Lhasa With Yamdrok Lake

Complete Tour Itinerary

Day 01 : Kathmandu / Lhasa

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to connect with your flight to Lhasa via Air China or Sichuan Airlines. The flight offers spectacular aerial views of the high Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest. Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, our representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel.

Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. It is one of the highest cities in the world, situated at an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,990 feet), with surrounding mountain peaks rising to 5,500 meters (18,000 feet). The city has served as the religious, cultural, economic, and administrative heart of Tibet since the mid-17th century and contains many of the most culturally significant sites in Tibetan Buddhism.

The legendary Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, became the leader of the Tibetan Empire in the mid-7th century and ruled until 649 AD. During his reign, he constructed many of the city’s most prominent monuments. Following the fall of the monarchy in the 9th century and the subsequent rise of the 5th Dalai Lama, Lhasa’s importance as a religious sanctuary grew significantly. In 1950, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Tibet. In March 1959, an uprising centered in Lhasa prompted a massive crackdown, forcing the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, to flee into exile in India.

The remainder of the day is completely free at your leisure to rest and focus on acclimatization to the high altitude.

Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

Day 02 : Lhasa (CITY SIGHTSEEING)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then proceed for an immersive tour of Lhasa’s most iconic central landmarks: the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the historic Barkhor Bazaar.

Potala Palace: Majestically situated atop Marpo Ri (Red Hill) in the heart of Lhasa, the original palace fortress was built in 637 AD by King Songtsen Gampo. Though that structure was largely destroyed in the 9th century, construction on the grand palace we see today began in 1645 under the 5th Dalai Lama, taking 45 years to complete. The complex is divided into the structural zones of the White Palace (the administrative and residential quarters) and the Red Palace (dedicated to religious study and shrines). Rising 13 stories high, it contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, 200,000 statues, and the jewel-encrusted burial tombs of past Dalai Lamas. This architectural masterpiece of stone and wood covers 130,000 square meters and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas until 1959. It was named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of Avalokiteshvara, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Jokhang Temple: Founded in 652 AD by King Songtsen Gampo, this temple was built to house sacred Buddhist statues brought to Tibet as dowries by his two wives, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of China. The temple was expanded significantly over the next 900 years, with its final historical renovation overseen by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1610. The revered Indian master Atisha taught here in the 11th century, and the complex has been considered the most sacred temple in Tibet ever since. A major restoration took place between 1972 and 1980, during which expert Nepalese artisans contributed to repairing the temple’s intricate design elements. Jokhang Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Barkhor Market: This circular street forms the historic heart of old Lhasa. Encircling the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street serves as a sacred pilgrim inner circuit, as well as the city’s main trading hub. Its origins date back to the foundation of the temple itself. Every day into the deep hours of the night, Buddhist pilgrims can be seen walking clockwise or progressing by full-body prostrations along the paving stones. Often called “the window of Tibet,” it offers a vibrant look into traditional Tibetan lifestyle, clothing, and culture.

Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

Day 03 : Lhasa (MONASTERY EXCURSIONS)

Following breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring two of Tibet’s legendary monastic universities located on the outskirts of the city.

Drepung Monastery: Built in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden (1397–1449), a direct disciple of Je Tsongkhapa (the founder of the Gelugpa school). Perched on the slopes of Mount Gambo Utse west of Lhasa, Drepung literally translates to “Rice Heap” due to the striking white appearance of its stacked structures on the hillside. It stands as the largest and historically wealthiest of the “Great Three” Gelugpa university monasteries in Lhasa, once housing over 10,000 monks and governing more than 7,700 subsidiary institutions across the plateau.

Sera Monastery: Founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey Sakya Yeshe (1355–1435), another prominent disciple of Je Tsongkhapa. At its historical peak, it housed over 6,000 monks and was famous for its formidable warrior-monks (Dob-dob). Sera, meaning “Enclosure of Roses,” is another of the “Great Three” Gelugpa university centers. The complex comprises a grand assembly hall, colleges, and 32 residential sectors. Extensively refurbished, it now houses a smaller community of active monks. The monastic library guards invaluable ancient texts and scriptures. The monastery is well known for its animated theological debates, which take place in the courtyard every afternoon between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

Day 04 : Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake Excursion / Lhasa

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then depart for a breathtaking day excursion to Yamdrok Lake, situated roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Lhasa.

The scenic drive climbs steadily uphill to the spectacular Khambala Pass (5,050 meters / 16,568 feet). From this high mountain vantage point, you will get a magnificent bird’s-eye view of the sprawling lake below. Under clear weather, the water shifts into a fabulous, vivid shade of deep turquoise. Looking far across the horizon, you can spot the massive, snow-capped peak of Mount Noijin Kangsang rising into the clouds.

Yamdrok Tso is a low-salinity lake formed primarily by glacial runoff and snowmelt from the surrounding mountain ranges. It is revered as one of the four principal holy lakes of Tibet, deeply woven into local mythology as a protective talisman that supports the spiritual life-force of the Tibetan nation.

After enjoying lunch near the lakeside, drive back through the mountains to Lhasa for your final evening.

Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

Day 05 : Lhasa / Kathmandu / Departure

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Your morning is free for leisure, packing, or final exploration until you are transferred to Lhasa Gonggar Airport to board your return flight to Kathmandu.