🗓️ 7 Days 6 Nights 👥 Max Guests: 15 💬 Bilingual Guides 🏨 5-Star Hotels ➕ Min. Guests: 2

Details

Explore Tibet’s cultural and spiritual highlights, from Kumbum Monastery and Lhasa’s iconic Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to the vibrant Barkhor Street, serene Yamdrok Yumtso, and the historic monasteries of Norbulingka, Drepung, and Sera.

Day 2: Qinghai-Tibet Railway: An Overnight Train from Xining to Lhasa

Morning:

Meet your guide and transfer to Xining Railway Station for the overnight train to Lhasa.

Reference trains are as follows (subject to actual ticket issuance):

12:50 Xining 10:20 Lhasa

Train no.: Z8981 (Regular train)

Embark on an overnight train from Xining to Lhasa (Train Z8981, approx. 21 hours 30 minutes) with a reserved soft sleeper berth.

Day 3: Lhasa: Transfer from the Train Station to the Hotel

Morning/Afternoon:

Upon arrival, your guide will transfer you to the Tangka Hotel, Lhasa, for check-in.

Evening:

Explore Lhasa at your own pace.

Day 4: From Palace to Pilgrimage: A Day Exploring Lhasa's Heart

Morning:

Meet the tour guide in the hotel lobby, and then head to the Potala Palace together.

‼️Potala Palace

Notice: If your itinerary includes the Potala Palace, please note that due to daily visitor limits, if reservations cannot be secured for the day, the itinerary order will be adjusted and multiple reservation methods will be attempted. Your cooperation may be required, or staff may guide you to make reservations via the WeChat Mini Program, with lines 1 and 2 randomly assigned. If the Potala Palace is undergoing special receptions or if the visitor volume is too high, resulting in no ticket availability, and a visit cannot be arranged, the local ticket price will be refunded on-site, or arrangements will be made to visit the Tibet Museum or Sera Monastery (with any price difference refunded on-site), or a travel photo session at Potala Palace/Jokhang Temple will be arranged. Signing up indicates acceptance. If same-day reservations fail, the schedule will be adjusted with alternative booking methods (including staff-assisted WeChat mini-program reservations; Line 1/Line 2 assigned randomly). In case of closure due to special events or overcapacity, guests will receive an on-site refund (CNY) or alternative visits to Tibet Museum, Sera Monastery (price difference refunded), or Potala Palace/Jokhang Temple photo sessions. By booking, you accept these terms.

Visit Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama, famed for its grand architecture, sacred relics, and stunning mountain views.

1. • Potala Palace: As the iconic symbol of Tibet and a sacred pilgrimage site, the Potala Palace (whose name derives from the Sanskrit word for the abode of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva) offers a profound journey through history, art, and spirit. Founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, it served as Tibet's political and religious center for centuries. This majestic palace complex, renowned for its distinct Tibetan architecture, consists of two main sections: the White Palace (the administrative and living quarters) and the Red Palace (the spiritual core, housing numerous stupas and chapels). Within its walls lies a treasure trove of Tibetan heritage: exquisite stupas, statues, thangkas, ancient texts, and priceless artifacts from Ming and Qing dynasties, showcasing both unparalleled artistry and the historical bonds with China's central government.

Afternoon:

Visit Jokhang Temple, home to the revered Jowo Rinpoche statue, then stroll along Barkhor Street, a bustling market and pilgrimage route encircling the temple.

1. • Jokhang Temple: Known as “Jokhang” or “Zulakang” in Tibetan, this temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists, holding a sacred status equal to the Potala Palace. As both the geographical and spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, it occupies the highest position in the region's religious history. Founded in the mid-7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo to house an 8-year-old life-sized statue of Sakyamuni brought by his Nepalese wife, Princess Bhrikuti, its significance was further cemented in 1409 when Master Tsongkhapa held a grand Buddhist ceremony here. The temple's greatest treasure is the 12-year-old life-sized statue of Sakyamuni, brought later by Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, making it a focal point for pilgrims and visitors alike.

