Tibet Travel Guide
Tibet Updates
- Tibet will open to travelers in April 2013
- Planning a Tibet tour in 2013
- A Tibet permit is required
- Best time to visit is from May to October
- Respect local customs and traditions
- Avoid any political issues
- Entry from Chengdu, Beijing, Xi'an
Tibet, isolated on the remote Himalayan Plateau, is every traveler’s dream. It draws millions of travelers each year to explore its old Tibetan culture, and pure, untouched scenery. Tibetan Festival Dates in 2013
Highlights of Tibet
Tibet’s Cultural Heritage
There are so many Buddhist buildings in Tibet due to Tibetans’ strong culture of faith. The oldest and most popular ones include Jokhang Temple, the Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, and Samye Monastery.
The Fantastic Natural Scenery
See turquoise, crystal-like lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and grasslands.
The Tibetan People
Walk through Lhasa’s streets or take a cup of tea at a local tea house to see and meet these hardy and devout, traditionally feudal people.
How to Tour Tibet?
Three Popular Ways to Enter Tibet
The Qinghai Tibet railwayThe Xining to Lhasa and Chongqing to Lhasa train trips are very popular. Tickets are very hard to buy especially in peak season from May to October. Train trips from other cities are not recommended as it is quite a long journey (around 40 hours).
There are direct flights from China’s major cities to Lhasa, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing. However, the most frequent and reliable flights to Tibet are from Chengdu. So Chengdu is the best gateway city for Tibet. See Chengdu Flights.
Other way is to enter Tibet from Nepal. To take this trip, you need to obtain a China visa and Tibet permit in Nepal. See our popular Nepal-Tibet tours. China Highlights can help our customers to obtain a China visa and Tibet permit in Nepal.
Your Time in Tibet
Most travelers only stay in Lhasa, capital of Tibet. The most important reason is the altitude is relatively low, 3,700 meters above sea level, which is among the lowest areas in the region. The fitness requirement for sightseeing in Lhasa is low and facilities are good.
Jokhang Temple in LhasaFour days is enough to cover the highlights of Lhasa. The variety of attractions in Lhasa is quite limited, almost all religious/historic sites. If you want to dig deeper into local culture, ask your guide to take you to a local tea house and take a cup of tea among the locals. See our best selling 4-day Lhasa tour.
Lhasa’s nearby lakes: If you want to explore the austere beauty of the region, go to Lake Namtso or Lake Yamdrok. One day is enough to have a trip from Lhasa to either, but the altitude for both trips is significantly higher: 4,500 meters for Lake Yamdrok, and about 5,000 meters for Lake Namco. Guard against altitude sickness if making the trip. See our 5-day Lhasa to Lake Namtso trip
Another popular travel route is combining Lhasa and Shigatse. This is a scenic trip including Yamdrok Lake and grasslands, snow-capped mountains, gorges and glaciers. You need to top a mountain pass of 5,300 meters on the way. The trip to can be extended to Mt. Everest Base Camp or ever Nepal. See our 6-day Lhasa to Shigatse Scenic Trip.
Preparing to Go…
Lake Yamdrok The most suitable time to visit Tibet is from May to October. The weather is uncomfortably cold to dangerously frigid otherwise.
Be prepared for altitude sickness. If you are not sure you can cope with the high altitude, limit your sightseeing to Lhasa.
Tibet is a politically sensitive region, which may be close to foreign travelers at times. Book as soon as possible if notified it is open; otherwise you may have to wait a long time for the next reopening.
Travelers need to go through a travel agent like China Highlights to get a Tibet Entry Permit. Tourists are permitted to book their own accommodation and flight/train tickets, however tours of Tibet must be organized by and accompanied by an authorized travel agency.
Peruse our Tibet tours and contact us if you have any questions or the tour you are looking for is not there. Our tours can be customized to your requirements during the inquiry phase. Click Inquire below and begin your Tibetan adventure.
Top Sights in Tibet
Top Rated Tibet Tours more»
Essence Tour Of Lhasa
4-Day of Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery Tour
- Lhasa, Tibet's capital is a mystical and mysterious city steeped in Tibetan and Buddhist Culture. We will show you Lhasa's best.
$411 p/p
Tibet Train Exursion with Classic China Tour
13-Day of Beijing, Lhasa, Chengdu, Shanghai Tour
- China was a multi-culture and vast country waiting for you to explore. Famous attractions and the mysterious Tibetan culture will make you fascinated.
$2,316 p/p
Memories of China with Yangtze & Tibet
16-Day Beijing, Xi'an, Lhasa, Chongqing, Yangtze, Yichang, Shanghai Tour
- This tour should be called "The Trip of a Lifetime". It covers all of the most renowned sites in China - the Great Wall, the Entombed Warriors, Yangtze River & Three Gorges and Tibet and much more.
$2,943 p/p
Tibet Facts
- Chinese Name: 西藏
- Chinese Pinyin: xī zàng
- English Name: Tibet
- Location: Southwest China
- Population: 2.8 million
- Language: Tibetan, Mandarin
- Capital City
: Lhasa - Area: 1.2 million sq. km. (463,322 sq. mi.)
Travel Destinations in Tibet
