7-Day Tibet Discovery Tour: Lhasa, Shigatse, Namtso Lake & Ganden Monastery

Today you arrive in Lhasa, the “City of Sunshine.” A warm Tibetan welcome awaits as your local guide greets you with a traditional khata, a white ceremonial scarf symbolizing purity and blessings. En route to the city center, you’ll cross the Lhasa River Bridge, where a completely different landscape unfolds before your eyes — a deep blue sky, crystal-clear river waters, and fluttering prayer flags create a scene that is distinctively Tibetan. You’ve finally arrived in the holy city long dreamed of. Check in at the hotel and rest to acclimate to the high-altitude environment.

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region and serves as its political, economic, and cultural heart. This ancient and mysterious city is also a spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, rich in historical heritage, religious culture, and natural beauty.

Geographical Location:
Lhasa is located in the southwest of China, in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, along the upper reaches of the Lhasa River, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. With an average elevation of about 3,650 meters, it is one of the highest cities in the world.

Historical & Cultural Significance:
Famous for its picturesque scenery, long history, distinctive customs, and strong religious atmosphere, Lhasa has received numerous honors, including “Excellent Tourism City of China,” “Most Favorite City for European Tourists,” “National Civilized City,” “China’s Safest City,” and has been ranked among the “Top 200 Most Attractive Cities in the World” and “Top 100 Must-Visit Cities in China (2018).”

Tourist Attractions:
Lhasa boasts numerous historical and cultural landmarks. The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Norbulingka are all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Other must-visit spots include Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ramoche Temple, Zongjiao Lukang Park, Tibetan Kings’ Tombs, Chubu Monastery, Lhasa Great Mosque, Qugong Ruins, Tibet Museum, Yaowang Mountain, and the Drigung Kagyu Monastery Complex. Main shopping areas include Barkhor Street, Yutuo Road Pedestrian Street, and Lhasa Department Store.

Gastronomic Highlights:
Start your morning like a local with a hearty bowl of Tibetan noodles and a cup of sweet tea — a beloved breakfast pairing in Lhasa. As you stroll the streets, you’ll find cold noodle (liangfen) stalls every few steps. Whether thick or thin, white or yellow, liangfen is typically served with garlic, chili, and other condiments — a simple yet satisfying meal.

Tibetans also enjoy butter tea, especially in the early morning. Made from tea leaves, yak butter, and salt, this traditional drink is both nourishing and hydrating. Another staple is tsampa, a traditional Tibetan food made from roasted barley flour mixed with butter tea. Barley (specifically highland barley) is the primary grain of the Tibetan Plateau and a key component of the Tibetan diet.

Potala Palace
Located on Marpo Ri (Red Hill) in the northwest of central Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Potala Palace is a monumental palace-fortress complex. Originally constructed by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century to welcome his brides, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, the palace was later rebuilt in the 17th century and served as the winter residence for successive religious leaders. It became the political and religious center of the theocratic government of Tibet, and remains one of the most iconic and sacred landmarks in Tibet.

With architectural influences from Tibetan, Tang Chinese, Nepalese, and Indian styles, the Potala Palace is not only a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism but also a cultural and historical treasure. It is the highest and largest palace structure in the world. The original structure dates back to the 7th century during the relocation of the Tibetan capital to Lhasa, and the palace was vastly expanded in the 17th century into the form we see today, comprising the White Palace and the Red Palace.

The White Palace served administrative purposes, while the Red Palace is devoted to religious functions. Even today, around 80 monks still reside within the palace. During the pilgrimage and touring process, visitors often encounter monks sweeping the floors or chanting scriptures in the chapels. Contrary to the popular image of a “museum full of treasures,” the Potala Palace feels much more like a giant living monastery — which, in fact, it is. It houses countless Buddhist scriptures, sacred statues, and stupas containing the remains of revered lamas and incarnate Buddhas.

