Boasting a wide array of sacred Buddhist sites, amazing Himalayan peaks, and pristine alpine lakes, Tibet has something to offer for both first-timers to Tibet or a return visitor.

In this article, we've rounded up a list of the top 12 Tibetan landmarks for you, from majestic Potala Palace to jaw-dropping Mt. Everest and beyond. So, join us to discover famous landmarks of Tibet that will bring you a lifetime experience on the roof of the world.

Potala Palace, Lhasa: the Most Famous Tibet Landmark and Symbol of Tibet

Built high on the Red Hill above the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, the Potala Palace is one of the iconic landmarks that embodies the essence of Tibet. Once the center of Tibetan politics and governance, Potala Palace has a history that goes back several centuries.

The palace was built on the site of an ancient palace fortress that had been built in around the 7th century by the ancient Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. lying as it does on the Red Hill above the city, the palace can be seen for miles around, its Red and White Palace walls clearly visible above the region's capital city.

Potala Palace is one of the iconic landmarks that embodies the essence of Tibet.

Bonus Tips:
● Best Time to Visit: Potala Palace is an all-year-round attraction (Opening 9:00-15:40 May to Oct; 9:30-15:20 Nov to April). The early morning is the best time to visit Potala, with fewer tourists. Do arrive at least 1 hour early for the long line and security check.
● Best Photo Spot: View platform at Chakpori Hill opposite Potala Palace; Potala Palace Square in front of Potala; Zongjiao Lukang Park behind the Potala Palace.
● Highlights of the Visit: Explore the private quarters, reception hall, study room, and golden stupa of Dalai Lamas, gilded buddhas, intricate mandalas, precious Thankgas, countess murals, jewelry, and Buddhist scriptures and treasure.

4 Days Lhasa Impression Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa

Price from USD509 p.p

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa: the Holiest Buddhist Temple, Must-see Tibet Landmark in Lhasa

Well known throughout Tibet as the most sacred temple of Tibetan Buddhism, Jokhang Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Tibet and was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. One of the main symbols of Tibet, it embodies the pure Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and is the center of Tibetan Buddhism throughout the globe.

Constructed in 647, six years after the arrival of Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, for her marriage to the king, it was originally built as a Buddhist temple for the princess, who was a devout Buddhist, and to house the gilded statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha aged twelve, that she had brought with her to Lhasa from China.

Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple of Tibetan Buddhism.

Located in the center of the Old City of Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is the culmination of pilgrimage for many thousands of people every year, who travel across the plateau on foot to reach this sacred shrine and pray at its gates, prostrating themselves before the sacred temple before performing the ritual kora walk around the temple itself.

5 Days Lhasa Small Group Tour with Three Major Monasteries

Tour Route: Lhasa - Drak Yerpa - Ganden - Lhasa

Price from USD599 p.p

Mount Everest, Shigatse: the Highest Mountain in the World

Known as Chomolungma or Qomolangma in Tibetan, Mount Everest sits at an altitude of 8,848.86 meters above sea level. The peak of this great mountain is constantly covered in snow, and it has long been the most challenging mountain in the world for mountaineers.

As one of the most popular tourist sites in the world, Mount Everest sees thousands of visitors every year just to stand at the base of the mountain and take photos. Tibet Everest Base Camp is more easily accessible than Nepal base camp in the Himalayan Region and can be reached by paved road from Lhasa via Shigatse.

Travelers have great time at Tibet Everest Base Camp.

Apart from traveling to EBC by tour vehicle, you can also trek from Old Tingri to EBC as well. A four-day Everest trek for someone of average fitness, it is a constant delight to see the mountain getting closer as you crest each rise and mountain pass.

10 Days Best Tingri to Everest Trekking Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Shigatse - Old Tingri - Lungjiang - Lamna-la - Chaya Pass - Everest Base Camp - Tingri - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD1780 p.p

Bonus Tips:
● Best Time to Visit: April to May and September to October are considered the best times to visit Mount Everest for the balance of temperature and visibility. The dry weather makes for blue skies that give a clear view of the peak.
● How to Plan Your Visit: The classic EBC tour is the 8-day Lhasa to EBC overland tour where you can spend three days in Lhasa and adapt yourself to altitude while touring the holy city then gradually ascend to EBC via Shigatse.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD949 p.p

If you plan to combine Tibet EBC tours with a visit to Nepal from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the 7-Day Lhasa to Kathmandu tour with an excursion at EBC is your best bet or you can travel in reverse from Kathmandu to Lhasa via EBC in 8 days.

