4 Days Lhasa Bird Watching Tour with Potala Palace and Johang Temple

4 Days Lhasa Tour is a short and simple trip that takes you to watch birds in Lhalu Wetland, Lhasa River, Zongjiao Lukang Park and appreciate the prominent historical architects of Potala Palace and mystical Jokhang temple

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

Welcome to Lhasa! Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your professional Tibetan guide will meet you right in the hall on time, with your name sign. Then a comfortable private car and experienced driver will take you to Lhasa hotel safely. It is about 65km from the airport to Lhasa city and takes less than an hour through the Airport Expressway. It is only 25km from the railway station and takes about half an hour.

After arriving at hotel, tour guide will help you check in. You can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. To adapt to the high altitude ( over 3,600m ), you are recommended to have a good rest in the hotel, no running and intense activity, no smoking and no alcohol, no shower.
2. Please drink sufficient water and eat more vegetable, fruits, meat and eggs for more energy.
3. For the first-time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom.

Day 2: Lhasa bird watching tour

After breakfast, you will go to watch the bird from the Lhalu Wetland and take picture of birds. Lhalu Wetland National Nature Preserve is the largest natural urban wetlands in the world. It is not only the main natural oxygen bar in Lhasa but also a heaven for hundreds of species of wetland birds.

Then you will head out of the city to the banks of the Lhasa River, which is one of the most popular places in Tibet for the migratory black-necked cranes (a rare and endangered species of crane that winters on the marshes and rivers of the area). It is a great place to view and study these unique birds in their natural habitats. The driver will also bring us a pleasant drive along the Lhasa River, where you will have a brief stop to enjoy the Lhasa valley while photographing the birds nearby.

In the afternoon, drive back to Lhasa Zongjiao Lukang Park for the bird watching. This park is a favorite place for locals to get their daily exercise. It also becomes the home of thousands of black-headed gulls, Ruddy Shelducks and Bar Headed Geese from November to around the middle of March every year. The scene of the gulls hunting for food or just lazing on the waters of the small lakes with the Potala behind is an amazing shot.

Day 3: Lhasa tour

After breakfast, your tour guide & driver will pick you and drive to visit the splendid Potala Palace, which is Lhasa’s cardinal landmarks. You will have a whole morning to explore this world-level architectural works: White Palace, Red Palace, corridors and stairs and countless lama’s dormitory. Others include: Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted, murals, etc.

In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, as the spiritual center of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha; learning Tibetan Buddhism; hearing the red-robed Lamas praying; taking photos of the gold roof and enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa.

Finally, you will have a relaxing walk around Jokhang Temple at Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa, and full of religious atmosphere, showcasing Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight at Lhasa.

Tips:
1. In Potala Palace, your visiting time is limited on 1 hour. Climb up there, you might experience slight shortness of breath, please take your time and rest when needed.
2. Don’t disturb pilgrims and Lama. Don’t take photos of them without permission.
3. In Barkhor Street, remember to bargain and compare the price in different shops for the souvenirs when you are purchasing.

Day 4: Depart from Lhasa

Today is free for you until you are escorted to the airport or railway station for departure and the guide will help you get on board.

Inclusion & Exclusion

Inclusions:

1. Permit: All necessary Tibet Travel Permits (Incl. Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, Border Pass, etc.);

2. Accommodation: all hotels or guestrooms listed in the itinerary;

3. Ticket: All entrance tickets fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;

4. Guide: Professional English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;

5. Vehicle: 5-29 seats Comfortable Tibet tourist vehicle with licensed and experienced driver;

6. Meal: Breakfasts in the hotel;

7. Insurance: Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance;

8. Drinking water provided during the trip;

9. A container of Oxygen for emergency use;

10. Accommodation and meal allowance to the guide & driver;

11. Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges;


Exclusion:

1. Meal: not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners).

2. Single room supplement: If you are a solo traveler, you need to share twin room with another tourist (same sex in most cases). You can pay the single room supplement to stay in one room by yourself. And the exact cost depends on market fluctuation in high and off season of Tibet tourism.

3. Tips: If you are satisfied with the service of guide, driver and waiters, you may consider tipping them appropriately ( Tips is not required but expected).

4. International and domestic flight/train (we can offer the ticket booking service at the competitive price).

5. Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.

6. Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.

Addional Info

Knows before You Book

1. Book at least 20 days in advance so tour operator may apply for your Tibet Permit. Tibet Permit will be delivered to your delivery address / hotel address in one city of China.

2. Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level. Patients with serious hypertension, heart disease, asthma, bronchities, diabetes and cold should be restricted from going to Tibet.

3. Your airport/train station pick-up and drop-off in Lhasa need to be arranged by the tour supplier.

4. If you fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu, please do not apply for China L Visa in advance. You need to apply for Tibet Group Visa from China Embassy in Kathmandu via travel agency. If you have your China L Visa, it will be automatically expired when applying for Tibet Group Visa.

5. Price is based on double occupancy. Single room supplement is subject to availability and additional charge.

6. Please read the Payment Methods, Terms and Conditions and Cancellation policies.

Knows after You Book

1. Travelers are required to provide photocopy of passports and China L visas at least 15 days prior to travel date, letting tour operator to have enough to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit. If you have other type visas, please contact with your travel consultant.

2. Normally, it takes around 8-9 days to process your Tibet Permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau. Then, we will have it delivered to your address in mainland China.

3. You should wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes.

4. It is better to bring spending cash for a whole trip. In Lhasa and Shigatse, it is OK to withdraw money with foreign bank card or change your foreign currency into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, CNY).

5. The insurance is provided by The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited (www.epicc.com.cn), which covers only tourist accident risks in China. We recommend that tourists purchase additional insurance on their own.

6. We understand you may worry about the High Altitude Sickness. It is common reaction in the plateau. It is better to consult your own doctor and bring some medicine, such as: Hongjingtian and Gaoyuanan; Acetazolamide, Dexamethasone, Vitamin and Nutrient Supplements.

7. Please keep a relaxed and happy mood, avoid drinking alcohol and doing strenuous exercises. First-timers at high altitude may have symptoms like headache, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, etc. It is common. Normally such symptoms will disappear in 2 days.

8. During your trip in Tibet, please obey the law; respect the local’s religion and customs.
Do not do things that are beyond your tourist identity, such as photograph military facilities, and other politically sensitive areas;
Do not accept any news media’s interview;
Do not collect secret intelligence;
Do not wave antisocial banners, yelling antisocial slogans;
Do not use aerial camera;
Do not venture into areas beyond planned itineraries.

9. Some souvenirs like Knife, antique, animal skulls, etc. are not allowed to take out of China at custom, please don’t buy this kind of souvenirs.

10. The train ticket to Lhasa is normally issued 15-60 days before departure. During the Tibet’s Peak Tourism Season (from June to Mid-October, during Chinese Spring Festival and other public holidays in China), the train tickets may be issued only 1-9 days before departure