2 Days Lhasa Top Highlight Tour by Locals
Many tour agency sells the 2 days Lhasa tour as for 4 days, with first day as pick up arrival and rest day, while the last day as final departure, while as insiders, we tell you that you do not have to hire private guide and driver on the arrival day and departure day on the condition that if you are not arriving by air from Kathmandu. When a shared guide/driver for pick up or drop off saves you lot of money, why not do this? Do not get us wrong: a private car (5-8 seat for Lhasa airport pick up costs 60-70$, plus a guide extra 65-100$), this is ridiculous cost for individual travelers in the whole world, but our economic way of pickup/drop off service is far cheaper by sharing, and it is the way you go).
- Meeting point: Dhood Gu Hotel Lobby (or Yak Hotel lobby, to be reconfirmed 1 day in advance by your consultant)
- Meeting Time: 9 am
- Finishing hour: around 5 pm
- Turing duration: 2 days
What you can expect
Day 1 Arrival in Lhasa Upon arrival, your guide or driver will greet you and transfer you to the hotel of your own arrangement for better acclimatization (Fixed pick up from airport to hotel: 9:30 am; 1:30 pm; 4:30 pm, Pick up from train station: varied depending on customers' arrival time. If your arrival schedule differs, you will need to take an airline shuttle bus at CNY 30-35 per person by yourself). Relax for the rest of the day or stroll along the area at your leisure.
Day 2 Lhasa highlights: Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Streets, Sera Monastery Your English speaking Tibetan local guide will meet all group members at the lobby of Yak Hotel at 9:25 am with all group members name lists to be checked and reconfirmed one by one. And all clients should get to this hotel lobby at least 5-10 minutes in advance. Your Tibetan local guide will take all group members to leave at 9:30 am on time and walk together slowly to visit the must see attraction of Jokhang Temple and Barkhor streets in the whole morning between 9:30 am and 12 o'clock. Jokhang Temple was founded in the 7th century by the first great Buddhist king Songtsen Gampo. As the most sacred temple in Tibet, Jokhang is situated in the heart of Lhasa city and attracts many pilgrims from around Tibet to worship and walk around. The walking around Jokhang Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau is a must-needed experience.
- The Barkhor Street market is a must see cultural highlight for tourism in Tibet, comprising of a series of circular streets that encompass the Jokhang temple along with numerous merchants and vendors offering a wide variety of local Tibetan arts, crafts, and tasty cuisines.
- The Barkhor street provides tourist a pivotal insight in multiple aspects of Tibetan culture by the vast assortments of authentic Tibetan products easily available to purchase at the visitors discretion. The Barkhor market is constantly alive and thriving with activity as the countless vendors and shops present a utopia of local Tibetan arts, crafts and cultural specialties.
Meet your guide at Yak Hotel lobby at 2:55 pm, your van/mini bus driver, your guide and all of you will leave at 3 pm for Sera Monastery. Sera Monastery is one of three great universities of Gelugpa Sect. Colorful debates on Buddhist doctrines are held here every afternoon except for Sunday and this is distinctive from the other famous monasteries.
Day 3 Lhasa Downtown highlights tour: Potala Palace, Norbulinka Palace, guided sightseeing tour ends
You will start the day by exploring the Potala Palace, Tibet's most iconic building. Towering above Lhasa with more than 1000 rooms, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas for hundreds of years. Another visit is to Norbulinka. Norbulinka which means ‘treasure garden’ in Tibetan language, is located in the west side of Lhasa, a short distance from the southwest of Potala Palace. It is marked as the world’s highest, largest and best-preserved ancient artificial historical and cultural garden. As part of the ‘Historic Ensemble of Potala Palace’, it is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While the Potala Palace is known as the winter palace of Dalai Lamas, the Norbulingka Palace is known as the summer palace. Despite the title of World Heritage Site and natural scenery, people also take it as a unique historical attraction in Tibet. The construction of Norbulingka began in 1755 by the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso. The primary function of Norbulingka Palace is to cure the health problems of the 7th Dalai Lama. Then it became the summer residence of Dalai Lamas. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the Norbulingka complex suffered from terrible damage.
Enjoy a welcome Tibetan group dinner. Guided sightseeing tour ends today.
Day 4 Final Departure Scheduled drop off by shared vehicle to airport at 6:30 am; 8:30 am; 12:30 pm. To train station: depending on customers' departure time.
