Tibet Tour, The Sacred City Lhasa Tour 9 Days

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : Wednesday, Arrival in Kathmandu

Day 2 : Visit in Kathmandu: Swoyambhunath, Kathmandu, and Patan/Lalitpur

Day 3 : Visit in Kathmandu: Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath

Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage site & the medieval capital city, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries, an example of exquisite woodworks in the Palace of 55 windows with its golden gate, the beautiful Dattatreya, Nyatapola with Bhairab Temple and ceramics Square, 

Pashupatinath, a "UNESCO World Heritage site", the sacred Hindu Shiva temple, serves as the seat of the national deity, this "extensive Hindu temple ground" offers an "extensive collection of temples, ashrams, sculptures” etc. for centuries along the banks of the sacred river Bagamati, considered Varanasi for Hindus, where we could witness their final rituals of cremation.

Boudhanath, "a UNESCO World Heritage site", it’s a massive mandala that makes it one of the largest spherical Stupas in the world, where many Tibetan refugees residing since 1960, in its premises have built more than 50 Buddhist monasteries. The Stupa is said to have buried the remains of Kassapa Buddha. 

Day 4 : Flight: Kathmandu - Lhasa (3,650Mt)

In the morning at the scheduled time transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Lhasa, this hour-enchanting flight over the Himalayas provides us with a spectacularly breathtaking view of the highest peaks on the earth, (Weather permitting) we could see including Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), etc. After immigration formality at the airport, we will be greeted with Khata (Scarf) and welcomed by your local Tibetan guide of Sampurna Adventure, then transferred to our hotel taking us along the banks of the Kyichhu River through the western city of Gonggar, we will have first sight of the Potala Palace from afar. 

After checking in at the hotel, we spend the remainder of the day relaxing and allowing our bodies to acclimate or light walk around the hotel area.

Day 5 : In Lhasa: visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market (3500m)

In the morning visit the Potala Palace, the winter palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a 13th-storied complex monument rising to a height above 117m which houses 10,000 shrines and over 200,000 images and about 1000 rooms. In the afternoon visit the 7th century Jokhang Temple, at the heart of Lhasa is the most sacred temple of all Tibet and a Power Place in all of Tibet. Queen Bhrikuti a Nepalese princess married to King Songtsen Gampo founded Jokhang Temple in recognition of Queen Bhrikuti, of the temple's main gate faces west towards Nepal. The most impressive structure of the Jokhang Temple is the many chapels surrounding the temple. Later you can walk and shop in the popular Barkhor Square (Bazaar) where all kinds of Tibetan handicrafts, Buddhist artifacts, carpets, paintings, etc. are all on sale for your delight. 

Day 6 : In Lhasa: visit Drepung & Sera Monastery (3500Mt)

This morning, we will drive 8km northwest of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery. It was the residence of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Dalai Lamas. This winter Palace was the residence of hundreds of monks from all the major Geluk monasteries for staffing individual Chapels. The 20,000 sq. MT complex has survived unscathed even during the Cultural Revolution. In the afternoon visit, Sera Monastery founded in 1419, 5km away from Lhasa. It sits in the prettiest and most charming atmosphere at the base of Mount Purbuchok. Sera Monastery used to be an important center for learning where about 6,000 monks resided. The most intriguing feature here is the nine-meter gilded image; here one can also witness the practicing debate among the monks, who pitch their knowledge against each other. 

Day 7 : In Lhasa: Norbulingka, Ramoche temple

After breakfast we drive back to Lhasa, check in at a hotel, and in the afternoon visit Norbulingka. 

“Norbulingka”, means 'Treasure Park' in Tibetan, the garden covers an area of 360,000 square meters with 374 rooms inside the biggest man-made garden in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Built in the 1740s by order of the 7th Dalai Lama, later it was used as the Summer Palace for successive Lamas, where they solved political problems and held festive celebrations. 

The murals depicted on the palace show the kind, calm Sakyamuni and his eight contemplative disciples and tell the development of Tibet in comic strips. 

Later visit Ramoche temple, which is considered to be the sister temple to the Jokhang which was completed about the same time. A beautiful small bronze statue of the Buddha considered to be at the age of eight years old, was crafted by a craftsman from Nepal and brought to Lhasa by the Nepalese queen, Bhrikuti who married the king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. It is said to have been badly damaged by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution.

Day 8 : Flight: Lhasa – Kathmandu

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu, after immigration formality on arrival you will be greeted and welcomed by Sampurna Adventure personnel & transferred to your hotel, rest of the day is free for personal activities, we can explore the narrow lively and endless streets of Thamel town where we will find all kinds of good restaurants, typical Nepali handicraft, fine jewelry, clothing, and trekking gear store, etc.

Day 9 : Departure: Kathmandu to the City of Origin

Leisurely breakfast, In the morning free for personal activities, we can explore the narrow lively, and endless streets of Thamel town where we will find all kinds of good restaurants, full of typical Nepali handicrafts, fine jewelry, clothing, and trekking gear store, later at the arranged time transfer to the airport for final departure to connect onward flight. We wish you a safe flight and hope to serve you back in near future. End of Service.