The palace draws numerous Tibetan pilgrims, many of whom perform full-body prostrations and recite mantras. They chant with their lips, make symbolic gestures with their hands, and use prayer beads or spin prayer wheels. Their bodies often touch the walls, pillars, and floors in an act of reverence and devotion, creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere throughout the sacred halls.

Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple is one of the most revered religious sites in Tibet and across the Tibetan Buddhist world. It holds supreme religious significance and enjoys international recognition.

Spiritual Heart of Tibetan Buddhism
Jokhang is regarded as the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism. Built during the time of the Tibetan Empire under Songtsen Gampo, it symbolizes the arrival and flourishing of Buddhism in Tibet and has become one of the most sacred temples in the region.

Center for Teachings and Practice
As one of the religious academies of Tibetan Buddhism, the Jokhang Temple plays a key role in the transmission of Buddhist teachings. Monks study sacred texts, Buddhist philosophy, and engage in daily rituals, education, and monastic practices.

Site of Pilgrimage and Devotion
The temple draws countless pilgrims from Tibet and beyond. Devotees offer incense, circumambulate the temple, prostrate themselves before Buddha statues, and recite sutras, seeking peace, wisdom, and spiritual strength.
In 1994, UNESCO listed Jokhang Temple as a World Cultural Heritage Site, emphasizing its artistic, architectural, and religious value, and its importance to humanity’s cultural heritage.

Barkhor Street (also known as Bakuo Street)
Barkhor Street is the ancient heart of Lhasa, offering a glimpse into the daily blend of religious devotion and vibrant street life. It is a spiritual and cultural microcosm of the entire Tibetan region. Pilgrims from across Tibet gather here, following the kora route (pilgrimage circuit) around Jokhang Temple, while traders and locals fill the alleys with the hum of commerce and tradition.

Walking through Barkhor feels like stepping into a timeless world full of color and meaning. It’s not just a market — it’s a cultural and spiritual stage where Tibetan identity is on full display.

A Shopper’s Paradise
Barkhor Street is packed with shops and stalls selling all kinds of Tibetan Buddhist items, traditional clothing, and local handicrafts. You’ll find hand-painted thangka scrolls, bronze ornaments, prayer wheels, and unique ethnic apparel — making this street a true haven for culture lovers and souvenir hunters.

Gastronomic Adventure
This area is also a perfect place to sample authentic Tibetan cuisine. Try local snacks like butter tea, barley wine, and aromatic Tibetan pastries — a perfect way to begin your culinary journey through the region.

Cultural Experience
Beyond shopping, Barkhor is a living museum of Tibetan Buddhism. Along the path, you’ll discover small shrines, ancient monasteries, and prayer walls — all nestled between elegant, traditional Tibetan buildings. The rich religious atmosphere and strong sense of tradition make it one of the most meaningful stops in Lhasa.

Yamdrok Lake
In Tibetan, Yamdrok Lake means “Swan Lake.” It is one of the three sacred lakes of Tibet and also the largest freshwater lake in the region. The lake is dotted with more than a dozen small islands, and its crystal-clear turquoise waters, surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes, create a picture-perfect scene.

Yamdrok is a high-altitude barrier lake, believed to have formed millions of years ago due to glacial mudslides blocking a river. Its shape is highly irregular, with many branches and winding shorelines. It is connected to three smaller lakes — Kongmu Co, Chen Co, and Gyü Co.

Historically, Yamdrok was an outflowing lake, with all four lakes forming one body of water that drained into the Yarlung Tsangpo River via the Moqu River. However, over time the water level receded, turning it into an inland lake with separated bodies, whose surface levels now differ by no more than 6.5 meters.

The lake’s surface is like a mirror of turquoise ripples, surrounded by lush grasslands that make it a rich highland pasture. The local Tibetans praise Yamdrok Lake in folk songs, singing:
“A paradise in the heavens, Yamdrok on earth. Stars in the sky, cattle and sheep by the lake.”

