Tibet · Lhasa · Tour
Lhasa Cultural Tour
Five days in the old city, Ganden and Drak Yerpa
- Duration
- 5 days
- Group size
- 4–12
- Difficulty
- Easy · 1/5
- Highest point
- 4,300 m
Is this your kind of journey?
The published itinerary covers 5 of the 5 days in detail, typically 2.5–3 hours of walking a day, with old-town hotel, twin-share accommodation. Read the day-by-day route and preparation information below to judge whether this journey suits you.
Explore fitness and preparation ↗The journey
More than a destination.
A journey through Lhasa.
The Lhasa cultural tour is the short Tibet trip: four nights in the old town within walking distance of the Barkhor, with day trips to Ganden monastery and the cliffside caves of Drak Yerpa. It suits travellers with a week and no appetite for long drives.
Permits and the Lhasa airport transfer are included. Add the Everest extension at booking to turn it into the eight-day overland tour.
- ✓Tibet Travel Permit
- ✓Lhasa airport or station transfers
- ✓Four nights hotel in the old town, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓Private vehicle for day trips
- See all inclusions and exclusions ↗
Highlights
- •Potala Palace timed entry
- •Jokhang temple and the Barkhor at dusk
- •Monks' debate at Sera monastery
- •Ganden monastery kora with valley views
- •Drak Yerpa meditation caves
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive Lhasa
Transfer from the airport, check in and rest. Short evening walk around the Barkhor if you feel well.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Old-town hotel, twin-share.
Day 2Potala and Jokhang
Timed morning entry to the Potala, afternoon at the Jokhang and the Barkhor kora with the pilgrims.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Old-town hotel, twin-share.
Day 3Drepung and Sera
Drepung in the morning, the 3 pm monks' debate at Sera in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Old-town hotel, twin-share.
Day 4Ganden and Drak Yerpa
Drive an hour to Ganden for the hilltop kora, then to the meditation caves at Drak Yerpa on the way back.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Old-town hotel, twin-share.
Day 5Depart Lhasa
Transfer to the airport or station.
Meals: Breakfast.
Route map
Route map is sent with the itinerary PDF.
Dates & prices
| Dates | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 2027 – 10 Apr 2027 | Guaranteed | $890 | Book |
| 9 Jun 2027 – 13 Jun 2027 | 12 seats | $890 | Book |
| 12 Sept 2027 – 16 Sept 2027 | 12 seats | $890 | Book |
| 15 Oct 2027 – 19 Oct 2027 | 12 seats | $890 | Book |
Prices per person, twin-share. Single room supplement $190. 25% deposit at booking; balance due 60 days before departure.
What's included
- ✓Tibet Travel Permit
- ✓Lhasa airport or station transfers
- ✓Four nights hotel in the old town, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓Private vehicle for day trips
- ✓Licensed Tibetan guide
- ✓All entrance fees
Not included
- –Flights to and from Lhasa
- –Chinese visa
- –Lunches and dinners
- –Travel insurance
- –Tips
- –Personal expenses
Travel information
Best time to visit
April to October; May and September are ideal. Lhasa is closed to foreign visitors for most of February and March.
Difficulty & fitness
Grade 1. Walking around sites at 3,650 m, with the Ganden kora (one hour, 4,300 m) optional. Rest well on the first afternoon.
Accessibility & dietary needs
Vegetarian food is easy in Lhasa. Hotel has a lift. The Potala has 300 steps with no alternative; travellers with limited mobility can skip it and visit the museum instead.
Health & safety
Arrive by air and take the first day slowly; most people feel the altitude for 24 hours. The guide carries oxygen and knows the hospitals. Discuss altitude medication with your doctor.
Local etiquette
Clockwise around monasteries and the Barkhor. No photography inside chapels without permission. Political topics stay within the group.
Travel documents & permits
Chinese visa from your home country, then passport and visa scans to us 30 days before departure for the Tibet Travel Permit, which you must carry to board the flight.
Packing list
Everything we recommend bringing for this trip.
- Warm layers for mornings
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- SPF 50 and lip balm
- Water bottle
- Passport and permit copies
- Daypack
Questions about this trip
Is five days enough for the Lhasa Cultural Tour?
Yes for Lhasa itself: the four main monasteries, the Potala and two day trips fit comfortably. To see Everest or the lakes, book the eight-day Lhasa to Everest tour instead.
How do I get to Lhasa for the cultural tour?
Fly from Kathmandu, Chengdu, Xi'an or Beijing, or take the train from Xining. We meet every arrival; tell us your flight or train at booking.
Do I need a permit for the Lhasa Cultural Tour?
Yes. Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit even for Lhasa alone. We arrange it from your passport and Chinese visa scans, sent 30 days before departure.
Will I feel the altitude on the Lhasa tour?
Probably for the first day: Lhasa is 3,650 m. Headache and poor sleep are normal for 24 hours. Drink water, skip alcohol and the first afternoon is free for rest.
Can I add Everest to the five-day Lhasa tour?
Yes. Choose the eight-day Lhasa to Everest North Base Camp departure that starts on the same date and the first five days are identical.
What is the hotel on the Lhasa cultural tour?
A Tibetan-style hotel in the old town, ten minutes on foot from the Jokhang, with private bathrooms, heating and a lift. We name the property in your booking confirmation.
Reviews
★★★★★
Ideal short Tibet trip
Four nights in the same hotel, no long drives, and Sera's debates were the surprise highlight. Our guide had answers for everything.
★★★★★
Ganden was the standout
Lhasa is busy but Ganden's kora had almost nobody on it. Good pacing for the altitude.
You might also like
Tibet · 8 days · Gentle
Lhasa to Everest North Base Camp
Three days in Lhasa, then overland via Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse and Shigatse to Rongbuk monastery and the north side of Everest at 5,200 m.
Tibet · 14 days · Demanding
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Fourteen days from Kathmandu overland through Gyirong to Lake Mansarovar and the three-day kora around Mount Kailash over the Drolma La (5,630 m).
Nepal · 14 days · Demanding
Everest Base Camp Group Trek
The classic 14-day Everest Base Camp trek in a group of no more than 12, with rest days at Namche and Dingboche and a dawn climb of Kala Patthar.