Top 10 Places to Visit in Tibet: What to Do & Travel Tips

Welcome to Tibet, the Roof of the World, where the sky meets the earth at an average elevation of 4,900 meters. This land of majestic scenery and mysterious culture enchants every traveler.

Here, we'll explore the top 10 things to do in Tibet, each providing a glimpse into the wonders of this extraordinary region. Get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure!

Jokhang Temple with Tibetan decorations

1. The Potala Palace

The Potala Palace in Lhasa

The Potala Palace, standing on Marpo Ri hill with an elevation of 3,700 meters (12,100 feet), is a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and a masterpiece of architecture. Come and immerse yourself in the grandeur and mystique of this iconic landmark, where every moment is a step closer to understanding the essence of Tibet.

What to Do

• Admire the architecture and decorations: There are many places and antiques available for visiting: living quarters and chapels of the Dalai Lamas; assembly halls, shrines, and temples; ancient statues and relics; and Buddhist scriptures, texts, and mural paintings.
• Learn about Tibetan Buddhist culture. Many locals come here to worship. You'll see pilgrims worshiping and chanting mantras outside the palace. Once you enter the no-photography areas, you can join in the Buddha offering rituals inside the palace. In fact, the pilgrims worshiping outside are also paying their respects to the Buddhas enshrined within the palace.

Insider Tips

• Since visiting the palace involves climbing many stairs, it's recommended to explore other attractions first and go to the Potala Palace after you've adjusted to Lhasa's altitude.

Photography is not allowed inside the palace, and you're also required to remove sunglasses and hats. However, you're free to take photos of the palace from the outside.

2. Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa

Welcome to Jokhang Temple, the most sacred and important temple in Tibetan Buddhism, located in the vibrant center of Lhasa. It's home to the Jowo Shakyamuni statue, believed to be a lifelike image of the Buddha at age 12, which is also a must-see in this temple.

What to Do

• Enjoy the Tibetan Buddhist atmosphere. Here, you can see monks chanting, lighting butter lamps (a traditional act of devotion and prayer), and performing daily rituals that offer a glimpse into active religious life. Come and be part of this extraordinary pilgrimage, and let the spiritual essence of Jokhang Temple transform your journey through Tibet.
• Climb up to the rooftop and overlook the surroundings. From the roof, you can enjoy close-up views of the square and golden decorations of this temple and Barkhor Street. Also, you can see the Potala Palace in a distance.

Insider Tips

• Do not wear shorts, skirts, or tank tops. Shoulders and knees should be covered out of respect for the sacred space.
• Visit Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace in a row. It only takes about 15 minutes to drive from Jokhang Temple to Potala Palace, so you may consider visiting them on the same day.

3. Barkhor Street

Barkhor Street, Lhasa

Barkhor Street is great for both shopping and spiritual exploration. It's a historic circular street encircling the revered Jokhang Temple and a living museum and a shopper's paradise, brimming with energy, culture, and the irresistible charm of Tibet.

What to Do

• Buy your favorite souvenirs. There are stores on Bakhor Street. You can find authentic souvenirs, including prayer wheels, singing bowls, and local art.
• Walk the pilgrim circuit. Watch or walk alongside pilgrims performing prostrations or spinning prayer wheels around the temple. Some prostrating themselves with every step, as they complete their sacred kora around the Jokhang Temple.

Insider Tips

• Prepare some cash. Some small vendors may not accept cards or mobile payments. It's wise to bring RMB 300 to 400 ( about USD 40 to 50) if needed.
• Ask permission before photographing people. Street photography is fine, but always ask permission before photographing people, especially pilgrims. Because it might be offensive to take a photo of them when they're pilgriming.

4. Everest Base Camp

Mount Everest

Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC), situated at an altitude of 5,150 meters (16,900 feet), is a unique vantage point of the world's highest peak. It is the closest travelers can get to the north face of Mount Everest (Mount Qomolangma). You can drive almost all the way to the camp, making it more accessible for non-trekkers.

What to Do

• Admire the sunrise or sunset of Mt. Everest. See how clear and dramatic the towering peak of the world's highest mountain is, especially at sunrise or sunset. At sunrise and sunset, the mountain is bathed in a shifting golden glow, creating a sense of sacredness.
• Visit Rongbuk Monastery. This is the highest monastery in the world, offering panoramic views of Everest and a peaceful spiritual setting.
• See the starry night sky. If you stay overnight, you will find the sky is filled with numerous shining stars with Everest in the background.

Insider Tips

• Pack warm clothes and moisturizing products. The area around EBC is at high altitude with a large temperature difference between day and night, so it's recommended to bring some warm clothing just in case. Since the air is very dry, it's also a good idea to bring moisturizing products.
• Choose the hotel you prefer. You can choose to stay overnight at EBC, where both tents and hotels are available. If you experience mild altitude sickness, you can also head down to a nearby village to stay at a hotel there - the altitude is lower and more comfortable.

Alien's Travel Permit needed. In addition to the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), you'll also need an Alien's Travel Permit to visit Everest Base Camp. But don't worry - if you book your trip with us, we'll handle all the necessary permits for you.

5. Sera Monastery

Monks Debating at Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery is one of Tibet's great three Gelug University monasteries, where you can witness the fascinating and dynamic tradition of monks debating. Sera has been a center for Tibetan Buddhist learning and debate for centuries. It lies at the foot of Tatipu Hill, just north of Lhasa.

What to Do

• Watch the monks debate. In the debating courtyard, every afternoon except Sundays, monks gather in small groups to engage in rigorous philosophical debates. The exchange is lively, full of energy and passion, with monks gesturing emphatically, laughing, and sometimes even playfully challenging each other's points.
• Explore the Temple Grounds: Stroll through the peaceful courtyards and chapels. If you're lucky, you may witness a prayer session or butter lamp offering.

