Sacred circuit
Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Circuit
Lhasa’s spiritual centre, and the pilgrim round that has walked around it for 1,300 years.
See this place →UNESCO-listed · Lhasa
Potala Palace
The winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, stacked against the Marpori hill and visible from most of Lhasa.
CountryTibet
RegionLhasa
Height3,700 m
Best timeMay–Oct
Typical visit2–3 hours
What it is
Thirteen storeys of white and red palace above Lhasa: the tomb stupas of the Dalai Lamas, the Dharma Cave, halls of mural and gilt, and the roof of the White Palace over the whole city.
How we visit it
Booked in a timed slot, we climb the north stairway, spend the required hour inside, then take the drive round to Chakpori Hill for the postcard angle. The visit is scheduled in the afternoon — first day is usually too fresh for the altitude on foot.
Before you go
Good to know
- Visits are limited in length and by ticketed slot; we book them with your Lhasa permit
- Stairs and thin air — go slowly, carry water
- Camera and bags cannot go inside; there is a locker at the gate
Keep exploring
Other places in Tibet
Sacred lakeLake Namtso
The sky lake — turquoise water under the Nyenchen Tanglha range, and nothing else in sight.
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5,200 m baseMount Everest from Rongbuk
The north side of Everest — monastery, flag-squares and the Rongbuk glacier with the peak behind them.
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Monastery cityShigatse & Tashilhunpo
The Tsang capital, and the giant seated Buddha of Tashilhunpo behind the town walls.
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PilgrimageMount Kailash & Lake Manasarovar
Sacred to four religions and to no tourism at all: the mountain, the lake, and the three-day walk between them.
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