Lhasa: the Potala, the Jokhang and the Barkhor
Three or four days at 3,650 m for the Potala Palace, the Jokhang and the Barkhor, with the Tibet Travel Permit arranged by a licensed agency.
The short answer
Lhasa needs three or four days, the first one or two for acclimatisation at 3,650 m (11,975 ft). The Potala Palace runs a capped, timed ticket booked up to ten days ahead; the Jokhang and Barkhor are a half-day; the Sera debates fill an afternoon. Foreign visitors cannot travel independently, so a permit and a guide are required.
- The Potala Palace caps daily numbers; book a timed, real-name slot 10 days ahead.
- Foreign visitors must hold a Tibet Travel Permit arranged by a licensed agency — you cannot apply yourself.
- Lhasa sits at 3,650 m (11,975 ft); rest a day before climbing the Potala's 1,080 steps.
- Fly to Lhasa Gonggar from Chengdu in about 2 hours 20, or take the Qinghai–Tibet railway from Xining.
A city at 3,650 metres
Lhasa sits in a high valley on the Tibetan plateau at 3,650 m (11,975 ft), and the altitude shapes every plan. The old town is small and mostly walkable, built around the Jokhang temple and the Barkhor. Days are bright and dry, with fierce sun and sharp swings in temperature: 23°C (73°F) at midday in summer but near freezing after dark.
The Potala Palace, and its ticket
The Potala Palace rises 13 storeys above the city, and reaching the halls means climbing about 1,080 steps and 110 vertical metres (360 ft) from the gate. Tickets sell only through the official WeChat system, in real-name slots released up to ten days ahead, payable within 15 minutes and not rebookable for seven days. In peak season (1 May to 31 October) the full Line 1 route is ¥200 and Line 2 ¥100, with daily numbers capped at 5,000 and 2,000; off season the full route drops to ¥100. Arrive an hour before your slot.
The Jokhang, the Barkhor and Sera
At the centre of the old town, the Jokhang temple (¥85) is the most sacred site in Tibet, and pilgrims circle it clockwise on the Barkhor, a 1 km (0.6-mile) stone circuit best walked at dawn with the locals. North of the city, the Sera monastery (¥50) is known for the afternoon debates, when monks argue scripture in the courtyard, usually from about 15:00 to 17:00, except Sundays.
Potala Palace
13 storeys and 1,080 steps. Peak ¥200 (Line 1) or ¥100 (Line 2); book 10 days ahead.
Jokhang temple
Tibet's holiest shrine, in the old town. ¥85; go early to watch the pilgrims.
Barkhor circuit
A 1 km (0.6-mile) clockwise pilgrimage kora. Free; walk it at dawn.
Sera monastery debates
Monk debates in the courtyard, about 15:00–17:00 except Sundays. ¥50.
Norbulingka
The former summer palace and its gardens, west of the centre. ¥60.
Practical
| Province | Tibet Autonomous Region |
|---|---|
| Airport code | LXA (Lhasa Gonggar International) |
| Direct flights from the UK | None — connect via Beijing, Chengdu or Chongqing, 15–18 hours in total |
| Rail connections | Xining 21h on the Qinghai–Tibet line · Shigatse 3h · Nyingchi 5h |
| Days needed | 3–4, including acclimatisation |
| Best months | April–June and September–October |
| Local food to try | Tibetan sweet tea, momo dumplings, yak butter tea |
| Altitude | 3,650 m (11,975 ft); Potala halls near 3,750 m (12,300 ft) |
| Potala Palace ticket | Peak ¥200 (Line 1) · off-peak ¥100; book 10 days ahead |
| Tibet Travel Permit | Required; arranged by a licensed agency 15–20 days ahead |
Getting there from the UK
Foreign visitors reach Lhasa either by air to Gonggar International (LXA), 60 km (37 miles) south, or on the Qinghai–Tibet railway from Xining, a 21-hour overnight run that crosses the Tanggula Pass at 5,072 m (16,640 ft). Flights connect through Chengdu (about 2 hours 20), Chongqing or Beijing.
How many days
Plan on three or four days. Day one is a rest day at altitude; day two takes in the Jokhang, the Barkhor and the Potala if the slot falls then; day three adds Sera or Drepung monastery. A fourth covers a rescheduled slot; Shigatse or Namtso needs another two.
Worth knowing if you're travelling from the UK
Two things are fixed before you fly. The Tibet Travel Permit, first: British passport holders no longer need a visa for the China mainland — the waiver covers 30 days until 31 December 2026 — but the permit is separate, cannot be applied for by an individual, and must be arranged by a licensed Tibet agency 15 to 20 days ahead. Second, we book the timed Potala slot and add a rest day first.