1 Day Lhasa Essence Tour

Price from per person

Price notes:

1. based on double occupancy

2. 3 star accommodation level in low season

3. international airfare is not included

4. price is subjected to change according to group size and payment methods

Potala Palace, Residence of Former Dalai

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Duration: 1 Day
Tour type: Private escorted tour with Tibetan tour guide and private vehicle with experienced driver
Departure: Flexible
Tour code: TD-LT-01

Is this trip for you?

Physical Demands
Physical Requirements
- Capable of walking short to medium distances by oneself in high altitudes. Must be capable of minor ascents and descents.
- Capable of light walking and hiking in high altitudes. Suitable for most fitness levels.
- Average fitness level. High altitude hiking for several hours.
- Possibly includes high altitude hiking of up to 6 hours per day or activities of a similar nature. Requires an elevated level of fitness.
- Features demanding high altitude treks or cycling. Only suitable for those with a high level of physical fitness and endurance.
Note: If you have any questions concerning the requirements or the unique demands for your particular tour package, please feel free to contact one of our helpful Travel Consultants for further information.

It's advisable to have a body check-up or have your doctor's advice before visiting Tibet. Visitors with a record of heart, lung, liver, or kidney problems must seek medical advice before making the decision to go to Tibet Also, people with any of the following problems should not go to Tibet.
- Have already caught a cold
- Have severe anemia
- Have high blood pressure or severe heart disease
- Have pneumonia, tuberculosis, tracheitis, or bronchitis
Tour Pace
Leisure
Tour Pace
- Leisure: enjoy your tour in a slow pace, allowing plenty of time for photography, you will see the most famous attractions, and spend plenty amount of time in each destination.
- Comfortable: enjoy your tour in a comfortable pace, you will see most popular attractions, and spend reasonable amount of time in each attraction.
- Tight: enjoy your tour at a tight pace, as you will be able to see as many tour attractions as possible in the available amount of time.
Max Altitude
3,650m
Altitude

High Altitude Sickness is one of the biggest challenges when travelling in Tibet. According to our experience, most people will be fine up to 3500m above sea level, as the altitude go higher up to 4500m, mild symptoms as shortness of breath, headache might occur. Adverse reactions may vary from person to person. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and will subside in several hours to several days as the body acclimatizes.

Mild Symptoms of AMS include:
- Headache
- Shortness of breath with exertion
- Rapid pulse (heart rate)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Poor sleeping
- Dizziness or light-headedness

Journey at a Glance
Day1-Moring: Potala Palace
Day1-Afternoon: Jokhang Temple

Itinerary Details - Day by Day

Day 1 Lhasa

Start today’s Lhasa exploration with an exciting visit to the landmark - Potala Palace which is regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural building in the world. You will climb up the palace along the zigzag stone paths with white-and-red walls to the top of the palace where you can not only appreciate the exotic Tibetan-style architecture, but also get a great view of Lhasa’s urban areas, then walk into the inner space of Potala Palace to explore the stately chapels and learn about the history of the palace.

Continuing your exploration, you will then get to Jokhang Temple which is considered as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Each day, there are thousands of pilgrims coming from different places in Tibet to the temple to worship to the Buddha. This temple is also known as the “house of Buddha” because it keeps the precious Jowo Rinpoche, the life-sized (5 foot/1.5m) image of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12. The last site for today’s exploration is the famous Barkhor Street. It is a circular and wide street encircling the Jokhang Temple. The local people like to walk on the street for several circles usually in the late afternoon as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The street also has many shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handcrafts.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips of Today: 1) there are 1,080 steps up to climb to the top of Potala Palace, so don’t walk in a rush, which may cause high altitude sickness; 2) taking photos is not allowed inside the palace; 3) today you will be mainly outside, please bring some water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses with you.

Overnight at Lhasa.

click to enlarge the map

"Our Expert Says"

This trip is ideal for those with an extra day but still want to see the major attractions in Lhasa. Climb up the Potala Palace and get a great view of Lhasa city;stroll along the special circular pilgrimage route and follow the footsteps of pilgrims to witness their devotion; choose some unique Tibetan souvenirs for your families and friends in Barhkor Street.

Recommended Groups: All groups. Best for youth, couples, and photographers.
Conditions: This tour is moderately challenging, as the maximum altitude is over 3,500 meters above sea level. As attractions are very close to each other, customers won't need to spend much time in the car. A little walking or climbing is involved. As the altitude is about 3,650 meters above sea level, a reasonable level of fitness is needed.
Best time: Available all year round. If you have a tight budget come from December to February. Otherwise, try to avoid July and August.

