Day 14: Lhasa, Tibet — 24901 miles around

After breakfast, we depart for Lhasa’s most famous site and former home of the Dalai Lamas, the Potala Palace. Built on a hillside, the palace towers over the city. The White Palace was built between 1645 and 1653 and the Red Palace between 1690 and 1693. Our walking tour of the palace will give us a taste of the Dalai Lama’s rarefied world.

We return to the hotel for lunch, then visit Sera Monastery, founded in 1419. The large building is decorated with many Tibetan thangkas (Buddhist hanging paintings and banners).

Next we will tour Norbulingka, the Summer Palace, which served as the traditional summer residence of the Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until the 14th Dalai Lama’s exile in 1959. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a public park.

We were honored to be the bride and groom in a typical Tibetan ceremony! We had so much fun!!!

The yak is an important part of the Tibetan economy

The prayer wheels at Sera Monastery in Tibet. Pilgrims will travel anywhere from days to years to pray here.

"Good intent-most important in all that you do" is a phrase that photographer Alison Wright carries with her daily, thanks to a particularly inspirational friend.

Daily afternoon debate for the monks. This helps determine who rises through the ranks.