5-Day Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake Tour
TRIP OVERVIEW
This five-day trip keeps the classic Lhasa programme, then uses a less conventional route around Yamdrok Lake. Instead of simply stopping at one roadside viewpoint, the day follows quieter roads and lake shores to see Yamdrok from several angles.
You visit Ruzhila viewpoint, travel through pastoral lake country, stop at isolated Rituo Monastery and return to Lhasa via the familiar Kambala viewpoint. It is a good option for travellers who want one strong nature day without adding several extra nights to the trip.
HIGHLIGHTS
🏜 Lhasa - You will visit Lhasa’s major sites (Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery).
🏞 Yamdrok Lake - Instead of just stopping at the usual roadside viewpoint, you will explore much more of one of Tibet’s three great sacred lakes.
🥾 Ruzhila Viewpoint - You will take a quieter road up to a panoramic viewpoint where the lake, islands and surrounding snow mountains open up below you.
🛕 Rituo Monastery - You will visit the tiny monastery on the shore of Yamdrok, a peaceful place far from the main tourist route.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Welcome to Lhasa
Welcome to Tibet! Your local Tibetan guide will meet you at the airport or train station with a traditional white Khata scarf—a warm and symbolic start to your journey.
From the airport, the drive to your hotel in central Lhasa takes approximately one hour. After checking in, the rest of the day is free for you to rest and begin adjusting to the altitude.
There is no organised sightseeing today. If you feel comfortable, you can take a gentle walk around Potala Square for your first view of the Potala Palace. Otherwise, relax at the hotel and enjoy a quiet first evening in Lhasa.
Overnight in Lhasa.
🔼 Altitude: 3,650m
🚗 Drive: Approximately 70km / 1 hour from the airport
🍽️ Meals: None
🛏️ Accommodation:
Eco: Xinding Hotel Lhasa (拉萨新鼎大酒店) or similar
Comfort: Thangka Hotel, Deluxe Room (拉萨唐卡酒店豪华房) or similar
*Free airport pickup is available at 10:00, 13:30, 16:00 and 18:30. A private pickup can be arranged for approximately RMB 400 if you prefer not to wait or arrive after the last shuttle. Train-station pickup is also included.
Day 2
Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery
Today, your guide will introduce you to Tibetan Buddhism through two of Lhasa’s most important monasteries.
Begin at Drepung Monastery, once one of the largest monastic institutions in Tibet. Walk through its whitewashed buildings, prayer halls and courtyards while your guide explains how monks traditionally studied and lived here.
In the afternoon, continue to Sera Monastery. When scheduled, you will watch the monks’ debating session—a lively tradition involving questions, clapping and animated gestures. Your guide will help you understand what is happening, making the experience much more meaningful than simply watching from the edge of the courtyard.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travellers.
Overnight in Lhasa.
🔼 Altitude: Approximately 3,650m–3,800m
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, welcome dinner
🛏️ Accommodation:
Eco: Xinding Hotel Lhasa (拉萨新鼎大酒店) or similar
Comfort: Thangka Hotel, Deluxe Room (拉萨唐卡酒店豪华房) or similar
Day 3
Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
Today is dedicated to Lhasa’s most iconic cultural and spiritual landmarks. Begin at the Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lamas and one of Tibet’s most recognisable monuments. As you walk through its historic halls, your guide will introduce you to the stories, religious treasures and important figures connected with the palace.
At the foot of the Potala, visit Longwangtan Park, where local residents gather to walk, dance and enjoy views of the palace.
Continue to Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Outside, pilgrims prostrate in prayer and follow the traditional clockwise kora around the temple. Join the flow along Barkhor Street before finishing the afternoon with sweet tea in a local Tibetan teahouse.
Overnight in Lhasa.
🔼 Altitude: 3,650m
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, tea at a Tibetan teahouse
🛏️ Accommodation:
Eco: Xinding Hotel Lhasa (拉萨新鼎大酒店) or similar
Comfort: Thangka Hotel, Deluxe Room (拉萨唐卡酒店豪华房) or similar
Day 4
Yamdrok Lake Loop and Rituo Monastery
Today, leave Lhasa for a full-day journey around Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s most sacred and beautiful lakes. This itinerary follows a quieter route towards Ruzhila Viewpoint. From above, enjoy wide views over Yamdrok’s turquoise water, small islands, pastoral landscapes and surrounding mountains.
Continue through peaceful lakeside countryside where local families graze yaks and sheep. The route then brings you to Rituo Monastery, a tiny and isolated monastery overlooking the lake. Its remote setting offers a very different atmosphere from Lhasa’s larger monasteries.
Enjoy lunch beside the lake before returning to Lhasa via Kambala Pass, where you can admire another classic panoramic view of Yamdrok from above.
