Lhasa & Tibet Travel Guide: How Many Days, Permits, Altitude, Trains and Everest

Plan on at least 4 days for Lhasa alone, because the first day or two go to getting used to the altitude. Add 2 days if you want the lakes at Namtso and Yamdrok, and allow about 8 days if you want to reach the Everest area. As a foreign visitor you cannot simply buy a ticket and go: you need a Tibet permit arranged in advance, and in practice that means booking a tour with an authorised Tibetan travel agency. Lhasa sits at about 3,658 m, so altitude sickness is the main health risk. There are two ways in: the train over the Qinghai–Tibet Railway (usually from Xining, about a day) or a flight into Lhasa Gonggar airport.

This page walks you through the whole trip in order: permits, what a tour really means, altitude, getting in, the sights in Lhasa, the lakes and Everest, the seasons, and sample 4-, 6- and 8-day plans. Three topics have their own detailed guides, linked below: the Tibet travel permit guide, the Qinghai–Tibet Railway guide and the Potala Palace guide.

How many days, when to go and how Tibet fits together

How many days. Here is how most first trips work out:

• 4 days, Lhasa only: one easy arrival day, then the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, and one or two monasteries or the Tibet Museum. This is the minimum that makes sense, because you should not do anything strenuous on day one.
• 6 days, Lhasa plus the lakes: the 4 Lhasa days, then a day trip to Yamdrok Lake and a day trip to Namtso. Both lakes are higher than Lhasa, so they go after the acclimatisation days, not before.
• About 8 days, to Everest: Lhasa, then Yamdrok on the way west to Shigatse, then the long drive to the Everest area near Rongbuk Monastery and back. This route also needs a border permit for Shigatse, and new ones have not been issued since 28 August 2026, and the restart date will be set by an official notice, so confirm with your agency before you plan around Everest (details in the permit section below).

When to go. The main season runs from late spring to autumn, roughly April to October. Lhasa gets most of its rain from June to September, so summer brings green valleys but also cloud over the high peaks and the odd washed-out road. Many travellers like September and October for clear skies and smaller crowds. Winter is quiet and cold, but it is also the cheapest time: from 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027, A-grade scenic areas across Tibet are free to enter, except temples. The seasons section further down explains what that does and does not cover. If you like festivals, the Shoton (Yogurt) Festival falls around the 30th day of the sixth Tibetan month, so its date in the Western calendar changes every year; in 2026 the big thangka (religious painting) displays at Drepung and Sera were on 12 August.

How the places fit together. Lhasa is your base. Everything else is a day trip or a road trip from there:

• Namtso is north of Lhasa. The Tashi Dor peninsula, where visitors go, is about two hours' drive from the city.
• Yamdrok Lake is south-west, in Nagarze County of Shannan, on the south side of the Yarlung Tsangpo river. Most trips see it on a day out or on the road towards Shigatse.
• Shigatse is west. The railway from Lhasa to Shigatse is 253 km long, and the bullet train takes about two hours.
• Everest is further south-west, in Tingri County. Tourists stop at Rongbuk Monastery; the climbers' base camp is about 19 km in a straight line from the summit.
• Nyingchi is east, lower and greener. The Lhasa–Nyingchi railway is 435.48 km long.

For weather and packing across the rest of China, see our guide to the best time to visit China and what to wear by season.

Permits: what a foreigner needs to visit Tibet

This is the part that decides whether your trip happens. Here is what the official rules say, and what they leave to your agency.

The basic rule. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has restated a Tibet regional government rule that foreign tourists must apply in advance to the Tibet tourism authority before going to Lhasa or other open areas of Tibet, and says the rule is still in force. China's Consulate-General in Cebu (Philippines), in its 2023 visa notes, says you can join a tour run by an authorised local travel agency, and that anyone going on their own must first contact the Tibet tourism bureau and provide a written notice from it. A 2004 page from the Chinese Embassy in Austria says all foreigners going to Tibet need an entry confirmation letter, and that agencies handle it for tour groups. Travellers and agencies usually call this paperwork the Tibet Travel Permit.

