7 Days Reveal Sky Burial Ceremony at Drigung Til, Healing Hot Springs & Hidden Nunnery

Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet and culinary center on Tibetan Plateau; our expert local leader and your friendly drivers have been expecting you at the designated places at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station.

Kindly accept our auspicious white Hada and simply leave your luggage to our driver to take care, then enjoy the scenic ride to your hotel in Lhasa city. Your handful Tibetan guide will help you check in and remind you of the tour plan the next day. Then enjoy the comfy stay at your hotels in Lhasa for a fresh exploration tomorrow.

After a delightful breakfast in the hotel, you will be exploring the prestigious Jokhang Temple, the most sacred Buddhist site in Lhasa with our local leader. Walk past the prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and move in the dimly-lit rooms; you can hear the constant mumbling of Buddhist chanting and see local Tibetans adding butter oil to the oil lamps. Never miss the chance to worship the life-size statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Then, you will walk clockwise along the most renowned Barkhor pilgrimage circuit and discover the bustling Barkhor Street that mirrors the past and present of Tibet. Find yourself ravenous? No worries. Let’s delve into the quiet alleys to the teahouse of Tsamkhung Nunnery, a peaceful spiritual haven where great local cuisines are found.

Sit beside a beloved Tibetan granny on a bench chair and enjoy the authentic local sweet tea and Tibetan momos and yak noodle soups, pickled radish, etc; you find yourself getting one step closer to the lives of local Tibetans.

After enjoying the laidback hours at the teahouse, you will enjoy a fabulous cooking class at popular Tibetan Family Kitchen. Choose a specific local dish you find interesting with, then follow your cook to Tromsikhang Market to pick up the ingredients. And get back to Family Kitchen and learn to transform the chosen ingredients into a savory masterpiece.

The highlights would be enjoying the communal feast, including your handiwork, at the rooftop terrace of the Family Kitchen overlooking the Jokhang Temple. Then, get transferred to the epic outdoor musical - Princess Wencheng, a grand feast to eyes. The romance between princess Wencheng and Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and many Tibetan customs will come alive via the dramatic modern choreography.

Today, it’s time to tick off your bucket list by having a selfie with magnificent Potala Palace as the backdrop; the follow the footsteps of your guide to hike the long stairs of impressive Potala Palace for the commanding view of Lhasa city; the UNESCO heritage site perched on the Red hill used to be the winter palace of the generations of Dalai Lama. You will explore the residence of Dalai Lama in White Palace and religious chambers in the Red Palace and gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas, etc.

Shortly after lunch, let’s head to Sera Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelugpa monasteries best-known for its lively monk debate. Sit at the outer perimeter of debate courtyard and watch attentively how monks debate with each other by yelling, slapping of hands, jumping and rolling of Buddhist mala, etc. Though you may not understand what they say, the animated debate scene gives you another side of intriguing Buddhist study in Tibet.

Besides, you may also enjoy exquisite sand mandala and Buddhist scripture printing press and take your time to visit the main assembly hall in this Buddhist academy.

Leave the bustling Lhasa city and drive northeast to Drigung Ti Monastery(4,465m), an amazing Kagyupa monastery built on the sheer cliff. Follow the winding paths, leading to the courtyard of Drigung; the panoramic view of Zhorong-chu Valley will leave you in awe.

Take your time to roam over the assembly hall and monastic complex; free of annoying tourists, you find yourself surrounded by welcoming smiles of locals and immersed amid nerve-soothing Buddhist chanting. Many locals prefer to visit here and meditate in this holy monastery.

With time permitting, you can enjoy the hour-long kora for the inviting view of the valley. You will also be able to enjoy vegetarian food at the monastery’s kitchen. Sleep earlier for the early rise tomorrow.

Have an early rise for the Po Ceremony (at 5 am), a traditional Tibetan ceremony in which Tibetan monks say prayers while giving Po which means the holes on a skull where the spirit can leave the body and can move to paradise. You may also see how locals offer donations to the monks. Later, you will be following the local leader to the hillside and watch vultures circling around Sky Burial site at a great distance. The incredible spectacle and mysterious Buddhist vibes will leave you a lifetime experience.

Later, you will go off the main road to peaceful Tidrum Nunnery, a place known more for its magically healing hot springs nearby. You can add butter oil to the lamp and closely observe the peaceful lives of devoted nuns.

Then, let’s get undressed and refresh your nerves in the mineral-rich outdoor hot springs. The magical effect of Tidrum hot spring is said to cure many skin problems, even paralysis. So, do give it a try while enjoying the serene nature surrounding you.

Hop on the tour vehicle and journey back to Lhasa. On the way, you will make a detour to visit the prestigious Ganden Monastery, the first Gelugpa monastery built by Tibetan guru Tsongkhapa. Follow around the 10km’s winding road up to the top of Wangbhuri mountain; the impressive Ganden Monastery (4300m) starts to reveal its massive size in full splendor, with iconic terraced complex sprawling the entire mountain ridge against the backdrop of spectacular Kyichu Valley.

Roam over the assembly hall and explore the debating courtyard and tomb of Tsongkhapa; you will be deeply impressed by the distinct Buddhist vibes and legends of Tsongkhapa. Then, follow the rugged trail for the famous Ganden Kora. You will encounter pilgrims burning juniper incense and giving offerings of Tsampa (roasted barley flour), the yaks occasionally grazing in the mountain, and vultures hovering overhead. The sense of holiness and an incredible vista of Kyichu Valley will take your breath away. As you say farewell to impressive Ganden Monastery through the rear mirror, we drive back to Lhasa.

After a refreshing breakfast, your guide and the driver will be waiting for you for the friendly transfer to the airport or train station for the next onward flight or journey. The tour ends.