Great Tibet Tour Logo GREAT TIBET TOUR ®
Autumn scenery of Potala Palace
Autumn scenery of Potala Palace Video

Lhasa Tour

Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, is well known as “the city of sunlight”. With a long history and strong religious atmosphere, it has attracted many travelers to take a tour. In the Tibetan language, “Lhasa” means the place where God lives. Located at 3,650 meters above sea level, it’s not only the holy city for Tibetan people, but also for Buddhist devotees all over the world.

It might not be proper to call it a “city” a few years ago, but now it’s getting closer to a metropolis we are familiar with. Hotels, banks, shopping malls... you can see them all around, and it nearly makes you forget it’s actually on the Tibetan plateau. Walking in the city, you may have an illusion that you are not in Lhasa, which is supposed to be poor in your mind. But, this is exactly the charm of it, a new modern city with an ancient flavor that will totally get you intoxicated and you can’t help falling in love with it. No matter Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery, Barkhor Street, etc., there is always a place that can impress you, and become a destination of your soul!

Lhasa
This essential trip is usually chosen by first-time visitors and it includes the most spectacular sites in Lhasa.
USD490
View more
Lhasa - Lake Namtso – Lhasa
It's a perfect choice to experience the most important Tibetan cultural attractions and highland scenery around Namtso.
USD790
View more
Lhasa - Yamdrotso - Lhasa
Show you the holy Buddhist city of Lhasa, home of famous monasteries and devout Tibetans, and breathtaking lake scenery.
USD670
View more
Lhasa
Visit most of the famous scenic spots in Lhasa. Experience local Tibetan life and explore Tibetan Buddhism culture.
USD735
View more
Lhasa
A good option for travelers with limited schedules. The highlight is Dark Yerpa, the holiest cave retreat near Lhasa.
USD624
View more
Lhasa - Samye - Lhasa
Visit the best landmarks of Lhasa and Samye Monastery, which is designed as a mandala surrounded by sand dunes.
USD840
View more
Lhasa-Tidrum-Lhasa
Involve significant tourist spots, top three Gelugpa monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, and a mysterious sky-burial site.
USD982
View more
Lhasa - Namtso - Lhasa
Explore the magnificent palaces of Lhasa and the fascinating sceneries of Namtso Lake to experience culture and nature.
USD919
View more
Lhasa - Ganden Monastery - Lhasa
Designed for tourists with a special interest in Tibetan Buddhism. Hiking around Ganden Monastery is the highlight.
USD610
View more

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get to Lhasa?

There are two good ways to get to Lhasa: by flight or by train.

The only international flight to Lhasa is from Kathmandu, and there's only one turn each day. Besides, you need to stay at least 3 working days to get your China Group Visa, which is a necessary document to enter Tibet from Nepal. The rest of the flights are domestic flights from mainland China to Tibet. You can choose your entry cities like Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, etc. In this way, you need to apply for your China Visa at the Chinese embassy in your home country in advance. No matter how you need to contact a Tibet Travel Agency for your Tibet Travel Permit. Only with that, you can enter Tibet.

If you want to experience a wonderful train journey to Lhasa, you can take a train from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Xining. Qinghai-Tibet railway starts from Xining and ends in Lhasa. On the way, you will view beautiful Qinghai Salt Lake, vast grassland, snow-capped mountains as well as the wild animals.

All year round is the best time to visit Lhasa. Lhasa is called "The City of Sunlight", so even if you travel to Lhasa in Winter, you will feel warm during the daytime under the shining sun. Please kindly note: From Feb to March, Tibet usually keeps closed to foreign tourists because of Tibetan New Year Losar.

Lhasa's old city is built around Jokhang Temple as the core, and Barkhor Street is the circle line. Lhasa is famous for its Buddhist culture and its long history. Unlike the busy lives in the metropolis, the pace of life in Lhasa is very slow, and you will enjoy inner peace and leisure. You can enjoy the sunshine with a cup of sweet tea, witness how pilgrims pray in front of Jokhang Temple, follow people to turn prayer wheel for praying, try Tibetan food, or buy some local souvenirs, etc. Here're recommended highlights for your Lhasa trip,

Potala Palace -- the highest palace in the world and the winter palace of the Dalai Lama.
Jokhang Temple -- the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism.
Barkhor Street -- an old block filled with Tibetan atmosphere and the most popular street among travelers.
Norbulingka -- the Summer Palace of Dalai Lama and the only royal park.
Drepung Monastery -- one of the top 3 monasteries of Gelug and the largest monastery in Tibet.
Sera Monastery -- the most beautiful Tibetan monastery and you can see "Monks Debate" in the afternoon.

Tibetan food includes Tibetan noodles, Tsampa(Zanba), momo, dumplings, sweet tea, yak meat, sweet peanuts, etc. Besides Tibetan food, you still have multiple choices among Sichuan cuisine, Nepalese food, Indian food, and western food in Lhasa. Here are the recommended restaurants and cafes in Lhasa.

Lhasa Kitchen -- located near Jokhang Temple and the dish is mainly about Tibetan food and Nepali cuisine. The staffs are hospitable and most of them can speak fluent English. Nepalese and Indian cuisine are recommended here.

Tibetan Family Kitchen -- the restaurant is warm and cozy. Staff speak English. The food here is tasty and vegetarian-friendly. The most popular dish is the Yak Momo. You can find it at the right side of Jokhang Square.

Makye Ame restaurant -- located in Barkhor Street and has a great reputation in Lhasa. It’s also a date place with taste and style. You can see Potala Palace in the distance when you sit on the terrace of the third floor there.  

Snowland Restaurant----it serves traditional Tibetan meals, Nepal and Indian food, with typical Tibetan- style decoration. Many foreign tourists would choose to have a meal here because of its various kinds of food. You can easily find it in Barkhor street.

Guangming Kamqung Sweet Tea House -- sweet tea plays an important role in Tibetan daily life and they would like to start a new day with a cup of sweet tea. You could not miss this sweet tea houses if you like to try the local flavor, as well as delicious Tibetan noodles. 

Lhasa is worth of visit for a couple of days. If you have a tight schedule, you can tour around Lhasa city in 2 or 3 days.

D1: Drepung - Sera Monastery
D2: Potala Palace - Jokhang Temple - Barkhor Street
D3: Dark Yerpa - Ganden Monastery - Norbulingka

If you have more time, you can extend your Lhasa trip to Namtso Lake, Samye Monastery, Yamdrotso Lake, Nyingchi, or Everest Base Camp, therefore you should plan at least a 10-day holiday. 

CONTACT US

Send us a message and get a response within 0.5 ~ 24 hours. Your personal info will be kept confidential.