Day 1

Arrive in Lhasa, Hotel Check-In and Time to Acclimatise, 3,700 m

Arrive in Lhasa by flight or train, and on arrival you will be met by your guide for a comfortable transfer to your hotel and a smooth check in. Once you have settled into your room, the remainder of the day is intentionally calm, giving you time to rest and begin acclimatising to the altitude at your own pace. If you feel up to it, you may choose to take a gentle walk nearby or explore a local market independently for a first glimpse of Lhasa’s daily rhythm, before returning to the hotel for a relaxed evening and an early night ahead of the days to come. You will be staying in  Shangri-La Lhasa, a 5-star hotel.

Overnight: Lhasa

Day 2

Lhasa: Potala Palace and Sera Monastery

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin with one of Tibet’s most iconic sights, the Potala Palace, Lhasa’s defining landmark and an extraordinary symbol of Tibetan history and spirituality. As you explore its layered halls, chapels, and stairways, your guide will help bring the stories to life, from its origins to its role in shaping the city you see today.

Later, continue to Sera Monastery, founded in 1419 and long known for its scholarly tradition. Depending on timing, you may witness the monastery’s lively debating scene, a distinctive and memorable part of monastic life. By late afternoon, return to your hotel with time to rest, relax, and ease gently into the pace of Lhasa.

Overnight: Lhasa

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Lhasa, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and you will set out to visit the revered Jokhang Temple, often described as the spiritual heart of Tibet. Inside, the atmosphere is deeply moving, with flickering butter lamps, murmured prayers, and pilgrims who have travelled from across the plateau. Just outside, the surrounding lanes and prayer routes offer a vivid sense of the city’s devotion and daily life, and you will have time to absorb the scene without feeling hurried.

In the afternoon, slow the pace at Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Its gardens and pavilions create a calmer contrast to the intensity of the morning, and it is an ideal place to end the day on a softer note. Return to your hotel for a restful evening.

Overnight: Lhasa

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

Lhasa to Samye and Tsedang, Monasteries and the Roots of Tibetan Civilisation, 165 km

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out, then meet your guide for the drive along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, as the landscape opens out beyond Lhasa. Your first key visit is Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first monastery, originally built between 775 and 779. Even rebuilt over time, it remains a powerful place, both historically and spiritually, and your guide will explain why it holds such significance in Tibetan Buddhism.

Later, continue onwards into the Yarlung Valley, often considered the cradle of Tibetan culture. In the afternoon, visit Yumbulakhang, regarded as the first building in Tibet and traditionally linked to the earliest Tibetan kings. Arrive in Tsedang for hotel check in and a quiet evening to rest. You will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Shannan Gesang Road, a 4 star hotel.

Overnight: Tsedang

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Tsedang to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake: High Passes and a Sunset Monastery Visit, 340 km

After breakfast, take a little time to pack and check out, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and you will set off for Gyantse, crossing the Kamba La Pass at around 4,790 m. From the top, the view opens dramatically onto Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s most beautiful and sacred lakes, with distant snow capped peaks framing the horizon. You will have time to pause, take photographs, and simply take in the scale and clarity of the plateau scenery.

Continue along the lakeside route with scenic stops as the road winds through wide valleys and highland landscapes. Later in the day, arrive in Gyantse, and towards evening visit Pelkor Chode Monastery at sunset, when the light softens over the town and the atmosphere feels especially memorable. Check in to your hotel and enjoy a restful evening. You will stay at the Home Inn Neo, a 3-star hotel.

Overnight: Gyantse

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Gyantse to Shigatse, Tashilhunpo Monastery and the Local Market, 90 km

After breakfast, with your bags packed, check out, meet your guide in the hotel lobby, and drive to Shigatse, Tibet’s second city. On arrival, visit the impressive Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama and one of the region’s most important monastic centres. The monastery complex is vast, and your guide will lead you through its key areas, including the temple that houses a striking Maitreya, Future Buddha, an unforgettable highlight of the visit.

Later, enjoy time at Shigatse’s outdoor market, where local life feels immediate and authentic, with stalls, small trade, and everyday interactions that add texture to the journey. Check in to your hotel with time to unwind in the evening. You will be staying at the Hilton Shigatse, a 5-star hotel.

Overnight: Shigatse

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

Shigatse to Lhasa, a Scenic River Journey and an Incense Workshop Stop, 280 km

After breakfast, meet your guide with your bags ready and begin your journey back to Lhasa, driving alongside the Yarlung Tsangpo River as it threads through open valley landscapes. Today is designed to feel more spacious and reflective, with time to enjoy the changing scenery and the sense of distance that defines Tibet.
En route, stop at a small village to visit a traditional Tibetan incense mill and workshop, where you can see how handmade incense is produced, a small but memorable insight into local craft and daily life. Continue onwards to Lhasa, check in to your hotel, and enjoy a calm final evening in the capital. You will be staying at the The St. Regis Lhasa Resort, 5*.

Overnight: Lhasa

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8

Lhasa Departure

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out. You will then be met for a smooth private transfer to the airport or railway station for your onward journey. Settle into your seat, relax as you travel onward, and savour the moments that made Tibet so captivating, from the quiet monasteries to the wide plateau horizons. We look forward to creating your next adventure, wherever your travels lead you next.

Meals included: Breakfast