5-Day Lhasa, Ganden & Drak Yerpa Tour

TRIP OVERVIEW

This route is for travellers who want the classic Lhasa sights but also want one day outside the city. After the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera, you head east to Ganden Monastery, the founding monastery of the Gelug school, and walk its kora above the Kyichu River valley.

The same day continues to Drak Yerpa, a cliffside meditation site where small temples and caves are built into the rock. It is a very different atmosphere from central Lhasa and adds a gentle walking element to an otherwise cultural itinerary.

HIGHLIGHTS

🏜 Lhasa - You will visit Lhasa’s major sites (Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery).

🛕 Ganden Monastery - You will visit the founding monastery of the Gelug school, dramatically set on a mountain above the Kyichu River Valley.

🥾 Ganden Kora - You will walk the pilgrimage circuit around Ganden, following local pilgrims and enjoying wide views over the valley.

🕯 Drak Yerpa - You will explore cliffside temples and meditation caves connected with important figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.

ITINERARY

Iteneary Pic_edited_edited_edited_edited

Day 1 – Arrive in Lhasa Airport or train-station pickup and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is for rest and acclimatisation. Altitude: 3,650 m | Driving: about 70 km / 1 hour | Meals: none | Overnight: Lhasa Day 2 – Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Visit Drepung Monastery in the morning, then continue to Sera Monastery for the afternoon debating session. A welcome dinner is included in the evening. Meals: breakfast, welcome dinner | Overnight: Lhasa Day 3 – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street Explore the Potala Palace, local life in Longwangtan Park, Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor pilgrimage circuit, with a stop in a local sweet-tea house. Meals: breakfast, sweet tea | Overnight: Lhasa Day 4 – Ganden Monastery and Drak Yerpa Drive about 60 km east of Lhasa to Ganden Monastery. Visit the monastery and walk the kora for views over the Kyichu River valley, then continue to Drak Yerpa to explore cliffside temples and meditation caves on foot before returning to Lhasa. Altitude: around 3,850 m | Driving: about 150 km total / 3 hours driving | Meals: breakfast | Overnight: Lhasa Day 5 – Depart Lhasa Transfer to the airport or train station for departure. Meals: breakfast

PHOTOS

Get a glimpse of the the Tour Experience!

A group of Monks practising in Potala Palace Tibet

DETAILS

Price

Tour Prices 2026 (in RMB)

Low Season
January 1 to February 28 and November 1 to December 31
Eco hotel: ¥4,250 (~US$635) | single supplement: ¥560
Comfort hotel: ¥4,610 (~US$685) | single supplement: ¥720

Shoulder Season
March 1 to May 31 and October 11 to October 31
Eco hotel: ¥4,530 (~US$675) | single supplement: ¥600
Comfort hotel: ¥5,050 (~US$755) | single supplement: ¥920

High Season
June 1 to July 9 and August 21 to September 19
Eco hotel: ¥4,960 (~US$740) | single supplement: ¥640
Comfort hotel: ¥5,560 (~US$830) | single supplement: ¥1,040

Peak Season
July 10 to August 20 and September 20 to October 10
Eco hotel: ¥5,310 (~US$790) | single supplement: ¥720
Comfort hotel: ¥5,990 (~US$895) | single supplement: ¥1,200

*USD amounts are approximate and provided for reference only. Payments are based on the RMB price.

Tour Prices 2027: To be confirmed.

Date

2026 Departure Dates
September: 30
October: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29
November: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
December: 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31

2027 Departure Dates
January: 3, 7, 10, 15, 24, 25, 29
February: 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28
March: 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 28, 31
April: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30
May: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31
June: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30
July: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30
August: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30
September: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
October: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 30
November: 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28
December: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, 31

Included

- Documents: Tibet travel permit
- Airport pickup and dropoff on given time
(Airport Pick-up Schedule: 10:00, 13:30, 16:00 and 18:30; Airport Drop-off Schedule from hotel: 06:30, 08:00, 12:00)
- English-speaking local Tibetan guide
- Comfortable tourist vehicle with experienced driver
- Accommodation listed in the itinerary, or a similar local standard
- Meals specifically listed in the itinerary
- Entrance fees for the sightseeing sites listed in the itinerary
- Shared airport/train-station transfers in Lhasa at the published transfer times
- Travel accident insurance

Excluded

- Flight or train to and from Tibet
- Meals not mentioned in "included" (most meals are about 30-100rmb/meal)
- Tips to tour guide and driver
- Single Room Supplement
- Personal expenses

Cancellation Fee

Between booking and 15 days before departure: RMB 500
14 to 5 days before departure: RMB 2,000
4 to 1 day before departure: 50% of the tour price
Departure day or no-show: 100% of the tour price

Cancellation Policy

If severe weather creates a safety risk, or a government restriction makes the trip impossible to operate, we will cancel the affected tour and refund the tour prepayment. Flight and train cancellation charges are not covered and must be handled directly with the airline or railway provider.

Important Notes

If the Tibet Travel Permit is not approved, or a change in government regulation means the trip cannot operate, the tour prepayment will be refunded. M2Adventure does not cover cancellation fees for flights or train tickets.

Important Information

Do I need a Tibet Travel Permit? Yes. Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet. We arrange the permit as part of the tour. How high does this trip go? The route reaches approximately around 3,850 m. We build the itinerary progressively where possible, and the source itinerary includes vehicle oxygen support on high-altitude routes. What kind of accommodation should I expect? Comfortable local hotel in Lhasa, usually 3- to 4-star standard or similar. Can the sightseeing order change? Yes. The exact time for the Potala Palace visit is confirmed through the official reservation system, so the order of the Lhasa sightseeing days may be adjusted without removing the planned visits. How much walking is there at Ganden and Drak Yerpa? The day includes the Ganden kora and walking between Drak Yerpa’s cliffside temples and meditation caves. It is not a technical trek, but comfortable walking shoes are useful.

FAQ

Do I need a Tibet Travel Permit? Yes. Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet. We arrange the permit as part of the tour. How high does this trip go? The route reaches approximately around 3,850 m. We build the itinerary progressively where possible, and the source itinerary includes vehicle oxygen support on high-altitude routes. What kind of accommodation should I expect? Comfortable local hotel in Lhasa, usually 3- to 4-star standard or similar. Can the sightseeing order change? Yes. The exact time for the Potala Palace visit is confirmed through the official reservation system, so the order of the Lhasa sightseeing days may be adjusted without removing the planned visits. How much walking is there at Ganden and Drak Yerpa? The day includes the Ganden kora and walking between Drak Yerpa’s cliffside temples and meditation caves. It is not a technical trek, but comfortable walking shoes are useful.