5-Day Lhasa & Namtso Tashi Dor Island Gentle Kora Hike

Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m)

Welcome to Lhasa, the sacred heart of Tibet.

Whether you arrive by train or by flight, your Tibetan guide will be waiting to greet you at the station or airport with a hada, the white ceremonial scarf offered as a traditional blessing of good fortune. From there, your guide and driver will take you into downtown Lhasa, and along the way you will catch your first glimpses of the Lhasa River and the Yarlung Tsangpo, known outside China as the Brahmaputra and the longest, largest river running through Tibet.

Once you reach your hotel, take it slow. Lhasa sits at 3,650 meters, and your body will need time to adjust before any sightseeing begins. Spend the rest of the day resting in your room, taking a short walk nearby, or simply relaxing at the hotel. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and heavy exertion, and let your body acclimatize at its own pace.

Should you need anything during your stay, whether travel advice or last-minute arrangements, our service center at the Lhasa Gang-Gyan Hotel is on hand to help throughout your trip.

Meals: /

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Lhasa Railway Station

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

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Lhasa Monastery Day: Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery

Today belongs to Tibetan Buddhism, with a full day exploring two of Lhasa’s most important monasteries and the daily life of the monks who study within them.

In the morning, you will visit Drepung Monastery, once home to more than 10,000 monks and the largest monastery in all of Tibet. Walking through the Coqen Hall, your guide will walk you through the core worldview of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce the historical figures who shaped it. From there, you will continue to Loseling College, one of Drepung’s teaching colleges, where you can look into the dormitories and get a real sense of how Tibetan monks study, eat and live day to day.

In the afternoon, you will head across the city to Sera Monastery, one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries alongside Drepung and Ganden. Between 3pm and 5pm, Monday through Saturday, Sera hosts its celebrated monk debate s, where young monks test and sharpen their understanding of Buddhist philosophy through animated, hand-clapping exchanges in the monastery courtyard. Your guide will explain the rules of the debate and what each gesture and question is really testing for.

In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. Your guide will present traditional Tibetan gifts, share practical tips for the days ahead, and give everyone in the group a chance to get to know one another before heading further into Tibet together.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Drepung Monastery

Monk Debate at Sera Monastery

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Lhasa Tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street

Today’s focus is Lhasa’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering a close look at the daily faith and life of the people who call this city home.

After breakfast, you will visit the Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas and one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Climbing through its halls, you will take in sweeping views over Lhasa’s old town while learning the history of successive Dalai Lamas through the palace’s chapels and private quarters. Among its most treasured holdings are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave associated with Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of Tibet. Afterward, stop by Longwangtan Park at the foot of the palace, where local families gather for folk activities and you can photograph the Potala from a different angle, reflected in the park’s pond.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Jokhang Temple, considered the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism. Inside sits a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha said to depict him at age twelve, brought to Tibet as part of a royal dowry over a thousand years ago. Outside, pilgrims from across the Tibetan plateau prostrate themselves before the temple entrance as part of their devotion. Surrounding the temple is Barkhor Street, a circular pilgrim path and market where you can walk the kora alongside locals and pilgrims, browsing stalls selling prayer wheels, jewelry and religious items.

To close the day, your guide will take you to one of Lhasa’s liveliest traditional tea houses, where you can sit down with local Tibetans over a cup of sweet milk tea while your guide shares more about everyday social life in the city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

The Busy Barkhor Street

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Lhasa – Namtso Lake – Tashi Oor Island Clockwise Kora Hike (4.2km, 2.5–3hrs)

Embark on a deeply spiritual day of pilgrimage to Namtso Lake, the revered Heavenly Lake of Tibet, where we complete our gentle clockwise kora hike around Tashi Dor Island. This experience is thoughtfully scheduled after three nights of careful altitude acclimatisation in Lhasa to greatly minimise the risk of altitude sickness.

We set off early in the morning from Lhasa and drive north across the vast, windswept Tibetan grasslands, with a brief 15-minute stop at Nagenla Pass (5190m) for sweeping open views toward Namtso and the snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha range; our guide will remind everyone to move slowly and avoid running, jumping or strenuous activity at this high elevation.

We continue onward to the Namtso scenic entrance, complete entry formalities and transfer by official scenic shuttle bus to Tashi Island, where we begin our 4.2-kilometre pilgrimage loop, following the ancient traditional clockwise kora trail made up of wooden boardwalk and compact gravel track with only gentle undulations and a total climb of roughly 60 metres. Along the way we visit the iconic Welcome Stone, also known as the Couple Stone, regarded as the sacred guardians of the lake, the holy Joined Palm Rock draped in layers of colourful prayer flags, the Good & Evil Cave famed as Padmasambhava’s ancient meditation retreat, Tashi Monastery perched on the island’s overlook with unobstructed panoramic lake and mountain views, and the serene west cliff viewpoint famous for dreamy golden lake light at midday and late afternoon, with plenty of time built in for quiet reflection, rest and photography at every sacred spot.

After finishing our full kora circuit, we enjoy a simple packed lunch by the lakeside, as food options on this remote island are scarce and basic, and we recommend bringing extra high-energy snacks and a thermos of hot water to stay hydrated. We then take the shuttle bus back to the park gate and drive south through the grasslands, returning safely to Lhasa in the evening.

Highlights:

• Gentle 4.2km clockwise Tashi Island kora hike at Namtso, the Heavenly Lake
• Panoramic views of turquoise Namtso Lake and the Nyenchen Tanglha snow peaks
• Sacred rock formations, colourful prayer flags, mani piles and the quiet island monastery
• Flexible itinerary: guests feeling fatigued or unwell may take the shorter lakeside return option
• Cultural guidance on local pilgrimage customs and etiquette throughout the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake

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Departure from Lhasa

Your Tibet journey comes to a close today. Please confirm your departure flight or train details with your guide the evening before, and they will see you off to the airport or railway station.

Thank you for traveling with Tibet Yulong. We hope this journey has given you a real feel for Tibet, and we would be glad to welcome you back for another adventure on the plateau in the future.

Meals: Breakfast

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