We will pick you up at Lhasa airport/railway station and transfer you to the hotel. It takes about 90 minutes from the airport to the hotel and 20 minutes from the train station to the hotel. After arriving at the hotel, you are advised to take a rest to get used to the high altitude. You can stroll around the hotel, but do not tire yourself out.

Our guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel in the early morning and then drive to Drepung Monastery, meaning Rice Heap Monastery in Tibetan. The whole monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung Monastery is known as Gelugpa's most important monastery in Tibetan Buddhism.

In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs.

You will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

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 Lama. It was built by Tibet's 33rd great king, Songtsen Gangpo, in the 7th century. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of the former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of Tibet's 33rd great king.

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

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

We will pass Gampala Pass (4790m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. You can see its turquoise color and snow-capped Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance.

Later we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway, and it is close enough (about 300 yards) from the highway.

Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse – Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.

In the morning, we will visit Panchen Lama's home – Tashilunpo Monastery, which was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447. It is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse. It is located on the central hill of the city. The monastery's full name in Tibetan means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory". For the trip back to Lhasa in the late afternoon, we will provide you with two solutions that will be decided by Great Tibet Tour. Option A: Drive from Shigatse – Lhasa; Option B: Train from Shigatse – Lhasa; For Option B, the guide will accompany you to take a taxi to Shigatse Railway Station, then take the train from Shigatse to Lhasa. Upon your arrival in Lhasa, we will arrange for you to be dropped off at your hotel. Taxi & train fares are included in the cost.

Today, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. Before you leave, we'd appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to evaluate our services by filling out the feedback form or simply email us when you get home. Your entire trip is officially over.