver will transfer you to the Gonggar Airport for your departure flight, and say good bye to you there. Wish you a nice trip home.