5 Days Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Tour

Upon your arrival at Gonggar Airport, our representative will welcome you and drive you to Lhasa. Once you reach Lhasa, you will be taken to your hotel. If you arrive during the day, you may explore Lhasa’s nearby market and temples or interact with the locals.

After dinner, our guide will give you an overview of the overall journey and what you must follow while in Tibet.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Today, we will start exploring Tibet’s capital, Lhasa. First, we will visit the Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the highest palace in the world, and used to be the winter residence of the Dalai Lama (1649-1959. Currently, it is recognized as a museum, and there are a few key attractions in this palace, including the Red Palace, the Chapel of the 5th and 13th Dalai Lama, and the storehouse for Thangka paintings. Also, this Palace is the school for religious officials. The Golden Roof is the most beautiful part of this Palace, with nine gilded roofs that sparkle brightly in the light. Also, you can witness the tombs of the different Dalai Lamas, which are decorated with ornaments.

Then, we will visit the nearby attractions, such as Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market. Jokhang Temple, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage known as the “Spiritual Heart of the City,” is one of the most sacred places built by the Tibetan Emperor Tubo King Srongtsen Gampo. You will witness the statue of 2500+ years old. The combination of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian designs demonstrates this temple’s cultural significance. This temple was built for the Nepalese wife of Srongsten Gampo, Bhirkuti, to house the statue of Buddha she brought with her as a dowry. Later, the statue brought by the King’s Chinese Wife, Princess Wencheng, was also housed there.

We will explore Barkhor market after visiting the culturally rich Jokhang Temple. Barkhor Street, a one-way circled road for doing the Kora of Jokhang temple, is a holy street and the best place to buy souvenirs. Besides the Kora, you can explore numerous things in the Barkhror Market, including the famous Makye Ame Restaurant, which depicts the love story of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso.

Overnight at Lhasa.

After breakfast, we will start driving towards Gyantse. We will pass through Kambala Pass (4,794m), one of Tibet’s highest and most thrilling passes, and Yamdrok Lake. At an altitude of 4450m, this turquoise Yamdrok lake is one of Tibet’s most sacred freshwater lakes. As the backdrop of the lake, we can witness Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7,191m). After staying on the lake shore and capturing the moments and landscape, we will continue our drive to Gyantse.

Gyantse, at 4025m, is one of the most famous cities in Tibet. Its highest fort is Gyantse Dzong. Once we reach Gyantse, we will visit the Pelkhor Chorten and KhumBum Stupa. Kumbum Stupa, residing inside the Pelkor Chode Monastery, is the highest stupa in Tibet and the most famous and prime structure. A singular gem in Chinese architectural history, this nine-tiered, white, gold-topped structure is 32 meters tall and has 108 gates, 77 chapels, shrines, and an assembly hall. Once you reach the top of the stupa, you will get a breathtaking perspective of Gyantse town, the monastery, and the surrounding Dzong. Khumbum Stupa, also known as the Museum of Buddha Statues, holds thousands of mud, gold, and copper statues.

Pelkhor Chode Monastery, also known as Palcho Monastery, is the only monastery where Sakya, Shalu, and Gelug sects are all united living side by side in harmony. The main temple of the entire area is known as Tsuklakhang, and it has three three-story buildings built in Tibetan architecture.

Later, we will drive to Shigatse. We will pass through the Simila Pass (4,200m) and reach Shigatse.

Overnight at Shigatse.

Today is the last day of our tour. We will visit the top attraction in the second-largest city in Tibet, Shigatse. We will also visit Tashilimphu Monastery and the local market. Tashilimphu Monastery, built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama, is the seat of the Panchen Lama. When you visit this monastery, you will witness the shimmering golden roofs and the cobblestone passageways. The main attractions of this monastery are the 26-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha Statue and the tombs.

Before reaching the monastery, you will find shops, tea houses, and restaurants where you can explore the local foods and buy souvenirs.

If time persists and you are lucky enough, you can enjoy the Thangka festival, which is significant in Buddhism. During this festival, a large Thangka painting is displayed for the pilgrims.

Later, we will drive back to Lhasa using the northern route, the Friendship Highway. Along the way, we will get a view of Yarlung Tsangpo valley.

Overnight at Lhasa.

We will have a decent morning breakfast and drive you to the airport, from where you will depart for Kathmandu.