Fly into the Lhasa Gonggar Airport and meet with your driver and personal guide for a private transfer from the airport into the city of Lhasa, where your driver will drop you off at your hotel. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.


(Accommodations, Lhasa)

For your first full day in Lhasa, meet with your guide for a private tour of Lhasa city. Start with the Dalai Lama's former summer residence, Norbulingka. The palace, with its impressive 374 rooms, remains while the beautiful grounds and gardens have been converted to a public park that is the venue for multiple festivals throughout the year. A stroll through the palace and the park is an undeniably spiritual and thought-provoking experience.

Next, travel to the largest monastery in Tibet, the Drepung Monastery, which once housed up to 10,000 monks and whose construction dates back to 1416! Today, only 300 or so monks reside within the monastery but the monastery's stark white pagodas and vivid bronze statues of Buddha are sure to impress. You'll enjoy lunch alongside locals at a nearby restaurant before continuing onto the final stop of the tour.

Finally, visit the Sera Monastery to witness the notoriously lively Monk Debates, wherein buddhist monks congregate to discuss and debate Buddhist doctrine. This monastery was built to serve as a training college and still functions as so today, housing roughly 500 monks within its walls. Within the monastery itself you'll be amazed by the delicately written scriptures, the marvelous statues, and the impressive murals that adorn the halls. After this introduction to Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhism, return to your hotel where the rest of the evening will be at your leisure.

Private Lhasa Highlights Tour:

Today you'll meet with your private guide for a tour of Lhasa's most famous sights and to visit a local Tibetan family's home to experience the day-to-day life of a Tibetan. Start the tour with a visit to Lhasa's most famous monument and the symbol of Tibet, the massive Potala Palace. With its bright white and red walls shining high amidst the blue sky above the city, the sanctity and cultural importance of this place is self-evident. The construction of the temple started about 1,300 years ago but has been through several periods of reconstruction since then. Climb the long staircase to see the view from atop the palace for a once in a lifetime experience.

Next, visit a local restaurant to sample some local Tibetan delicacies before making the Kora around Barkhor Street and visiting Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism. This temple was built around 640 AD and is considered to be one of the first buildings built in Lhasa. The temple's golden roof, tranquil courtyard, and impressive statues are just a few of the reasons why this temple is so popular with tourists; for pilgrims it is the life-size image of Jowa Sakyamuni, one of the most revered idols in Tibetan Buddhism, that attracts pilgrims daily.

The Kora refers to a ritual circumambulation in Tibetan Buddhism, this one specifically being around the Jokhang Temple along Barkhor Street, Lhasa's most famous street. This circular street is a perfect example of traditional Tibetan culture and architecture but most importantly for you this is a great opportunity to experience Tibetan customs and life firsthand. Known as the "Holy Path", Barkhor Street is replete with scenes of pilgrims making their clockwise circumambulation around the temple, tourists and locals alike perusing wares at the many shops and stalls along the street, and side-streets that hide smaller temples.

Finally, end your day of cultural exploration with a visit to a local Tibetan family's home. Due to Tibet's long history of being influenced by Nepalese, Indian, and Chinese cultures throughout the centuries, this opportunity will be a great way to learn about local customs and day-to-day life from a local. The family will welcome you into their home, answer questions you may have, and even entertain with traditional Tibetan hospitality. After spending time with your new Tibetan acquaintances, return to your hotel where the rest of the evening will be spent at your leisure.

Meet with your driver at the hotel for a private transfer back to the Lhasa Gonggar Airport to return home or onwards to your next Avanti Destination!