Essence Tour of Lhasa

Meals:	No Meals
Hotels:	Brahmaputra Grand Hotel   |  Xinding Hotel   |  ShangBaLa Hotel

- Sera Monastery: Located in the northern suburbs of Lhasa, The Sera Monastery is a complex of 4 structures; the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang (1355–1435), a disciple of Tsongkhapa. 'Sera' means wild roses and was called this because the monastery was surrounded by wild roses. One of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place.
Tips: Every day (except Mondays) at 15:00, there is a debate about Buddhist doctrines among the monks at Sera Monastery. The debating is held in the grounds and is a necessary way of learning sutras and scriptures. Visitors can watch the debate, but it is advised to keep quiet.
- Old Barkhor Street Walking Tour: This walking tours can takes you to workshops, backstreet chapels and pilgrim paths, passing en route some of Lhasa’s last remaining traditional architecture. First visit to Jokhang Temple, which is Smaller and more manageable than the Potala, this 4-storey, golden-roofed temple is at the heart of a rich and living Tibetan Buddhism. And then follow the local to pilgrim path around Barkhor circuit. Enroute we will visit a bustling local market. In the Barkhor street area, there are a lot of private small Thangka workshops. Stop in any one of them and watch the artists work. Still walking tour to Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery which is a convent where the females study Buddhism. It is a nice place for a cup of tea after a long day of sightseeing. Just next to the stop is Dropenling Handicraft Development Center where visitors can watch the manufacturing process in their workshop.
- Steak House Restaurant: Steak House is near the Potala Palace and serves mainly Western and Tibetan cuisine. Surrounded by the alluring landscape, it is a great dining experience while traveling in Tibet.

Meals:	Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Steak House Restaurant
Hotels:	Brahmaputra Grand Hotel   |  Xinding Hotel   |  ShangBaLa Hotel

- Potala Palace: Former winter home of the Dalai Lama, a vast, awe-inspiring maze of corridors and stairs leading through countless rooms of richly decorated statues, tombs, murals and antiques. You will climb past the White Palace into the Red Palace, where the file of pilgrims offering silk scarves, coins or yak butter to burn in the shrines combine to make this an unforgettable experience. Note: you need to be fit for climbing up the long stairways.
- Norbulingka: Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". Constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama, it later served the whole government administration. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both administrative and religious purposes.
- Kechu Hotel : Located near Jokhang Temple,The Kechu hotel and restaurant has a beautiful garden and provides Tibetan and Nepal food.

Meals:	Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Kechu Hotel
Hotels:	Brahmaputra Grand Hotel   |  Xinding Hotel   |  ShangBaLa Hotel

Meals:

Breakfast