Tibet · China

LHASA EXPLORATION

Five nights in the Place of the Gods

Private Tour · 5N6D

One luxurious base beneath the Potala, and the holy city unfolding around it — palaces, pilgrim routes, a turquoise lake and six hundred years of murals.

RouteLhasa · Shannan day journeys
Duration5N / 6D
StaySongtsam Linka Lhasa 3,700 m
Day-trip HighYamdrok-Tso 4,440 m
Group2–8 PAX private

Design Philosophy

Slow days in the Sunshine City

"In Tibetan culture legend has it that in another time and space there is a kingdom called Shambala. It is a quiet and peaceful kingdom because everybody there knows the source of happiness. — Pema Dorjee, Founder of Songtsam"

Songtsam began when founder Pema Dorjee turned his family's small guesthouse in Shangri-La into the first Songtsam lodge, working with local artisans and the community; eleven properties and eighteen years later his vision continues to grow. In Lhasa it takes the form of a 'youthful ancient structure' built with master craftsmen who twice repaired the Potala Palace — a base from which the holy city is explored the way locals live it: slowly, in sunlight, over sweet tea.

The Sunshine City日光之城

At 3,992 m, Lhasa drinks nearly 3,000 hours of sunlight a year — its name translates to 'Place of the Gods', the religious and cultural heart of Tibet since ancient times.

Built by palace craftsmen匠人传承

Yangbajing lime-plastered walls, the Jokhang's black window frames, Norbulingka's golden staircase, Mindroling's fish-scale stone — the Linka recreates them all in homage to ancestral wisdom.

The pilgrim's path转经之路

From the Barkhor's clockwise tide to the ascetic Khenpo Khenchen route at Qingpu, the journey walks the routes where Tibetans have sought stillness for centuries.

Picnic at the holy lake圣湖野餐

Lunch on the shore of Yamdrok-Tso as the water shifts from turquoise to emerald — the unhurried way to meet a lake sacred for centuries.

Sweet tea afternoons甜茶时光

Lhasa's long lunch breaks and beloved sweet tea come into the hotel lobby itself, with a resident band performing Tibetan songs and dances on selected dates.

Trip Highlights

What makes this journey

The old city, on foot

·Guided citywalk through sweet tea houses, Chomsigkang Market and traditional courtyards
·Barkhor Street, the boundary between the sacred and the mundane
·Conversations with local people in a traditional Tibetan courtyard

Sacred landmarks

·Potala Palace, pearl of the Roof of the World atop Red Hill
·The life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age twelve in the Jokhang
·Norbulingka, the Dalai Lamas' garden summer palace

Shannan pilgrimage

·The ascetic Khenpo Khenchen route and Guru Rinpoche's sacred site at Qingpu
·Samye Monastery — Tibetan, Han and Nepalese styles arranged as a walkable mandala
·Yamdrok-Tso picnic and Gongga Qude's nearly 600 years of murals

Living monastic culture

·Monk debate sessions at Sera Monastery (after 3 PM, Mon–Sat)
·Spin prayer wheels and meet the renowned Mahakala statue
·Hands-on tsa-tsa clay craft at the Tsa Tsa Museum

Stay

Songtsam Linka Lhasa

All five nights in a Superior Suite at Songtsam Linka Lhasa (3,700 m), built on the edge of an old park five kilometres from the Potala Palace. Slaked-lime walls, indigo carved windows and handcrafted copperware honor traditional artisans, and every room is fully equipped with oxygen concentrators to relieve AMS and ensure good rest.

A youthful ancient structure, five kilometres from the Potala.

Superior SuiteOxygen-equipped roomsBook café & Sunset TavernPotala views

Itinerary

6-Day Itinerary

Lhasa ExplorationTIBET · CHINA

Altitude profile

Highest point 4,440 m · gradual ascent for acclimatization

DAY 1

Arrive in Lhasa — a palace built by palace craftsmen

Your driver meets you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport for the hour's transfer to Songtsam Linka Lhasa, where the whole ancient royal city seems to spread out before you. This youthful 'ancient structure' was raised with master craftsmen who twice contributed to major repairs of the Potala Palace, its design drawn from the New Palace at Norbulingka: Yangbajing lime-plastered walls echoing the Potala, the sun-drenched black window frames of the Jokhang, the golden staircase of the Phodrang Pavilion and the fish-scale stone walls of Mindroling Monastery. Arrive early and you can take afternoon tea in the lobby while you acclimatize to 3,700 m — every suite carries an oxygen concentrator for a sound first night. Dinner at the hotel.

