Highlights

What you will see as the highlights of your trip to Tibet largely depends on your interests. For hikers, Tibet offers many very beautiful hiking routes on the highest mountains in the world. Other highlights are the very rich religious life that you encounter everywhere. Other visitors will be fascinated by the wilderness, naturalness and vastness of the country.

It can also be interesting to move away from the security of the city. In Tibet, there are countless small monasteries that can be discovered and are waiting to be visited. The monks are often very happy to show their monastery to foreign visitors and to have a cup of tea with them.

Suggestions for itineraries

Lhasa is the main attraction for every Tibet traveler. Considered as one of the most enigmatic cities on earth,  Lhasa is the spiritual heart and center of Tibetans People. There are enough things to see and explore inside and outside of the city, which takes at least a week, maybe even 10 days to get an intense impression. The Sera and Deprung monasteries are nearby. And the Ganden and Tsurphu monasteries are visited with only a day.

There are a variety of excursion options with Lhasa as a starting point. In a 2 to 3 day trip, you will reach the truly amazing Nam Tso Lake. Another 3-day tour takes you to the eastern Drigung monastery and the Terdrum nunnery.

Some travelers visit the Yarlung Gorge to the east from Lhasa. There is a 6-day trip to visit Samye Monastery and Yumbulagang Palace in Tsetang and the surrounding areas. A two-day trip might be enough for Samye Monastery, but it is advisable to plan several overnight here. The road between Lhasa and Kathmandu is the main route for every Tibetan traveler. This road essentially follows the Friendship Highway from Lhasa to Kathmandu and allows detours to a large number of highlights in the Shigatse district. The Yamdrok Tso, the Palkhor Monastery with Kumbum Pagoda near Gyantse and the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatses are definitely part of it. It is also very interesting to take a look outside of life in Lhasa in Gyantse and Shigatse. Sakya, a small monastery town and about 25 km away from the Friendship Highway, is also a very popular place to visit.

One of the most popular trekking destinations in Tibet is the Everest region near the border. Many people drive to the base camp and leave early in the morning the next day. It is advisable to enjoy the extraordinary and interesting views for a day.

In western Tibet, there is the most sacred mountain in the world - Kailash. There are countless lakes and wild animals in the no man's land of northern Tibet, Qiangtang, such as Tibetan antelope (Chiru), kiang and birds like black-necked crane.