This classic 6-day tour offers to a chance to explore the central Tibet tour, taking you to the two biggest old cities: Lhasa and Shigatse. By visiting these places, you will get a complete impression of Tibet's religion, cultural treasures, and dreamlike landscape.
From the greatest Tibetan architecture Potala Palace, the bustling markets of the Barkor Street, you can watch Tibetans as they prostrate around the most sacred Jokhang Temple and monks debate in Sera monastery. A visit to Drepung Monastery, Tibet's largest, offers insights into the daily life of Tibetan monks. Following the bustling scenes of Lhasa, immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Holy Yamdrok Lake and Karo Glacier, visit a local village family and have a lunch with them.
In Shigatse, delve into the cultural richness at Tashilhunpo Monastery, the residence of the Panchen Lama in Tibet. Marvel at the splendid Buddhist architecture and delve into the captivating stories surrounding the Panchen Lama.
For culture enthusiasts, this tour is an unparalleled choice, promising an enriching exploration of Tibet's profound heritage.
This tour requires a minimum of 2 people to run.
Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)
Welcome to Tibet! Upon your arrival, our friendly guide and driver will warmly welcome you at the airport, presenting you with a traditional Tibetan white scarf called "Khata." With just a one-hour drive on the expressway (70 kilometers), the driver will take you to comfortable hotel in downtown Lhasa. After checking in at the hotel, take the time to rest and acclimatize to the altitude (3,650 meters), ensuring a good and healthy start to your journey on the plateau.
Day 2: Lhasa Tour - Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B, D)
In the morning, you’ll explore the largest monastery in Tibet - Drepung Monastery, which was once the home to over 10,000 monks. As you walk through the Coqen Hall, your guide will provide detailed explanations of the worldview of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce notable figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.
Next, you’ll visit the renowned Loseling College (or an equivalent), offering a glimpse into the study and life of Tibetan monks. Explore their dormitories to gain insights into the Tibetan monks' daily routines and living conditions.
In the afternoon, you’ll head to Sera Monastery, another of the ‘great three’ Gelug monasteries of Tibet, to witness the famous Tibetan Monks Debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). Your guide will intricately explain how Tibetan monks engage in these debates to acquire knowledge and advance in their academic degrees.
After today’s tour, enjoy a welcome dinner with your group members.
Day 3: Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (B)
After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace, and the extraordinary treasures it holds. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities.
In the afternoon, you will head to the heart of Tibetan religion - the Jokhang Temple. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.
Next, follow your guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. Sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as your guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 4: Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse 360 km (B, L)
First, drive over the Gampala pass (4900m) to catch a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m). The Yamdrok Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. Continue to explore the lakeshore from various viewpoints, and at the end of the lake, you could visit a local family in the village and have lunch with the locals.
Next, you will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside. It is the largest glacier in Tibet. As you see the ice tongue of the glacier climb the entire hillside, you will feel the magical power of nature.
Then, continue your journey to Gyantse. On the way, you will stop at Simila Mountain Pass, where you can hang prayer flags to pray for world peace and the health of your family.
After arriving in Gyantse, you can spend some time taking photos of the ancient city of Gyantse. From Gyantse to Shigatse, you will pass by green (in summer) and golden (in autumn) Tibetan barley fields and countless farms.
Finally, we arrive in Shigatse (3900m), the second largest city in Tibet. After checking in to the hotel, you can take some time to unwind and recharge.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Day 5: Shigatse to Lhasa via Nyemo (B)
In the morning, you will explore the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery. The grand and magnificent halls of the largest local monastery occupy the entire hillside. This is the spiritual home of the Tibetan people in Shigatse, housing the world's largest statue of Maitreya Buddha. Inside, you will see monks adorned with yellow hats and red robes, moving about the temple.
After lunch, you’ll visit the most distinctive Samzhubze Old Market, where you can experience the daily activities of the local residents.
Then, you will return to Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the mother river of the Tibetan people.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Option: You also have the option to take a train from Shigatse to Lhasa instead of driving. If you choose this option, please inform your travel consultant. The cost of train tickets requires an additional payment.
Day 6: Depart from Lhasa (B)
Please make sure to verify your departure flight/train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will take you to the airport or train station.
Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.
Service included
• Tibet Travel Permit application service and mailing service within China
• Entrance tickets to listed attractions and activities, Namtso Lake Environmental Vehicle Cost
• Accommodation in star hotels and local guesthouses with breakfast throughout the journey
(The price is only for Economic Class 3-Star Hotels, if you want to stay in comfortable 4-star hotels, you can note when you make the booking, and we will change the price accordingly)
• Transportation in a comfortable tourist vehicle with attentive and reliable driver service
• Excellent Tibetan English-speaking guide
• Farm house lunch, welcome dinner
• Travel accident insurance and High altitude sickness insurance
• On-board medical oxygen supply for travel in high-altitude areas
• Exquisite Tibetan gifts and travel map
• Shuttle service between Airport/Train station and Lhasa City
China Visa
International flight to and out of China;
Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa
Meals not listed in the itinerary;
Tips for the guide and driver. If you are satisfied with their service, it is suggested to tip $7 (50 RMB) per day per person to be shared between the driver and the guide;
Other expenses caused by force majeure events (such as natural disasters, traffic control, loss of valuables, visa delays, flight delays or cancellations, etc.);
Personal expenses, like laundry, phone calls, snacks, soft drinks (please do your best to avoid alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc
Our services include shuttle transfers between Lhasa Airport or train station to downtown in Lhasa. Upon your arrival , our airport service coordinator will arrange for your transfer from the airport or train station to your hotel in the city. Similarly, when you depart from Lhasa, your airport drop-off service will be pre-arranged.
