
Explore the Sacred Lake
5-Day Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake Group Tour
Tour Type: Group Tour
Route: Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Lhasa
Highlights:
- Free assistance with applying for the Tibet Travel Permit – make your dream journey to Tibet a reality
- Guaranteed departure with just two participants, including a warm airport pickup and local guide service in English
- Exclusive welcome dinner with traditional Tibetan cuisine – enjoy a cozy and flavorful start to your adventure
- Discover the holy city of Lhasa, visit Potala Palace, Shigatse, and Yamdrok Lake to fully experience the breathtaking beauty of the Tibetan plateau
- Pay homage at Tibet’s iconic Jokhang Temple and stroll along the ancient Barkhor pilgrimage path
USD 1,199/per pax
Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa
Our local guide, with the warmest smile on the plateau, will greet you at Lhasa Airport or Railway Station. Upon your arrival at high altitude, it is important to slow down and relax. We will escort you to your hotel so you can get adequate rest and allow your body to gradually adapt to the plateau environment.
Tashi Delek!
Lhasa, meaning “Holy Land” in Tibetan, is considered a sacred city by Tibetans and a paradise by travelers. With the Qinghai-Tibet Railway now in operation, Lhasa is no longer so remote. Its true essence lies not in hustle and bustle but in mystery—let us explore it together.
Friendly Reminders:
- Train/flight pick-up services are arranged by a local professional service center. They will contact you in advance, so please keep your phone accessible.
- Travelers will be received by our guide, we will inform you in advance how to check in at your hotel. If you haven’t received instructions, please contact us immediately (refer to your tour notice).
- Our guide will inform you by 10 PM via call or message about the next day’s schedule.
- On arrival day, avoid strenuous activity and do not bathe to prevent catching a cold. Refrain from drinking alcohol. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits. Avoid overeating. Bring health supplements such as American ginseng lozenges, Rhodiola rosea, or altitude sickness remedies to alleviate symptoms.
- Listen to our guide and avoid wandering too much. A calm mindset and enough rest are the best ways to prevent altitude sickness.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner not included
Accommodation: Lhasa
Day 2: Lhasa City Tour – Tibetan Culture Experience & Sera Monastery (No Scripture Debate on Sundays)
Tibetan Culture Experience
In Lhasa, immerse yourself in traditional Tibetan handcrafts. Our guide will take you to a cultural center where you’ll learn how the soothing Tibetan incense is made. You’ll get a chance to make your own incense—completely different from store-bought—and learn to write your name in Tibetan script and do woodblock printing. Your handcrafted incense and prints can be taken home as keepsakes from your journey.
Sera Monastery
One of the six main Gelugpa monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, along with Drepung and Ganden monasteries, it forms the “Three Great Monasteries” of Lhasa. The monastery houses thousands of Buddha statues. The most famous, the “Hayagriva” statue, is housed in the protector deity hall of the Jikzha Assembly Hall. Locals often touch their heads to the base of the statue inside a small shrine for blessings.
A highlight is the monks’ scripture debate sessions—a unique and vigorous practice of Buddhist learning. Taking place around 3:00 PM daily (except Sundays and special occasions), monks engage in animated scripture debates using handclaps and rosary beads to challenge and respond to each other. Even if you can’t understand the content, the energy and faith are palpable.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodation: Lhasa
Day 3: Lhasa City Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
Potala Palace (Tour limited to 1 hour)
Built by Songtsen Gampo, who dedicated half his life to unifying Tibet and the other half to building this glorious palace. As you wander through the golden halls, spiritual towers, and quiet corridors, the aroma of butter lamps fills the air—like stepping into a sacred dream filled with scriptures, statues, murals, and legends.
Potala Palace Ticketing Notice:
- Tickets are booked using real-name reservations with a valid ID (ID card, household register, or passport). Once reserved, repeat bookings are not allowed for 7 days. Incorrect info may result in denied entry, and the travel agency holds no responsibility in such cases. Bring your original ID to enter.
- Entry times are randomly assigned by the palace’s ticketing system. Please understand that your visit time cannot be chosen and tour order may change accordingly.
