Top Things To Do in Tibet

Tibet, the roof of the world, is every traveler’s dream. Covering an area of 1.22 million square kilometers, Tibet is home to many mysterious places and exotic cultures, from sacred Buddhist monastery, devout Tibetan monks, awesome Mount Everest, to grand festivals and activities, etc.

Top Things to Do in Lhasa

Lhasa is usually the first stop of Tibet travel. Naturally, there are not a few attractive things to do in Lhasa. 

Explore Potala Palace 

The Potala Palace is a symbol of Tibet. The magnificent white and red building complex, lined with green mountains and blue sky, is an iconic image of the Roof of the World. It is a huge treasure trove of Tibetan history, religion, culture and art. Potala Palace is well-known for its precious sculptures, Buddhist statues, murals, antiques and religious jewelry. Potala Palace is suitable to visit all the year round, so during the peak season of Tibet from April to October, especially from June to September, tourists should queue to visit because of the limit of travelers, to protect the building complex. 

See the pilgrims at Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple, together with the Potala Palace is the must see in Lhasa. Jokhang Temple, located in the center of the city, is the true spiritual heart of Lhasa. Jokhang temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet, with an otherworldly mix of butter lamps, wafting incense and prostrating pilgrims.

Follow the Circumanbulation at Barkhor Street

Barkhor Street is the famous circumanbulation and commercial center in Lhasa, which has preserved the ancient city full of traditional outlook and lifestyle. The street was once a single pilgrimage road around Jokhang Temple. The Tibetans called it “Holy Road”. Today, there are many featured shops, bars and restaurants on the street, attracting a lot of tourists. 

Watch a Scripture debating at Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery is one of the three major monasteries in Lhasa, and the scripture debating at Sera Monastery is an indispensable Tibetan cultural landscape. Every afternoon, monks in traditional red robes gather in the courtyard of the monastery. During the debate, they may jump up or make many other interesting gestures. The debaters defend themselves in Tibetan language. It is noted that the scripture debating will not take place on Sundays.

Experience Tibetan New Year (Losar)

Tibet New Year is the traditional festival of Tibetan People, however, the calculation method of the Tibetan New Year is different from the lunar Chinese New Year. The Tibetan New Year may also come in January, like the 2019 Tibet New Year was around January 5, 2019. However, the time of the Tibetan New Year is different every year, basically in January or February of the Gregorian calendar. If you want to experience the Tibetan New Year, you can know the time of Tibetan New Year in advance and make preparations.

Participate in Shoton Festival

Shoton festival is one of the biggest Tibetan festivals of the year. Shoton festival falls on the last day of the 6th month of the Tibetan calendar and lasts at least 5 days. Shoton festival in 2019 takes place on August 30 to September 5. During the shoton festival, traditional buddhist exhibitions, Tibetan opera performances, Tibet thangka expo and other activities are held in Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and other designated places.

Visit Namtso Lake

Namtso Lake is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the large lake at the highest altitude in the world. Namtso lake nourishes lush water grass, is a natural pasture which can graze. In early summer, flocks of wild ducks come to roost and breed. Wild yaks and many other wild animals are also often seen here. Note that Namtso lake is frozen in winter and not available to visit until May every year, because the road is closed by snow. 

Top Things to Do in Shigatse

The highlights of Shigatse tour are usually Tashilhunpo Monastery and Everest Base Camp. 

Appreciate the World’s Highest Peaks

Among the mountains in the Tibet, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, and the most famous and most popular mountain in the world. Every year, a lot of people head to Everest Base Camp to enjoy the beatiful view of Mount Everest. Tourist can go to Everest Base Camp all the year round, but you are suggested to avoid the rainy season from June to September, because you may not see the full picture of mount Everest. In winter, due to fewer visitors and low temperature, tent hotels at Everest Base Camp are evacuated. In this case, you can stay at Rongbuk Monastery for overnight. In addition, as the pilgrimage site for mountaineering enthusiasts from all around the world, many professional or non-professional mountaineers succeeded in climbing to the top of Mount Everest up to now. Although climbing such a high peak will face many difficulties and challenges, even so, thousands of climbers go to Mount Everest every year to conquer the world’s highest peak.

Visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the must-see attractions on the way to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa via Shigatse. It is the largest monastery of Gelu sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Tsang area and the major activity place for Panchen Lama. Besides, Tashilhunpo Festival, also known as Buddha Exhibition Festival in Tashilhunpo Monastery enjoys high popularity among local Tibetans and tourists. The festival lasts for 3 days in the middle of the 5th lunar Tibetan month, probably in July of Gregorian calendar. 

