Tibet Travel Guide

Lying in China’s deep southwest, Tibet sits on the highest plateau in the world beside the huge Himalayan range to the southwest. With the construction of the Tibetan railway connecting the capital Lhasa to the rest of China, this previously under-visited part of the world looks set to open up. The main activities on offer here are obviously trekking and climbing, but Tibet also has some marvelous Buddhist structures to visit, many of which are sat among some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world.

Unlike the rest of China, a trip to Tibet requires a good deal of planning given the high altitudes and obvious challenges posed by the terrain. Most visitors arrive in the capital Lhasa, a small city 3,700 meters above sea level featuring the iconic Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. Around the latter is the bustling Barkhor pilgrim circuit, a must-see during any visit to the Tibetan capital for its stalls and cafés.

For trips outside the capital, the authorities usually require travelers to be part of a tour with a guide, which can be arranged in Lhasa or elsewhere in China beforehand. A popular trip is to head west taking in Shigatse, Tibet’s second city featuring a breathtaking 500-year-old monastery with its 27-meter high Buddha along with the remains of an old fort. Continuing west, Tingri is the nearest town to the Mount Everest Base Camp at Rongphu Monastery, where climbers set off to tackle the highest mountain in the world.

Tibet Attractions

Potala Palace: former winter residence of the Dalai Lama and the most famous attraction in Tibet.

Jokhang Temple: one of the most revered shrines in the province, this 1,300-year-old structure features shrines and Tibetan art.

Barkhor: a hive of Tibetan activity just outside the Jokhang Temple with street vendors, tea shops and all manner of knick-knacks.

Tashilhunpo Monastery: Shigatse’s foremost attraction featuring a 27-meter tall Buddha and a tomb dripping with precious stones.

Nam Tso Lake: nearly 5,000 meters up, this clear blue lake is simply divine, although it is a fair distance north of Lhasa at nearly 130 miles.

Rongphu Monastery: close to where expeditions head up the highest peak on the planet, Mount Everest.