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Lhasa Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 10, 2008 |

A trip to Lhasa

The mystique of Tibet attracts many foreign visitors to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The true home of the Dalai Lama, no matter how many Chinese army officers mill around this holiest of temples makes the Potala Palace no less breathtaking. The Chinese cultural indoctrination is sad, but visitors can go out of their way to shop and eat at Tibetan run shops and restaurants. The best way to get to Lhasa is via its airport, with direct flights from Beijing, Chengdu and Kathmandu (Nepal) available.

Flights to Lhasa
Lhasa International Airport is a small airport that services direct flights from Beijing and Chengdu (China) and Kathmandu (Nepal). If you are looking for a cheap flight to Lhasa try Thomas Cook. It is important to note that visitors require a special visa to visit Tibet and this differs from the standard visa for China. Since most visitors are on tour packages, transfers from the airport are usually pre-arranged.

Chinese tour operators don’t like to have western visitors exploring Lhasa on their own, willy-nilly. Be ready to have your tour guide tag along, with only limited exploration time on your own. Most transfers will be by jeep or minibus as there is no public transportation. The new Qinghai-Tibet railway recently opened, offering a train connection all the way to Shanghai.
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Sightseeing in Lhasa
The main attraction in Lhasa is the Potala, the holiest temple for Tibetans. Unfortunately, the Chinese have turned this amazing temple into a tourist attraction, but it is still amazing to walk through the dark corridors. The air is filled with the scent of butter lamps and the incredibly intricate and colourful mandalas almost come to life. The view atop the Potala over Lhasa is breathtaking. Watching the numerous pilgrims is also a sight not to be missed.

Make sure you turn some of the prayer wheels, especially the giant ones inside the temples. See your prayers wind up into the sky? If you can be in Lhasa for one of the many festivals, you will gain great cultural insight. Probably one of the most amazing festivals is the Horse Racing Fair and Archery Festival, which takes place every year in June and July. At this huge event, you can see talented Tibetan riders show their skills at riding and archery.

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Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
There isn’t much of nightlife in Lhasa. Either way, for the first few days you will probably not be in a mood or state to go out anyway. It takes at least three days to get used to the high altitude and even stair climbing or walking may leave you breathless. Take it easy the first few days, drink plenty of liquids and avoid smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages. There aren’t many nightspots, with the only places to enjoy a quiet drink being at hotel bars or restaurants.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
There is some interesting shopping to be done in Lhasa. There are the usual trinkets, mainly brought in from Nepal, but there are also plenty of beautiful local items to be had. Stroll around the main square in Lhasa and you will see many shops and bargains. Funky things like ice skates, bowler hats and other eclectic items can be found here. There are also great hand sewn tents and hand knotted carpets to be found, but you will need to haggle hard to get a good price.


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