Top Things to Do in Shannan

The most popular attractions in Shannan are Samye Monastery and Yamdrok Lake. 

Visit Samye Monastery

Samye Monastery was the first monastery built in Tibet, and the birthplace of Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. There are numerous frescos, sculptures, and prayer wheels worth a visit in the monastery. When visiting Samye Monastery, you will also pay a visit to Yongbulagang Palace, the first palace in Tibet.

Enjoy the Beauty of Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok, meaning “Green Jade Lake”, “Swan Lake” in Tibetan, is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, located in the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, Ngarzhag County of Shannan City. Usually, when travelling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp via Shigatse, you will pass through Yamdrok Lake and stay there for a while. Unlike Namtso Lake, Yamdrok Lake can be visited all the year round. 

Top Things to Do in Nyingchi

Every March and April, weather in Nyingchi begins to get warmer, with spring blossoms. Nyingchi is a major tourist destination in Tibet in March and April. From the end of March to the beginning of April, peach blossoms in Nyingchi are in full bloom. The peach blossom period is very short, only half a month or so, so from the middle and late April, the peach blossoms gradually fade and flourish, Nyingchi becomes luxuriantly green. Going along the 318 national highway, the scenery on both sides is charming. No matter the snow mountain in the distance, or the peach blossom in the vicinity, let a person linger on to forget to return. On Ranwu- Bomi- Bayi Town section of the most beautiful view avenue, April is the best season. If you travel to Tibet at this time, you must not miss the national highway 318 within Nyingchi in April.

Nyingchi Peach Blossoms Festival

March is also the off-season for tourism in Tibet, as it is winter in other areas except Nyingchi, which enters spring. However, the number of tourists will start to increase at the end of March every year, mainly because of the peach blossom festival in Nyingchi. The peach blossom season in Nyingchi is from March 25 to April 15 every year. Nyingchi is already in spring because of its low altitude, and peach blossoms are blooming under the snowy mountains. 

Top Things to Do in Ngari

Ngari is famous for the sacred mountain and holy lake inside it. They are Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarova. 

Trek Around Mount Kailash

As one of the famous mountains in China, Mount Kailash is located in the northern part of Burang County, southwest of Tibet Autonomous region. It means “holy mountain” in Tibetan. At the altitude of more than 6000 meters above sea level, there are 28 modern glaciers, mainly corrie glaciers and hanging glaciers. You can enjoy the magnificent scenery of Mount Kailash in the clear days. In addition, Mount Kailash is considered to be sacred in four religions: Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Every year thousands of religious people make pilgrimages devoutly around it. You may also join our Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Tours to trek around Mount Kailash. 

Stroll along the Stunning Manasarovar Lake

Manasarovar Lake is 35 kilometers east of Burang County, Ngari, Tibet, south of Mount Kailash. The natural scenery around the lake is very beautiful. Since ancient times, Buddhist believers have regarded it as the “world center” of the holy land, it is the second largest natural freshwater lake in China, the most transparent freshwater lake in China, and one of the three “holy lakes” in Tibet. It is also the birthplace of the four major rivers in Asia.

Top Things to Do in Ngaqu

When you travel to Nagqu, the thing you want to do must be passing through the Nagqu grassland. You will also have the chance to take part in the famous Nagqu Horse Racing Festival during the trip. 

Pass Through the Nagqu Grassland

There are many lakes on Nagqu Grassland, which is the best place to enjoy plateau lakes. Nagqu plateau, located in Nagqu with an average altitude of 4500 meters and is a paradise for herdsmen. In summer, Nagqu grassland is rich in water and grass, has flocks of cattle and sheep, and the lakes are scattered like gems in every corner of the grassland.

Take Part in Nagqu Horse Racing Festival

In August, there is a Horse Racing Festival in Ngaqu, which is one of the largest gatherings in Tibet. The festival allows you to enjoy the clothing styles of all parts of Tibet. As one of the biggest annual events in northern Tibet, the Nagqu horse racing festival, held every year on August 1, will attract Tibetans from all corners of the Tibetan plateau. Tibetan people wear traditional clothes, gather on the grassland with blooming flowers, put up beautiful tents, watch horse racing, Yak racing, tug-of-war and Tibetan opera, etc.