The holy city on the Roof of the World is where every journey to Tibet begins. Welcoming thousands of travelers each year, Lhasa offers much to explore, from a quick glimpse of Tibetan culture at iconic sites like Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to a deep, immersive experience of local Tibetan life and monastic traditions.
As a Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator, we know this city better than anyone else. From the quintessential Tibetan experiences in downtown Lhasa to countryside discovery, off-the-beaten paths, scenic treks, and serene sacred lakes around Lhasa, we promise you a once-in-a-lifetime in Lhasa.
Best Lhasa and Surrounding Small Group Tours
Join a small group of like-minded global travelers to discover the holy Lhasa City, you'll get the most authentic travel experience in and around Lhasa. With everything being properly taken care of by us, all you need to do is relax and enjoy your stay in Lhasa.
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4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour: Explore the Heart of Tibet and Mingle with the Locals
Tour Route: Lhasa
We'll introduce you to the authentic essence of Lhasa, from iconic landmarks to local teahouses and courtyards within 4 days.
2025 Available Dates & Price:407 Travelers Joined This Trip in 2024 192 Tourists’ve Booked for 2025View DetailsFrom: US$509 p.p
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Tour Route: Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Lhasa
It’s a leisurely journey to downtown Lhasa with a short ride to turquoise Yamdrok Lake, best for family visits to Tibet.
2025 Available Dates & Price:705 Travelers Joined This Trip in 2024 297 Tourists’ve Booked for 2025View DetailsFrom: US$689 p.p
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5 Days Lhasa Small Group Tour with Three Major Monasteries
Tour Route: Lhasa - Drak Yerpa - Ganden - Lhasa
Explore the three biggest monasteries of Gelug Sect in Tibet in one go and see how Tibetan monks live in these monasteries.
2025 Available Dates & Price: -
Tour Route: Lhasa - Drak Yerpa - Ganden - Lhasa
A classic Lhasa city tour with a one-day meditation experience in Drak Yerpa offers you a quick refresh after the leisure tour.
2025 Available Dates & Price: -
6 Days Travel to Sky Lake - Lhasa to Lake Namtso and Holy Elephant Gate Small Group Tour
Tour Route: Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Holy Elephant Gate - Lhasa
It’s a perfect mix of Tibetan nature and culture, featuring Namtso Lake and Holy Elephant Gate.
2025 Available Dates & Price: -
Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse- Lhasa
Central Tibet offers not only great Monasteries, but also the stunning scenery of Lakes and glaciers on the way.
2025 Available Dates & Price:
Private & Customizable Lhasa Tours
Tailor a trip to Lhasa to match your own interests and needs! Here, we offer you the widest choices to gratify your wanderlust. From the classic city exploration for first-time tourists to featured theme tours, you can create unforgettable memories in Lhasa as you like.
Classic Lhasa City Tours
Follow the classic route to explore the holy city on your own pass. We offer customized Lhasa city tours, covering all essentials of Lhasa and its surroundings. If you prefer to discover the city without joining in a group tour, you can tailor your own travel experience with our classic Lhasa tour.
Lhasa and Surroundings Trekking Tours
There are several scenic trekking trails around downtown Lhasa, including the pilgrimage trek to Drek Yerpa Monastery, the holy kora around Ganden Monastery, or a lesser-known scenic route to Pabonka. This is the best way to explore Lhasa City, combining spiritual and natural beauty.
Lhasa Winter Tours (Great Deals from Nov. to Feb.)
Winter is the perfect time to experience the serene beauty of the Holy City at the best prices of the year. With daytime temperatures around 10°C, Lhasa is not too cold to visit. You can enjoy a more authentic travel experience with fewer crowds.
Lhasa Festival Tours
Don’t miss the ultimate festival experience in Lhasa! For an authentic taste of Tibetan culture and traditions, you can visit Lhasa during one of the grand festivals to experience the vibrant vibrant local celebrations. It’s the best way to dive deep into the heart of Tibet!
Unique Travel Experiences in Lhasa City
Here are more travel options to enrich your travel experiences in Lhasa. Whether you’re looking for a visit to local villages, a taste of authentic Tibetan drinks and snacks or want to dress like a local, we’ll help you create unforgettable memories. Feel free to share your travel ideas with us, and we will help bring them to life.
Extend Your Lhasa Trip with Top Tibet Small Group Tours
Extend your Lhasa trip to discover the very best that Tibet has to offer! From the majestic Potala Palace to the breathtaking landscapes beyond, we provide popular Tibet tours to help you explore the top highlights of Tibet in one seamless journey. It’s time to join us on an unforgettable experience through the wonders of Tibet.
Real Lhasa Travel Experience with Tibet Vista
See how delightful a Lhasa trip is with us! Real photos from our former customers.
Lhasa Tour FAQs & Travel Tips
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What travel documents are required for a Lhasa tour?
Both a Chinese Visa and a Tibet Travel Permit are required to visit Lhasa. You will need to obtain your Chinese Visa on your own. Once you book a Lhasa tour with us, please provide a copy of your passport and Chinese Visa. We will handle the application for your Tibet Permit.
We recommend booking your Lhasa tour at least 21 days in advance to ensure the smooth issuance of your permit.
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When is the best time to visit Lhasa?
Lhasa is truly a year-round destination. The best time to visit Lhasa totally depends on what you want to experience and when you are free to travel.
