12 days Lhasa Cultural Tour in 2025 and 2026

To start the tour to Lhasa, travelers first must get to Kathmandu. Boundless Adventure’s members will be at the airport with your and our company’s name upon your arrival. Once you meet our representative, he’ll greet you and take you on a private vehicle to drop you off at your Hotel. As you get to the Hotel, you will check in and get to your room. In the evening, we’ll meet you at your Hotel to debrief the tour, or if you are okay with visiting our office, you are heartily welcome. Your overnight stay is at the Kathmandu Hotel.

Good morning! Day two is your sightseeing trip to the Kathmandu Valley. Get ready with your breakfast. Our representative will be in a private vehicle outside your Hotel for your day’s visit. The drive from your Hotel is towards Kathmandu Durbar Square. If you stay in Thamel’s Hotel, it will take 10-15 minutes to get to Kathmandu Durbar Square, depending on traffic conditions. Our guide will briefly explain each of the monuments and the historical significance of Kathmandu Durbar Square as you start visiting there.

The drive moves towards Swayambhunath from Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is a 10-15 minute drive from Kathmandu Durbar Square to reach Sawambhunath. At Sawambhunath, travelers can appreciate the 360-degree view of Kathmandu Valley and feel the spiritual ambiance of the temple.

The drive moves Boudhanath from Swayambhunath temple. It takes 25-30 minutes to get to Boudhanath stupa from Sawambhunath temple. You will find the same atmosphere and practices at Boudhanath as you saw at Sawambhunath, as both are prominent Buddhist religious sites. Visitors can participate in stupa Circumambulation by spinning prayer wheels at Boudhanath and can appreciate the view of the Stupa while having a delicious meal at the rooftop restaurant.

Your day ends with a visit to Pashupatinath temple, a sacred Hindu site. As you get to Pashupatinath in the evening, you can witness one of the prominent religious practices, a night flamework “Sandhya Aarati.” Also, you can explore the temple and learn about numerous legends and facts through our guide.

After a full day of exploration, we will drop you off at the Hotel, where you will spend the night.

The journey towards Lhasa begins with a flight from Kathmandu International Airport to Gonggar Airport. It is an hour’s aerial flight from Tribhuvan International Airport to Gonggar Airport. The flight offers a bird’s eye view of Nepal’s iconic mountain peaks, including Mount Everest, Mt.Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, and Mt.Kanchenjunga.

As you land at the Gonggar Airport, our guide will pick you up and take you to your Hotel. It is about a one-hour drive from Gonggar Airport to Lhasa, covering a distance of 93km. After getting to the Hotel, check in, rest, and take time to adjust to the changed temperature and altitude. Your overnight stay and dinner will be at the Lhasa Hotel.

Good morning at the Lhasa! From today, travelers visit the cultural sites and some popular areas of Lhasa. Your day begins with a warm breakfast at your Hotel. After breakfast, we will pick you up from your Hotel and take you to Potala Palace. The Palace was a resistance place of Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959, but it is now a museum and a world heritage site. The Palace is 117 m high, with 13 stories, more than 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and about 200,000 statues.

After the visit to Potala Palace, the drive moves towards Norbulingka Palace. The Palace lies in a tranquil and stunning garden in western Lhasa, southwest of Potala Palace. The Norbulingka Palace is famous for being the summer residence of the Dalai Lama. It is a world heritage site that serves as an administrative and religious center. Visitors can witness the cars the 13th Dalai Lama imported to Tibet while visiting Norbulingka Palace.

From Norbulingka Palace, the drive moves towards the day’s final destination: the Tibet Museum. The museum houses many artifacts and exhibits from Tibet’s ancient times.

After a visit to three stunning ancient monuments in Lhasa, we will drop you off at your Hotel. You will stay overnight and have dinner at the Lhasa Hotel.

After your morning meal, another day of exploration and sightseeing in Lhasa begins. Sera Monastery is the first sightseeing site of the day. The monastery is one of the prominent sites of Lhasa and also a university of Buddhism. During the visit to Sera Monastery, travelers can appreciate the Main Assembly Hall (Tsokchen Hall), Debating Courtyard, College Halls, Statues, and Stupas and witness religious practices.

