Luxury Lhasa Tour

Luxury Lhasa Tour

Tibet's natural beauty is equally awe-inspiring, with snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and vast grasslands. The Tibetan people, known for their warm hospitality and vibrant culture, add to the charm of the region. This great 5 day trip to Tibet gives you time to explore the ancient and holy city of Lhasa as well as visit key cultural and spiritual sites of the surrounding area.  

Walk the ancient halls of the majestic Potala Palace in Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet, which towers over the city and stands as a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit the most revered religious structure in Tibet - Jokhang Temple, that bustles with pilgrims and worshippers. Lose yourself in the ancient streets and pilgrimage circuit of Barkhor Street in the Old Town, surrounding the Jokhang Temple. Travel to Drepung Monastery, a solemn glory of white chapels and halls on the hillside with wide ranging views of Lhasa and the distant mountains. Journey on to serene Sera monastery, home to the serious business of debating the Buddhist scriptures. This is a great introduction to Tibet staying in comfortable luxury five star hotels.

Itinerary

• Day 01

  Arrive Kathmandu (1300m).

  Namaste and welcome to Nepal! On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you’ll need to obtain your visa and collect your luggage before heading to the exit where one of our local team will be waiting to welcome you and help with your luggage. On the drive to your hotel the traffic can be busy but you’ll also have interesting views of day to day life in the city enroute. After time to rest and freshen up, our representative will meet you at the hotel this evening, to brief you about your next few days and answer any questions you may have. We invite you to join us for a complimentary welcome dinner and introduction to Nepali culture at a traditional Nepali restaurant this evening.

• Day 02

  Kathmandu - full day guided sightseeing.

  This morning it's time for your guided sightseeing of some of the key cultural and heritage sites in Kathmandu. After breakfast, you'll be met by your guide before heading to nearby Kathmandu Durbar Square, an impressive World Heritage Site and hugely important place in Nepalese history and culture. You'll be able to visit the ancient palace complex and the temple of the Living Goddess of Nepal , the Kumari. You'll also visit Hanuman Dhoka and Kasthamandap Temple. From here, we'll drive to Pashupatinath Temple, the holiest shrine for Hindus, situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and an important cremation site. We'll also visit Boudhnath Stupa, an important Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site and the centre of Tibetan pilgrimage in Nepal. The huge stupa is one of the largest dome stupas in the world and is surrounded by many small monasteries, shops and cafes. This evening is at leisure to rest and relax. Overnight Kathmandu.

• Day 03

  Kathmandu - half day guided sightseeing.

  This morning we head out of the city to Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur, the beautiful heritage City of Devotees. Bhaktapur is known for its stunning architectural heritage. One of the best-preserved examples of traditional Nepalese architecture, Bhaktapur's 12th-century Durbar Square palace courtyard is known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant local cultural scene. Notable structures such as the 55 window palace, Bhairave Nath Temple, and one of the tallest temples of Nepal, Natyapol, are present in the courtyard premises. The cultural centre and museum with the arts and artefacts of the region are hugely interesting. Walking around you’ll also see the highly skilled local potters and weavers at work. Today you'll also visit Patan Durbar Square. Dating back to the 16th century, the historical site of Patan Durbar Square is filled with stunning temples and structures with intricate carvings and ornate façades. This is another important UNESCO World Heritage site and its most prominent attractions include the Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple and the Golden Temple. The ancient palace houses some of the most important museums and cultural centres in Nepal. After your visit here we return to Kathmandu where the rest of your afternoon and evening is at leisure to rest and relax, ready for your flight to Lhasa tomorrow.

• Day 04

  Fly Kathmandu to Lhasa (3650m).

