6 Days Tibet Culture Tour

From

$690.00

Duration

6 days

Best Months To Travel

June, July, Aug, Sept

Overview

This amazing Tibet Culture Tour is a small group tour that starts from the holy Lhasa city by appreciating its prominent and world heritage Potala Palace. The sacred Jokhang temple sprawling Sera and Drepung monastery in Lhasa. Your arrival to the holy city will be greeted by the lovely blue sky and an impressive glimpse of the gigantic Potala palace perched on the red hill. During a couple of days of acclimation and jet-lag alleviation, you will deeply be overwhelmed by visiting a number of world heritages and supernatural temples and bustling streets around the Jokhang temple.

It is one of the most devotional streets known as Bakhor. On the way to Gyantse and Shigatse in the west, experience the distinct Tibetan culture of western(Tsang) Tibet by driving along the stunning turquoise color lake Yamdrok and the blooming Nyenchen Kangsar glacier.

You will never waste every single minute by discovering new experiences and wonders on the way to Gyantse and Shigatse. Most importantly you will get a chance to know many new friends in the group and share beautiful stories that enrich your travel in Tibet. On your way back from Shigatse you may take the recently opened express train which will add different experiences for the Tibet Culture Tour.

Day Trip Outline Activity Accommodation
Day 1 Arrival in Lhasa (3680m) Pick up and transfer to hotel rest at the hotel. Tashi Takgye / Tashi Noda hotel
Day 2 Lhasa sightseeing Bakhor Street Johkang Temple Potala Palace Tashi Takgye / Tashi Noda hotel
Day 3 Lhasa sightseeing Sera Monastery Drepung Monastery Tashi Takgye / Tashi Noda hotel
Day 4 Lhasa-Gyangtse-Shigatse (3900m) 350km approx 7hrs Yamdrok Lake Karola Glacier Kumbum Stupa Gesar hotel
Day 5 Shigatse-Lhasa (3680m) 280km approx 6 hrs Yarlung TsangpoTashi Lhunpo monastery Tashi Takgye / Tashi Noda hotel
Day 6 Depart from Tibet Send off to train/airport

If you want to have a single room during the hotel nights or if no one else is sharing the room with you, then you need to pay the single room supplement fee, please check the single room supplement fee as in the below table;

 Months   Cost of single-room supplement   
Jan – Jun, and Sept-Dec  USD137
Jul and Aug USD163

Included/Exclude

  • – All necessary travel permits to Tibet;
  • – Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
  • – Vehicle and guide entrances for the Everest Natural Reserve;
  • – Private transportation in Tibet with experienced local Tibetan driver: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included) See vehicle photos here;
  • – Private guide: English speaking local Tibetan guide;
  • – Lodging: Comfortable class hotel: Tashi Takgye hotel / Tashi Noda hotel in Lhasa and Gesar hotel in Shigatse;
  • – Free shuttle bus Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour(Check shuttle bus frequency below);
  • – Train tickets from Shigatse to Lhasa on Day 5;
  • – Bottle water;
  • – A mobile with local SIM card for the group(it can received international call and text messages also);
  • – Oxygen: One big Oxygen tank in the car (4L or 7L);
  • – Meals: only breakfast is included ;
  • – Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
  • – First aid kit;
  •  -Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation (recommended to buy from your home country before you leave);
  • – Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages laundry phone call etc.);
  • – Chinese visa or Tibet Group Visa;
  • – International and domestic flight/train tickets.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance please check the updated cost and tickets availability with our travel consultant);
  • – Meals – lunches and dinners averagely a meal in Tibet cost around USD5 per person;
  • – Gratuities for the guide and driver.

Tour Amenities

Accepts Credit Cards
Car Parking
Free Coupons
Laundry service
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Restaurant
Smoking Allowed
Wireless Internet

Tour Plan

A short flight to Tibet from Kathmandu or mainland China gives you a panoramic view of the snowy Himalayan ranges while  the long train ride over the high plateau crossing the mighty Tanggula Mountains gets you to Lhasa through the stunning scenery along the route. On your arrival in Lhasa whether train station or airport your guide will be there to greet you and transfer you to your pre-booked hotel in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The 60km trip from the airport in Gonggar County takes around an hour using the recently-built Airport Expressway while the 25km drive from the railway station across the river takes around 30 minutes. At your hotel you can check in and meet the other members of your group. For the rest of the day you can rest and take it easy to allow your body to acclimatize to the higher altitude of Lhasa. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions: Potala Palace Jokhang Temple and the bustling Barkhor Street. 

As today is the first full day on the high-altitude plateau you may feel a little headache or nausea from the symptoms of altitude sickness. This is common for travelers to Tibet and normally subsides after a day or two of rest and hydration as the body adjusts. The morning starts with a trip to the Old Lhasa city where we will visit the sacred Jokhang Temple. The most holy temple in Tibet Jokhang has been a major pilgrimage destination for over a thousand years and is always busy with pilgrims. After touring the inside of the temple you will be able to walk around Barkhor Street the devotional kora route around the temple and the biggest market area in Lhasa Old City. In the afternoon we will tackle the steps up the Red Hill to visit the Potala Palace the most iconic landmark in Tibet which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. First constructed in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo the modern palace buildings were built over the original fortress in the 17th century as the new home and seat of government of the Dalai Lama. The rest of the day is yours to rest or explore the streets. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions: Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery.

