7 Days New Zealand to Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake Tour via Beijing

Welcome to Beijing, the capital city of China!

Upon arrival in Beijing, our local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your downtown hotel.

After checking in, you can take a good rest to relieve the fatigue of the long-distance flight from New Zealand or take a stroll around the surrounding areas as you like.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

Insider Tips:
Beijing has two international airports: Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport. Please double-check which airport you're arriving at.

Today, you will visit the Forbidden City and Summer Palace and learn how the ancient Chinese emperors managed the country, what their family life was, how they spent leisure time, and how they sacrificed gods.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and start exploring the historical sites of Beijing. The first stop is Tiananmen Square, the largest city plaza globally. From there, you will enter the magnificent Forbidden City with over 500 years of history where 24 emperors lived. As the largest ancient imperial palace, the Forbidden City has over 9,000 rooms.

In the afternoon, you will take a drive to the Summer Palace, which is 15 kilometers from downtown Beijing. It is China’s largest and best-preserved royal garden. Wander through ancient pavilions, temples, and corridors, and admire the beautiful lotus flowers in Kunming Lake and the intricate paintings in the Long Corridor.

After today’s sightseeing, get back to your hotel.

Stay overnight in Beijing.

• Forbidden City
• Summer Palace

Today, you are free until you take the flight from Beijing to Lhasa.

When you arrive in Lhasa, our friendly Tibetan guide will greet you at the airport with a Hada (the traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarf) and warm blessings.

Then, the guide and the driver will take you to your hotel in downtown Lhasa. You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Brahmaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River.

After settling into your hotel, take some time to rest and adjust to the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Tibetan tour guide greets you at Lhasa Airport.
• Lhasa River

In the morning, you’ll explore the largest monastery in Tibet - Drepung Monastery, which was once the home to over 10,000 monks. As you walk through the Coqen Hall, your guide will provide detailed explanations of the worldview of Tibetan Buddhism and introduce notable figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.

Next, you’ll visit the renowned Loseling College (or an equivalent), offering a glimpse into the study and life of Tibetan monks. Explore their dormitories to gain insights into the Tibetan monks' daily routines and living conditions.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Sera Monastery, another of the ‘great three’ Gelug monasteries of Tibet, to witness the famous Tibetan Monks Debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). Your guide will intricately explain how Tibetan monks engage in these debates to acquire knowledge and advance in their academic degrees.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Drepung Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelug monasteries of Tibet
• Monk Debate is a highlight of Sera Monastery

After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace, and the extraordinary treasures it holds. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities.

In the afternoon, you will head to the heart of Tibetan religion - the Jokhang Temple. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Next, follow your guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. Sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as your guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Potala Palace is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.
• A Tibetan pilgrim is worshipping Jokhang Temple

After breakfast, you’ll take a scenic 100-kilometer drive from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake, a turquoise gem surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Here, you’ll experience a different side of Tibet - the peace and tranquility outside the bustling Lhasa city.

Start your Yamdrok Lake tour from Lurila Platform, where the turquoise waters and the imposing Gulha Kangri Snow Mountain unfold before your eyes.

Then, you will visit the Rutog Monastery and the lonely monk residing on the small island in the center of Yamdrok Lake. From Rutog Island, you can enjoy a broader view of Yamdrok Lake and the surrounding islands.

For lunch, you will visit a local family restaurant and enjoy the local dishes by the lakeside. On the platform, you can also savor a cup of coffee and relish leisure time while indulging in the stunning view of Yamdrok Lake from the southeast corner.

Afterward, you will return to Lhasa via the famous Gampala Pass (4900m). From the Gampala Pass platform, you can see Yamdrok Lake stretching for tens of kilometers like a wide blue ribbon to the foot of Noijin Kangsang Peak (7191m).

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Yamdrok Lake at Gampala Pass, where you can get a marvelous bird's-eye view of the lake.
• Enjoy the fascinating scenery of the holy Yamdrok Lake

Today marks the end of your Tibet tour.

Please make sure to verify your departure flight/train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will take you to the airport or train station.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.

• Big farewell to Lhasa, and may you have a safe and pleasant journey back home!
• Your guide will escort you to Lhasa Railway Station if you depart Tibet by train.