What foreign governments tell their citizens. The UK government's travel advice for China says you need a permit obtained through a specialist travel agent, that you must join an organised tour, and that the Chinese authorities sometimes stop issuing permits without notice. Canada says unaccompanied private travel to Tibet is still not allowed and that an accredited agency gets the permit for you; Japan says foreigners must hold a Tibet entry permit. China's position, as its foreign ministry spokesperson put it in April 2025, is that these are management measures for foreigners entering Tibet, not a ban; the spokesperson said Tibet received 320,000 foreign visits in 2024. In practice, every route open to a first-time visitor goes through a licensed agency.

Extra permits beyond Lhasa. Some parts of China are not open to foreigners, and to go there you need an Aliens' Travel Permit from the public security bureau's exit-entry office. Entering a restricted area without approval can mean being ordered to leave and, in serious cases, 5 to 10 days' detention. Border areas need a border area permit; since 15 April 2026 it is electronic, and foreigners apply in person at a county-level or higher exit-entry office. Your agency tells you which of these your route needs and how each is applied for; for the border area permit, the official rule is that foreigners apply in person.

Visa-free entry does not solve the Tibet question. The 240-hour visa-free transit covers 24 provinces and regions, and Tibet is not one of them. See our 240-hour visa-free transit guide for how that scheme works. The 30-day visa-free entry for many countries runs until 31 December 2026 for most of them; official sources do not say whether it can be used for a Tibet trip, so ask your agency what entry documents it accepts and check whether the scheme has been extended. Our advice is to be open about your Tibet plans when you apply for a Chinese visa. Requirements differ by consulate: for example, China's consulate in Cebu (Philippines) says tour members travel with an authorised agency and independent travellers need a written notice from the Tibet tourism bureau.

Hong Kong and Macao residents do not need the Tibet confirmation letter and can buy flights to Tibet with their home-return permit or SAR passport. There is no published rule for Taiwan residents, so ask an agency.

What official sources do not tell you: how far ahead to apply, which documents to send, how long the permit is valid, and whether trains and flights check it at boarding. Agencies usually ask for a passport scan and your Chinese visa or entry details a few weeks ahead and send the permit before you travel. Confirm all of this with yours, and keep the permit (or the copy your agency sends) with your passport the whole time. The full picture, including the Aliens' Travel Permit processing time and fee, is in our Tibet travel permit guide.

What "you need a tour" means in practice

Because of the permit rules above, your trip is built around an agency. In practice that means the agency books your permit, sets the itinerary, and provides a licensed guide and a car with a driver for the sightseeing days. The UK and Canadian positions are summarised in the permit section above. No official rule says whether you may walk around Lhasa on your own outside the tour programme. Agencies differ on this, so ask yours directly before you book.

Group tour or private tour. This is the main choice you make:

• Small-group tour: cheapest per person, fixed dates and a fixed route, and you share the car and guide with strangers. Good for solo travellers on a budget who are happy with the standard Lhasa, lakes and Everest loop.
• Private tour: you, your guide and your driver. Costs more, but you can set the pace, which matters at altitude: if you feel unwell, a private tour can add a rest day without arguing with eight other people. Good for families, older travellers, and anyone who wants to linger in Lhasa.

Car hire with a driver is a large part of the cost. During the winter season (see the seasons section) the official cap for licensed tourist transport is half the peak-season price, with small 5–7 seat cars at no more than ¥3.5 per km. That cap is one reason winter tours are cheaper.

Choosing an agency. We do not recommend specific agencies. When you compare them, ask: Are you licensed to arrange Tibet permits for foreigners? Exactly which permits does my route need, and when will I receive them? Who books the Potala and Jokhang tickets? Can I change the order of days if I feel unwell? What happens to my money if permits are stopped or the Shigatse border permit is still suspended? An agency that answers these clearly, in writing, is a better sign than a low price.

