Meet your driver at hotel lobby and get your Tibet permit from him, then head to Shanghai airport for your flight to Lhasa. Please keep the permit for the whole trip.

Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, you will be greeted by your local guide, who will take care of your entry visa into Tibet. Your driver will transfer you to your hotel in the old part of Lhasa city to check in. Then you’re free to relax until your guided tour in the afternoon.

After lunch at your hotel, your guide will take you on a private tour of Sera Monastery, located just 3 miles (5 km) north of central Lhasa. Along with Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery – the home temple of the Dalai Lama – Sera Monastery is considered one of the great Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa, developed over the centuries as a renowned place of scholarly learning. Admire the imposing complex, built in 1419 by one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect. As you explore the site, your guide will explain the significance of the picturesque green and gold design, typical of Tibetan architecture. Learn about the 1959 revolt that destroyed some of the monastery structures and caused many surviving monks to seek refuge in Mysore, India, where another Sera Monastery was established. After your private tour, enjoy dining at a good local restaurant before your guide returns you to your hotel.