Tailoring your trip

This itinerary can be designed to give you a flavour of what is possible.

We can change the tour paces to meet your travel style: leisure, comfortable, or tight.
We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements.
Itinerary can be altered, from daily activities to accommodation.
You can either shorten this tour to meet your planning travel time, or extent the journey to other Chinese cities.

Price & Service Guide

What's included in this price?

Private professional English-speaking tour guide.
Private vehicle and Luggage Transfers.
All necessary Tibet travel permits.
All accommodations, based on double-occupancy. Medium standard accommodation with attached bathroom on twin sharing basis. Guesthouse or tent in remote areas.
Meals, as noted in the itinerary.
Admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary. Service Charge (the planning, handling, operational and communication charges) & government taxes.
Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance

What's excluded in this price?

China visa, all air tickets and train tickets to and from Tibet.
Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary.
Meals not listed in the itinerary.
Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
Gratuities, tips to guides, drivers, bellboys, etc.
Excess Baggage Charges.
Single room supplement.

Value for money:

While the trip of a lifetime is priceless, we know value is a vital aspect for those deciding which tour to choose.

When comparing tour prices, be sure to compare like to like. Our tours are designed to ensure that our customers experience all the culture, history, and beauty that Tibet has to offer, and at a reasonable price.

A great way to enjoy the lowest possible price is to invite more people to join your trip to share the travel experience as well as the tour expense. The more people in a group, the lower the price per person. (We recommend you join our group tour if you are traveling alone. Please contact our travel consultant for more information)

Booking early is also an easy way to ensure the best rate! We highly recommend you contact us at least 1 month before your planned departure date.

FAQs of This Trip

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Reviews of This Trip

Still not sure if this trip suits you? Read what other travelers think about this Tibet trip. We only accept reviews from confirmed travelers who purchased the tour / activity from us, so you can be sure the reviews are unbiased and authentic.

Write a review

Hello Elk,

I can't leave without thanking you so much for making it possible for me to come here and enjoy every second of it. I'll be back. To continue exploring because I have to go to my father's town. To each of our guides, a thousand blessings for your attention and care for us... and don't forget. I'm your long-distance friend. I will highly recommend your work and that of all of you.

Regards,

Evelia

September 22, 2025

Dear Tracy,

I want to thank you for all your work that you have done to make sure our trip to China was a success, that all parts of the plan fit together, and everything was running smoothly.

We took some photos with them and attached here. You can send to them.

And I have answered the questions below for you to check.

It was a great trip where we enjoyed getting to know your country with its ancient history, beautiful views and amazing modern architecture. We found everyday Chinese people warm hearted and always willing to come to the rescue of a visitor despite the lack of common language.

I would like to mention to you some of our outstanding guides who we met along the way:

In Beijing we were welcomed by Linda who has encyclopedic knowledge of Chinese history, traditions and culture. She was incredible, so warm hearted, so welcoming, so patient. When we were parting with her at the Beijing Train Station, we truly felt we were leaving a friend behind.

In Lhasa my wife unfortunately fell ill affected by the high-altitude sickness, and our guide Tenzin did everything in his power and beyond making sure my wife was the most comfortable having access to medications, oxygen concentrator at the hotel day and night, while taking me to the scheduled tours. He was extremely caring and comforting and even called us after we left Lhasa for Chengdu to inquire about my wife's health.

In Chengdu we enjoyed the company of Kevin who showed us around and answered all our endless questions about Great Pandas, recommending good places to eat and visit on our own afterhours.

In Guilin Stephen was absolutely fantastic! He was so friendly, so warm hearted, trying to foresee every need, making sure we have the best access to everything, answering all our questions, presenting his native city and the country in the best light, making sure we understand the history and the culture. Besides, when my clothes got ruined due to rain, he helped us to shop for the new clothes after finishing the scheduled daily tour.

Your company has a tremendous team of people who made our trip an exceptional one, and we thank you all for making this trip a trip of a lifetime!

Best regards,

Eugene and Helen

September 22, 2025

Hello Wonder!

We are safely in Lhasa. Our train ride from Xining to Lhasa was fantastic; we didn’t have any problems. The night was short because the boys wanted to look at the stars and watch the sunrise. We saw many wild Tibetan animals for a couple hours after sunrise and then lots of yaks and sheep thereafter. No altitude sickness issues for any of us; so far we feel great. Thank you for checking in on us and providing the train and guide information. Thank you!!

Ellen

June 30, 2025

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