Altitude and altitude sickness

Altitude is the biggest health risk in Tibet, and it affects fit young people too. These are the heights you will reach:

• Lhasa: about 3,658 m
• Gonggar airport: about 3,600 m
• Shigatse: about 3,850 m, according to Japan's foreign ministry
• Yamdrok Lake: 4,441 m
• Namtso: 4,718 m on average
• Tanggula Pass on the railway: 5,072 m
• Everest climbers' base camp: 5,200 m (closed to tourists; you stop at Rongbuk Monastery, about 2 km before it)

What altitude sickness feels like. A health guideline from Sichuan's health commission says altitude sickness mainly happens above 2,500 m, and mild symptoms often start within a few hours of arriving: chest tightness and shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, poor sleep, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. The same guideline lists the danger signs of fluid on the brain (high-altitude cerebral oedema): a severe headache, forceful vomiting, poor coordination and an unsteady walk, plus marked breathlessness while resting, a key sign of fluid on the lungs. If you see these, stop going higher and get to a doctor quickly. Fluid on the lungs (high-altitude pulmonary oedema) is most common above 4,000 m and in the first 1 to 4 days, which is why Namtso and Everest come late in a good itinerary.

Who should talk to a doctor first. An emergency doctor at Lhasa People's Hospital advises that people with severe high blood pressure, heart disease, respiratory disease, or obesity with breathing problems should not travel to Tibet. The Sichuan guideline adds severe COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension. If you have any of these, or you are pregnant, get your own doctor's opinion before you book anything. Your doctor can also tell you whether altitude medication is right for you.

What to do on day one. The same Lhasa doctor's advice for ordinary visitors: don't rush into sightseeing, climbing or hard exercise when you arrive, avoid long nights out and very hot showers, keep your activity down, rest well and adjust gradually. In practice: go to your hotel, eat a light meal, drink water, skip alcohol, and save the Potala's steep stairs for day two or three. Train passengers should follow the same day-one rule: the train crosses a 5,072 m pass, higher than Lhasa, so watch for symptoms on board too.

Help in Lhasa. Lhasa People's Hospital opened a dedicated altitude-sickness treatment centre in July 2025. It is staffed 24 hours a day and has oxygen therapy, monitoring equipment and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for severe cases. The centre's busiest months are January–February and July–August. Tell your guide straight away if you feel worse rather than better; a good guide will change the plan.

Check that your travel insurance covers high altitude and medical evacuation before you go, because many policies limit both. You can compare policies on SafetyWing, and read the altitude and evacuation clauses before you buy. Our travel insurance guide for China explains which clauses matter.

Getting to Tibet: train or plane

By train. The Qinghai–Tibet Railway (青藏铁路, Qīngzàng Tiělù) runs 1,956 km from Xining to Lhasa, and more than 960 km of it is above 4,000 m. The highest point, Tanggula Pass, is 5,072 m, with less than half the oxygen of sea level, so the carriages have piped-in oxygen through the air plus personal oxygen outlets between Golmud and Lhasa. Xining is the easiest place to board. On our sample travel day, 29 October 2026, the official 12306 booking site showed 6 direct trains from Xining to Lhasa taking 19 h 42 min to 22 h 30 min, with fares of ¥495 for a hard sleeper and ¥781 for a soft sleeper. Through trains from Beijing West take about 40 hours, and from Shanghai and Guangzhou Baiyun about 45 and 53 hours. Winter means fewer trains: the extra Y839 service ran only until 31 October, the Z323 from Chengdu is not on sale from November, and on a 4 November 2026 check 12306 showed only 4 trains from Xining that day. Chengdu and Chongqing West share a train that runs every other day and takes about 34 hours; the Chongqing departures were still on sale in early November, but the Chengdu ones showed "suspended", so check the current timetable before you plan around it. Agencies usually tell you to carry your Tibet permit on the train; confirm with yours whether you need the original or a copy. Boarding city, berths, booking and the oxygen on board are all covered in our Qinghai–Tibet Railway guide, and Xining itself is in our Xining and Qinghai Lake guide.