In winter, the lake freezes over, resembling a maiden dressed in white resting in the arms of the Himalayas. In late spring and early summer, herders transport their livestock to the islands, where animals graze freely. Summer brings thriving grasslands, the perfect time for grazing. In early winter, herders and livestock return to the lake’s shore.

Yamdrok is also a bountiful natural “fish treasury.” Its waters are rich in plankton and fish food. Each summer, fish swim from the deep waters into shallow areas to spawn and feed, so plentiful that one could almost catch them by hand. As many Tibetans traditionally do not eat fish, the lake has become a sanctuary for aquatic life, especially for highland naked carp, which is known for its tender and delicate flavor. The lake is estimated to hold over 800 million kilograms of fish, earning it the name:
“Tibet’s Fish Treasury.”

Karola Glacier
The Karola Glacier is located on the border of Langkazi County and Gyangzê County in southern Tibet, approximately 71 kilometers from Gyangzê town. It is one of Tibet’s three major continental glaciers and the eastern source of the Nyangchu River, situated close to Yamdrok Lake. The scenery beneath its glacier tongue is particularly breathtaking.

As a continental glacier, Karola is renowned for its massive glacial tongue, deep-blue ice lake, and the stunning backdrop of surrounding snow-capped peaks. Visitors are often awe-struck by the glacier’s grandeur and the sheer power of nature’s artistry.

Due to its high altitude, travelers should be mindful of potential altitude sickness and take appropriate precautions. Additionally, because weather conditions can affect access and safety, it is strongly recommended to check the latest weather forecasts and park information before visiting.

【扎什伦布寺（Tashilhunpo Monastery）】藏文意「吉祥须弥」，坐落于日喀则市的尼色山坡上，格鲁派六大寺院之一，始建于明正统十二年，占地15万平方米，僧侣房舍57间，所有殿宇房屋共3600间，其建筑融合了藏区传统建筑特色和佛教的特点，藏族传统工艺和建筑特点，将藏传佛教的佛法艺术，班禅灵塔的庄严肃穆表现得较好。作为藏传佛教格鲁派六大寺院之一，在这里，有着世界上最高的镀金强巴铜像26.2米，视觉震撼极强，据说由110名工匠耗费4年时间完成，使用了大量的黄金和珍宝。具有非同凡响的宗教价值和浓厚的藏地人文底蕴。整个寺院依山而建，殿殿相连、巷巷相通，放眼望去，白墙黑窗、金顶红壁层层叠叠、错落有致、宏伟壮观。游客对扎什伦布寺的评价是这样的：”绝对是这一路上我在西藏去过最有味道的寺庙，虽然没有布达拉宫和大昭寺知名，但同样也没有前两者那么景点化和商业化。里面几乎没有游客，整个寺庙和周围好几个村子连在一起，走动的人都是本寺的僧人和周围的居民。三月四月西藏天气多变，一边是桃花梅花盛开，一边是鹅毛雪，朱砂色的墙被白雪映得格外红，远处悠然钟声飘来，几百只鸽子像飓风一样从金顶呼啸而过，真好似某种神谕。“穿越历史的佛光之旅，不仅能让大家领略扎什伦布寺的壮丽景色和深厚文化底蕴，还让你感受到了藏族人民的热情好客和淳朴民风。

【納木措】
納木措，藏語意為「天湖」，是中國第三大鹹水湖，也是世界上海拔最高的鹹水湖。作為西藏三大聖湖之一，納木措與神山念青唐古拉山相依相伴，山湖相映，景色壯麗。

在古老的藏族神話中，念青唐古拉山與納木措是生死相依的戀人夫婦，這段浪漫的傳說至今仍廣為流傳。納木措因其多變的湖水色彩而聞名，時而湛藍如寶石，時而碧綠如翡翠，彷彿是大自然精心繪製的畫布。

