A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Explore the vibrant street market of Barkhor Square, where you can haggle with local vendors for goods such as prayer flags, block prints of the holy scriptures, jewelry, and Tibetan boots and incense. Watch as devout Tibetans circle the streets around you, going about their holy pilgrimages.
Meet with students from Braille Without Borders, a local school started by German expatriate Sabriye Tenberken, who lost her sight while still a teen. She is featured in the documentary “Blindsight,” an inspirational film about a mountaineering expedition to Mount Everest led by Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind man to reach the summit.
See Drepung, another 15th-century monastery – and once the largest monastic institution in the world. Here, you can participate in debate sessions and prayer incantations, or sample yak-butter tea with tsampa, or roast barley. Be sure to visit the Maitreya, a two-story statue of the future Buddha, said to reappear in the world at a later point.
Make a pilgrimage to the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s holiest temple and host to thousands of devout Tibetan pilgrims from all over Tibet and China. Walk a clockwise kora, or religious path, around the periphery of the temple, and admire the Jowo Rimpoche, a giant, solid-gold statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Have a private blessing with one of the senior monks and, if you wish, chat with him about his life and beliefs.
Explore Norbulingka, a park founded in 1755 by the seventh Dalai Lama and home to the summer residence of the Lama lineage. Take a private tour of the Summer Palace, whose meditation chamber and bedroom remain in the exact same condition as 1959, when the present Dalai Lama fled to India.
Visit the phenomenal Potala Palace. Once the winter residence of the Dalai Lama, this architectural wonder is now a museum and treasure trove of Tibetan history, housing magnificent pearls, jewels and antiques.
Visit Sera, a 15th-century monastery that was once home to 5,000 monks of the Gelugpa sect, for an interesting glimpse into Tibetan Buddhism. The temple is famous for its lively debate sessions, held every afternoon, over the finer points of Buddhist philosophy.
Learn the art of painting thangkas – Tibetan Buddhist devotional artworks painted on cloth or silk using rich pigments and intricate, perfectly balanced compositions – from a master artist.
Located just outside of Lhasa, TVP is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. Most of their projects are small-scale initiatives that work directly with Tibetan villagers and with local government. Meet with a representative from the foundation to learn about their projects, and if you wish, discuss ways in which you can help.
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Feel a sense of peace on this 7-day Tibetan adventure. Venture into the country’s stunning nature as you walk around Yamdrok Tso Lake. Examine authentic goods in Barkhor Square, visit several old-world monasteries and learn the art of meditation, and get more in-tuned with this peaceful Himalayan region.
This 19-day itinerary promises to immerse you deep into the local culture and religious beliefs throughout the Himalayas by exploring beautiful ancient religious monuments and sacred sites of worship. Follow in the footsteps of the revered Buddha, from his birthplace, to where he was believed to have gained enlightenment, and the site of his death.
Explore the world’s most majestic peaks on this 22-day Himalayan adventure. You’ll trek through China, Nepal, Bhutan and India, staying at luxury hotels and lodges like the Amankora or Uma by COMO. You’ll walk along the Great Wall of China, visit the ancient Potala Palace, and search for Bengal Tigers in Chitwan.
This trekking journey to Everest Base Camp is the experience of a lifetime. Trek through stunning mountain panoramas and alongside Tibet’s Yamdrok Lake. Feel a sense of accomplishment unlike any other when you reach the base camp. You’ll switch between rustic lodges and luxury hotels like the St. Regis Lhasa.
This eleven-day guided tour takes you on a journey of enlightenment through one of the world’s most mysterious places: Tibet. Starting from the capital, Lhasa, you’ll pass over breathtaking mountain roads, explore spiritual monasteries and witness quaint, untouched village life that has barely changed over hundreds of years.
Open the doors to your spirituality as you explore Tibet’s religious past and present on this insightful 8-day journey. You’ll visit important Buddhist sites like Potala Palace and the important Jokhang Temple, visit the spiritual Namtso Lake, and witness the plethora of prayer flags in the Tidrum Valley.
Uncover hidden Tibet over the course of 12 memorable days, including an exploration of the capital, as well as an epic three-day overland journey through the Himalayas and another three-days of trekking over spectacular mountains, through remote towns and staying in spectacular hillside monasteries.
Located in a quiet, traditional Tibetan courtyard in the heart of old Lhasa, this boutique hotel is dedicated to architectural preservation and the sustainable development of Tibetan culture. It has six suites and two rooms, all fitted with Tibetan textiles and furnishings and elegant four-poster beds. Enjoy fine Himalayan cuisine in the intimate dining room, tea on the meditation terraces or a meal on the rooftop veranda that has striking views of the Potala Palace and mountains. The House of Shambhala Spa offers massage therapy based on Tibetan Mandala techniques focused on bringing the body into contact with the non-physical world. There is no business center, fitness center or pool. House of Shambhala is about a 90-minute drive from Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA).
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