By plane. Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is in Gonggar County, Shannan, about 65 km from central Lhasa. The airport bus leaves from outside Door 5 of Terminal 3, departs when full, runs until the last arriving flight, takes about 70 minutes and costs ¥30; most tour packages include an airport pickup anyway. Direct flights come from many large Chinese cities; check current routes when you book. There is also an international route to Kathmandu: Himalaya Airlines is scheduled to fly it once a day, Monday to Saturday (as of September 2026). The airport does not let passengers stay overnight, and the terminal closes after the last flight, so do not plan to sleep there before an early departure. Agencies usually say the airline will ask for your Tibet permit at check-in; confirm the details with yours. You can search flights to Lhasa on Trip.com, but book only once your agency has confirmed your permit dates.

Which to choose. Take the train if you have the time and want the scenery: the ride across the plateau is a big part of the trip. It does not spare you the altitude, though: the train crosses a 5,072 m pass, so watch for symptoms on board too. Fly if you are short on days, and then take day one very easy, because you go straight from a low-lying city to about 3,600 m in a few hours. A common plan is to go in by train and fly out.

Potala Palace

The Potala Palace (布达拉宫, Bùdálāgōng) sits on Red Hill above central Lhasa. The main building is 115.703 m tall, the palace complex has 1,267 rooms, and it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994.

A visit takes some planning:

• Closed on Mondays. From 21 September 2026 the palace is closed every Monday except on public holidays; in winter (1 November to 30 April) it opens at 09:30 and last entry is 15:20, in summer 09:00 and 15:40.
• Booking only, no same-day tickets. Every visitor needs a real-name booking with face verification, and same-day tickets are not sold; the official website says to book 10 days ahead, while a 2026 regional tourism guide says the booking system opens up to 15 days ahead, so check the current window when you book.
• Official channels only. The palace's official ticket page says it has authorised no website or third-party platform to sell its tickets, including big Chinese travel apps; the official channels are its WeChat booking mini program and official account, plus a separate entry for travel agencies. Official sources do not say how a foreigner without WeChat books, so most foreign visitors ask their agency to book. Confirm this is included in your tour.
• Price. In the peak season (1 May to 31 October) a full-price ticket is ¥200, and in the off-season (1 November to 30 April) ¥100. In winter 2026–27 entry is free (see the seasons section), but you still have to book in advance, and you should arrive at the south gate security check an hour early.
• Dress and rules. No short skirts, shorts, revealing tops or open-toe slippers; inside the halls no photos or video, no hats or sunglasses, and don't step on the door sills. No drinks inside; big bags must be checked. The stairs are steep and the polished floors are slippery.

Schedule the Potala for day two or three, not your arrival day; the climb up the outside stairways is a real test at this altitude. Tickets, routes inside, the separate Snow City route, booking problems and how to combine it with the Jokhang are all in our Potala Palace guide.

Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street

The Jokhang (大昭寺, Dàzhāosì) is the most important temple for Tibetan pilgrims, and the old town around it is where you will probably spend your evenings. Unlike most temples in Lhasa, it needs a booking: reserve a day ahead through the Jokhang's WeChat mini program or official account using your ID, then pay and collect the ticket at the temple on the day. From 08:30 to 13:30 you enter in your booked time slot; afternoon visits are not tied to a time slot. The most recent official price list (from 2015) puts the ticket at ¥85, and the Jokhang is not part of the free winter entry, so check the current price with your agency. Inside the main hall, photography and touching murals or relics are not allowed, you must take off your hat, and dress rules are the same as at the Potala.