7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD989 p.p

Mount Kailash, Ngari: the Holiest Mountain in Tibet

Also known as Kang Rinpoche or Gangs Rin-po-che in Tibet, Mount Kailash is the most sacred mountain in the world. It is believed to be the Abode of Shiva and the center of the Universe in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Bon.

Thousands of tourists head for the mountain every year to make the challenging three-day Mt. Kailash Kora (52km) around the mountain, crossing the Dolma La Pass, the highest point of the Kailash Kora at 5,636 meters above sea level.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

Bonus Tips:
● Best Time to Visit: April to June and September to October are considered the best times for visiting Mt. Kailash, with relatively mild temperatures and clear skies. Besides, the Saga Dawa Festival in May/June is another auspicious time for the Mt. Kailash trek to gain extra blessings and merits.

16 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: Touching Mount Kailash with Spiritual Saga Dawa Festival Experience

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2299 p.p

● Best Photo Spot: The hilltop opposite the Drirapuk Monastery on day one of the three-day trek. You can see Mount Kailash that dominates the landscape with a clear view of its imposing north face.

Travelers take photos with north face of Mt. Kailash opposite Drirapuk Monastery.

Lake Manasarovar, Ngari: a Famous Holy Lake Capable of Rinsing Your Sins

Located in Ngari Prefecture near Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar is revered in four religions, and it is believed that if one drinks from the waters of the lake or bathes in the lake, it will rinse your sins. The lakes all have their own kora routes around them and are all popular pilgrimage destinations in Tibet.

View of Lake Manasarovar from Chiu Monastery in Ngari.

Chiu Monastery is one of the best places for views of the lake. The hilltop setting offers a wide panorama of Lake Manasarovar and surrounding mountains. It's a great place to soothe your feet with a hot spring after the strenuous 3-day kora around Mount Kailash.

13 Day Lhasa Mt. Everest Mt. Kailash Lake Manasarovar and Kathmandu Adventure Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD2069 p.p

Samye Monastery, Shannan: the First Tibetan Monastery in Tibet

Samye Monastery has an important place in Tibet's history as the first Tibetan monastery in Tibet. The monastery's design combines Tibetan, Han, and Indian architectural styles in a layout based on Buddhist cosmology.

Utse, the main temple, represents the center of the Buddhist universe. The complex's design is based around the sacred mandala and bounded by an oval wall representing the ring of mountains that surround everything in creation.

View of Samye Monastery from Mount Hepo Ri nearby.

You can explore the interior of the temple and watch monks debate Buddhist sutras. Climb to the top of Mount Hepo Ri to take in a stunning vista of the design from above.

6 Day Lhasa to Tsedang Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Tsedang - Lhasa

Price from USD760 p.p

Yamdrok Lake, Shannan: One of the Top Three Sacred Lakes Closest to Lhasa

Lake Yamdrok is a huge scorpion-shaped lake to the south of Lhasa in Shannan Prefecture in Tibet. Fed by many mountain streams, the lake is believed to be the transformation of the jade earring of a goddess. Considered to be a part of the life-spirit of Tibet, it is believed that if the lake dries up, Tibet will no longer be habitable.

Bonus Tips:
● Best Photo Spot: Kambala Pass( 4,790m) to capture turquoise Yamdrok Lake with snow-capped Mount Nojin Kangtsang in the backdrop; Lurila Platform (5,960m) for the commanding view of Yamdrok Lake and serene Rutog Monastery in the middle of Yamdarok.

5 Days Lhasa and Yamdrok Lake Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Lhasa

Price from USD689 p.p

Yumbulakang Palace, Shannan: the First Tibetan Palace in Tibetan History

Yumbulakang Palace is the first and oldest palace in Tibet and lies on the east bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Lhoka Prefecture to the south of Lhasa. The palace stands on a small hill that overlooks the river and the Yarlung Valley, some 120 kilometers to the south of Lhasa.

Resembling the hind leg of a female deer, Yumbulakang Palace served as the seat of royal power for more than 700 years until the 33rd king of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo, moved the royal palace to Lhasa, in the palace fortress where Potala Palace now stands.

Yumbulakang Palace is the first and oldest palace in Tibet.

