Lhasa

拉萨 · City

Lhasa is the capital of Tibet and the starting point for almost every trip. It sits at 3,650 m, so plan two nights here before going higher. Most visitors spend three to four days seeing the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the old town.

Altitude3,650 m (11,975 ft)

Best time to visitApril to October

Days needed3 to 4

AirportLhasa Gonggar, 62 km from the centre

Overview

Quick facts about Lhasa

Quick answer

Lhasa is the capital of Tibet and the starting point for almost every trip. It sits at 3,650 m, so plan two nights here before going higher. Most visitors spend three to four days seeing the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the old town.

Altitude	3,650 m (11,975 ft)
Best time to visit	April to October
Days needed	3 to 4
Airport	Lhasa Gonggar, 62 km from the centre
Train	Lhasa station, from Beijing, Xining, Chengdu and more
Permit	Tibet Travel Permit required

Journeys in Lhasa

Tours in Lhasa. Permit filing is included in every price.

9 days · Lijiang, Lhasa, Shangri-La

9 Days Yunnan Tibet Tour: Ethnic Cultures, Monasteries, Lakes & Old Towns

5 days · Lhasa

5 Days Lhasa Spiritual Tour: Drak Yerpa, Meditation Caves & Zhaji Temple

5 days · Lhasa

5 Days Lhasa Winter Tour: Bird Watching & Gandan Monastery

4 days · Lhasa

4 Days Lhasa City Tour with Tibetan Family Visit & Cultural Experience

5 days · Lhasa

5 Days Tibet Shannan Tour: Lhasa Tsedang Samye & Yamdrok Lake

5 days · Lhasa

5 Days Tibet New Year Festival Tour - Experience Tibetan Losar Celebrations

See all journeys

Stays in Lhasa

Hotels we use on our tours, with oxygen rooms marked.

Tibet Tour Mandala Geladandong Hotel

Fanbo Hotel (Lhasa Railway Station Norbulingka Branch)

Lhasa Snow Paradise International Hotel (Potala Palace)

LANOU INTERNATIONAL Hotel (Lhasa Municipal Government Tibet University)

Arro Khampa Lhasa

Best time to visit

Average daily high and low in °C, and monthly rain in mm. Winter is cold and dry, with fewer visitors and lower hotel prices.

Daily highDaily lowRain

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

BestGoodCold or limited access

Permit

What foreign visitors need before arrival.

Quick answer

Yes. All foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit, and some areas need extra permits. We file them for you with every booking.

Nearby regions

Shigatse and Gyantse

Tashilhunpo Monastery, Yamdrok Lake

North base camp and Rongbuk Monastery

High-altitude lake near Lhasa

Blossoms and canyons at low altitude

Yarlung Valley, Samye and Yumbulagang

Changtang grassland and northern plateau

Questions

Every foreign passport holder does. The Tibet Travel Permit is issued only through registered Tibet agencies, and it is checked at airports, train stations and hotels. We file it with every booking at no extra charge.

No. Foreign travellers need a booked tour with a licensed guide, plus a private vehicle for any route beyond Lhasa. A fixed-departure group seat is the cheapest way to travel.

April to October is the main season. May–June and September–October have the clearest mountain views; July and August are greener but wetter.

The train from Xining or Beijing is a slow, scenic climb that helps with acclimatisation. Flights from Chengdu, Xi’an or Kathmandu save a day or two.

Visiting Lhasa?

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