Barkhor Street (八廓街, Bākuò Jiē) is the ring of streets around the Jokhang, and it is also a pilgrim route, or kora (a walk around a holy site). Walk it clockwise, with the flow of pilgrims, many of them spinning prayer wheels. Morning and early evening are the busiest times for pilgrims. Ramoche Temple (小昭寺, Xiǎozhāo Sì), a short walk north, is smaller and quieter, and you buy tickets at the door without booking.

Other temples and the Tibet Museum in Lhasa

Apart from the Potala and the Jokhang, most temples in Lhasa do not need a booking: Sera, Drepung and Ramoche sell tickets at the gate. The quick takeaway from the table below: book the Jokhang and the Tibet Museum, walk up to the rest, and remember that temples still charge in winter.

• Sera Monastery (色拉寺, Sèlā Sì) is known for the monks' debate in a courtyard, with loud hand-clapping to make a point. Debates are usually in the afternoon on most days; confirm the day's schedule locally, as it changes for holidays and religious events. The last official price list (2015) gives ¥55; check the current price at the gate.
• Drepung Monastery (哲蚌寺, Zhébàng Sì), on the hillside west of the city, is large and spread out, with a lot of uphill walking. Save it for a day when you feel well. Its 2015 official price was also ¥55; check on the day.
• Norbulingka (罗布林卡, Luóbù Línkǎ), the former summer palace and gardens, is free during the winter season, open 09:30–18:00 with last entry at 17:00, and foreign tour groups show passports (or copies) at the ticket window. It is flat and easy, which makes it a good choice for a gentle day.
• Tibet Museum (西藏博物馆, Xīzàng Bówùguǎn) is free; book through its WeChat account up to 7 days ahead or register with your ID at the north gate ticket office, and note it is closed on Mondays except public holidays. From 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 it opens 10:00–17:30, with last entry at 16:30. It is a good indoor half-day for your first or second day.

If you only have four days, choose one big monastery (Sera for the debate, or Drepung for size), add the Tibet Museum or Norbulingka, and leave the rest. Lhasa is about pacing, not ticking off sights.

Namtso and Yamdrok Lake

Both lakes are higher than Lhasa and have no public transport for visitors, so you go with your agency's car and driver. Do them after you have spent at least three nights in Lhasa.

Namtso (纳木错, Nàmùcuò) is a large salt lake on the border of Lhasa and Nagqu, at an average 4,718 m; the visitor area on the Tashi Dor peninsula is about two hours' drive from Lhasa by the city government's estimate. The scenic area is open all year, with winter hours of 09:30–18:00; the lake edge freezes in winter and visitors are not allowed onto the ice. In winter 2026–27 entry is free, but you pay separately for the sightseeing bus inside the area. Namtso can be booked through its official mini program or through big Chinese travel apps, unlike the Potala. Most people do Namtso as a long day trip and sleep in Lhasa; sleeping at the lake is much harder on your body.

Yamdrok Lake (羊卓雍措, Yángzhuōyōngcuò), often just called Yamdrok, sits at 4,441 m. You see it from viewpoints on the road over the pass, and in winter 2026–27 all four official viewpoints (No. 1, 2, 2.5 and 3) are free. It works as a day trip from Lhasa, or as a stop on the drive to Shigatse; ask your agency for the drive time, as it depends on the route and the viewpoints you stop at.

Since Yamdrok is lower than Namtso, do it first. The table below puts both lakes and the Everest area side by side: altitude, winter entry and the rules that apply.

The takeaway: entry to all three is free this winter, but each has its own catch. At Namtso you pay for the shuttle bus, at Yamdrok the free winter entry covers the four official viewpoints, and Everest needs a border permit and can close at short notice after snow.

Shigatse and Everest

Getting west. Shigatse is Tibet's second city and the gateway to Everest. On the sample day, 12306 showed 3 bullet trains a day each way between Lhasa and Shigatse, taking about 2 h 04 min to 2 h 17 min, with second-class seats at ¥64. Many tours drive instead so they can stop at Yamdrok on the way. Your agency arranges the transport, and whether foreigners can ride these trains without a guide is not stated by any official source, so leave that to the agency.

