Flight to Gonggar airport of Lhasa. Upon arrival,  met and greeted by our Tibetan guide and then drive to Tsedang (120km/7.5miles, 1.5 hrs), gateway town to the Yarlung Valley. Yarlung Valley is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization and it was from Yarlung that early Tibetan kings unified Tibet in the 7th century.

Upon arrival, we check in hotel and take rest for the acclimatization. 

Overnight: 4* Tsedang Hotel or similar

Meals: None

Today, we explore the historical and cultural sights of Yarlung Valley.

We visit the ancient Trandruk Temple (7 km, 4.5 miles) which is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, contemporary to Jokhang and Ramoche of Lhasa. At Tradruk, we will visit the courtyard area, ringed by cloisters, the principal chapel with statues of Tara or Drolma and 5 Dhyani Buddha’s and a famous Thangka painting of Drolma in the chapel upstairs. From Trandruk, we head south to Yumbulakang Palace (6km, 1.8 miles) which is a fine, tapering finger of a structure that pops up from a rocky ridge overlooking the patchwork of fields of the Yarlung Valley. We will visit the ground floor chapel consecrated to the ancient kings of Tibet and upper floor chapel with an image of Chenresig (Avalokityaswora) and we will also see some excellent murals depicting descent of Nyentri Tsenpo from heaven to Yumbulakang.

We will walk up along the ridge above the building to enjoy fabulous views of Yarlung Valley.

Today, our next destination is Chongye Valley (approx 11 miles from Yumbulagang). At Chongye Valley, we visit the tombs of ancient Tibetan kings that give evidence of pre-Buddhist culture of Tibet assimilating with Buddhism. The most revered and the largest of the burial mounds is the Tomb of King Songtsen Gampo and it has a small Nyingmapa temple. Late afternoon, we retrace drive to Tsedang.

Overnight: 4* Tsedang Hotel or similar.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we check out hotel and head out to Lhasa via visit to Samye Monastery-the first Buddhist Monastery in Tibet. Samye is famous for its sacred Mandala design: the central temple symbolizes the legendary Mount Meru, centre of the universe. It is a popular pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists, some of whom travel on foot for weeks to reach this holy shrine.

We arrive Lhasa late afternoon. We check in hotel and after some rest, we can take self guided walk tour to Barkhor Street and Jokhang Square. 

Overnight: 3* Standard hotels.

Meals: Breakfast  

Today, we explore the major highlights of Lhasa. We begin the tour from the magnificent Potala Palace- the symbol of wisdom and power of Tibetan people. This 13 story 1000 room citadel served as the headquarters of the former "church-state" of the Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lamas, who from the latter half of the 18th century used it as their winter palace. The gigantic palace serves as landmark of Lhasa and can be spotted from far away.

In the afternoon, we visit Jokhang Temple-the holiest and most sacred site in Tibet where devout Buddhists make their pilgrimage. Jokhang has been always an important pilgrim destination for Tibetans. We will be overwhelmed to reveal the cosmos of this holiest site and finding the way of living of the monks.

We spend the rest of day wandering about the Barkhor Street and the Barkhor Square. The street circles the Jokhang Temple and has been an essential pilgrim route since the foundation of the temple. Buddhist pilgrims can be seen throughout the day and night walking, or prostrating themselves clockwise along Barkhor Street spinning their prayer wheels and chanting sutras. Barkhor Street also is popular place of handicraft bargains. 

Overnight: 3* Standard hotels.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we head towards Drepung Monastery, 8 km west of Lhasa. We leave the car behind at the foot of the hill and take a pleasant hike to visit the white monastic buildings of the monastery which once was the largest Buddhist monastery- housing over 10,000 monks. Founded in 1416 by the disciple of Je Tsongkhapa, founder of the Yellow Hat Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Drepung was the residence of the second, third and fourth Dalai Lamas and the power centre of Tibet-until the 5th Dalai Lama shifted to the Potala Palace.

From Drepung, we return to the city and visit the Norbulingkha-the summer palaces of the Dalai Lamas. Among others, the most visited one is the palace of the 14th Dalai Lama which was built in a fusion style of both Tibetan and Western from 1954-1956.

In the afternoon, we drive about 5-6 km north of Lhasa to visit Sera Monastery-Lhasa’s one of the most beautiful monasteries. Once a community of more than 5,000 monks resided here .The restored monastery sits below the brow of hill on which Tsongkhapa built a hermitage and spent several years mediating. Sera may not be as grandiose as Drepung, but is more serene surrounded by many small temples. We take chance to attend the 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera which is an interesting part of this visit. Kora hikes: Both Drepung and Sera Monastery offers kora hikes (circumambulation the monastery) for hiking enthusiasts which can take 1 and ½ hrs to 2 ½ hrs but one should be well acclimatized before we attempt kora hikes) .

Overnight: 3* Standard hotels.

Meals: Breakfast 

Transfer to Gongar airport. Lhasa to Kathmandu or Mainland cities. Service Ends!

Meals: Breakfast