6 Days Shanghai – Tibet Tour by Flight

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival

   Welcome to our 6-day tour of Shanghai and Lhasa! When you arrive at the airport or train station in Shanghai, a local driver will be waiting at the exit with a welcome sign. You'll then be taken to your hotel in the city to check in. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore on your own.

   Recommended activity (optional):

   Ride the Shanghai Maglev, the world’s fastest train on land. It covers 30 km in just 8 minutes, reaching speeds of over 400 km/h. Inside, it’s quiet and smooth, with soft seats and fast 5G, so you can watch movies, play games, or join video calls while traveling. The train runs from 6:45 am to 9:42 pm.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

2. Day 2: Shanghai City Center Exploration
   Time-travel through Dynasties, Touch Shanghai's Skyline Pulse

   After breakfast, your guided Shanghai exploration takes you to Shanghai Museum (note: it’s closed on Mondays). Opened in 1952, the museum houses over 120,000 cultural pieces, from ancient tools to more modern treasures.

   Next, head to Yuyuan Garden. This classical Chinese garden has more than 40 scenic spots, including pavilions, bridges, rockeries, and ponds. As your guide walks you through, you’ll learn how Chinese traditions and art are shown in its design. Then, enjoy the lively Yuyuan Market nearby. It’s full of local snacks and souvenirs such as fans, handmade pottery, pan-fried bun, and other tasty street foods.

   In the afternoon, you will ascend the Shanghai World Financial Center in the Pudong area. This huge building has 104 floors. Floors 94, 97, and 100 are open for visitors. You’ll go up to the 100th floor and have an amazing bird’s-eye view of the Huangpu River. Don’t miss the thrill of walking across the 55-meter-long glass corridor high above the city!

   After that, take a stroll around Nanjing Road, the oldest shopping street in Shanghai. Your guide will show you several famous old stores and you will glimpse the street’s commercial past. The final stop is the Bund, one of Shanghai’s must-see spots. Many tourists visit it for the magnificent skylines and colonial buildings - some couples even take their wedding photos here.

   Optional night activity (at an extra fee): Enjoy a night cruise on the Huangpu River. As the boat moves along, you’ll see Pudong and Puxi lit up beautifully.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Shanghai

   

3. Day 3: Shanghai to Lhasa by Flight

   The driver will meet you in your hotel lobby at the scheduled time and then send you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa (no tour guide service in Shanghai). After you land in Lhasa, the local driver will be waiting for you at the exit, holding a sign with your name. Then you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Take it easy and rest well for the next day.

   Health Advice:

   1. When you first arrive, try not to move around too much or do any hard exercise, so your body can be acclimatized to the high altitude.

   2. Do not take a shower that day to avoid getting cold.

   3. Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

4. Day 4: Lhasa’s Highlights
   Trace Sacred Footsteps, from Palace Heights to Pilgrim Paths

   Your Lhasa guide will meet you in your hotel lobby around 9:00 in the morning. Frist, you will be taken to the Potala Palace, which is the tallest palace in the world (3650 meters). It has two main parts: the White Palace and the Red Palace. You can catch a glimpse of the traces of the Dalai Lama's life and work in the White Palace. The Red Palace houses the stupas of the former Dalai Lamas. When you visit, the guide will explain to you why this palace was built, the history behind it, and share the facts about Tibetan Buddhism. After the visit, have lunch at a local restaurant.

   In the afternoon, head to visit Jokhang Temple, the most sacred Buddhist hall in Tibet more than 1,300 years old. The temple shows a mix of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian building styles. Inside, you can see many statues, bright paintings on the walls, and rows of glowing butter lamps. Most areas don’t allow photos, but you can take pictures from the rooftop.

   After that, go to the busy Barkhor Street that circles Jokhang Temple. You can walk with the pilgrims as they move around the temple and fully feel the local spirit. The street is filled with many shops selling items like clothes, handmade crafts, and jewelry. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs for your friends or families.

   Finish the sightseeing and transfer you back to your hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

5. Day 5: Some of the Most Important Temples in Lhasa
   Witness Monks' Fiery Wisdom Debates

   After breakfast, head to the western suburbs of Lhasa to visit Norbulingka. Founded in the 1840s, this place has been a summer retreat for successive Dalai Lamas. Entering the scenic area, you can see that this is a typical Tibetan style garden. After more than 200 years of expansion, the entire park covers an area of 360,000 square meters and has over 100 species of plants. Norbulingka is the largest man-made garden in Tibet with the best scenery and the most historic sites.

   Then we drive for about 20 minutes to reach Drepung Monastery, one of the six major Gelug School temples and also the largest temple of Tibetan Buddhism. It is known as one of the three major monasteries in Lhasa, along with Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery. The white palaces built along the mountain completely occupy the hillside, and look like a huge rice barn, representing the prosperity of Tibet. There are countless halls here, and the guide will take you to visit some of the most worthwhile ones.

   Last, we’ll go to Sera Monastery, a temple that’s about 600 years old and famous for its special debating tradition. You can watch monks as they take part in lively debates using clapping, asking questions, and other ways. Inside the temple, there are thousands of Buddha statues and bright, colorful paintings that show the rich culture of Tibetan Buddhism.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

6. Day 6: Lhasa Departure

   After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to this 6-day Shanghai Lhasa tour. Your private driver will pick you up at the appointed time and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight (usually 4 hours in advance for international flights and 3 hours for domestic flights). Our service ends here. Wish you a pleasant journey! If you have any idea to extend your Tibet trip to Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake, or Everest Base Camp, we would be happy to arrange a detailed itinerary for you.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A