Architecture inspired by Norbulingka's New Palace
Afternoon tea acclimatization at 3,700 m

No hiking today · 3,700 m altitude

Terrain: arrival + acclimatization + hotel
Transport: Private airport transfer, about 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast: not included; Lunch: not included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Lhasa, Superior Suite (3,700 m)

DAY 2

Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & the Barkhor citywalk

Follow the footsteps of Songtsam's travel guide on a citywalk through the ancient city — immerse yourself in a sweet tea house, soak up the sun, wander Chomsigkang Market and step into a traditional Tibetan courtyard for a sincere conversation with the people who live there. After breakfast, visit the iconic Potala Palace, a pearl of the Roof of the World standing atop Red Hill, exploring Tibetan history through its sacred halls and treasures (visiting time depends on ticket availability, so morning and afternoon may swap). After lunch at the Linka, continue to Barkhor Street and the Jokhang Temple — 'First came Jokhang Temple, then came Lhasa.' With your guide, admire the life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age twelve and feel the city's spiritual center where pilgrims bow from every direction. Dinner at the hotel.

Potala Palace atop Red Hill
The 12-year-old Shakyamuni statue at Jokhang Temple

4 kmDistance+150 mAscent−150 mDescent3,700 mMax altitude

Terrain: palace + old town + citywalk + culture
Transport: Short city drives, about 20-30 minutes each
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Lhasa, Superior Suite (3,700 m)

DAY 3

The Khenpo Khenchen pilgrimage route & Samye Monastery

After breakfast, set out for the Khenpo Khenchen Pilgrimage Route in Shannan, an hour's drive away. The retreat is a place detached from the world, given to ascetic practice — practitioners find inner peace by confronting their own shortcomings and the hardships of the land. Climbing breathless to Guru Rinpoche's sacred site, you grasp how they keep mental clarity while coexisting with imperfection; paying homage here teaches the letting-go of the 'ego' that clings to perfection, and though Qingpu remains silent, it lets every visitor hear their inner noise fade into stillness. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Samye Monastery, an architectural marvel blending Tibetan, Han Chinese and Nepalese styles: in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche set Buddhist cosmology into its plan — the central hall as Mount Meru, four main halls around it, sun and moon halls suspended east and west. Walking this standing mandala, the architecture itself becomes the finest classroom of Buddhist teaching. Dinner at the hotel.

Guru Rinpoche's sacred site at the Qingpu retreat
Samye Monastery — a walkable mandala

4 kmDistance+300 mAscent−300 mDescent3,700 mMax altitude

Terrain: pilgrimage trail + hermitage + monastery + high plateau
Transport: About 1 h drive to Shannan, 15-minute drive to Samye Monastery, then about 1.5 h drive back to Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Lhasa, Superior Suite (3,700 m)

DAY 4

Yamdrok-Tso picnic & the murals of Gongga Qude

A two-hour drive climbs to Yamdrok-Tso, one of Tibet's three holiest lakes and a breathtaking sight at 4,440 m. Spanning Shannan and Lhoka Prefectures about 110 kilometres from Lhasa, the lake twists through a 250-kilometre shoreline — its name means 'Jade Turquoise Lake' in Tibetan, and under sunlight the water shifts between vivid turquoise, deep blue and emerald, as it has for the centuries it has been sacred to Tibetan Buddhism. Lunch is a picnic along the shore. Then a special monastery tour: step into Gongga Qude Monastery (1.2 hours' drive), plain outside and astonishing within, where murals everywhere bear witness to nearly 600 years of devotion by monks and artisans. With your Songtsam guide, appreciate them quietly, as if wandering an art museum. Return to the Linka for dinner.

Picnic beside the Jade Turquoise Lake (4,440 m)
Nearly 600 years of murals at Gongga Qude Monastery

No hiking today · 4,440 m altitude

Terrain: holy lake + high plateau + monastery
Transport: About 2 h drive to Yamdrok-Tso, 1.2 h to Gongga Qude Monastery, then about 1.5 h drive back to Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Lhasa, Superior Suite (3,700 m)

DAY 5

Norbulingka, Sera's debates & the craft of tsa-tsa

Begin at Norbulingka (twenty minutes' drive), the summer palace of successive Dalai Lamas, where garden landscape and Tibetan architecture merge into a paradise hidden on the plateau — during festivals, locals gather on its grassland for picnics and open-air Tibetan opera, one of Tibet's grandest celebrations. After lunch at the Linka, visit Sera Monastery to spin prayer wheels and pay respects to the renowned statue of Mahakala, feeling the compassion behind it. Arrive after 3:00 PM Monday to Saturday and you can witness the monks' famous debate sessions; on Sundays and major festivals you may choose a tsa-tsa-making experience instead. Finish at the Tsa Tsa Museum, where experts guide you through the traditional craft of clay figurines and miniature stupas and you try the art yourself. Farewell dinner at Songtsam Linka Lhasa.

