We will pick you up at the airport or the railway station and present you a Hada (presenting Hada is a special ceremony of Tibetan for greeting their guests). Then we will set out for the Holy City – Lhasa which is 3658 meters above the sea level. You could take a rest and adapt yourself to the plateau environment after we arrived at our hotel.
We will visit the highest ancient castle style architectural complex above the sea level – Potala Palace (1 hour). It was the residence of the Tibetan Dalai Lamas, as well as the political, educational and religious center of Tibet. It was built in the 7th century during the reign of Songtsan Gampo. Potala Palace is composed of the White Palace and the Red Palace.
In the afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Jokhang Monastery which was widely accepted as the spiritual center of Tibet. The precious Statue of 12-year Sakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism) brought to Tibet by Princess of Chinese Tang Dynasty and the statues of some eminent Buddhists are enshrined in the monastery. There are also exquisite murals which present the history and culture of Tibet collected in the monastery. Then we will take a ramble at Barkhor Street which around the Jokhang Monastery. There we could experience the traditional culture and daily life of Tibetan.
We will visit one of the three great monasteries of Gelug Sect – Drepung Monastery (1.5 hours) after breakfast in the morning. It is also the largest monastery in the world. There were more than 10000 Buddhists in the monastery at its heyday. It covers an area of 0.2 million square meters with an altitude of 3800 meters.
In the afternoon, we will set out for Yamdrok Lake via Gambarak Mountain Pass (4780 meters above the sea level). Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It covers an area of 638 square kilometers with an altitude of 4441 meters. The landscapes of mountains and lakes here tops in southern Tibet. Then we will back to Lhasa.
We will see you off at the airport or railway station.