4 Days Lhasa City Tour in Saga Dawa Festival

Overview

The Lhasa City Tour during the Saga Dawa Festival offers a mesmerizing and spiritually enriching experience. Saga Dawa is a significant Tibetan Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (death) of Gautama Buddha. As part of this trip, visitors also have the opportunity to explore the vibrant city of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and immerse themselves in its rich cultural heritage and religious traditions.

The journey also begins with a visit to the majestic Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the iconic symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. This grand architectural marvel houses numerous chapels, prayer halls, and ancient relics, providing a glimpse into the rich history and spiritual significance of Tibetan Buddhism.

Next, the tour also takes you to the Jokhang Temple, the holiest site in Tibet. This sacred temple is a spiritual center for Tibetan Buddhists and houses the revered Jowo Rinpoche statue, believed to be an authentic representation of the Buddha. Pilgrims from all over Tibet gather here during the Saga Dawa Festival to pay homage and engage in religious rituals.

During the Saga Dawa Festival, the city also comes alive with various religious activities, including grand processions, colorful ceremonies, and prayers. Witnessing the devout faith and devotion of the Tibetan people during this auspicious occasion is an awe-inspiring experience that deepens one’s understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.

Overall, the Lhasa City Tour during the Saga Dawa Festival is also a remarkable journey that combines cultural immersion, spiritual exploration, and a deeper understanding of Tibetan Buddhism. It also offers a unique opportunity to witness the vibrancy of Tibetan traditions, visit iconic landmarks, and connect with the profound spirituality that permeates every aspect of life in Lhasa.

Tour Type:

Celebrate Saga Dawa Festival at Jokhang Temple on 4 June 2023

Trip Level:

Easy – suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.

Season:

Spring春
Summer夏
Autumn秋
Winter冬

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on their way to Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers of Tibet, to get acclimatized to the high altitude in Tibet, having a good sleep in your hotel is a good option. Don not rush to visit attractions inside Lhasa City.

Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-Star Hotel)

Day 2: Lhasa Tour – Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery (B, D)

Today, you will also head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple. As the center of Saga Dawa Festival in Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is the best place to feel the festival atmosphere. Pilgrims from all directions arrive at this temple in the morning to worship the image of the 12-year-old Buddha, and do Kora inside the hall of Jokhang Temple or around the temple by circling along Barkhor Street.

Beggars and poor pilgrims gather around Jokhang Temple and wait for their donations peacefully, making Saga Dawa Festival also know as “the Poor’s Day”. With a belief that all good deeds are multiplied thousand fold during this festival, people are more generous to offer donations.

Jokhang Temple was also founded by the 33rd Great King of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can also see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Tips: There is no limit to the donation amount, It will be better for you to prepare changes in advance.

We will also visit Drepung Monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can also visit the biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving Workshop near Drepung.

Besides, We can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house. The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly.

Optional:
With time permitting, you may also go with tour guide to visit Tibetan Handicraft Art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine Center. You can upgrade your service to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD)

Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-Star Hotel)

Holy Jokhang TempleThe spectacular vista of Drepung Monastery

Day 3: Lhasa Tour – Potala Palace, Sera Monastery (B)

Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd Great King of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and Meditation Cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks Debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house. Inside the monastery, you can see three Sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-Star Hotel)

Potala PalaceMonk debate held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery

Day 4: Depart from Lhasa (B)

Hotel to airport/train station transfer, end the tour.

 Included:

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
  • Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
  • Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
  • Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
  • All meals listed in the above itinerary;
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
  • First aid kit;

Excluded:

  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
  • Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  • Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.