Monk debates at Sera Monastery (after 3 PM, Mon–Sat)
Hands-on tsa-tsa craft at the Tsa Tsa Museum

No hiking today · 3,700 m altitude

Terrain: summer palace + monastery + garden + culture
Transport: Short city drives, about 20-30 minutes each
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: included; Dinner: included
Stay: Songtsam Linka Lhasa, Superior Suite (3,700 m)

DAY 6

Departure from Lhasa

A final breakfast under the Linka's golden atrium — one more cup of sweet tea, one more look at the carved doors and book café that made the week feel like living in a Tibetan manor — before the hour's transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your onward flight. Your guide sees you to departures with all permits and paperwork in hand. Tashi delek — may the Sunshine City send you home with clear skies.

Private transfer to Lhasa Gonggar Airport

No hiking today · 3,700 m altitude

Terrain: departure + airport transfer
Transport: Private airport transfer, about 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast: included; Lunch: not included; Dinner: not included

Seasons & Pricing

When to go, and what it costs

Songtsam prices this private journey in three date bands; the long shoulder windows include autumn's clearest skies and Lhasa's luminous winter — often the best weeks for the best price.

Per person · based on 2 travelers · 4+ travelers from $3,600 pp

Shoulder

Best value — spring, autumn clarity and sunlit winter

3 Jan–12 Feb · 24 Feb–31 Mar · 21–30 Apr · 6 May–9 Jul · 26 Aug–27 Sep · 8 Oct–23 Dec 2026

Best

From $4,500 pp

Peak

Early April, summer holidays & Christmas week

1–2 Jan · 1–20 Apr · 10 Jul–25 Aug · 24–31 Dec 2026

Good

From $4,800 pp

Holiday

Losar · May Day · Golden Week

13–23 Feb · 1–5 May · 28 Sep–7 Oct 2026 — book 2–3 months ahead

Good

From $5,200 pp

Converted from Songtsam's 2026 CNY tariff (32,500 / 34,700 / 37,200 pp for 2 travelers) at 7.15. Includes Tibet entrance fee and travel documents for foreign guests (CNY 700 + CNY 150). Single supplement from $880. Airfare to/from Lhasa not included. Final pricing is confirmed by your consultant.

Cost Details

From (2 travelers, shoulder dates)

4,500USDper person

Included

Transport: All land transfers on well-maintained local transportation indicated in the itinerary
Stay & meals: All accommodation based on double occupancy
All meals starting from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day
Standard drinking water and snacks throughout the trip
Complimentary minibar in guest rooms
Experiences & guiding: All admission fees and activities as indicated in the itinerary
Service of local guides
Tibet entrance fee and travel document fee for foreign guests — Songtsam assists with the application

Not Included

Not included: - Medical, travel insurance, or evacuation insurance plans
- Personal telecommunication
- Domestic or international airfare to and from Lhasa
- Excursions and activities not included in itinerary

Difficulty

Trip Expectations

This journey is considered moderately strenuous when touring and moderate when hiking, with full days of activities that start early in the morning and end in the evening.

Overnight altitude

3,700 m (Lhasa)

Day-trip high point

4,440 m (Yamdrok-Tso)

Suitable ages

18–70

Altitude & health

Each person responds to altitude differently; in the event of altitude sickness the team moves you to a lower altitude, and after plenty of rest symptoms usually subside. Every suite carries an oxygen concentrator. Not recommended for travelers with heart disease, high blood pressure or respiratory disease — consult your doctor before travel. A signed travel contract and exemption agreement are required.

Roads & vehicles

Depending on group size you travel in well-maintained SUVs or vans, driven by experienced Songtsam drivers. Some sections follow winding mountain paths and can be bumpy where under construction; stops are made at beautiful villages and scenic spots, with water and snacks prepared for the road.

Weather & packing

Temperatures can swing from 20°C to 5°C within a single day — dress in layers. The plateau's ultraviolet radiation is strong: bring 50+ sunblock and sunglasses.