- In peak seasons, access is limited. Agencies secure tickets through various channels, which may require:
- Splitting groups into smaller teams, possibly combined with strangers.
- Different groups visit at different times or days.
- Groups led by different guides into the palace.
Jokhang Temple (Tour approx. 1 hour)
Blending Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian styles, this temple is a masterpiece of Tibetan religious architecture. Pilgrims prostrate before its gates day and night, leaving body-length marks on the stone. Thousands of butter lamps illuminate the sacred space, a testament to time and faith.
Jokhang Temple Ticketing Notice:
- Tickets require real-name reservation via the “Jokhang Temple Appointment” mini-app on WeChat from 7:00 to 23:59 the day before. Please follow our guide’s instructions to book.
- As a religious site, access may be limited or closed during religious events. Thank you for your understanding.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodation: Lhasa
Day 4: Sacred Lake Day Trip – Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Shazhu Temple → Lhasa
No visit to Tibet is complete without witnessing a sacred lake. Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, is renowned for its deep blue waters and serene beauty that captivate nature lovers and photographers alike.
Your journey takes you through the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley, where you can get a panoramic view of the river from the hillsides along Provincial Highway 307. The Yarlung Tsangpo is widest near Lhasa, offering majestic views.
Gambala Mountain – The best viewpoint of Yamdrok
Here, you’ll truly understand why people call it “angel’s tears from the heavens.” Some say no photo can fully capture its beauty. Locals with yaks often offer photo ops—negotiate prices beforehand to avoid misunderstandings.
Yamdrok Lake
A freshwater lake and one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, its water is as clear as sheep’s fat and drinkable. The lake stretches 638 km² at an altitude of 4441m, with a 250 km shoreline. Legend has it the lake is like a turquoise earring dropped by a goddess. From the 4950m-high Gambala Mountain, the lake appears like a sapphire in the mountains—peaceful and divine.
Shazhulin Monastery
Compared to other well-known ancient monasteries, Shazhulin Monastery is a tranquil sanctuary perched on high ground, offering a panoramic view of the majestic Yarlung Tsangpo River. Its most revered treasure is the mummified body of the Auspicious Goddess.
According to legend, she passed away a thousand years ago at the age of just twelve. After her death, her body naturally shrank to the height of a single cubit and assumed the seated posture of the Green Tara. One of her eyes is said to remain slightly open, as if caught between sleep and wakefulness. Locals believe she was the true reincarnation of the Green Tara in the form of the Auspicious Goddess, and she has since been enshrined in this peaceful temple.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodation: Lhasa
Day 5: Departure from Lhasa
After breakfast, transfer to the airport or train station according to your departure schedule, concluding your wonderful journey.
The airport is approximately a one-hour drive from the city center, so it is recommended to book flights departing after 10:00 AM.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own
Accommodation: Not included
Travel Notice
Inclusions
- Transportation:
7–17-seat licensed tourist vehicles, arranged based on group size.
(If there are fewer than 4 people during the Lhasa city tour, the guide will accompany guests in a taxi—fare covered by the agency.)
☆ Due to limited capacity in Tibet, local vehicles may be older and less modern than in mainland cities.
☆ The special climate may affect air conditioning functionality.
☆ Tibet enforces speed regulations (e.g., certain distances must not be completed in under a specified time), so the vehicle may make random stops for rest. Thank you for your understanding. - Accommodation:
Standard hotels with basic twin rooms. (No single rooms provided naturally; no bed, no breakfast for non-occupying guests.)
If you wish to upgrade to comfort-style hotels, please contact us. - Meals:
Meals as marked in the itinerary.
☆ Special meals: Tibetan-style welcome banquet in Lhasa, stone-pot chicken in Nyingchi (if included in the itinerary), and high-altitude hot pot experience at Everest Base Camp (if included in the itinerary).
(Other meals are at your own expense; no refunds for voluntarily skipped meals. Guests who are not accustomed to Tibetan food may bring their own condiments.) - Tour Guide:
English guide. - Entrance Tickets:
☆ First gate entrance fees for all listed attractions. If an attraction becomes unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances, an alternative will be arranged.