As the arrival times of tourists vary, we have specified several time slots for your service. When booking your flight, please try to choose a flight that arrives in Lhasa around the scheduled shuttle service times to avoid extended waiting times at the airport. if the number of arriving tourists is less than 3 at the same time, we may use public transport to take you from the airport to the city.
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Shuttle Schedule from Airport to Lhasa |
Shuttle Schedule from Lhasa to Airport |
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10:00（Morning Arrival） 13:30（Afternoon Arrival 1） 16:00（Afternoon Arrival 2） 18:30（Evening Arrival） |
06:30（Morning Departure 1） 08:00（Morning Departure 2） 12:00（Afternoon Departure） |
Kathmandu to Tibet Border ： 07:30（Morning Departure 1）
Airport to Lhasa covers a distance of 70 kilometers and takes approximately 60 minutes.
Arrival in Lhasa by train, we will pick you up according to your arrival time with no waiting required.
For arrivals at non-scheduled times, additional charges may apply for the airport shuttle service. Require if you need.
Tour Notice
• Before applying for the Tibet Travel Permit, please ensure that your passport has a validity period of at least 6 months.
• The minimum number of participants for one group is 2 people. If less than 2 people, the booking will be canceled.
• Due to the need for official reservations for the Potala Palace visit, we are unable to confirm the specific timing of the Potala Palace ticket reservation in advance. The sequence of the itinerary may undergo adjustments.
• Lake Namtso freezes over a large area in winter, and the Lagenla Pass may be covered in snow sometimes. The itinerary is uncertain, so it is not recommended to go there in winter.
• When entering Tibet from Kathmandu, China visa needs to be processed in Kathmandu. Please do not apply in your home country in advance. If tourists previously had a long-term valid Chinese visa, it will be replaced with a 30-day valid group tourist visa when applying in Kathmandu.
• Only Chinese Yuan is accepted in Tibet. If you need Chinese Yuan, you can exchange it with US dollars locally or withdraw cash from ATMs.
• Maintain good health before entering Tibet and avoid catching a cold.
• When traveling on transportation to Tibet, both the airport and train station will check the Tibet Travel Permit. Please keep this official document safe and avoid writing or drawing on it.
• Before traveling to Tibet, please confirm that you have received the Tibet Travel Permit and check and verify your personal information.
• People with serious hypertension, heart disease, asthma, pregnant women, etc., are not recommended to travel to Tibet.
• If worried about altitude sickness after entering Tibet, you can take a moderate amount of Rhodiola oral liquid or capsules before entering.
• During the Tibet tour, you are required to travel with the group throughout the journey and cannot leave the group activities at will.
• Pack vitamins and regular medications in your luggage.
• When traveling at high altitudes, drink plenty of water, engage in slow-paced activities, and consume fruits and vitamin supplements.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol when you are new to high altitudes.
Application of Tibet Permits for Foreigners and Taiwanese
Foreigners (including overseas Chinese) need to provide information to the Tibet Tourism Bureau to apply for “ Tibet Travel Permission”. You need to provide documents according to our guidance.
• If you are coming to China for tourism purpose with “L” Chinese tourist visa, you need to provide clear and complete passport page images and Chinese visa images.
• If you are working, studying, residing in China, or visiting China for business, in addition to your passport and visa images, you also need to provide certificate from your Chinese company or school.
• If you plan to enter Tibet directly from Nepal, you need to personally visit the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to apply for a Chinese visa(Single Entry 30 days). Please go to our local office in Kathmandu at least 3 working days in advance, We will arrange all the procedures for your Chinese visa application. If you previously have a Chinese visa, your existing visa will be revoked upon obtaining the new visa. In addition to the visa fee charged by the embassy, you are required to pay an additional $20 service fee for visa processing.
The entire procedure is fully serviced, you just simply provide the documents to our travel agency. The deadline for submitting the application is 10 working days before the tour departure. If want to go to Mt.Kailash, you need to send the documents to us 15-20 working days in advance.
Once all approval procedures are completed, we will send the Tibet Travel Permission to your designated address via email or mail (within China only). When boarding the train/flight, the staff at the port will check your Tibet Travel Permission, please ensure its proper safekeeping.
Cancellation policy:
(1) 16 days prior departure – Full Refund.
(2) 9-16 days prior departure – Charge 600RMB service/booking fees.
(3) Less than 9 days prior departure – For a 50% refund.
(4) Cancel the booking during the tour, only refund the hotel and attraction entrance fees for the following days.
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