Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, usually takes abt 1.5hrs; from Lhasa Railway Station, abt 20mins. After transferred to hotel, the rest of the day you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. The first day’s well-rest is crucial to acclimatize high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not to shower if you can help it.

In the morning, we will head to Drepung Monastery, which means “Monastery of Rice Heap” in Tibetan. The entire complex is large in scale, with white buildings clustering and covering the mountainside. Drepung Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery and housed over 10,000 monks at its peak. From the First to the Fifth Dalai Lama, all held their enthronement ceremonies here, and every Dalai Lama has regarded Drepung as their “mother monastery,” making it also the highest-ranking monastery within the Gelug School.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery, famous for its unique Buddhist debating sessions. Debating is a traditional practice in Tibetan Buddhism, where monks engage in lively and intense dialogues to discuss Buddhist doctrines through questions and answers. You will have the opportunity to witness this dynamic and intellectual religious practice, experiencing the profound scholarly atmosphere and distinctive monastic culture of Tibetan Buddhism.

Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace, which is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Potala Palace was the winter palace of successive Dalai lamas. In possession of rich cultural heritage, Potala Palace is known as the "pearl on the roof of the world. At the top the palace called golden roofs, you can have a bird-eye view of the whole of Lhasa. In the distance there are undulating mountain ranges, the beautiful Lhasa River, tracts of fields, tree-shaded villages and the glistening Jokhang Temple.

At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days.

After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.

Your 4-day Lhasa City Essential Group Tour ends today. After breakfasts, you will be free for the morning. Our staff will collect you at your hotel around noon to transfer to Lhasa Airport. For Lhasa Railway, we will arrange free individual transport. End of tour!