Hello Lhasa! Upon your arrival at the Gonggar Airport, your tour guide and driver will meet you and then chauffeur you to your comfy hotel. The rest of the day is your free time to recover from the jet-lag and get acclimatized to the altitude. If you feel good and would like to go for a walk or check out places nearby, your guide would be glad to offer you some recommendations for dining and shopping. Please do not have a shower during the first two days to avoid getting a cold.

Your wonderful Tibet tour unveils from the iconic Potala Palace perched on the Marpo Ri hill. As the most well-known attraction in Tibet, Potala is not only the religious and political center, but also the seat of Dalai Lamas as well as a major pilgrimage destination. Dive into the palace to admire its immense architecture and unique religious ambience and discover the countless ancient artifacts on display.

Afterwards, pay a visit to the Jokhang Monastery, one of the most significant religious sites in Tibet. The monastery is famous for the Shakyamuni Buddha statues brought back by King Songtsen Gampo's Nepalese and Chinese wives. At the entrance of the monastery, you could see a flow of pilgrims prostrating to pray to the Buddha.

After the sightseeing, walk with the pilgrims at the Bakhor Street that surrounds the Jokhang Temple, while acquire insights into the residence of Tibetan noble families and bustling markets on the street.

Potala Palace

Follow your guide to visit the Norbulingka, the summer palace of Dalai Lama, which is the largest artificial garden in Tibet. Different from most monasteries in Lhasa, Norbulingka is blessed with elegant Tibetan-styled architectures surrounded by green plants, flowers and a small emerald Lake. As a popular public park, you may come across a lot of locals gathering in Norbulingka for picnics and leisure dancing.

Then move to another important religious site of Tibet, the Drepung Monastery. Once the residence of the Dalai Lamas before the construction of Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery covers a large area, and you may choose some outstanding sights to sight-see, such as the grand Main Assembly Hall and Ganden Palace.

At the end, make your way to the Sera Monastery which is highlighted by the monk debate session in the courtyard. It is an extraordinary spectacle to see hundreds of red-robed monks sitting on the ground in groups and debating on Buddhist philosophy with exaggerated poses. 

In the morning, embark on a ride to the serene Yamdrok-Tso, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. When the private vehicle drives by the Gampala Pass, you could have an amazing glimpse of the lake surrounded by mountains of meadow, which looks like a huge scorpion. Your driver will make a stop for you to shoot spectacular views of the sapphire Yamdrok Lake. Then a 30-minute drive down the road along the lake will take you to the foot of the Karola Glacier, where you could see the soaring tail of the glacier tongue and get humbled by its majesty.

Afterwards, hit the road for a ride to the Palkor Monastery that is blessed with the co-existence of three sects of Tibetan Buddhism, including Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelugpa. Another highlight of the monastery is the stupas with exquisite murals and countless Buddha images that are worthy of your savoring.

Then take a leisure pace around the Gyantse Old Street to check out the time-honored folk residence in traditional Tibetan style, and head for Shigatse for your accommodation tonight.

Start your adventure of Shigatse from the time-honored Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas who enjoy the second highest ranking in Tibetan Buddhism. Founded in 1447, it is one of the oldest and largest Gelug sect monasteries in Tibet, where you could trace its far-reaching history from the aged white-stone stupas.

Then drop by the New Palace of Panchen Lama which was served as the summer residence. With perfect combination of tradition and modernity, the palace would captivate your eyesight by the serenity and relaxing ambience. Drive to Shegar and stay overnight there.

In the morning, take a land ride to the Everest Base Camp, one of the most popular trekking destinations in Tibet, where you could gaze on the majestic north side of the world's highest peak. Clustered with tents and jeep cars, you could encounter a lot of mountaineering lovers who are going to conquer the Qomolangma.

Afterwards, proceed to the nearby Rongbuk Monastery with highest altitude in Tibet. Nestled at the foot of Rongbuk Glacier, it is the best place to shoot photos of the Mt. Qomolangma. Another highlight of the monastery is the mixed residence of Buddhist monks and nuns.

After the trekking, you will be escorted back to Shigatse for an overnight stay at a comfortable hotel.

In the morning, our guide and driver will transfer you back to Lhasa, whilst you could revel in the picturesque sceneries along the way. After arrival, you could either have a good rest in the hotel or get refreshed by taking a walk to places nearby on your own. The Barkhor Street is usually both the first and last stop of a Tibet tour, and you could make your way there to shop some souvenirs home, or just sit in a bar to get in touch with local people. 

Your wonderful Tibetan discovery ends and it’s time for you to say goodbye to the holy land. After breakfast, you will be escorted to Lhasa Airport for your departure flight. Wish you a nice journey home!