6 Days Lhasa Highlights Tour with Yamdrok and Namtso Lakes

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa

   You’ve now arrived in Lhasa - welcome! As soon as you land, a local driver will be there to pick you up. Then he will take you straight to your hotel and assist with the check-in process. After that, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax at your own pace. Since Lhasa is high up in the mountains, it’s a good idea to rest and get used to the thinner air before starting your journey.

   Here are several tips:

   • After you arrive, take it easy and relax. Try not to walk or move too much so your body can adjust to the high altitude (the average altitude of Lhasa: 3650 meters/11975feet).
   • Skip the shower today to lower the risk of getting a cold.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

2. Day 2: Lhasa City Sightseeing
   Discover Tibet's Spiritual Heart through Palace, Temple, and Street

   After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby and start today’s exploration with a visit to Potala Palace. At an altitude of over 3700 meters (12139 feet), Potala Palace is the highlight of every Tibet trip. You will walk into the White Palace and Red Palace to explore the resplendent chambers with exquisite Thangkas, wall paintings, Buddha statues, and more Buddhist art works. Your professional guide will introduce you into the history of the palace, Tibet Buddhism and stories of Dalai Lamas.

   Continue your exploration to the holy Jokhang Temple, where a life-sized 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue is collected. It has stood as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism for over 1300 years and attracts hundreds of pilgrims from different places who come to worship Buddha everyday. Come out of Jokhang Temple, follow your guide through crowds of pilgrims and visitors on Barkhor Street. You can buy exquisite souvenirs on the street, such as handicrafts, costumes, tea, prayer wheels and Tibetan incense. Last, drive you back to your hotel.

   Travel Tips:

   When visiting, please follow the rules. Don’t wear hats, sunglasses, short or revealing clothes, tank tops, or slippers.

   Photos and videos are not allowed inside the Potala Palace.

   Tour guide’s explanation are not allowed inside the palace, so he/she will tell you everything you need to know before you go in.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

3. Day 3: Lhasa’s Famous Temples
   Experience Rich Buddhist Heritage and Lively Monk Debates

   Today, your guide will bring you to see more well-known temples in Lhasa. First is Drepung Monastery, once home to over 10,000 monks and the biggest monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. It’s one of the three important temples in the area. Drepung sits with mountains behind it and faces the Lhasa River. Inside, you’ll find many valuable items, such as old porcelain, a 1.29-meter-tall bronze mirror of Manjusri, hundreds of colorful thangka paintings, and some ancient weapons.

   Next, you’ll take a short 20-minute drive to Sera Monastery, the youngest of Lhasa’s three major monasteries. It sits at the base of Mount Selawuzi and is surrounded by willow trees. For centuries, it has been a place where respected monks gave teachings. Entering the temple, you’ll see tens of thousands of Vajra statues, some of which were brought from India. A special part of visiting the monastery is witnessing the monks debating. It’s a unique way for monks to learn and discuss. This usually happens between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.

   Finally, follow your guide to visit a local Tibetan family to glimpse their daily life and Tibetan customs.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

4. Day 4: Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake
   Marvel at Sacred Yamdrok Lake's Gem-like Beauty

   After having breakfast, we’ll leave Lhasa and head south along Highway 318. After about two and a half hours on the road, we’ll reach the Ganbala Pass, sitting nearly 5,000 meters above sea level. This pass offers one of the best views of Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, along with Namtso and Lake Manasarovar. From here, you can see the deep blue lake surrounded by snowy mountain peaks — it looks like a shiny blue gem set among the hills.

   About 100 million years ago, glaciers and mudslides blocked a river, creating what we now call Yamdrok Lake. This area has all kinds of natural beauty: highland lakes, grassy meadows, snowy mountains, wild animals, plants, and temples. As you explore, you might notice how the lake sparkles in the sunlight, almost like a shining earring.

   After the lake sightseeing, we will visit a local family near Yamdrok Lake and have lunch with the hosts. In the afternoon, drive 3 hours back to Lhasa city.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

5. Day 5: Lhasa to Namtso Lake, Drive to Damxung
   Witness Namtso Lake's Dark Blue from 5,190m, Hike Holy Tashi Dor

   In the early morning, depart from Lhasa city and drive north along the Qinghai Tibet Highway for about 3 hours. On the way, we will pass through Lagenla Pass at an altitude of 5190 meters and make a brief stop to overlook the deep blue lake surface of Namtso Lake. Afterward, continue driving for a while to reach Tashi Dor Island. You can hike around the lake for 2 kilometers in a clockwise direction and enjoy some geological wonders up close. During this period, you may encounter herds of Tibetan antelopes.

   If you want to enjoy the panoramic view of Namtso Lake, you can climb to the top of Tashi Dor Island, where you will capture the blue water surrounded by white snow mountains.

   After the visit, we drive for about an hour to check in at the hotel in Damxung.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Damxung

   

6. Day 6: Damxung Back to Lhasa, Departure

   After breakfast, we will drive for about 2.5 hours back to Lhasa. After lunch (at your own expense), the driver escorts you to the airport for your departure. Your 6-day Lhasa tour with Yamdrok and Namtso Lakes comes to an end here. We suggest that you book a flight departing after 4 pm in the afternoon.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A