5-Day Lhasa Pilgrimage Trek: Drak Yerpa & Ganden Monastery

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.

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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 – Ganden Monastery & Drak Yerpa, return to Lhasa

Embark on a spiritual day combining cave meditation at Drak Yerpa and sightseeing at Ganden Monastery, one of Tibet’s three great Gelugpa monasteries.

We set off in the morning for Drak Yerpa, a 30-kilometer drive from Lhasa. This revered sanctuary was once the meditation retreat of Padmasambhava, Tsongkhapa and King Songtsen Gampo. Wander through its age-old shrines while soaking up sweeping valley vistas and distant snow peaks.
You may choose to pause for quiet meditation inside one of the historic caves, connecting with the spiritual legacy of the masters who once practiced here.

A simple packed lunch will be served after your cave meditation session.

We then head onward to Ganden Monastery, the earliest Gelug (Yellow Hat) monastery in Tibet and the place where Tsongkhapa first delivered his teachings. Its sprawling buildings stretch across the mountain ridge, creating a dramatic skyline. After exploring the monastery complex, join local pilgrims for the gentle 40-minute kora circumambulation.

Once our visit wraps up, we drive back to Lhasa.

Highlights:

• Spiritual cave meditation at sacred Drak Yerpa retreat
• Explore Ganden, Tibet’s oldest Gelugpa monastery
• Scenic mountain views and traditional pilgrim kora
• Day trip: depart and return to Lhasa, with breakfast & lunch included

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Drak Yerpa

White stupas at the bottom of Drak Yerpa complex

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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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