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Marvel At The Palaces Of Lhasa

Still to do

The Potala Palace rises in tiers of white and red above a city of pilgrims, prayer wheels and thin, glittering mountain air.

Marvel At The Palaces Of Lhasa

The adventure

Lhasa sits high on the Tibetan plateau, and the first thing you notice is the air: thin, cold and clear, with a sky of deep blue. Then you see the Potala Palace, the former winter home of the Dalai Lamas, its white and red walls climbing a hill above the city in thirteen storeys, with golden roofs catching the sun.

Inside, the corridors flicker with butter lamps and smell of yak butter and incense. But the real heart of Lhasa is the Jokhang Temple, Tibet's holiest shrine. Outside, pilgrims from across the plateau prostrate themselves on the flagstones, while a river of people walks clockwise around the Barkhor circuit, spinning prayer wheels and murmuring mantras. Join them at dusk and you are part of a ritual that has gone on for well over a thousand years.

Why it’s epic

  • The Potala Palace, 13 storeys high with more than 1,000 rooms, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • The Jokhang Temple, founded in the 7th century and the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism.
  • The Barkhor kora, a pilgrim circuit around the Jokhang walked clockwise by thousands every day.
  • The Qinghai–Tibet Railway, which climbs over the Tanggula Pass at more than 5,000 metres on the way to Lhasa.

What it is

Lhasa is the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism, with the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple.

How to do it

Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit and must travel on an organised tour. Arrive by train or plane and allow time to acclimatise to the altitude.

Top tip

Lhasa is at about 3,650 metres, so rest for the first day.

Need to know

  • Foreigners need a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit, arranged through a licensed agency as part of a guided tour.
  • Tibet can close to foreign visitors at short notice, especially around sensitive anniversaries, so book with flexible terms.
  • At about 3,650 metres, altitude sickness is common, so take it easy for the first days and drink plenty of water.

Plan this trip

Rough cost
£2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
Time needed
4 to 7 days
Best time to go
April to October
Fly into
LXA airport

The compulsory guided tour, permits and flights into China drive the cost.

Sample itinerary

  1. Days 1–2Arrive in Lhasa by plane or train and acclimatise gently
  2. Day 3The Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple, then the Barkhor kora
  3. Day 4Sera Monastery's debating monks and Drepung Monastery
  4. Days 5–7 (optional)Over the passes to Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse and Shigatse, or on to Everest Base Camp

Make it happen

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Why it’s on my list

Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.

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