   • Barkhor Street: Barkhor Street, a renowned ancient circuit in Lhasa, is a vibrant hub of traditional Tibetan culture and folk customs. This well-preserved neighborhood offers an immersive journey into the past, where visitors can experience authentic local life through its traditional dress, dance, cuisine, and distinctive architecture. It is an essential destination for understanding the living heritage of Lhasa.

Evening:

Free time at hotel for dinner

Day 5: Discover Yamdrok: A Journey of Lakeside Serenity and Panoramic Vistas

Morning:

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and drive to Yamdrok Yumtso.

Drive to Yamdrok Yumtso, one of Tibet's three sacred lakes, famed for its turquoise waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Home Visit: Enjoy a lakeside lunch (included), with opportunities to interact with local herders, cattle, and sheep.

Visit Rituo Temple, a secluded island monastery with only a few monks, offering sweeping views of the lake

• Yamdrok Yumtso, meaning "Swan Lake" in Tibetan, is one of Tibet's three great sacred lakes. Located in Nagarze County at an elevation of 4,441 meters, it spans 638 square kilometers with a shoreline of 250 km. The lake's distinctive multi-branched shape resembles coral, earning it the name "Upper Coral Lake." It hosts over a dozen islands and is rich in endemic fish. As a major wetland habitat in southern Tibet, its shores and islands attract vast flocks of migratory birds, including swans, bar-headed geese, and fish eagles. For the best views, the drive from the 5,030-meter-high Gampa La Pass down to the lakeshore offers spectacular panoramic vistas, with several dedicated photo stops along the way. 

Afternoon: 

Visit Rituo Temple, a secluded island monastery with only a few monks, offering sweeping views of the lake.

• Rituo Temple: Perched on the hillside overlooking the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, Rito Monastery offers a serene escape into both natural beauty and Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Its terraced architecture, featuring a main hall, pagodas, and monks’ quarters, displays exquisite murals and carvings that depict Buddhist narratives and local culture. Visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains, observe the daily rituals of resident monks, and immerse themselves in a tranquil atmosphere ideal for reflection. The area is also a habitat for bar-headed geese and offers stunning stargazing at night. This hidden gem provides a perfect harmony of spiritual discovery and natural serenity.

Stop at Gangbala Viewpoint for panoramic photos of Yamdrok Yumtso

Evening:

Drive back to Lhasa.

Day 6: Norbulingka, Drepung & Sera: A Day of Palaces & Monasteries in Lhasa

Morning:

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and drive to Norbulingka.

Visit Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, featuring Tibetan-style gardens and palaces.

• Norbulingka: Norbulingka, the former summer retreat of the Dalai Lamas in Lhasa, is a vast and exquisite palace complex surrounded by expansive, scenic gardens. This treasure-filled site features over 300 rooms and is renowned for its beautiful landscape, where diverse plants and flowers create a serene, earthly paradise. 

Afternoon:

• Drepung Monastery: Located at the foot of mountains in Lhasa's western suburbs, Drepung Monastery is a large-scale architectural complex of white monastic residences and red assembly halls cascading down the hillside. Its striking arrangement, resembling huge piles of rice, creates a spectacular visual scene. As one of the most important monasteries within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, it houses an impressive array of sacred treasures within its solemn and majestic halls.

• Sera Monastery: Sera Monastery, one of Lhasa's "Great Three" monasteries of the Gelug school, is built on the slopes of Sera Uze Mountain in the city's northern suburbs. Founded in the Ming Dynasty by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, this large hillside complex holds a prominent position among the six major monasteries of the Gelugpa tradition.

Evening:

Drive back to the hotel.

Day 7: Savouring and Farewelling, Returning Home with Memories

Tour Ends

• Transportation: Arrange airport drop-off service in advance according to your return travel time.

Your happy journey concludes with a transfer to your hotel, station, or airport.

Friendly reminders:

1. The itinerary is for reference only. The driver may adjust the schedule based on traffic/weather while ensuring all attractions and duration, thank you for your understanding.

2. If any attraction is closed/unavailable, it will be replaced with a similar one or refunded, thank you for your understanding.