Tibet Lhasa Shannan Zedang 6-Day Group Tour - Tibet Shannan 6-Day Travel Group

After landing, our guide will greet you outside Lhasa Airport with the warmest smile on the plateau. Having just arrived at high altitude, you need to slow down, relax, and let our guide take you to the hotel to rest so your body can gradually adapt to the high-altitude environment. Tashi Delek! Friendly Reminder: From the moment you set foot on the plateau, remember [slow, slow, slow]—walk slowly, speak slowly, think slowly. If you experience mild headache, dizziness, vomiting, etc., these are normal and usually improve gradually the next day. If symptoms are severe, please promptly notify your guide or our staff.

This morning you will visit the Jokhang Temple, the holy site in the hearts of Tibetan Buddhist believers. Lama Nyima Tsering once said, "If you go to Lhasa without visiting the Jokhang Temple, it is the same as never having been to Lhasa." Countless travelers who have been there agree with this view. The Jokhang Temple combines Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles and is a model of Tibetan religious architecture. In front of the temple, incense smoke curls all day long, and the devout prostrations of believers have left deep marks of full-body prostration on the bluestone floor in front of the gate. Tens of thousands of butter lamps stay lit, leaving traces of time and pilgrims. Here, worship of the Buddha continues day and night. After leaving the Jokhang Temple, you can stroll around Barkhor Street. The street encircling the outer wall of the Jokhang Temple is called "Barkhor Street," also known as Bajiao Street. This is the route where Tibetans perform the kora ritual. It gathers pilgrims from all places. On the ancient streets and in the old alleys, Tibetans in brightly colored ethnic clothing and poorly clad believers all walk devoutly along the same kora route... In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery, one of the three great monasteries of Lhasa. Sera Monastery is also one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is solemn and sacred. At Sera Monastery, you can watch the famous debate activities. The debate usually starts at 15:00. During the debate, the monks in the courtyard engage in fierce debate, and you can truly feel the faith and power of Tibetan Buddhism. (If the monastery temporarily holds Dharma assemblies or other activities, or receives special guests, the debate activities may be canceled. Please understand!!)

This morning you will visit the world's highest ancient palace-style architectural complex, the 【Potala Palace】, which was also the residence of successive Dalai Lamas and the center of political and religious power in Tibet. Before ascending the Potala Palace, you must climb 1,080 steps. Although it may be a little tiring, along the way you can overlook the entire Lhasa city. The beautiful scenery will make you forget your physical fatigue! In the afternoon, you will go to the 【Tibetan Culture Experience Center】 to experience the making of traditional Tibetan handicrafts. While learning how the refreshing Tibetan incense is made, you can also participate in making it yourself, which is completely different in meaning from buying Tibetan incense. A dedicated teacher will also teach you how to write your name in Tibetan script and conduct woodblock printing. The Tibetan incense you make yourself and the printed text can be taken home as souvenirs of the Tibetan cultural experience.

After breakfast, you will drive to Zedang in Shannan, winding south from Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, with picturesque and delightful scenery all the way. Upon arriving in Zedang, you will visit Yumbulagang Palace, the first palace in Tibetan history. Yumbulagang is also one of the earliest buildings in Tibet, located atop Mount Zaxici on the east bank of the Yarlung River. It is said to have been built by Bon followers in the 2nd century BC for Nyatri Tsenpo, the first Tibetan king, and later became the summer palace of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng in Shannan. During the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, it was converted into a Gelug monastery. Afterwards, you will visit Changzhu Temple. It is said that Princess Wencheng also practiced here. Inside Changzhu Temple there is a huge pearl thangka depicting Avalokitesvara at rest, inlaid with nearly 30,000 pearls and various gemstones, priceless in value. When you visit Changzhu Temple, be sure not to miss this thangka.

After breakfast, you will visit [Samye Monastery], known as "Tibet's first monastery." Samye Monastery is located at the foot of Habu Mountain on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. It is the first monastery in Tibetan Buddhist history to possess the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The monastery houses cultural relics such as murals and sculptures from various historical periods since the Tubo Dynasty. After leaving Samye Monastery, you can also experience the river valley scenery up close by the [Yarlung Tsangpo River], or sit quietly by the bank and enjoy this rare moment of tranquility.

After breakfast, we will conclude this itinerary, and you can choose to return home by plane or train. On that day, according to your flight or train time, we will arrange a driver to take you to the airport or railway station.