Tashilhunpo Monastery (扎什伦布寺, Zhāshílúnbù Sì) in Shigatse is the main sight. The 2018 official prices were ¥100 in the peak season and ¥55 in the off-season, and as a temple it is not free in winter. Check the current price with your agency.

Everest: what "base camp" means for tourists. Since 5 December 2018, tourists may not go past Rongbuk Monastery into the core of the Everest nature reserve. The climbers' base camp at 5,200 m, about 2 km further on, is closed to tourists. Confusingly, the official eco-bus timetable calls the tourist area "珠峰大本营" (Everest Base Camp). When a tour sells "Everest Base Camp", it means this tourist area, with the view of the north face, not the climbers' camp.

Visitors ride an eco-bus from a transfer centre to the tourist base camp area. Under the summer 2026 timetable (from 1 May) the buses run about once an hour (times are in the table above), and you must show your ID and border permit to board. Shigatse officials remind travellers through the Everest and border areas to carry a border permit for the checkpoints; check with your agency what this means for your passport and permits. That is why the Shigatse border permit suspension (see the permit section) matters so much.

Weather closures. The Everest scenic area often stops selling tickets or closes for a while in autumn, winter and spring when snow and ice cover the road, for example from 28 October 2025 and on 9 May 2026. It closed again on 25 September 2026 and reopened the next day, with visitors kept to marked areas because of snow and ice. During the winter season the Everest reserve is free to enter, but opening arrangements follow the scenic area's own announcements. Build a spare day into any Everest trip.

Nyingchi, east of Lhasa, is lower and forested, and makes a good alternative while Everest permits are uncertain; it is still arranged through your agency, with whatever permits that route needs. On the sample day the C881 bullet train from Lhasa took 4 h 04 min, second class ¥129.

Seasons, winter rules and temporary closures

Winter 2026–27. From 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027, all A-grade scenic areas in Tibet are free to enter except temples. Free entry includes the Potala, Norbulingka, Namtso, the Yamdrok viewpoints and the Everest reserve, but the Jokhang and Tashilhunpo still charge their normal prices. Free does not mean walk-in: the Potala still needs a real-name booking and sells no same-day tickets. Lhamo Latso, a sacred lake in Shannan, has been closed since 19 October 2026 because of snow and ice, until further notice. Lhasa winters are dry and sunny, but nights are cold and the lakes and passes are much colder, so pack a proper down jacket.

Summer. Rain in Lhasa falls mostly from June to September. Expect cloud over Everest and the odd delay on mountain roads, and leave slack in your plan. The sun is strong all year: Lhasa's UV peaks from May to August, and even in winter it is about a third of summer levels, so bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.

Temporary closures to foreign visitors. There is no official calendar of these suspensions, but the UK government says permits are sometimes stopped without notice, and Japan's foreign ministry says security is tighter around February and March each year. If your dates fall in February or March, or around major anniversaries, confirm with your agency that permits are being issued before you book flights. For weather across the rest of the country, see China weather by region.

Temple etiquette

Cover shoulders and knees at temples, and no open-toe slippers. Take off your hat inside the halls, and don't take photos inside unless a sign says you may. Walk clockwise around temples, stupas, prayer wheels and the Barkhor. A few more things that locals appreciate: don't touch people's heads (including children's), don't step over or sit on prayer flags, and ask before you photograph monks or pilgrims, especially up close. Our guide to religious sites in China covers temple manners more broadly.

Where to stay in Lhasa

Most visitors base themselves in Lhasa for the whole trip and do the lakes as day trips. The old town around Barkhor Street puts the Jokhang and the evening kora within walking distance, and many small hotels there are in traditional-style buildings; rooms can be simpler and streets busier. Hotels in the newer parts of the city are larger and more modern, but you need a car or taxi to reach the old town. Some mid-range and upmarket hotels offer oxygen-enriched rooms, which many people find helps them sleep in the first nights; if you are worried about altitude, ask for one when you book.

