5 Days Lhasa & Ganden Monastery Tour

Fly to Lhasa. The Trans-Himalayan flight will enchant you with the spectacular, breathtaking view if Himalayan ranges. You will see the most of the highest mountains on the earth including Mt. Everest. Upon our arrival in Gonggar airport after immigration formality our guide will meet and greet you offering Khada (Tibetan scarf) and transfer you directly to your hotel in Lhasa. The drive will take about 1 hour 15 minute along the recently build highway. After arriving at hotel guide will help you with hotel check in formality. *Note: we advise you to take good rest in order to give you time to acclimatize and minimize the effect of altitude sickness. O/N Hotel (BB)

This morning we visit the Potala Palace, winter home of the Dalai Lamas and most famous landmark in the world. Although the palace cannot be freely explored, you will experience some if its chapels including audience hall, the golden burial Chorten (Tomb) of Past Dalai Lamas, tremendous number of painting done on wall, Statue, Thangka and Mandala etc. After lunch we will visit Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism and important sacred site in Tibet. The Temple was founded during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo for his two brides Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Princes Bhrikuti of Nepal, both are said to have brought important Buddhist image and statues from Nepal & China to Tibet as part of their dowries. After visiting Temple explore Barkhor surrounding, watch the pilgrims prostrating themselves near the front gate of Jokhang Temple. Take part in clockwise circuit walking round the temple, walk around narrow alley to explore old Lhasa city. O/N Hotel (BB)

This morning we will drive 8 km northwest of Lhasa to visit Drepung Monastery which is one of the “great three” Geluk Monasteries of Tibet, founded by Jamyang Choje in 1416. The Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and once a home of as many as 10000 monks. This winter Palace was the resident of hundreds of monks from all the major Geluk monasteries for staffing individual Chapels. Later we visit to Norbulingka Palace which is also called the “Jewel Park”, is a large open area about four kilometers to the west of Lhasa, and referred to as the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Since the time of the Eight Dalai Lama, the park has been used as a summer palace, retreat and recreation area for the successive Dalai Lamas. In the afternoon drive 5km away from Lhasa to Sera Monastery founded in 1419, which is another one of the “ great three” Geluk monasteries of Tibet. Monastery is well known for the monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. O/N Hotel (BB)

Morning drive approximately 50 km northeast of Lhasa to Ganden, the monastery is one of the three great Gelukpa sect religious centers in the Lhasa area, is cradled in a natural amphitheater high above the Kyi Chu River. It was built in 1409 by the founder of Yellow Hat sect. Master Tsongkapa and is the first Gelugpa monastery and has been the main seat of the major Buddhist order ever since. After visiting the monastery, we get ready to hike a bit around it (Upper Kora), on the hiking path you can see lot of carved Buddhist scriptures on the rock and pilgrims circling the monastery and stupendous views of the surrounding Kyi Chu Valley below you and the miles of mountain range in the clear weather day. After finishing the Kora, we can have lunch at the local restaurant and return back to Lhasa city. O/N Hotel (BB)

You will be driven to the airport in time to catch your flight back to home or onward destination