3 Days Lhasa Highlights Brief Tour

Welcome to the roof of the world! You will be picked up by local tour guide at Lhasa airport hall or train station, and then be escorted to check in your hotel in Lhasa city (3,650 m) in a private vehicle. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the local areas and acclimatize yourself to the air, temperature and high altitude of Lhasa.

Recommended Activities: 1) stroll around Lhasa city to experience the local daily life and urban development; 2) go to Jokhang Temple Square and Barkhor Food Street to taste authentic Tibetan cuisine; 3) enjoy the local nightlife at Lhasa Ever-Bright City and Tianhai Night Market.

High Altitude Acclimation Tips: 1) go for some leisure walking to acclimate the high altitude but avoid strenuous activity after arrival; 2) you'd better not have bath on the first day, in case of catching a cold and causing altitude sickness; 3) drink more water and have some fruit to stay hydrated to adapt to Lhasa's dry climate; 4) have a good rest on the arrival day to help adapt to the high-altitude environment and better enjoy the following itinerary.

How to Get to Lhasa: you can get to Lhasa from nearby and top gateway cities in China, including Chengdu (about 3 hours), Chongqing (about 3 hours), Beijing (about 4.5 hours), Xi'an (about 4.5 hours), Xining (about 2.5 hours), Kunming (about 3 hours), Shangri-La (about 2.5 hours), etc. by non-stop domestic flights and Kathmandu (about 1.5 hours) by non-stop international flights. Or take a train from Xining, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Lanzhou and Guanghzou. Though Xian operates no trains to Lhasa, Shanghai-Lhasa trains and Guangzhou-Lhasa trains have a stop at Xian Railway Station and they can take you from Xian to Lhasa as well.

Start today's cultural heritage journey from the Potala Palace Square, where you can admire the grandeur of Potala Palace and capture classic photos of its magnificent front facade. From here, continue to the landmark - Potala Palace, an outstanding symbol of Tibetan architecture mainly composed of the White Palace and the Red Palace with many cherished cultural heritages. After entering the gate of Potala Palace, you need to walk up about 30 minutes along the zigzag stone paths with white-and-red walls to the White Palace. Remember to ascend the steps slowly and take some stops for sightseeing and rest which will be helpful to reduce high altitude sickness. Then you will explore the palace in an orderly way from the White Palace to the Red Palace with explanations accompanied by your local guide. After exploring Potala Palace, enjoy a leisurely walk through Zongjiao Lukang Park, a scenic lakeside park located behind the palace. Here, you can experience authentic local life, often seeing Tibetans gathering for singing and dancing, chatting, exercising, and walking kora. On clear days, the lake also offers beautiful reflections of Potala Palace.

Continuing your exploration, you will then get to Jokhang Temple, widely regarded as the spiritual heart of Lhasa and the most sacred religious site in Tibet as it enshrines the revered Jowo Rinpoche, a life-sized (about 1.5 meters / 5 feet) statue of Shakyamuni Buddha depicting him at the age of twelve. In the square before the temple, you will witness devoted pilgrims performing full-body prostrations, gradually polishing the stone flagstones beneath them-a deeply moving and unforgettable sight. The day’s exploration concludes at Barkhor Street, the bustling circular street that surrounds Jokhang Temple. The local Tibetans usually walk clockwise on the street for several circles, as part of their daily pilgrimage. Lined with lively shops and stalls, Barkhor Street is also an excellent place to browse for traditional Tibetan handicrafts and local specialties, offering a vibrant glimpse into both the spiritual and everyday life of Lhasa.

Optional Activity: If your physical strength permits, you can take a short climb to the Chakpori Hill Viewing Platform, which is precisely the location featured on the back of China's fifth series 50-yuan banknote. From this platform, you can appreciate the terraced architecture of Potala Palace ascending the mountainside.

Tips of today: 1) Potala Palace (3,700m) is situated at a higher elevation than the average city altitude (3,650m) and requires climbing many steps, so please walk slowly and take breaks as needed; 2) taking photos, videos and wearing hats are not allowed in the palace; 3) please bring some water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses with you.

Today you will visit popular attractions in Lhasa city and suburb to explore Tibetan culture. You will firstly go to visit the beautiful Norbulingka which used to be the former summer palace of Dalai Lamas in the ancient time, and now is a public park. Dotted with various kinds of precious flowers and plants, it is the genuine "Plateau Oxygen Bar". In addition to its magnificent buildings and colorful flowers, Norbulingka also features some big Tibet event activities during big festivals, like Tibetan shows in annual Shoton Festival. Next, move on to next site - Tibet Museum which is an excellent window to understand the history, culture, and folk customs of Tibet, with a rich collection that allows you to quickly gain a comprehensive understanding of the snow-covered plateau. It weaves together the complete narrative of Tibetan civilization from prehistoric times to the modern era through over 2,000 cultural artifacts. Additionally, it vividly showcases the unique charm of Tibetan culture through exhibitions of clothing, daily utensils, and festival traditions.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to catch your flight/train to next destination. Tour ends!