Tibet Culture Tours

You'll get two days to explore Lhasa in detail. Even on the landing at Lhasa, you'll have time for exploration and roam around the area where you'll stay. As per our itinerary, your exploration day is on the second and third days of the journey.

On the first exploration day, you'll visit some of Lhasa's historic and culturally significant areas. Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market Place are the three major areas of Lhasa you'll tour on the first day.

The second day's exploration of Lhasa begins with a tour around Sera Monastery, located north of Lhasa. Sera Monastery has lots of attractions to visit. After visiting Sera Monastery, you'll head for an exploration of Drepung Monastery, and the day will end. Finally, you can visit Barkhor Market if you want to shop.

Potala Palace Exploration

Your first stop on the Lhasa tour is the Potala Palace. The palace is an extraordinary architectural and cultural landmark of Lhasa, the only one in the world at 3700 m above sea level.

The palace is worth visiting and offers stunning scenery as the temple is located at the hilltop of Marpo Ri, a Red Hill. At the Potala Palace, you can explore the two main sections of the palace: the Red Palace and the White Palace. During the visit, you'll learn that the Red Place is a religious site with stupas and holy items. White Place was an administrative center where people believed that the Dalai Lamas and their followers resided.

Furthermore, you'll be amazed by the Potala Palace's architecture, which is influenced by Tibetan design. During the palace visit, you can admire the view of the Potala Palace, learn about its history, and experience spirituality.

Barkhor Market Place Exploration

The Barkhor marketplace surrounding the Jokhang Temple is one of Tibetan Buddhism's most significant sites and a cultural and commercial center for locals and tourists alike. When you first walk along Barkhor Street, you'll be surprised by its formation as you return to the starting point after 30 minutes without changing your direction.

Walking through the Barkhor marketplace feels different. You'll get a strange feeling whenever you walk around the street. As you walk through the market, you'll see various items for sale, including Tibetan handicrafts, religious objects, clothing, jewelry, and gifts.

One of the highlights of visiting Barkhor Market Place is witnessing religious pilgrims walking around the Jokhang Temple. The encircling of the temple is called "kora," which includes walking clockwise around the temple, spinning prayer wheels, and chanting mantras.

Drepung Monastery

In the final part of your exploration of Lhasa, you'll visit Drepung Monastery, the largest Monastery in Tibet. The Monastery lies 5 km west of Lhasa, at the Gambo Utse mountain. Founded in 1416, it has a significant role in Tibet's religious, cultural, and political history.

The incredible architecture, with white buildings against the backdrop of Tibetan scenery, is the major highlight of a visit to Drepung Monastery. The Monastery offers you peacefulness and spiritual profundity. While seeing monks engaged in prayer, meditation, and religious ceremonies, you'll get a look into the daily lives of Tibetan Buddhist followers.

Tibet has many religious sites to explore, each offering insight into Tibetan Buddhism, its traditions, and the region's cultural significance. Some of the notable and most significant religious sites to explore in Tibet include:

Mount Kailash:

Mount Kailash is a mountain in Ngari Prefecture, China's Tibet Autonomous Region, near Manasarovar and Rakshastal Lake. Among the religious sites in Tibet, Mount Kailash is significant for four religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon.

Jokhang Temple:

Jokhang Temple, also known as Qoikang Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery at Barkhor Square in Lhasa. The temple/ monastery is the most significant and holiest Buddhist site in Tibet. The architectural style of the Monastery combines Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian vihara designs.

Sera Monastery:

The Sera monastery is one of Tibet's three great Gelug University monasteries. It is on the north side of Lhasa and holds great religious significance in the region.

Tashilunpo Monastery:

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery is a historically and culturally significant monastery in Shigatse City, Tibet. The Dalai Lama founded the Monastery in 1447; thus, it is an essential religious site in Tibet. Furthermore, among the six great Gelugpa monasteries of Tibet, the Tashilhunpo is also one of them.

Pelkor Chode Monastery Khumbum Stupa

Palkhor monastery, meaning "auspicious monastery" in Tibetan, lies northeast of Gyantse County and south of Lhasa. In the history of Tibetan Buddhism, the Monastery holds great importance. When you are at Pelkor Chode monastery, Khumbum Stupa is a must-visit site, acclaimed as the "king of pagodas."

Ganden Monastery

In Dagzê County of Lhasa, Ganden Monastery is one of the six main monasteries of the Gelug order. The meaning of Ganden in Tibetan is "Pure Land of Tushita". The Lama Tsongkhapa meditated after the Monastery's foundation; thus, the Monastery is a tremendous religious site in Tibet.

Ramoche Monastery

Ramoche Temple is the second-most crucial Buddhist Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet, after the Jokhang Temple. Founded in the seventh century, it is the oldest religious site in Lhasa and a famous pilgrimage destination visited by devotees worldwide each year.

Samye Monastery

Located in the Chimpu valley, south of Lhasa, Smaye monastery is the foremost Tibetan Buddhist and Nyingma monastery in Tibet. Samye, Tibet's first Monastery, is significant to Tibetan Buddhist culture as the original birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism.

Sakya monastery

Sakya Monastery, also called Pel Monastery, is a Buddhist monastery and religious site in Sa'gya Town, Tibet. Sakya monastery is affiliated with the Sakyapa, one of Tibet's four primary schools of Buddhism. Besides their spiritual significance, Sakya monasteries are attractive for their unique architecture and environment.

Drak Yerpa

Drak Yarpa lies on a hilltop northeast of Lhasa and is home to monasteries, temples, and meditation caves. Besides being religiously significant for devotees, the Dark Yarpa is an ideal choice for travelers interested in meditation practice. The cave is one of Padmasambhava's three most important places for spiritual growth.

Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma group in the Shigatse District, near the base of the north side of Mount Everest in Tibet. Rongbuk Monastery was an important pilgrimage place for Sherpas residing on the south side of Everest in Nepal's Khumbu region. Previously, the Monastery was quite active with Buddhist teachings through specific seasons of the year. It was, and still is, the site of incredible Buddhist pilgrimages, with annual ceremonies attended by viewers from across the world.

Chimpu  Hermitage

A popular destination for pilgrims, the Chimpu Hermitage is one of Tibet's sacred and religious sites. It lies near Samye Monastery. One reason for its spiritual importance is the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche. There are numerous caves at Chimphu Hermitage, each with a unique name. Currently, more than 50 yogis, both men and women, live in the cave and perform in workshops.

Each religious site is significant and holds great cultural and traditional value in Tibetan Buddhism. Visiting each religious site in Tibet offers a deep connection with Tibetan Buddhism and its philosophy and provides a sense of profoundness.