TRAVEL TIPS

Best five places to visit in Tibet

These are, in our opinion, Tibet's five best destinations for travelers visiting for the first time.

Yonten

August 19, 2025

Potala Palace in Lhasa:

Situated at 3,700m, the Potala Palace is the highest palace in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the former residence of the Dalai Lama.

Historical Facts

The Potala Palace is almost 400 years old and was built on top of another ancient palace built by the king Songtsan Gampo more than 1400 years ago.
The Potala Palace contains over 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues.

Most Tibet tours include a visit to the Potala Palace, and we recommend including it on a custom tour as well, since it's located in Lhasa, where you'll most likely arrive and leave.

The Jokhang Temple:

The Jokhang Temple is a deeply sacred Buddhist temple located in the heart of Lhasa. This temple is known for its stunning architecture and beautiful artwork. It is still a living spiritual center of Tibet with daily spiritual practices and religious rituals performed by monks and pilgrims.

Numerous Tibetan Buddhists make pilgrimages to the Jokhang Temple, traveling great distances and performing prostrations all along the way.

Historical significance:

Built in the 7th century, it's one of Tibet's oldest and most sacred Buddhist temples. It was founded during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo.

The temple houses one of the most holy objects in Tibetan Buddhism. : the Jowo Rinpoche, a revered statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that's believed to have been blessed by the Buddha himself.

Holy Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash is an extremely sacred mountain in Tibet that is considered to be the spiritual center of the universe in four major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Bön.

You can join a multi-day trek that circles the entire mountain for 52km.

Interestings facts about Mount Kailash:

Completing the 52 km Kora (circuit) is said to erase a lifetime of sins, Some pilgrims crawl the entire route, taking weeks and many report visions, healing, or spiritual awakenings.
Despite its relatively modest height (6,638 m), no one has ever climbed Mount Kailash : its Climbing is forbidden due to its religious significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon.
When viewed from the south, the mountain’s cleft and ridges form a giant natural swastika (an ancient sacred symbol).

Namtso Lake

The Namtso Lake is a stunning high-altitude lake located in the Tibetan plateau. It is often called Heavenly Lake or sky lake; the color of the lake often makes it difficult to distinguish it from the sky.

This lake of incredible natural beauty offers opportunity for hiking and camping, it is home to rare animals like wild yaks and Tibetan antelopes.

Interesting facts about lake Namtso:

Tibetan Buddhists believe Namtso is the "Gateway to Shambhala" (a hidden paradise).

In winter, the lake freezes with ice up to 2 meters thick and when the wind blows, the ice shifts subtly, producing eerie, musical vibrations.
The Forbidden Cave of Padmasambhava, A hidden cave near the lake is said to be where Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) meditated in the 8th century and it is said that only those with a pure heart can find it
The Island of Tashi Dor : A narrow peninsula juts into the lake, ending at Tashi Dor (Auspicious Rock), covered in prayer flags, Locals say ghosts and spirits roam here at night, and travelers report hearing chanting voices when no one is around.

Mount Everest Base Camp

Visiting EBC in Tibet is the closest way to see Everest without climbing it.

Located next to Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world, this base camp offers an unforgettable experience.
Unlike the Nepal side (which also has an EBC), where the Everest view is partially blocked by Mount Lhotse, Tibet's side features unobstructed, majestic views of the world's highest peak.

There are two Everest Base Camps:

South Base Camp (Nepal, 5,364m/17,598ft) - More popular, trekker-friendly.
North Base Camp (Tibet, 5,150m/16,900ft) - More remote, accessed via rugged 4x4 routes.

The camps are only 20km apart horizontally, but the climb between them (via the summit) is one of the the world’s hardest trek.

8 days from USD 939