5-Day Lhasa Pilgrimage Tour

Welcome to Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and referred to as "The Roof of the World." Lhasa lies in a valley deep in the Himalayan Mountains and has an altitude of 3,650 meters (11, 975 feet). Lhasa is one of the lowest regions in Tibet.

People in Lhasa enjoy bright sunshine more than 125 days a year. That might be the reason why they are so efficient in building amazing palaces and monasteries! Today is not for sightseeing; your tour guide and driver will pick you up and help you get acclimated to Lhasa’s altitude.

Tips for Acclimatization:

Generally speaking, the best way to acclimate to high-altitude areas is by having periods of rest and relaxation, staying hydrated by drinking a lot of water; and do not drink any alcohol. Please do not move around too fast, although you might be excited to be standing on “The Roof of the World,” slow down, you will have plenty of time to see and experience all the sights.

Accommodation：Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or Himalaya Lhasa Hotel

Today, you will visit the sacred Potala Palace, which was built during the Chinese Tang Dynasty in the 7th century AD and listed as a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO Organization in 1994. The buildings, artworks, and statues of Tibetan Buddhism are all highlights of this ancient architectural complex. Standing on the mountain where the Potala Palace is located, you will have a bird’s eye view of the city of Lhasa. Of added interest, check out the back of a Chinese Currency 50 Yuan note, and you will see a picture of the Potala Palace printed there!

Continuing on your trip to the Jokhang Temple, also known as the Qoikang Monastery, you will find the life-size statue of the 12-year-old Shakyamuni (Buddha). Jokhang Temple is believed to be the sacred heart of Tibet, because the Shakyamuni Buddha is located in the there. That historical fact makes the Jokhang Temple even more scared than the Potala Palace. It is said the city of Lhasa was built based on the Jokhang Temple. After leaving the Temple, we will take a stroll along Barkhor Street. This ancient street is the route for pilgrimages around the Jokhang Temple and a perfect place to buy local Tibetan style handcrafts including shoes, hats, tea, bowls and quilts. If you are hungry, stop at one of the many small food stands and buy a mouth-watering Tibetan Style dessert, such as "Tu", a sort of pastry made with yak butter, brown sugar and water. If you want something more substantial, try a tasty bowl of "Thenthuk", a hand-tossed Tibetan noodle soup, a local favorite.

Did you know Shakyamuni lived around 500 BC and was the founder of Buddhism?

Accommodation：Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or Himalaya Lhasa Hotel

Two other Tibetan monasteries are today’s destinations. The first one is the Drepung Monastery, which means "store rice" in the Tibetan language. Built on a mountain, just outside Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery looks like a huge pile of rice. The Buddha statues collection, in the 6 assembly halls of the monastery, can teach you more about Tibetan religions.

The Sera Monastery, located at the foot of Tatipu Hill, is today’s last stop. Over 10,000 statues of Buddha’s Warrior Attendants are the major exhibitions in the monastery. The most intriguing experience here is listening to and watching monks’ debate about Buddhist scriptures. The monks will jump, wave their hands and talk loudly during the debate. Although it looks like they are about to get into a fist fight, it is absolutely healthy for them. They are just learning about the spirit of Buddhism via debate!

Did you know?

The monks’ debate is usually a 1-versus-1 challenge. When one monk is asking questions, the other monk can only answer "yes, no or not sure;" when the monk who is asking questions can’t ask any more questions, the other monk starts asking questions. When one monk has to answer "yes" to successive questions, he loses the debate. Normally there is no winner or loser in a debate. That is the spirit of Buddhism.

Accommodation：Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or Himalaya Lhasa Hotel

Built in 1409 AD by Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug (or Gulek) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the Ganden monastery is the first monastery for Gelug tradition in the history of Tibet. The collections of jewelry and weapons in the monastery were granted by the emperor Qianlong in 1757 AD. These ancient relics are preserved very well. Besides, many exquisite Tangkas granted by several emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD) are also priceless cultural relics in the monastery.

On the way to the Ganden Monastery, you will visit the Drak Yerpa, a monastery built in the 7th century AD for hermits, because it is located in a mountain cave. In ancient times, it was difficult for people to find this monastery. The green trees and colorful flowers on the mountain were the reasons why hermits liked it.

Did you know that the Drepung, Sera and Ganden are 3 sacred monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism? The Gelug tradition is the youngest, but most popular school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Accommodation：Four Points by Sheraton Lhasa or Himalaya Lhasa Hotel

Accommodation：None