☆ The tour price for the low season already reflects discounted winter rates. No refunds or surcharges will be made if policies change.
☆ If there is a temporary price adjustment due to policy changes, the agency will not charge or refund the difference. - Tibet Travel Permits:
All necessary documents such as Tibet Travel Permit and Border Pass will be handled. - Travel Insurance:
Includes travel accident insurance, vehicle seat insurance, and agency liability insurance (comprehensive coverage). - Airport/Train Transfers:
Free airport/train station pick-up and drop-off services for arrival and departure. - Service Charges:
☆ Agency service fees
☆ Reservation fee for Potala Palace ticket
Complimentary Gift Pack:
☆ One small oxygen bottle per person
☆ Two bottles of mineral water per person per day
☆ 4L medical oxygen bottle in the vehicle for emergencies
Exclusions
- Single Room Supplement:
Tour price is based on twin-sharing. If a single room is required, the single supplement must be paid. - Hotel Fee for Changes:
Due to full payment for hotel bookings in advance, any accommodation cost changes due to itinerary adjustments will be at the guest’s expense. - Personal Expenses:
Laundry, phone calls, faxes, paid TV, drinks, alcohol, etc. in hotels. - Unforeseen Circumstances:
Due to force majeure or reasons beyond the agency’s control (e.g., natural disasters, war, strikes, epidemics), or flight/visa delays, or insufficient group size, the agency reserves the right to cancel or adjust the itinerary. Any additional costs (e.g., visas, accommodation, meals, transport, airline surcharges) will be borne by the traveler. - Tips:
Recommended tips for driver and guide: USD 5 per person per day for each.
Transportation to/from Tibet:
Round-trip travel to and from Tibet (flights or trains) is not included in the tour fee. If booking is needed, additional charges apply.
Important Notice
Important Notes for Registration
Tibet is a high-altitude region, and both travelers and their guardians should fully understand the risks associated with traveling to high-altitude areas. Travelers with certain medical conditions, such as significant heart, lung, brain, liver, or kidney diseases, severe anemia, high blood pressure, or severe colds, are not allowed to join the tour. The travel agency has provided necessary reminders, and it is required that travelers do not conceal any medical conditions when registering.
Accommodation Arrangements:
The travel agency will provide standard hotel rooms with private bathrooms for the entire tour. Natural single rooms are not available. In the case of single male and female travelers, the agency has the right to arrange triple rooms or ask travelers to pay the difference for a single room. Extra beds in the room may be wire beds. Due to peak season, it is possible that hotels will change daily; travelers are asked to understand.
Hotel Information:
Due to Tibet’s special conditions, some hotels may not meet the standards of hotels at the same level in mainland China, both in terms of hardware and software. Service awareness of hotel staff may be relatively weak, and their attitude may be more direct. Please be understanding. Some hotels do not have air conditioning, and if additional blankets are needed, guests can contact the front desk. Many hotels in Tibet use solar-powered hot water, so if the weather is cloudy, the water may not be very hot. Please understand! When checking into hotels, travelers are required to pay a room key deposit, which will be refunded upon check-out.
Transportation Arrangements:
As the tour may include a group of independent travelers, it is possible that there will be waiting for others at different hotels. Travelers should be on time. Transportation will be arranged based on the number of people. If a traveler chooses to abandon part of the tour, no refund will be provided for the transportation fee.
Vehicle Information:
Due to the local climate, most vehicles may not have air conditioning or may not use it. Since Tibet has a high altitude, running the air conditioning could slow the vehicle’s movement, and the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the vehicle may cause guests to catch a cold. Additionally, the travel time between attractions is long, and travelers prone to motion sickness should bring their own motion sickness medication. Due to the long travel time at high altitudes, the vehicle may experience mechanical failure, which could delay the journey. The travel agency will take swift measures to resolve such issues.