Overnight in Lhasa.
🔼 Altitude: Up to approximately 4,440m
🚗 Drive: Approximately 300km / 6 hours of driving
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, lakeside lunch
🛏️ Accommodation:
Eco: Xinding Hotel Lhasa (拉萨新鼎大酒店) or similar
Comfort: Thangka Hotel, Deluxe Room (拉萨唐卡酒店豪华房) or similar
Day 5
Depart Lhasa
After breakfast, we will accompany you from your hotel to the airport or train station for your onward journey.
It is time to say goodbye to Tibet, taking home memories of Lhasa’s monasteries, local life and the changing colours of Yamdrok Lake.
Thank you for travelling with us. We wish you a safe journey ahead!
🔼 Altitude: 3,650m
🚗 Drive: Approximately 70km / 1 hour to the airport
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
🛏️ Accommodation: None
*Free airport drop-off shuttles leave the hotel at 06:30, 08:00 and 12:00. If these times do not suit your departure, a private transfer can be arranged for approximately RMB 400.
PHOTOS
Get a glimpse of the tour experience!
DETAILS
Price
Tour Prices 2026/2027 (in RMB)
Low Season
January 1 to February 28 and November 1 to December 31
Eco hotel: ¥4,750 (~US$710) | single supplement: ¥560
Comfort hotel: ¥5,110 (~US$760) | single supplement: ¥720
Shoulder Season
March 1 to May 31 and October 11 to October 31
Eco hotel: ¥5,170 (~US$770) | single supplement: ¥600
Comfort hotel: ¥5,690 (~US$850) | single supplement: ¥920
High Season
June 1 to July 9 and August 21 to September 19
Eco hotel: ¥5,370 (~US$800) | single supplement: ¥640
Comfort hotel: ¥5,970 (~US$890) | single supplement: ¥1,040
Peak Season
July 10 to August 20 and September 20 to October 10
Eco hotel: ¥5,650 (~US$840) | single supplement: ¥720
Comfort hotel: ¥6,330 (~US$945) | single supplement: ¥1,200
*USD amounts are approximate and provided for reference only. Payments are based on the RMB price.
Date
2026 Departure Dates
October: 14, 23
November: 1, 4, 8, 12, 15, 22, 26, 29
December: 6, 13, 20, 27
2027 Departure Dates
January: 7, 15, 29
February: 3, 10, 17, 24
March: 3, 5, 11, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31
April: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30
May: 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
June: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
July: 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30
August: 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30
September: 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29
October: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 30
November: 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28
December: 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29
Included
- Documents: Tibet travel permit
- Airport pickup and drop-off on given time
(Airport Pick-up Schedule: 10:00, 13:30, 16:00 and 18:30; Airport Drop-off Schedule from the 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
Permit: Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit. M2Adventure handles the application process; passport and China visa documents must meet the current requirements.
Altitude: This itinerary reaches about 4,440 m. The first days in Lhasa are designed to allow time to adapt before travelling higher.
Potala Palace: The visiting time is allocated through the official reservation system, so the order of the Lhasa days can change.
FAQ
Do I need a Tibet Travel Permit for the Yamdrok Lake tour?
Yes. Foreign travellers need a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet. M2Adventure arranges the permit application after your booking is confirmed and will explain which documents you need to provide.
Is this Tibet tour fully conducted in English?
Yes. All guided visits and explanations are in English. You will travel with a professional local Tibetan English-speaking guide who can give you a deeper understanding of the places and communities you visit.
What accommodation is included?
All four nights are spent in Lhasa. You can choose between:
Eco: Xinding Hotel Lhasa (拉萨新鼎大酒店) or similar.
Comfort: Thangka Hotel, Deluxe Room (拉萨唐卡酒店豪华房) or similar.
Hotels are confirmed according to availability within your selected category.
What type of vehicle will we use?
Transportation is provided in a comfortable, air-conditioned tourist vehicle with an experienced local driver. The vehicle size is adapted to the final group size.
What is the maximum altitude on this tour?
The itinerary reaches approximately 4,440 metres during the Yamdrok Lake excursion. The first days are spent in Lhasa at around 3,650 metres, giving you time to acclimatise before travelling higher.
How is this different from a standard Yamdrok Lake visit?
This itinerary dedicates a full day to Yamdrok Lake instead of making only the usual roadside stop. You travel along quieter roads, see the lake from several viewpoints and visit the isolated Rituo Monastery on its shore.
Can the sightseeing order change?
Yes. Potala Palace visiting times are assigned through the official reservation system, so the order of the Lhasa sightseeing days may change. Weather, road conditions or local regulations may also require small adjustments, but we aim to include every planned visit.