CN · Tibet · 29.65°N 91.12°E

lhasa

The Potala Palace, monks and prayer flags at about 3,600 metres. Take it slow.

Best time
April to October, with May to June and September to October usually the clearest, while July and August bring some rain. Winters are cold but sunny, and permits can be hard to get around February and March.
How long
4–5 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Chengdu, about 4.5 hours, then on to Lhasa, about 2 hours. The airport is about an hour from the city. Some travellers take the train from Xining instead, a long but scenic ride of around 20 hours.
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CN · Tibetlhasa29.65°N 91.12°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,The Potala Palace, monks and prayer flags at about 3,600 metres. Take it slow.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLhasaCN, Tibet
KLlhasa
≈ 3,151 km from KL, as the crow flies
Lhasa - Potála

Photo: Pavel Špindler · CC BY 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The spiritual heart of Tibet sits at about 3,650 metres on the Tibetan Plateau. Pilgrims spin prayer wheels around the Jokhang Temple, monks debate in monastery courtyards, and the Potala Palace, once home of the Dalai Lamas, rises over the city.

Makan

  1. MomosTibetan dumplings filled with yak meat or vegetables.Map ↗
  2. ThukpaA noodle soup that's warming after a day at altitude.Map ↗
  3. Sweet teaMilky sweet tea poured from flasks in Lhasa's busy teahouses.Map ↗
  4. Butter tea and tsampaSalty yak butter tea and roasted barley flour, the Tibetan staples.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Potala PalaceThe former palace of the Dalai Lamas, climbing up a hill above the city. Entry is by timed ticket and daily numbers are limited.Map ↗
  2. Jokhang Temple and the BarkhorTibet's holiest temple, circled by pilgrims walking the Barkhor kora around it.Map ↗
  3. Sera MonasteryMonks debate in the courtyard most afternoons, with loud claps and dramatic gestures.Map ↗
  4. NorbulingkaThe Dalai Lamas' former summer palace, set in large gardens.Map ↗
  5. Yamdrok LakeA turquoise lake over a high pass, a day trip of a few hours' drive each way.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Foreign visitors, Malaysians included, need a Tibet Travel Permit on top of China entry, arranged through a licensed travel agency. You'll travel with a guide, and the rules can change at short notice.
  • Altitude sickness is common. Rest on your first day, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and talk to a doctor about medication before you go.
  • Walk clockwise around temples, stupas and the Barkhor, dress modestly, and don't take photos inside chapels unless it's allowed.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.