Tibet Things to Do

 
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Itinerary in Tibet

by chulsoo

We are a group of 2 Americans who were planning a trip to Mt. Kailash, entering Tibet through Lhasa (from Kathmandu). Our trip is for a total duration of 18 days and has been organized by Tibet Highland Expedition fairly inexpensively. SInce the rules were changed recently we are looking for 3 more US passport holders who would like to do a similar itinerary with us.Itinerary is as follows:ITINERARY:Day Date Day Place Activity Kms Time Destination Place Overnight hotelSat 2-Jun 1 Kathmandu - Lhasa Flight Arrive during day in Lhasa - acclimatise 63 1 Lhasa Kyichu HotelSun 3-Jun 2 Lhasa Potala Palace, Tibet Museum, Jokang Temple Lhasa Kyichu HotelMon 4-Jun 3 Lhasa Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery Lhasa Kyichu HotelTue 5-Jun 4 Lhasa- Gyantse Yamdrok lake, Pelkor Chode, Gyantse Kumbum 260 5 Gyantse Jianzhang HotelWed 6-Jun 5 Gyantse - Shigatse Shalu Gompa, Tashilumpo Monastery 90 2 Shigatse...

Everest Base Camp

by GrumpyDiver

There are really only three ways to see Mt Everest. One of these involves trekking in Nepal, the other requires a flight from Kathmandu and the third way is the one we chose, driving in from Lhasa, TIbet. It's not a short trip, and takes several days (with terrible roads, but beautiful scenery).There are some shots I took while at EBC

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Watch the Monks Debate

by Maria81

In the Gelugpa and Sakya traditions, monastery lamas are required to take part in the debates to further their study of Buddhism and progress to more advanced concepts. For this purpose, debates - both training and actual ones - are held on almost daily basis at the monasteries - some of which the visitors can witness. The debates are usually an hour to two hours long, and monks - splitting themselves into groups of usually 3 to 6 people (although we've seen larger groups) - will debate different points of the Buddhist teachings. One monk - the 'debate leader' - illustrates the theory and then gets everybody involved into the discussion. Words are most often supplemented by clapping of hands, or sometimes even physical pushing for an answer!Where?The most famous monastery that allows you to see the debate is the Sera monastery (usually from 3pm in the afternoons, Monday to Friday). We've...

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Sakya Monastery

by Maria81

What?Sakya Monastery is the main religious centre of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, which dominated the religious life of the country before the rise of the Gelugpa school.Where?Just off the main Friendship Highway leading to Tingri, but very much on the tourist trail. It's about 125km away from Shigatse, and is usually visited on the Shigatse to Tingri leg of the trip to either Everest Base Camp or Kathmandu. In More DetailOriginally built in the 13th century with the help of the Mongols (hence different architecture to temples in Lhasa and Shigatse itself), the monastery has been rebuilt several times, most notablly in the 16th century and after the Cultural Revolution when, like most of the religious Tibetan buildings, it has been destroyed. Lhakang Chempo is the only properly ancient building, with the rest being reconstructionsThe highlight of the monastery is undoubtedly...

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Karo La Pass

by Maria81

Karo La is one of the mountain passes (ca. 4950m high) you drive through following the Tibet's main tourist circuit, the loop from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp (or the road to Kathmandu) - you visit it on your first leg of travelling from Lhasa to Gyantse. Festooned with prayer flags, the pass is pretty much at the foot of the Karo La (or KharoLa, as it's spelled on the sign) glacier. The pass is also an important historical location, being the site of one of the highest-altitude battles fought by the British army against the Tibetans during Francis Younghusband's expedition to Lhasa in 1914. As with all stops en route, there are some basic toilet facilities and souvenir stalls. You can also take pictures of people in national costumes (kids and women, usually) for a small fee.

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Everest Base Camp

by Maria81

What?The old expedition base camp at the foot of Mt. Everest at the altitude of 5,200m - offering some of the best views of the great mountain (provided the weather cooperates!). This is not where the current expeditions set up main operations, though - that one is more commonly known as the ABC, or Advance Base Camp. The base camp (which you can look over from a small hill festooned with prayer flags) is where the bulk of the load is kept.VisitingEBC is commonly visited as part of a Land Cruiser trip from Lhasa (either a loop or going on to Nepalese border), although you can trek from either Rongbuk monastery or lower down. If you are in a Land Cruiser, you will have to switch to a government-run bus to reach the EBC from a collection of tents that is a makeshift base camp hotel.Things to keep in mind- In choosing to make the trip, you're very much relying on the weather - we saw only...