Potala Palace Information:
During peak season (May–October), the Potala Palace limits the number of visitors. Each travel agency is allocated only 7 visiting slots per day. To ensure all travelers have the opportunity to visit, the travel agency uses several methods to secure tickets:
- Group tickets
- Individual tickets
- Unit tickets
- Standby tickets from the management office
- Special government-issued tickets
Because of the unique requirements for obtaining tickets, travelers must follow the guide’s arrangements without exception. The following arrangements are normal:
- The group will be split into smaller groups.
- Smaller groups will visit at different times.
- Smaller groups may be accompanied by different guides.
Please understand that due to the large number of individual travelers, the Potala Palace ticket allocation is random, and visitors from the same order may be separated.
Train Tickets:
The travel agency cannot guarantee direct train routes (e.g., Shanghai–Lhasa–Shanghai). If direct tickets cannot be purchased, the agency will arrange a transfer via Xining. The agency cannot guarantee that travelers from the same order will be in the same train carriage or have adjacent bunks. The tickets will be issued randomly, and we ask for your understanding.
Special Instructions:
All sightseeing orders are subject to the Potala Palace ticket availability. The agency reserves the right to adjust the itinerary while ensuring all attractions are visited. If any attraction cannot be visited due to factors beyond human control, the agency will negotiate with the travelers for an alternative. If the travelers refuse the change, the entrance fee will be refunded.
Guide Service:
The tour will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. During peak season, there may be changes in guides. The guide will contact the travelers by 9 p.m. each day; please keep your phone available.
Pick-up and Drop-off Information:
Pick-up and drop-off services for trains and flights in Tibet are arranged by the local professional transfer center. The staff will contact travelers in advance. The staff at Lhasa Railway Station cannot enter the waiting area and will meet travelers outside at the square with a sign showing the traveler’s name. For Lhasa Gonggar Airport, the staff will wait for travelers in the parking lot with a sign showing the traveler’s name. When departing, the guide will not be able to enter the waiting area and will only assist with transportation to the departure gate. Travelers must handle their own luggage check-in and boarding procedures. Please provide accurate contact information when registering, and reply promptly to any SMS messages received.
Other Notes:
- In the event of natural disasters such as landslides, mudslides, snowstorms, or floods, or flight delays or cancellations by the airline, the travel agency will not be responsible for any changes to the itinerary or related costs and compensation.
- If changes or cancellations to hotels, attractions, or itineraries occur due to government decisions or local events, the travel agency will attempt to resolve the situation but will not be liable for compensation.
- If travelers are unable to complete the tour due to personal reasons or leave the group early, this will be considered as voluntary withdrawal, and no refund will be given.
- Train tickets cannot be changed once issued. If a refund is needed, the traveler must go to the train station with their ID to handle it.
- Flight tickets cannot be transferred, changed, or refunded once issued. The airline’s schedule takes precedence, and any errors in the traveler’s name or ID number will result in the traveler being unable to board, for which the travel agency will not be held responsible.
Flight Delays:
Considering that flights from Lhasa may be delayed due to weather, there is typically a 2-4 hour layover between connecting flights. Travelers should plan accordingly to avoid missing their flight.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel your trip, you must submit a cancellation request in written form. The cancellation fee will be calculated from the date we receive your written notice.
Cancellation fees will be applied as follows:
- 45 to 31 days before the trip start date: 30% of the deposit will be charged as a cancellation fee.
- 30 to 15 days before the trip start date: 50% of the deposit will be charged as a cancellation fee.
- Within 14 days before the trip start date: 100% of the deposit will be charged as a cancellation fee.
- Additionally: Any service charges paid on your behalf (which may include bank or payment platform fees, airline, hotel, or company charges) will be deducted from any refundable amount.
Due to visa requirements, if a traveler is unable to travel, substitution by another person is not allowed. This will be considered a cancellation, and the above fees will apply. Please be aware of this before registering.
Once the tour has started, no refunds will be issued for any unused services resulting from early departure, late arrival, or missed travel dates (including hotel stays, air tickets, meals, entrance fees, etc., as applicable).
Please note: Some promotional packages may be subject to special terms and conditions. Please refer to the specific promotional pages for details.
The travel agency holds the final explanation right for this itinerary.
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