The second full day in Lhasa starts with a visit to the Drepung Monastery which used to be the largest monastery in the world housing more than 10000 monks and lamas. The original residence of the Dalai Lama before the construction of the Potala Palace Drepung Monastery has been damaged several times over the years but the narrow twisting lanes between the monastic residences are still a thrilling place to explore. After the tour of Drepung, we will travel to Sera Monastery in the afternoon located a few kilometers north of the Jokhang Temple. Built in the 15th century by a disciple of Tsongkhapa Jamchen Choji Sakya Yeshi the monastery holds a number of monastic colleges with several hundred monks from across Tibet in residence. The best attraction of the monastery for tourists is the famous philosophical and theological debates of the monks which happen in the debating courtyard every afternoon except Sunday Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Attractions: Yamdrok Lake Mt. Nyenchen Kangsar Glacier Gyantse Kumbum Stupa and Pelkor Chode monastery.

Today we start to drive southwest through the zigzag road that climbs up to the Gampa La pass (4794m) from where you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of holy Lake Yamdrok with its turquoise waters and the snow-capped Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. We continue to drive alongside the lake for a few kilometers to get us to the lunch stop at Nagartse. The rest of the day will be spent enjoying the many magnificent valleys and exquisite Tibetan villages that we pass through. En route to Shigatse, we will stop at Karo La (5150m) to see the holy Mount Nyenchen Kangsar glacier. On arrival in Gyantse, we will visit the famous Kumbum stupa in the Pelkor Chode Monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet and is not only well known for its architecture but also for its old sculptures and paintings that are all around its inner walls. In the late afternoon, we will drive to Shigatse (3845m) which is only 90km. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Attractions: Tashilhunpo monastery.

Today we will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery in the morning. The Tashilhunpo Monastery was built by the 1st Dalai Lama Gedun Drup in 1447 and later became the seat of the Panchen Lama lineage. There you will see the tombs of 7 passed Panchen Lamas and it is a real pleasure to pass through the busy cobbled lanes twisting around the aged buildings that are used as monks' apartments. After the monastery tour, we will go for lunch together and enjoy a short walk with our tour guide around the local Shigatse markets. Today we have two possible options based on the group size and transportation situation. We can drive back to Lhasa or take the express train along the new Lhasa-Shigatse Railway. If it is the train a local guide will arrange a taxi to the Shigatse train station which is less than 15 minutes’ drive. You will board the train which departs at 12:05 and arrives in Lhasa at 14:40. You can enjoy the 2 hours and 35 minutes train ride on this recently opened railway line. You will be picked up by our guide and driver from the train station in Lhasa and transported to your hotel. If you drive then our driver will meet you and our guide at the hotel for the drive back to Lhasa. The drive back along the famous northern Friendship Highway takes around 6 hours from Shigatse to Lhasa. Soon after your arrival, our driver will transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. Stay overnight in Lhasa. (Please be prepared for either of the above two possible options for transiting back to Lhasa and we will try our best to make it as simple and convenient as possible).
After a hearty breakfast your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel for the trip to the train station or airport for your travel out of Tibet. It is time to say goodbye and continue on to the next destination in your plans. Before you leave we would appreciate you completing our short evaluation survey either on the feedback form or by sending us an email.

Calendar & Price

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
March 2025
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
2
3
4
5
6
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
May 2025
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
June 2025
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
July 2025
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
August 2025
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
September 2025
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5

Fixed Departure Dates List

Free Airport Shuttle Bus:

In order to make it more convenient for our clients, we have arranged two shuttle buses a day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. So when you are purchasing the flight tickets, please take the shuttle bus timing into consideration. Of course, if you don’t want to wait for the shuttle bus, we can arrange a private airport pick-up and transfer for you, this service costs USD60 per time.

Shuttle bus pick-up time at the beginning of the tour:
1st shuttle bus departs from the airport at 12:30 2nd shuttle bus departs from the airport at 16:00

Shuttle bus transfer time at the end of the tour:
1st shuttle bus departs from the hotel at 7:30am 2nd shuttle bus departs from the hotel at 11:00am

Note:
If you miss the free shuttle bus because of your flight delay or cancellation, then you will have to pay for the private airport pick-up, which costs USD60 per time. Also, please make sure to update your tour consultant about your new flight schedule.

Train station pick-up is totally for free, but sometimes you may need to wait for other travelers’ arrival around the same time.

Our Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Cristian Pumarino Jun,11 2019 01:29:35
We are 3 people that will travel from Chengdu to Lahsa by train, arriving around August 5th. We want to take 4 days tour in Lhasa.  We need to know how to book the tour with you, the price, how to pay it and what are the documents we need to go there. We will get our tourist visa to visit China after we book the tour. Two of us will travel form Chile in South America and our son -also chilean- will do it form South Africa. Stay tuned to reply
Lakshmi May,23 2019 15:20:14
Hi, I am interested in this tour. But I cannot exert myself much and was wondering if I can skip the Kailash Kora and use other forms of transportation. I do however want to see Mt. Kailash. Also are you able to provide oxygen?
matteo May,18 2019 16:19:11
Hello! we would kindly like to know what’s the cheapest offer you have for this guided tour. We’re two people thank you!!

Related Tours

Review Scores

No reviews yet

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

  • Quality
  • Location
  • Amenities
  • Services
  • Price

Booking Tour

please, select date first

Tour Information

Max Guests

12

Min Age

12+

Tour Location

Languages Support

Click on the map to enlarge