Tibet

Lhasa: the key sites and how to pace them

Potala Palace requires a ticketed entry with a fixed one-hour slot; the ornate interior covers thirteen storeys of chapels, tombs of the Dalai Lamas, and storerooms of thankas. Jokhang Temple at the heart of Barkhor is the most sacred Buddhist site in Tibet, drawing pilgrims who prostrate the full circuit around the temple on the flagstones. Allow two full days for Lhasa central sites: one for Potala and Norbulingka Summer Palace, one for Jokhang and Barkhor circuit.

Sera and Drepung monasteries sit on Lhasa's outskirts and see far fewer visitors than the city centre. Sera's debating courtyard holds monk debates most afternoons. Drepung was once the world's largest monastery complex. Both are worth a half-day each.

Altitude is the planning constraint. Lhasa sits at 3,650 metres. We build two rest days into the first 48 hours of every Lhasa itinerary and do not schedule strenuous activity before that point. Oxygen standby and acetazolamide guidance are part of our standard pre-departure briefing for all Tibet guests.

Kailash Mansarovar: the parikrama and logistics

Mount Kailash stands at 6,638 metres in western Tibet. The 52-kilometre parikrama circuit around the sacred mountain takes most pilgrims three days, with a high pass crossing Dolma La at 5,636 metres on the second day. Pilgrims complete the kora in the belief that one circuit clears a lifetime's karma; 108 circuits are said to bring liberation. The route is done on foot by most Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, though horses and yaks are available for partial sections near the pass.

Mansarovar Lake at 4,590 metres lies south of Kailash. A ritual bath in the lake is considered essential by pilgrims from India and Nepal, regardless of water temperature, which stays near freezing even in summer. Our Kailash programmes build one rest day at Mansarovar before the kora begins. Support vehicles carry supplies along the road sections; packhorses manage the foot sections above the vehicle track.

Departure windows for Kailash are May through mid-June and September. July and August bring Tibetan monsoon rain, making the Dolma La pass trail unstable. We limit group sizes to twelve on Kailash programmes and assign a Tibetan ground guide as well as our Nepali specialist.

Permits and entry from Nepal

Tibet travel requires a Chinese visa, Tibet Travel Permit, and often an Alien Travel Permit for restricted areas outside Lhasa including the Kailash region. We compile documents in Kathmandu. Lead time for permit processing is four to six weeks for most nationalities. Citizens of some countries face longer times or periodic restrictions; tell us your passport nationality and intended dates early in the planning process.

Overland entry via Kerung border (Rasuwagadhi on the Nepal side) is open on selected dates when the road is stable. The journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa overland takes two to three days with altitude gain built in, which aids acclimatisation. Flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa are faster but require the same permit process and risk altitude sickness on arrival without rest.

The pilgrimage season for Mount Kailash Mansarovar peaks in May and September. Cultural Lhasa tours run from April through October when passes are reliably open.

Routes we coordinate from Kathmandu

Short Lhasa cultural tours of six to eight nights suit travellers who want Potala and the monasteries without the full Kailash kora. Our Kailash Mansarovar programmes are pilgrimage-first: permit support, support vehicles, camp or lodge logistics depending on availability, and guides who understand parikrama pacing and the ritual significance of each stopping point.

Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet combinations are available for travellers planning a multi-country Himalayan month from one Kathmandu coordinator. We book permits, handle cross-border logistics, and ensure each leg connects on schedule.

Last updated June 2026.