Lhasa Spring (March-May): It is the clearest season in Lhasa to roam around backstreets of Lhasa Old Town and follow the ritual Barkhor kora with devout pilgrims. If time allows, you can also extent your trip from Lhasa to Nyinchi and participate the annual Peach Blossom Festival.
Lhasa Summer (June-August): Lhasa, at the altitude of 3,650 meters, offers you cool days with the average temperature around 20℃ in summer. With the ice melting, it is the best time to travel from Lhasa to Namtso Lake with the most stunning views of the holy lake that surrounded by snow-capped Nyenchen Tonglha Mountains.
Lhasa Autumn (September-November): Under the dry and stable weather, it’s time to take the thrilling high-altitude treks, like the scenic trekking to Ganden Monastery, or the hermitage sites trekking from Pabonka to Pubjoi Monastery.
Lhasa Winter (December-February): Winter in Lhasa is not that cold as you think. Usually, the temperature still remains about 10℃in the daytime. With less tourists coming to Tibet in the low season, it becomes much easier to book Tibet train ticket to Lhasa. And you can also enjoy great discounts on all the tour costs, like hotel, flight tickets, entrance ticket fee. Under the warm sunshine and snow mountains, you’ll encounter more pious pilgrims prostrating along Barkhor Street and experience authentic culture and exotic customs through Tibet New Year/Lhosar Festival.
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Is there any international flight to Lhasa?
Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is the only airport in the Tibet Autonomous Region that offers international flights to/from Tibet. Currently, there are international flights from Kathmandu and Singapore to Lhasa.
The Kathmandu to Lhasa flight operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, taking around 1.5 hours to fly from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport.
The Singapore to Lhasa flight operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, taking about 10 hours and 25 minutes with a stopover in Chongqing.
Please check the exact flight schedule in advance while planning your trip to Tibet from Nepal or Singapore. -
How to travel to Lhasa by train?
It is convenient to take a Tibet train from Beijing, Shanghai, Xining, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Lanzhou. Most of these gateway cities offer a daily train to Lhasa, while the trains from Chengdu and Chongqing depart every other day.
No matter where you start your train journey to Lhasa, the most beautiful part is from Golmud to Lhasa via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. You will witness the amazing landscapes of the northern Tibetan Plateau. If you are lucky, you can see wild Tibetan antelopes from the train.
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How to prevent the altitude sickness in Lhasa?
The altitude of Lhasa City is 3,650 meters above sea level. As the first stop for most tourists coming to Tibet, it may cause altitude sickness upon arrival.
No matter whether you arrive in Lhasa by train or by flight, it is best to stay in your hotel upon your arrival. Avoid strenuous activities and do not engage in visiting tourist sites immediately. It is important to have a good rest on the day you arrive in Lhasa to give your body enough time to adapt to the high altitude in Lhasa.
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How many days to spend in Lhasa?
Generally, a classic Lhasa City tour takes 4 days, including a 2-day sightseeing trip to iconic landmarks, such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, and Sera Monastery.
You can add an extra day for further exploration in downtown Lhasa or villages around. If you plan to visit Namtso Lake from Lhasa, you need to arrange an extra 2-day trip is needed, as you need to stay overnight at Damxung on the way back to Lhasa.
Of course, you can extend your stay in Lhasa for a more detailed travel experience. Feel free to share your travel ideas with us. Our local travel expert will help you arrange the best itinerary based on your needs.
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What and where to eat during Lhasa travel?
Traditional Tibetan foods and drinks mainly consist of Tsampa, yak meat, mutton, butter tea, barley wine, and various dairy products. These can be easily found in a traditional Tibetan tea house on Barkhor Street or near the Potala Palace.
Apart from these staple food, Lhasa has more to offer. Wandering along Barkhor Street, you’ll find loads of restaurants providing kinds of Nepalese cuisines, Indian dishes, western meals at a very reasonable price.
If you have specific dietary requirements, such as vegan food, feel free to let us know when inquiring about your Lhasa tour. We’ll help arrange your dining in Lhasa.
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What kinds of hotels are available in Lhasa?
Lhasa has a wide variety of accommodations for you to choose from, ranging from the high-end hotels to the economic 3-star hotels. For a luxurious experience, St.Regis Lhasa Resort and Shangri-La Hotel provide world-class amenities, stunning views of the Potala Palace, and exceptional service. Mid-range options such as Lhasa Thangka Hotel and Lhasa Gang Gyan Hotel offer comfortable stays with Tibetan cultural touches.
Most hotels in Lhasa now offer oxygen supply equipment, and some even have dedicated oxygen rooms. So, you don’t need to worry too much about altitude sickness. If you prefer a room with in-room oxygen supply, please let us known in advance when booking your trip.
Just a friendly reminder: due to the remote location and limited development, hotel facilities and services in Lhasa are not as good as those in big cities of the mainland of China. For example, a four-start hotel in Lhasa may be only as high as a three-star hotel in Beijing. Therefore, it’s best not to expect the same level of luxury as in large cities.
Let’s Plan Your Lhasa Tour!

If you are planning to enjoy a Lhasa tour, yet have no ideas of how to sort it out the details, no worries! We would like to hear your tour plan and offer free professional consultancy and viable solutions. Please feel free to contact us.
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