Hedonistic tour to Tibet: shopping and aesthetic pleasure
April 04 – 09, 2027
Arrival in the capital of Tibet and transfer to the hotel for rest. The day is dedicated to acclimatization and a first introduction to the city's magic. Enjoy a leisurely walk near the hotel and your first sip of Tibetan tea in a cozy cafe.
Overnight: Saikhang Hotel 4*, Lhasa.
Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heart of Tibet and the oldest shrine in Lhasa, founded by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. It is the main pilgrimage site for Tibetans, where the sacred altar houses Jowo Rinpoche — a priceless statue of Buddha Shakyamuni at the age of 30, brought to Tibet by the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti.
Jokhang impresses with its living, powerful energy: an atmosphere of deep reverence reigns here under a haze of incense, the sounds of mantras merging with the rustle of prostrating pilgrims on the outer kora (ritual circuit).
Visiting Jokhang is not a tour, but an immersion into the sacred rhythm of Tibet, essential for understanding its soul and faith. We will start with morning prostrations near the temple with local residents, then walk the kora around the monastery, drink coffee in the main square and, of course, look inside.
After that, we will have lunch on a rooftop with a view of Jokhang and enjoy our first shopping in the capital.
Night in Lhasa at Saikhang hotel 4*
Today we will visit the Potala Palace, the symbol of Tibet. The Potala Palace was the main residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The height of the palace is 113.7 meters with thirteen floors.
Lhasa — the historical capital of Tibet — is located in a picturesque river valley. The gorge that narrows the road to Lhasa gradually opens up, and the appearing valley is filled with a row of white-walled houses, and around the bend, a majestic structure rises on a hill above the city — the Potala Palace.
This site is among the most majestic temples of Tibet, of interest from the perspective of pilgrimage and esoteric tourism, and is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Afterwards, we will have lunch with a view of the palace — a true aesthetic delight! Free time can also be spent on shopping in the center, a massage, a trip to the theater, or a thangka masterclass.
Night in Lhasa at Saikhang hotel 4*
Today we depart from Lhasa and head to the city of Shigatse along a very scenic road. Coffee at an altitude of 5,200m and numerous viewpoints await us.
If we don't linger too long, we will definitely stop by the Pelkor Chode Monastery – the spiritual center of Gyantse. The hallmark of Gyantse is the multi-colored Kumbum Stupa ("thousand" – 1,000 images of Buddhas, deities, and bodhisattvas). It is cosmology frozen in stone, a nine-story mandala rising 32 meters toward the sky. It is not just a simple building, but the architectural embodiment of the spiritual path. Each of the nine levels, topped with a golden finial, symbolizes the stages of enlightenment, and its architecture, weaving Nepalese elegance with Tibetan power, embodies the harmony of the universe's primary elements. At the top, an entrance to Shambhala awaits you.
Total travel time: about 7 hours without stops.
Upon arrival, we will invite you to a very good spa.
Night in Shigatse at Hilton hotel 5*
In the morning, we will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, located in the city of Shigatse. It is considered one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, which, moreover, remains fully functional to this day, serving as the residence of the Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is traditionally the mentor of the Dalai Lama and an emanation of Buddha Amitabha, holding the second most significant position in the hierarchy of the Gelug school after the Dalai Lama. Panchen Lamas search for the reincarnations of Dalai Lamas and vice versa. Furthermore, the Panchen Lama is vested with the power of state management if the Dalai Lama is still too young for it.
Tashilhunpo Monastery was built in 1447 on a hill; it was founded by Gendun Drup, a disciple of the great master Tsongkhapa (recognized after his death as the First Dalai Lama), with funds from patrons. One of the main attractions of the monastery is the burial stupas containing the remains of the First Dalai Lama and several Panchen Lamas.
Here stands the golden eleven-meter stupa of the Fourth Panchen Lama, built in 1666. The stupa is made of pure gold and decorated with precious stones. The magnificent stupa of the Tenth Panchen Lama is also kept here. It took 614 kg of gold, 868 precious stones, and over 246,000 semi-precious stones to craft this stupa. There is also a small cell of Green Tara here, where we will conduct a group meditation.
Afterward, we will be able to buy handmade souvenirs crafted by monks and jewelry by Tibetan designers in a boutique. We will have lunch with delicious Nepali cuisine and visit our spa if we didn't have time last night.
After that — an evening drive back to Lhasa via the high-speed highway.
Night in Lhasa at Shangri-La hotel 5*
The morning is for packing, coffee, farewell walks, and breakfast in a friendly atmosphere. Then — the flight home.
We recommend taking evening flights to have the opportunity to rest and complete your purchases at your own pace. It is also possible to stay for one more night (to be discussed in advance before the paperwork is processed).
April 04 – 09, 2027
$4,990