Meals & support

Expect Tibetan cuisine — barley-flour dumplings and noodles, yak and mutton — alongside set menus blending Tibetan and Chinese cooking at the hotel. Songtsam's guides are Tibet specialists who travel with you throughout; an International SOS service plan is recommended for emergency evacuation cover.

About Lhasa

The Place of the Gods

Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, sits at 3,992 m (11,975 ft) — one of the highest cities in the world. Its highland temperate, semi-arid monsoon climate earns it the name 'Sunshine City', with nearly 3,000 hours of sunlight each year. The city's name literally translates to the 'Place of the Gods', and it has been the cultural, economic, political and religious centre of Tibet since ancient times.

Home to the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the great Drepung and Sera monasteries, Lhasa is the most representative 'holy land' in the world for its depth of history and cultural heritage. It is said that if you have not been to Lhasa, you will never know the history and essence of Tibetan culture — a city of mystical wonder and hidden beauty that draws people from every corner of the world to visit, live, study, make pilgrimage, and most of all, to be enlightened.

Journey details

2026 Songtsam Lhasa Exploration 5N6D

Five nights in the Sunshine City from a single base at Songtsam Linka Lhasa — the Potala, Jokhang and Barkhor, the Khenpo Khenchen pilgrimage route and Samye Monastery, holy Yamdrok-Tso, Norbulingka, Sera's debates and the craft of tsa-tsa.

Lhasa — the 'Place of the Gods' — sits at 3,992 m, drinking nearly 3,000 hours of sunlight a year, and has been the cultural, political and religious heart of Tibet since ancient times. This unhurried exploration stays all five nights in a Superior Suite at Songtsam Linka Lhasa, five kilometres from the Potala Palace, and radiates outward: a guided citywalk through sweet tea houses and Chomsigkang Market, the Potala and the Jokhang, the ascetic Khenpo Khenchen pilgrimage route and mandala architecture of Samye in Shannan, a picnic beside the turquoise holy lake Yamdrok-Tso with the 600-year-old murals of Gongga Qude Monastery, and a final day among Norbulingka's gardens, Sera Monastery's debating courtyard and the Tsa Tsa Museum. Tibet permits are handled by Songtsam and already included in the quotation.

Route: Lhasa → Shannan (Khenpo Khenchen & Samye) → Yamdrok-Tso → Lhasa
Stops: Lhasa · Shannan · Samye Monastery · Yamdrok-Tso · Lhasa
Departure city: Lhasa
Suitable for: Couples · Solo travelers · Small private groups · First-time Tibet visitors (ages 18–70)
Highlights: Five nights in a Superior Suite at Songtsam Linka Lhasa, 5 km from the Potala Palace, with oxygen concentrators in every room · Guided citywalk through old Lhasa — sweet tea houses, Barkhor Street, Chomsigkang Market and traditional courtyards · Potala Palace and the 12-year-old life-size Shakyamuni statue at Jokhang Temple · The Khenpo Khenchen pilgrimage route and Guru Rinpoche's sacred site at Qingpu, then Samye Monastery's living mandala · Picnic beside Yamdrok-Tso, the 'Jade Turquoise Lake', and 600 years of murals at Gongga Qude Monastery · Norbulingka summer palace, Sera Monastery's monk debates and a hands-on visit to the Tsa Tsa Museum

Before you book

Included: All land transfers on well-maintained local transportation indicated in the itinerary · All admission fees and activities as indicated in the itinerary · All accommodation based on double occupancy · All meals starting from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day · Standard drinking water and snacks throughout the trip · Complimentary minibar in guest rooms · Service of local guides · Tibet entrance fee and travel document fee for foreign guests
Excluded: Medical, travel insurance, or evacuation insurance plans · Personal telecommunication · Domestic or international airfare to and from Lhasa · Excursions and activities not included in itinerary
Booking notes: Tibet travel permit (CNY 700 pp) and Nyingchi/Shannan/Changdu travel documents (CNY 150 pp) are already included in the quotation. Songtsam assists with the application — only authorized agencies can apply, so allow at least 30 days before departure; the fee is non-refundable once the application is submitted. · High-altitude itinerary (overnights at 3,700 m, day trip to 4,440 m): not recommended for travelers with heart disease, high blood pressure or respiratory disease. Suitable for ages 18–70. A signed travel contract and exemption agreement are required. · The plateau's ultraviolet radiation is strong — bring 50+ sunblock and sunglasses. · Domestic or international airfare to and from Lhasa is not included; your consultant can arrange flights on request.