夜幕降臨時，湖畔星空與水面交相輝映，勾勒出一幅幅神秘絢麗的畫面，令人沉醉與思索。

除了令人驚嘆的風光，納木措還擁有豐富的生態系統。這裡是許多珍稀動植物的棲息地，例如世界上數量最多的黑頸鶴族群，以及藏羚羊、雪豹等瀕危動物，都能在這片淨土中尋得身影。

其中的聖象天門，是藏北地區最著名的自然景觀之一。這是一座天然形成的巨大石門，矗立於雪山之間，雄偉壯觀。當陽光灑落其上，整座石門宛如一頭守護聖象，因此得名“聖象天門”。

這段旅程將帶給你一場親近自然與動物的奇妙體驗。你不僅可以參與當地的傳統活動，與藏族牧民一同放牧、挑水，還能選擇在湖畔露營，度過一個浪漫而獨特的夜晚。

納木措不僅擁有壯美的自然風光，更融合了濃厚的人文風情，全方位滿足你對旅行的所有嚮往。

晴天時的納木措美得令人驚嘆，連手機相機也難以完全捕捉眼前的壯麗。氣溫適中，加件外套即可，但務必注意防曬，此地紫外線非常強烈。

Ganden Monastery – A Sacred Stronghold of Tibetan Buddhism
Located in the eastern outskirts of Lhasa, Ganden Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Hat sect) of Tibetan Buddhism. It was personally founded by Je Tsongkhapa, the revered spiritual leader and philosopher. Covering more than 30,000 square meters, the monastery’s central assembly hall—Tsokchen Hall—is a majestic space with 108 intricately carved pillars and can accommodate over 3,000 monks chanting in unison, offering a profoundly spiritual experience.

The monastery houses two major monastic colleges, Shartse and Jangtse, each nearly 1,000 square meters in size. Within their walls are exquisite murals and sacred sculptures that exemplify the refined artistry of Tibetan religious art. One of the highlights is Yangbachen Hall, the protector deity shrine, where a massive boulder embedded in the rear wall is known as the “Flying Stone,” said to have come from India.

Legend has it that the murals inside were painted by Khedrup Je, Tsongkhapa’s foremost disciple and founder of Tashilhunpo Monastery, later posthumously honored as the first Panchen Lama. The hall once preserved a gem-studded armor gifted by Qing Emperor Qianlong, engraved with inscriptions in Tibetan, Han Chinese, Mongolian, and Manchu—symbolizing unity and cultural exchange.

Whether you’re a scholar of Buddhism or a seeker of profound history and art, Ganden Monastery offers a journey deep into the wisdom and sacred traditions of Tibetan culture.

Basum Lake (Basum Tso) – The “Swiss Alps of Tibet” and a Nature Lover’s Paradise
Nestled in the lush mountains of Nyingchi, Basum Tso is affectionately known as the “Little Switzerland of Tibet.” This national forest park and globally recognized tourism site offers a stunning blend of snowcapped peaks, turquoise lakes, dense forests, majestic waterfalls, and centuries-old monasteries. It’s a paradise for hikers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts alike.

The lake’s pristine waters lie peacefully beneath icy peaks, while Zhaxi Island in the center of the lake is home to the sacred Nyingma monastery of Tsodzong Gongba, an important site in the Red Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Visitors can hike into the hills behind the Basum Tso Resort to capture breathtaking views of the island, which appears like a jewel embedded in emerald waters.

Along the journey, travelers will also be captivated by the scenic Niyang River Valley, with its sweeping meadows, yaks grazing on green pastures, and thick alpine forests that seem to go on forever. Spring brings a riot of colors, while autumn paints the land in golden hues—making this destination a visual feast in every season.

Basum Lake remains a hidden gem, with relatively few tourists and an untouched charm that makes every step feel like entering a mythical landscape.

The guide sees you off at the airport — time flies as you begin your journey home. With your heart full of memories and your soul immersed in nature’s embrace, the trip may be over, but the vitality and beauty of life continue within you. You’re always welcome back in Lhasa. Tashi Delek!