The drive moves towards Drepung Monastery, one of the three pillars of the Tibetan state. Built-in 1416, the Drepung monastery was the largest monastery in Tibet and a prominent site for the Gelupa sect of Buddhism. The monastery’s setting, with its vast courtyards and dense forests, makes it one of the most peaceful sites to visit in Lhasa. During the visit, travelers can participate in a 90-minute circumambulation.

Jokhang Temple is another sightseeing destination after Drepung Monastery. Built-in 647 AD, it is one of the most sacred temples in Lhasa. The temple is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site inside Barkhor Square. The Jowo Shakyamuni statue is the major attraction of the Jhkhang temple, and visitors can take a glimpse.

The day ends with a visit to Barkhor Bazaar, the oldest street in Lhasa, with a history of over 1,300 years. The Bazaar is well-known for its shopping. The Jhokang Temple, which lies on the street of Barkhor Bazaar, adds significance to the Bazaar. Dorje, Saffron, Tibetan Jewelry Boxes, Tibetan Wooden Bowls, Snuff Bottles, Prayer Wheels (Mani), Diamond Knots, and Millettia bracelets are the prominent Souvenirs found in Barkhor Bazaar.

After a pleasant day exploring Lhasa’s numerous areas and historical sites, we will drop you off at the Hotel, Where you will have a meal and spend the night.

On the sixth day, the journey moves to Xigatse (Shigatse) from Lhasa. After breakfast at Lhasa’s Hotel, you will drive towards the day’s destination, Xigatse. The journey follows the China National Highway 318 through a well-maintained road in a smooth drive. The drive from Lhasa to Xigatse passes through some of the stunning scenery of Tibet. The drive passes provide a panorama of Yamdrok Lake, Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse Town, and Shalu Monastery.

It takes 6-7 hours to reach Xigatse (Shigatse) at 3900m from Lhasa, covering a distance of 280km. As you reach Xigatse, you can visit the nearby areas. Your overnight and dinner are at the Hotel Hotelgatse (Shigatse).

You will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigatse early in the morning and drive towards Gyantse after breakfast. The drive offers you a glimpse into the stunning landscapes of Tibet. You’ll pass through beautiful countryside landscapes with incredible sights of rolling hills and traditional Tibetan villages. Also, the drive offers a spectacular panorama of Karola Glacier. After 2-3 hours of driving covering a distance of 90km, you will reach the day’s destination, Gyantse, at 3950m.

Upon reaching Gyantse, you will rest and then visit Gyantse Dzong. On the hilltop, Gyantse Dzong is a historic fortress; from there, you can appreciate the beauty of the surrounding valley. You will end your day with a visit to Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. Your overnight and dinner are at Gyantse’s Hotel.

Day eight takes you to Tsedang at 3400m above sea level. After having a morning meal at Gyantse’s tea house, you will drive towards the day’s destination. The initial phase of the drive passes through a picturesque landscape with traditional Tibetan houses, terraced fields of barley, and grazing yaks. It takes 5-6 hours to drive from Gyantse to Tsedang through a scenic drive. The day’s night stay and dinner are at Tsedang’s Hotel.

The ninth day is the second and last day of your journey to the Lhasa cultural tour, Samye Tsedang (3100m). After breakfast at Tsedang’s Hotel, you will drive towards Samye in the early morning. The route to Samye Tsedang follows a winding path along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The drive provides stunning views of the valley and the surrounding landscapes.

After covering approximately 65km and taking 2-3 hours to drive, you will reach Samye. You will visit the first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet, Samye Monastery. You can appreciate the monastery’s architectural beauty and participate in a spiritual experience there. After exploring the monastery, you will get to your Hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day tenth is the final day in your Lhasa. Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport to return to Kathmandu. It is 2 hours of drive from Samye Tsedang to get to Gonggar Airport. You will check in for Kathmandu’s flight when you get to the airport. An hour of aerial flight with a bird’s gaze of the stunning landscape of Tibet and Nepal takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Upon landing, we will pick you up and drop you off at your Hotel. Your dinner and night stay is at the Kathmandu Hotel.

The eleventh day marks the final day of your journey to Nepal. On this day, you will fly back to your homeland. We will pick you up from your Hotel and drop you off at the airport for your flight. However, you can stay and participate in other adventures if you have more time. If you don’t have time, we must say goodbye with a heavy heart. Have a safe flight!