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Complete a Kora

by Maria81

What?Tibet is has scores of pilgrimage routes, or koras, which circle around the sacred locations - lakes, mountains, monasteries. There are even special guidebooks detailing the routes, as well as giving practical advice to the pilgrims. It is believed that circumambulation of certain locations is particularly recommended for given purposes, for example, a circuit around Mt. Kailash offers the possibility of release from the cycle of rebirths within 3 lifetimes, while others give the chance of becoming a Buddha or a better rebirth in generalThings to keep in mind- For a Buddhist shrine or a sacred location, follow the clock-wise route, keeping the location to your right at all times. Only if you're circumambulating a Bon shrine should the circumambulation be done anti-clockwise- Koras at certain times of day or year are considered more auspicious (e.g., at sundawn or sunset)Koras I've...

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Shigatse

by Maria81

What?Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city, and is home to one of Gelugpa's largest and most important monasteries - the Tashilhunpo (which was also the seat of the Panchen Lama). The city is part of Tibet's most popular tourist route, Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and/or Nepal.What to SeeThe Tashilhunpo monastery is the major highlight, together with its kora which offers excellent views of the city. The dzong is another notable building, although little remains to be seen inside.Favourite Things- The Tashilhunpo monastery, one of the best preserved in Tibet with richly decorated chapels (and fewer tourists than in the main monasteries around Lhasa)- The Tashilhunpo monastery kora, with its views of the city

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Lhasa

by Maria81

What?Tibet's capital, the home of the world-famous Potala and the former residence of the Dalai Lama. This is where the majority of the first time visitors to Tibet (like me now) spend most of their time. The city rose to prominence in 7th century AD, when Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo started the construction of its most famous buildings - Potala, Jokhang, Ramoche, as well as of some of the surrounding monasteries.What to see?Too much to mention in one trip (and hopefully I will get around to building the Lhasa page one day), but the highlights rightfully include Jokhang and the Barkhor, pilgrim koras, Potala, Norbulingka, Sera and Drepung monasteries. There are also numerousn smaller temples and shrines in the city where you may well be the only one visitingFavourite Things- The Barkhor Kora - atmospheric, with most pilgrims and feels the most authentic. As all koras, best either at...

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Yamdrok-Tso

by Maria81

Where?In the area of Tsang, on the southern route between Lhasa and GyantseWhat?One of the 4 Tibetan holy lakes, along with Lhamo-La Tso, Nam-Tso, and Manasarovar. It's also the easiest to access from Lhasa and lies on the most popular tourist route in Tibet (Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and/or Nepal). The lake frequently coils and doubles back on itself, and in clear weather its bright blue (occasionally turquoise) water is set off against the snowy peaks of mountains over 7,000m highVisitingIf you are travelling in a Land Cruiser along the Friendship Highway, the first glimpse will be from the pass of Kamba-La, though you will also drive along the shore for quite some time (at least as far as Nangartse)

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Fun things to do in Tibet

Top 3 Hotels in Tibet

House of Shambhala  Lhasa

 3 Reviews and 20 Opinions  I love House of Shambhala since the moment I stepped in. It is exactly what I had on mind. Rustic,... 

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Gyantse Hotel  Gyangze

 2 Reviews and 24 Opinions  The hotel's official rating is ***, which did mean it was pretty basic - and so it was (it would not... 

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Kyichu Hotel (Jiqu Fandian)  Lhasa

 1 Review and 60 Opinions  I stayed at this hotel in February 2007. The beds were hard, but that's normal in China. They had... 

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66 Hotels in Tibet
 
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Reviews and photos of Tibet attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Tibet sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Tibet
  1. Lhasa Things to Do
  2. Gyangze Things to Do
  3. Xigaze Things to Do
  4. Tingri Things to Do
  5. Samyai Things to Do
  6. Zetang Things to Do
  7. Rongpu Si Things to Do
  8. Zhigung Things to Do
  9. Nedong Things to Do
  10. Yamzho Yumco Things to Do
  11. Nagarze Things to Do
  12. Damxoi Things to Do

More Cities in Tibet

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi there! Me and my friend would like to got to Tibet Mid-August. Since we are both AUSTRIAN we are currently looking for two to... 

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A: Just reading the news two monks burned themselves alive in front of the Jokhang temple In Lhasa one died. Protesting against the Chinese occupation. 

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