5 Days Ho Chi Minh City Chengdu and Lhasa Tour by Flight

Board the non-stop flight from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. The flight takes around 3h40m.

After you land in Chengdu, our local travel expert will be expecting you at the exit gate of the Chengdu Tianfu Airport and whisk you off to the hotel in downtown Chengdu.

Travel Options: If your flight arrives in Chengdu in the daytime, after checking in at the hotel, you can roam over the Chunxi Road, a bustling walking street in downtown Chengdu, or explore the Jinli Pedestrian Street at night and taste the local snacks there.

Stay overnight in Chengdu

• You can stroll leisurely yourself at Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street
• Jinli Street

Highlights:

Watch the adorable pandas eating breakfast and playing around within the enclosure.

Enjoy the birds-eye view of Lhasa Valley from the plane.

In the morning, we will drive for about half an hour to Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, the home to giant pandas, where you will catch pandas' feeding time. They are at their most active, both Adults and Babies. There's a wealth of information and a panda museum in this 230-hectare park 10 km (6 miles) north of Chengdu. It takes about 2.5 hours to visit this attraction.

Get transferred to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. You can have lunch at the airport before boarding the flight to Lhasa. The flight takes about 2h10m.

Our welcoming local Tibetan guide will be expecting you with auspicious white Hada at Lhasa Gonggar International Airport and later whisk you off to the hotel in downtown Lhasa.

En route, you may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the longest and largest river in Tibet, and the Lhasa River. After check-in, have a good sleep to acclimate to the altitude and unwind in your hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Closely see the cute giant pandas at Chengdu Panda Base.
• Tibetan tour guide greets you at Lhasa Airport.

Highlights:

Scenic hike in the Drepung Monastery (3,800m).

Watch the fiery monk debate in Sera Monastery (3,700m).

Awake to a day of brilliant sunshine. Let’s head to Drepung Monastery for a 3km leisurely hike/kora. The Drepung Monastery is one of the great three Geluga monasteries founded by a disciple of Tsongkhapa called Jamyang Chöje.

As you follow the pilgrim route towards Loseling College, you will see the iconic huge rock paintings depicting the Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluga Sect, and Buddhist mantras.

You can gather junipers and burn them as an offering to Buddha, drink refreshing mountain springs, or meditate alongside the local pilgrims beneath the rock face. At the mountaintop, the sweeping view of the enchanting Lhasa Valley will take your breath away.

In the afternoon, you will explore Sera Monastery, the second-largest Gelug monastery next to Drepung. You can appreciate the exquisitely made sand Mandala and admire Buddhist paintings.

The biggest highlight is to watch the dramatic monk debate (15:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Saturday). By clapping hands, jumping, yelling, and rolling Buddhist mala, the standing monk furiously debates with the other monk sitting on the ground about Buddhist philosophy.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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

Highlights:

Explore the secret chambers of Dalai Lamas and tons of treasures in Potala Place(3,700m).

Worship the life-size statue of Buddha Sakyamuni in Jokhang Temple (3,650m).

Experience the holy Barkhor Kora with local pilgrims.

Start your day with a visit to the fortress-like Potala Palace, an architectural marvel, and the winter palace of Dalai Lamas.

You can explore the Dalai Lama’s living quarters, and ceremonial hall, and marvel at gilded buddhas, intricate mandalas, and jewel-encrusted tombs of generations of Dalai Lamas, and enjoy the panoramic view of Lhasa city atop Red Palace.

Next, roam over the Zhongjiao Lukang Park nearby and view the Potala Palace from behind where you can take a glimpse of how locals spend their day lives, such as enjoying Guozhuang/circle dance, paddle boat in the pool, etc.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the sacred Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet. Follow a long line of pilgrims in the dimly lit chambers to worship the life-size statue of a 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Then, walk clockwise with prostrating Tibetan pilgrims to experience the famous Barkhor circuit/kora and unwind in a local teahouse to savor local obsessions,i.g. sweet tea, Tibetan noodles, Tibetan momos, Sha Phaley, or roam over the backstreet of Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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

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.