7 Days Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake and Rutog Monastery and Tsedang Spiritual Quest

Tour Route: Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake-Rutog Monastery-Samye Monastery-Chimpuk Hermitage-Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Tashilhuno Monastery, Shigatse: the Traditional Monastic Seat of the Panchen Lama

Known as one of the main monasteries of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism, Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse was constructed in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama, Gendun Drup. It is also the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest Buddhist incarnation in Tibet.

Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the main monasteries of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Located on a small hill in the center of the city, Tashilhunpo means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory." Around the monastery lies the traditional kora route, which runs around almost all religious sites in Tibet, and pilgrims regularly circumambulate the monastery in reverence to its holiness.

Bonus Tips:
● Top Highlights: Admire the world’s largest statue of Maitreya (26m), made of 278kg of gold and 23,000kg of copper; visit the tomb of the 10th Panche Lama; meditate in the assembly hall.
● Best Time to Visit: In June, Tashilhunpo Festival becomes the scene of three days of festivities. A huge thangka is unveiled at dawn and cham dances are performed.

8 Days Tashilhunpo Festival Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Tsedang

Price from USD p.p

Heavenly Namtso Lake, Damxung: the World's Highest Saltwater Lake North of Lhasa

Widely known as the “heavenly lake” in Tibet, Namtso Lake (4,718m) is a high-altitude saltwater lake with surreal beauty. It is a sacred destination for pilgrims and has unparalleled pristine surroundings with snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands, and clear, azure water.

To visit Namtso Lake, you need to budget at least one day, since there is a long drive from Lhasa to Namtso (250km, 4hrs, one way). The sapphire blue water against the snowy rolling Nyainqentanglha mountain range will take your breath away.

At Namtso Lake, you can take time out for bird watching or riding the tamed yaks. On Tashi Dor Island there are meditation caves to enjoy the panoramic view of Namtso on the hilltop. Discover the best season to visit heavenly Namtso Lake.

10 Days Lhasa to EBC and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Shigatse - Lhasa - Namtso Lake - Damxung - Lhasa

Price from USD1299 p.p

Guge Kingdom, Ngari: the Lost Kingdom of Guge in Ancient Tibet

The Ancient Guge Kingdom was founded in 912 AD in the far northwest of Tibet. Over a thousand years later, the ruins still stand. Among them is the stunning royal palace at Tsaparang. Built on a spur of rock overlooking the Garuda Valley, it was a city carved into the rock itself.

No one is sure how the Guge Kingdom disappeared, but by the 17th century, it was annexed back to Tibet. It left its legacy in the spreading of Tibetan Buddhism in the region and in the ruins standing today. In the rooms of the Grand Palace, frescoes depicting the art and culture of the time are preserved on the walls. The area is dotted with 28 Stupas, pagoda-shaped Buddhist monuments with ornate patterns and structures.

The stunning Tsaparang ruins at sunset.

For photographers, the blue hour at sunset is the best time to capture the stunning ruins of the Tsaparang.

17 Days Kailash Manasarovar Full Moon Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Zanda - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2299 p.p

Turquoise Draksum-tso Lake: Spectacular Holy Lake in Eastern Tibet

Draksum-tso Lake shows off a different side to the natural beauty of Tibet. The lake is surrounded by a hill covered with thick, virgin forests of pine, birch, azalea, and maple. Located 120km from Bayi Town in eastern Tibet, Draksum tso Lake resembles Switzerland scenery in Tibet with a mild climate and at a lower altitude than in other Tibetan areas.

The serene Draksum-tso Lake in Nyingchi.

The lake is dotted with small islands. In the center is Tsodzong Monastery, which practices the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Travelers can also enjoy watching in the lake while exploring the tranquil scenery.

Lakeside resorts have peaceful cottages with restaurants and yachting facilities. You combine the Draksum-tso Lake visit with the amazing peach blossom festival in Nyingchi from late March to early April. Discover more eastern Nyingchi tours.

10 Days Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival Small Group Tour with Everest Base Camp

Tour Route: Nyingchi - Bomi - Basom tso Lake - Lhasa - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD1110 p.p

Conclusion

The mysterious and vast Tibet promises endless possibilities of exploration. If you have more questions about the Tibet adventure, please feel free to contact us anytime for more information, and start planning your Tibet tour today.