Potala Palace: 3 Nights / 4 Days. fly in. fly out
Your journey to Lhasa starts with a breathtaking flight over the Eastern Himalayas abroad China Southwest Airline's aircraft. Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt Makalu (8478m), Kanchenjunga (8585m) and a host of other high Himalayan peaks should be visible on a clear day as the aircraft wings first east and then north to Lhasa. The flight time is short-only 55 minutes. Three days in Lhasa allow you to explore the wonders of soaring and gilded palaces, temples and monasteries that are treasures of both religion and art. More importantly however, is that they symbolize the grand cultural mix that is today's Lhasa -a vibrant growing city.
- Itinerary
- Cost Info
- Departure
Day 1: Mid-morning flight from Kathmandu will take you over the Himalayas to Lhasa, the exciting capital of Tibet. You will be met at the airport by a representative in Lhasa and transferred to your hotel. Rest day to acclimatize.
Day 2: First you will visit the Potala Palace of the Dalai Lama, a treasure of Tibetan culture was, till 1965 the seat of both religion and politics in Tibet and quite possibly, the singularly most important building in all Tibet. It was built in the seventh century by Tsongtsen Gampo as a fort and later renovated by the fifth Dalai Lama in the seventeenth century to its present specifications. Your next stop will be Norbulingkha the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, which was built, in the eighteenth century.
Day 3: You, will visit the Drepung Monastery. This is the largest monastery in the world and once housed 10,000 monks and nuns. It was built in 1419 and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here. Your next stop will be the Jokhang Temple. This is the holiest shrine of Tibet and houses a golden statue of the Buddha, which was brought to Tibet by the Chinese princess "Wen Chen". You then stop off at Barkhor Bazaar outside the Jokhang monastery. This is a bustling flea market and is, generally, the place to buy souvenirs and meet other tourists.
Day 4: Transfer, to airport and fly back to Kathmandu.