  This morning you'll be picked up at your hotel for the transfer drive to the airport and the scenic flight to Lhasa, over the majestic Himalayan range with spectacular views of Everest (8848m), Makalu (8463m) and the surrounding peaks. On arrival to Gongkar Airport you'll be met by our local representative for the drive to Lhasa, approximately 2 hours. The rest of your day is at leisure to rest and relax. It's important to take it easy the first few days of any trip to Tibet, to allow time for your body to acclimatise and adjust to the high altitude. Your itinerary is based on taking this into account and when exploring by yourself, we advise not to do anything overly strenuous. Overnight at your hotel in Lhasa. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Please note it is important today and the next couple of days to take things easy and not rush around, to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water to allow your body to acclimatise. If you feel well and want to explore and take a gentle walk locally that’s fine but we don’t plan anything on this first day in order to allow you to rest and acclimatise first.

• Day 05

  Guided sightseeing - Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Bharkor Bazaar.

  After your breakfast, you'll be met by your Tibetan guide to begin a day of sightseeing. We begin by visiting Sera Monastery, one of the most important and oldest monasteries in Tibet and also a school for Tibetan Buddhism. Along with Drepung and Ganden Monasteries, Sera Monastery is one of the great Gelugpa monasteries. There is currently some ongoing building work but it's still well worth visiting. At serene Sera Monastery, your tour includes visiting the key halls and chapels and you'll also be able to see the wonderful collection of ancient murals and statues as well as scriptures written in gold powder, wonderful scroll paintings, tapestries and thangkas that can be seen throughout. Depending on when you visit, you may also be able to enjoy watching the monks animatedly debating the Buddhist scriptures. After visiting Sera Monastery, this afternoon we'll visit Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Lhasa. Explore the medieval passages, halls and stairways. See the flickering of butter lamps, ancient gold statues and murals. Join the medieval bustle of pilgrims, worshippers, performers and traders in and around Jokhang Temple, this most revered religious structure in Tibet. Follow the pilgrimage circuit along the ancient streets of the old town around Barkhor Bazaar, a fascinating area which is both a market and sacred pilgrimage site. Here you'll see everyone from market traders to monks and pilgrims, artists, nomads and more, in a wonderful microcosm of Tibet. After time to enjoy here, the rest of your day and evening is at leisure to rest and relax and explore locally. Overnight at your hotel in Lhasa. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

• Day 06

  Visit Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery and Norbulingka.

  This morning, after breakfast, you'll be met by your guide for your morning visit and tour of Potala Palace. Explore the vast halls and chapels of impressive Potala Palace, former home of the Dali Lamas and an awe inspiring landmark that dominates the skyline over Lhasa. Potala Palace is a huge fortress like structure and major landmark of Lhasa. Originally built during 640 AD, its an inspiring, iconic building consisting of 13 storied palaces with around 1000 rooms. After your tour here, this afternoon we'll head to Drepung Monastery, the largest in Tibet. Enjoy the solemnity of holy Drepung Monastery, once the largest monastery in the world and now the largest and richest monastery in Tibet, founded in 1416 and a place of study for many of the most learned lamas. We'll also visit Norbulingka Palace, the beautiful former summer retreat of the Dalai Lamas. In Tibetan the name means ‘beautiful gardens’ and Norbulingka was once the summer palace home for the 7th to the 14th Dalai Lama. The rest of your afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore locally and perhaps do some last minute local shopping and exploring before you depart tomorrow. Overnight at your hotel in Lhasa. Breakfast lunch and dinner included.

• Day 07

  Fly Lhasa to Kathmandu.

  After an early breakfast, you'll be picked up for the transfer drive of around 2 hours back to Gongkar Airport and the scenic flight over majestic Himalayan mountain peaks and landscapes back to Kathmandu where you'll be met on arrival by our local representatives. The rest of your day is free to explore locally, rest and relax, perhaps enjoy the pool or a massage at your hotel before it's time for dinner. Overnight Kathmandu. 

• Day 08

  Depart Kathmandu.

  After breakfast (included) the rest of your morning is at leisure until time to check out and head to the airport. If your flight departs later this evening please let us know if you need late check out from your hotel - subject to availability and small additional charge. When time to leave for Tribhuvan International Airport, you'll be transferred around three hours before your departure flight home or onward to your next destination.