Lhasa

Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted by private car to your choice of hotel. The balance of your day is free to relax and acclimate to the altitude. Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening. Meals D

Your day begins with our specially-arranged Pilgrim’s Kora Experience. After breakfast, your personal car, driver and guide await to take you to Medicine King Mountain. Here you can join with pilgrims who come from all across Tibet to perform kora here at this sacred mountain site; this ancient rite of continuous walking, prayer and deep meditation is a powerful and unforgettable experience.

Continue your Privately Guided sightseeing at the Sera Monastery and Norbulinka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Built in the 18th century, this expansive palace complex encompasses lovely garden grounds, pavilions and tranquil wooded areas. Meals B,L

Today’s full-day sightseeing begins at the magnificent Potala Palace c, described by British-born essayist Pico Iyer in this way: “The very center of Tibet is Lhasa and the very center of Lhasa, for more than three centuries, has been the Potala Palace. An unfathomable building erected on a rock face 13 stories high, it has golden turrets on the roof that can be seen 12 miles away, and it stretches for more than 1,000 feet along a ridge against the snowcaps. The Potala looks and feels like no other building on the planet.”

Then visit the beautiful Jokhang Temple, a colorful, 4-story timber structure topped with gold. Originally founded in the 7th century, it remains an important pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists. Nearby, you’ll also explore the lively Barkhor Market. Meals B,L

Your personal car and driver await this morning to take you to the airport for your onward flight. Meals B