Your agency usually books hotels as part of the package, but you can often choose your own and compare options on Booking.com. If you book yourself, tell your agency the hotel name, and make sure the hotel accepts foreign guests. Outside Lhasa, hotels in Shigatse are comfortable, but rooms near Namtso and in the Everest area are basic and cold, which is another reason most people sleep in Lhasa or Shigatse. Hotel registration works as everywhere in China; see booking hotels and registration rules.

Sample plans: 4, 6 and 8 days

These plans go up gradually: you sleep in Lhasa for several nights before going higher. Remember that the Potala and the Tibet Museum are closed on Mondays.

4 days: Lhasa

• Day 1: Arrive by train or plane. Check in, rest, light dinner. Short walk at most.
• Day 2: Tibet Museum or Norbulingka in the morning (both flat), then the Jokhang in the afternoon and a slow clockwise walk around Barkhor Street.
• Day 3: Potala Palace at your booked time. Rest in the afternoon.
• Day 4: Sera Monastery for the afternoon debate, or Drepung if you feel strong. Leave the next day.

6 days: Lhasa and the lakes

• Days 1–4: As above.
• Day 5: Day trip to Yamdrok Lake (4,441 m), back to Lhasa.
• Day 6: Day trip to Namtso (4,718 m), back to Lhasa. Leave the next day.

About 8 days: to Everest (only when the Shigatse border permit is being issued)

• Days 1–4: Lhasa as above.
• Day 5: Drive west via Yamdrok Lake to Shigatse. Night in Shigatse.
• Day 6: Tashilhunpo Monastery in the morning, then drive towards Tingri. Night near the Everest area, as arranged by your agency.
• Day 7: Eco-bus to the tourist base camp area at Rongbuk; then start back towards Shigatse, or overnight again near Tingri if your agency advises.
• Day 8: Shigatse to Lhasa by train (about two hours) or by car. Add a day if you also want Namtso.

If you are coming by train, add a night in Xining before boarding; our Xining and Qinghai Lake guide covers the city and Qinghai Lake, which sits at a moderate height and is a good warm-up. If you are combining Tibet with south-west China instead, our Yunnan circuit through Lijiang and Shangri-La is a common pairing.

What to eat

Try butter tea (酥油茶, sūyóuchá), salty tea churned with yak butter, and sweet milk tea (甜茶, tiánchá) in a busy teahouse in the old town. Tsampa (糌粑, zānba) is roasted barley flour, often mixed with butter tea into a dough. Tibetan noodles (藏面, zàngmiàn) in a light broth and yak meat (dried, stewed or in dumplings called momos) are everywhere. Lhasa also has plenty of Sichuan and Nepali restaurants. Go easy on heavy meals and alcohol in your first days at altitude.

Money and internet

In Lhasa, mobile payment works the same as in the rest of China, and Alipay accepts foreign cards from the major international card networks; set it up before you arrive with our guide to Alipay with foreign cards. Carry some cash for small shops, temple donations and the countryside, where phone signal can drop out on long drives (see do you need cash in China). A Chinese SIM or eSIM is the simplest way to stay connected; our SIM and eSIM guide compares the options.

Frequently asked questions

Emergencies

Call 110 for the police and 120 for an ambulance; both calls are free from any phone, but the ambulance service itself is charged. For altitude sickness in Lhasa, Lhasa People's Hospital has a 24-hour altitude-sickness centre, and the Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital is the region's largest hospital, with its own altitude medicine department. Your guide is your first call for anything else. Keep our emergency numbers in China page and your embassy's contact details on your phone.

Next steps: decide how many days you have and whether Everest is on the list, then contact two or three licensed agencies with your dates and the questions above. Once the permit is confirmed, book your train or flight, and plan a quiet first day in Lhasa.

Last updated: October 2026