Tibet Starts Here
Tibet, as you’ll know if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, is a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. I did have plans to go, in fact, back in September of 2016. Like Hillary Clinton’s plans to win the presidency that same autumn, however, they ended up falling through.
The bad news? Hillary never became president—and Trump just won for a second time. The good news? I did finally make it to Tibet, which far surpassed the extremely high expectations I’ve set for it over the past decade.
I’ll tell you up front that my Tibet itinerary will have limited utility, given that you can’t travel independently to Tibet as of 2025. At a minimum, however, it will assist you in selecting the right guided tour.
Practical Matters
When to visit Tibet
Like most of the other places in the Himalaya region, Tibet is best in the late autumn and late spring. In October and November, as autumn colors reach their peak, Tibet enjoys mild, clear days and nights that while crisp, are bearable. In the spring, while there is more potential for rain, the bloom of various Himalayan flowers makes the scenery unmistakably beautiful.
Where to stay in Tibet
Since you have to book an organized tour in order to enter Tibet (more on that later), you don’t have much of a choice when it comes to individual hotels. However, I will tell you that larger cities like Lhasa and Shigatse tend to offer more comfortable accommodation; expect more there than you would at Everest Base Camp or in Damxung, near Namtso Lake.
How to get around in Tibet
You’ll be on an organized tour the entire time you’re in Tibet, so you won’t have to take care of transportation logistics, per se. On the other hand, you can expect to use a variety of modes of transport. Mostly private car and van, but occasionally trains (i.e. between Lhasa and Shigatse) and, within certain cities, even on foot to the extent that it is possible.
Money, costs and communication
Tibet uses the Chinese yuan, although in this day and age the only “currency” you’re going to need is QR-based apps like Alipay and WeChat. Just as Tibet tours themselves tend to be relatively cheap, usually around or even less than 100 USD per day, costs of incidentals like meals and souvenirs tend to be reasonable. You shouldn’t expect to need spending money excess of 50 USD per person, per day.
In terms of literal communication, your guide will handle almost all interactions with local people with you, and will be fluent in both Tibetan and Mandarin in addition to English. As far as telecommunications are concerned, I was pleasantly surprised that my Google Fi mobile service worked in Tibet and did not require a VPN to access non-Chinese websites. Wi-Fi was available everywhere, but did require a VPN.
Tibet visas, permits and tours
As I explain in this post, you will need to obtain a Tibet travel permit in order to enter Tibet. Doing so requires two other things. First, a valid Chinese visa. Secondly (and most importantly) the purchase of an organized tour. Once you book a tour with a local agency and show them proof of your Chinese visa, they will apply for the permit on your behalf.
While I wish that independent travel in Tibet was possible, the good news is that tours are not too expensive. I personally used Tibet Vista, and can definitely recommend them, though I do encourage you to shop around. If you’re curious, I booked the “10 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake Tour.”
Where to Go in Tibet
Lhasa
The capital of Tibet and the location of its main airport, Lhasa is a place you have to visit. But don’t get it twisted: This city is far more than just a compulsory stopover. From legendary places like Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, to lesser-known (among foreigners) monasteries like Drepung and Sera, to charming Old Lhasa, Lhasa can (and probably will) occupy at least a few days of your Tibet itinerary.
Yamdrok Lake
Leaving Lhasa, the first stop on your Tibet trip will probably be Yamdrok Lake, a sacred body of water with a beautiful blue color, mountain peaks rising behind it and prayer flags rustling in the wind all around it. While this is not the same as Namtso, the other (and, in my opinion, better) lake I’ll mention later in this post, it’s still very much worth visiting.
Shigatse
Yamdrok is a stopover, usually en route to Shigatse, Tibet’s second city. This, in turn, is often simply a waypoint where you sleep before heading in the direction of Chomolungma, which is the Tibetan word for the world’s highest peak. Among other attractions, the city is home to Tashi Lunpo Monastery, which dates back to the 15th century when it was founded by the first Dalai Lamai.
Everest Base Camp
I’ll be honest: Given that I’d already seen the mountain from the Nepal side, Everest Base Camp was not as exciting an entry in my Tibet travel blog as it was for other travelers. Compounding this was the fact that we happened to sleep beneath the mountain on the only cloudy night (and morning) of our trip. Still, the journey was epic—and, as you’ll see above, the mountain did briefly peak through.
Namtso Lake
The one image that inspired me to visit Tibet, more than any other, was of a white yak standing on the shores of Namtso Lake. So naturally, when it came time to select a Tibet tour, I had literally choice but to select one that included it. Stops in the city of Damxung and at Chimelong Nunnery (where I got to watch a “sky burial”) were nice bonuses to the main event.
How Many Days Are Enough for Tibet?
As I explained earlier in this post, I booked a 10-day Tibet tour, which I found provided a nice balance. First, 10 days is the perfect amount of time to explore a place the size of Tibet. It’s long enough that you don’t have to rush around or skip things, but not so long that you feel fed-up and want to go home. There was also a diversity of destinations and experiences, spanning nature, culture, spirituality and more.
Another important consideration, when deciding how many days in Tibet you should spend, is what the rest of your Asia trip looks like. When I went, my entire trip lasted six weeks, including a week in mainland China, a week in Bhutan and three weeks in Thailand. Spending any longer than 10 days in Tibet might’ve resulted in my travels becoming unbalanced.
Other FAQ About Visiting Tibet
Can US citizens go to Tibet?
US citizens can go to Tibet, provided that they have the proper documentation. Namely, a valid China visa and a Tibet travel permit, for which a confirmed organized tour is required. Getting documentation for a Tibet trip can be tedious, but your trip will generally be smooth sailing past that point.
Why is it so expensive to go to Tibet?
Tibet is actually not a very expensive destination, with tours often priced at around 100 USD per person, per day and incidentals on the ground pretty cheap as well. What can be expensive about Tibet, however, is getting there, particularly if you’re coming from North America or Europe.
Why is it so hard to breathe in Tibet?
The Tibetan Plateau has an average altitude of 4,500m or almost 14,800 feet, which means that its air has a much lower oxygen content than air in most cities around the world. For this reason, most hotels are equipped with oxygen devices; it’s not uncommon to see tourists using portable oxygen tanks during tours, especially at Everest Base Camp. There are even vending machines selling oxygen canisters!
The Bottom Line
I hope you’ve found my Tibet itinerary inspiring. As I’ve explained throughout this post, its utility is somewhat limited, given that you can’t travel independently in Tibet. However, given that my itinerary outlines all of Tibet’s must-visit destinations and experiences, it should help you narrow down the very wide range of Tibet tour offerings pretty significantly. Moreover, being able to visualize a journey through Tibet will make it more real to you, which is great even if you’ve already booked your trip and are just waiting for it to begin. Need help planning your trip to Asia? Consider hiring me as your Travel Coach!