Insider Tips

Wear comfortable clothing but avoiding sleeveless tops or shorts: You'll walk on cobbled paths and slight inclines so it's recommended to wear hiking shoes. Also, since it's a religious place, you will need to wear modestly - don't wear sleeveless clothes and shorts.

6. Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash, rising majestically to over 6,600 meters (21,778 feet), is considered one of the most sacred sites in the world. Though it's not as tall as Mount Everest, it holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon practitioners, each believing the mountain to be the center of the universe or the home of a key deity. Climbing the mountain is forbidden - it's meant to be revered, not conquered.

What to Do

• Trek alone the kora. The Kora refers to the 52-kilometer (32-mile) circumambulation around Mount Kailash. In Tibetan culture, completing one full Kora is believed to cleanse a lifetime of sins. So, you may spend a few days trekking and enjoy the surrounding views.
• Visit nearby lakes or temples. If you finish visiting this mountain, the surrounding beauty is good and you don't want to miss it, such as Lake Manasarovar, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world.

Insider Tips

• Travel documents are needed. Apart from Tibet Travel Permit, you will need Alien's Travel Permit and military permission to visit this mountain. However, it's not hard to get these docs as we can help prepare all the things you need for your Tibet trip.

Stay at the hotel on the pilgrimage trek. The entire pilgrimage trek around the mountain is very long and is primarily meant for religious devotion. Which means you will stay a few nights there. There are many supply points along the way that offer accommodation. You can stay in a hotel or a monastery for a night. However, camping is not the most recommended.

7. The Drepung Monastery

Deprung Monastery

Drepung Monastery, founded in 1416, was once the largest monastery in the world, housing up to 10,000 monks. The name "Drepung" means "pile of rice," symbolizing the monastery's grand scale and its significance as a spiritual and educational center.

This temple is one of the "Great Three" Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) monasteries of Tibet, alongside Sera and Ganden Monasteries. It also served as the residence of the Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was built.

What to Do

• Celebrate Shoton Festival. The annual Shoton Festival, also known as the Yogurt Festival, is one of the highlights of Drepung Monastery held in late summer (around late August). During this vibrant celebration, a giant thangka (a religious painting on silk) is unfurled on the hillside, and the monastery becomes a hub of festivities, including traditional Tibetan opera, music, and dance.

Insider Tips

• Book in advance. Every year, many people come to Drepung Monastery to celebrate this festival, so if you want to join in, be sure to book your hotel and flights in advance. Our tour guides will also do their best to arrange off-peak visits to help you avoid the crowds.

8. Lake Namtso

Lake Namtso

Located 5 hours northwest of Lhasa, Namtso Lake is one of the highest saltwater lakes in the world at 4,718 meters (15,479 feet). The name of this lake is sacred. It means "Heavenly Lake" in Tibetan. The crystal-clear blue waters of Lake Namtso reflect the snowy mountains, creating a serene and magical landscape.

What to Do

• See the stunning lake views. The lake stretches endlessly with crystal-clear blue water. Different from Lake Yamdrok, the mountains in the background at Lake Namtso are totally covered in snow. While the mountains at Lake Yamdrok are simply snow-capped.
• Visit the Three-Life Stone on the northern shore of Lake Namtso. It consists of three spiritually significant rocks believed in Tibetan and Chinese folk tradition to symbolize the bond between lovers or soulmates across three lifetimes - past, present, and future.

Insider Tips

Travel to Lhasa first, then Lake Namtso. Namtso is higher than Lhasa, so acclimate to Lhasa first and be cautious of altitude sickness. Then, you may take an exclusive car to this amazing lake.

9. Lake Yamdrok

Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake is one of the must-visit destinations for any traveler to Tibet. Just a 4-hour drive southwest of Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake dazzles with its mesmerizing turquoise waters that shift colors with daylight. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rolling hills, it's a breathtaking sight.

What to Do

• Enjoy the beautiful view of the blue lake. The lake's bright, shifting colors are incredibly photogenic, with snow peaks and clear skies as background.
• Take a walk along the shore. Take peaceful strolls along the lakeside or up nearby hills for panoramic views. You may stop at your favourite spots to take photos as you want.

Insider Tips

Combine it with a Lhasa tour. Lake Yamdrok is relatively near to Lhasa. So we strongly recommend you to add it into your itinerary.

10. Explore Karola Glacier

Karola Glacier (卡若拉冰川) is one of the three major continental glaciers in Tibet. Sitting at an altitude of about 5,560 meters (18,241 feet), the Karola Glacier is a magnificent natural wonder and offers travelers breathtaking views of pristine ice formations, towering peaks, and the serene beauty of the Tibetan Plateau.

What to Do

• Admire the Glacier Wall and surrounding snow peaks. Stand just a few hundred meters from the glacier's base and admire its bright white ice wall, which towers above the surrounding landscape. In a distance, the majestic Nojin Kangtsang snow mountain range decorates the nearby area, which is ideal for photography.

Insider Tips

• It's a year-round attraction - the glacier doesn't melt even in spring or summer.
• Keep warm and hydrated. Just like at EBC, the high altitude means you should bring warm clothing and drink plenty of water.

Plan a Personalized Tibet Tour

If you want to get these fantastic experiences in Tibet seamlessly, please feel free to send us an inquiry, and we can create an itinerary based on your preference. Whether you are up for exploring towering peaks, serene lakes, and ancient monasteries, trekking through rugged terrain, or meditating in peaceful temples, China Odyssey Tours can make a difference on your Tibet tour. For more information, please reach us at trip@odynovotours.com.