This morning you are picked up at your hotel in Chengdu and drive to the airport for your flight on to Tibet, the Roof of the World at 12,000ft (3700m). No where else on the planet can you witness such a dramatic change in geography climate, elevation and culture in such a short flight time. After checking in to your hotel and meeting your guide, start out with a walking tour through the heart of the ancient city of Lhasa. Walk through the lively Barkhor Bazaar surrounding the venerated Jokhang Temple.Here you mix with nomads and religious pilgrims who have converged from all over Tibet creating a unique atmosphere and experience.

This morning set out on a leisurely stroll through the World heritage Site of Norbulingka, or "Treasure Park". The walk helps you acclimatize to the thinner air at this elevation. This 89 acre park and gardens holds the Norbulingka Palace, the former summer residence for generations of Dalai Lamas. Walk around the grounds before enjoying lunch nearby. This afternoon you take a short drive in the foothills to the north and the site of Sera Monastery. Here you can witness the monks engaging in their daily practice of religious debate. After your visit here, return to Lhasa for an afternoon rest and late dinner accompanied with traditional Tibetan music and dance.

Start this full day out with a visit to the 17th century Potala Palace. This palace was used as the former residence of the Dalai Lama for generations until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959.Now a museum and a World Heritage Site, this historic engineering wonder is an impressive structure that has narrowly escaped destruction on a few momentous occasions. Its walls are as thick as 5 meters in some places and the palace contains over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues. Tour the palace all morning before taking a rest for lunch. This afternoon visit Drepung Monastery, historically the most significant monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. Once the seat of political and religious power in Tibet, the monastery used to house over 15,000 monks and one of the most prestigious Buddhist institutions in Tibet. Depending on your preference, you may have time to visit one of Tibetan's rug factories before dinner for an introduction to this unique trade.

This morning enjoy an optional early morning walk with the pilgrims around Jokhang Temple before breakfast. After breakfast take the shuttle to the airport for your flight back to Chengdu.