Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, also known as "the City of Sunshine". In the Tibetan language, "Lhasa" means the place where the gods live. It is located in the center of Tibet plateau, north of the Himalayas, at an average elevation of around 3,700 meters. With 1,300 years of cultural and spiritual history, Lhasa is also a holy site of Tibetan Buddhism. That is why it’s a holy city for Tibetan people and devotees from all over the world.
Due to the mild climate, many cultural relics and historic sites are well preserved in Lhasa, such as Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka, etc. There is always one of the destinations of your soul. View more>>
As the capital city, Lhasa is the transportation hub in Tibet. Almost all of the tourists choose Lhasa to be the first stop of their Tibet tours. For foreign tourists, there are two major ways to get to Lhasa, by train and by plane.
Taking a flight to Lhasa is time-saving and comfortable. Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, the busiest airport in Tibet, is located 62 kilometers south of downtown Lhasa. Lhasa has opened a number of air routes with many domestic cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Kunming, Chengdu, Xian, Shangri-La, Lanzhou, Xining, Lijiang, etc. If you want to fly to Lhasa from major cities in China, there are dozens of flights available every day. In addition, there is also one international airline connecting Lhasa: Kathmandu-Lhasa. But there is only one flight a day.
Taking a train to Lhasa is an excellent choice for tourists visiting Lhasa for the first time. Tourists can not only enjoy the scenery along the way but also have more time to acclimatize the high altitude of Lhasa. Currently, tourists can take direct trains to Lhasa from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xining, Chengdu, and Lanzhou.
With the annual sunshine hours of 3000 hours, Lhasa has the reputation of a sunshine city. Under the profound influence of its unique geographical location and topography, Lhasa has typical characteristics such as strong radiation, long sunshine hours, and large temperature difference between day and night. Precipitation is concentrated from June to September. Generally speaking, it's suitable to travel to Lhasa all year round. The best time to visit Lhasa is from April to October, as the climate in Lhasa is warm and wet during this period. View more >>
Lhasa is the capital of Tibet and accommodation is very convenient. There are international 5-star hotel chains, such as Lhasa St. Regis Lhasa Resort and Shangri-La Lhasa Hotel, also comfortable 4-star hotels, economical 3-star hotels, and budget guesthouses. But the hotels are generally of a lower quality compared with hotels of the same star rating in major Chinese tourist cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. However, many hotels in Lhasa have Tibetan customs, which will bring a different experience.
We suggest our customers stay close to Barkhor Street because it is convenient for wandering in the old Lhasa city and some of the best hotels in the region are there. See more useful tips. View more >>
The cuisine in Lhasa is mainly Tibetan style and Sichuan spicy food, but there are also some Nepalese and Indian restaurants offering special dishes, like vegetarian dishes. The most representative local cuisine in Lhasa is Tibetan noodles, sweet tea, dried beef and mutton, and Lhasa beer.
The dining conditions in Lhasa are the best in Tibet. On Beijing Road, there is no lack of Western restaurants, such as Lhasa Kitchen, and Dunya Restaurant, which attract a lot of foreign tourists. What's more, almost every hotel offers Western food, but the chefs' culinary heritage comes from Nepal or India, so tastes vary. View more >>
1 - Tibet Travel Permit for Lhasa Travel
For foreign tourists, the Tibet Travel Permit is one of the most important documents for traveling to Lhasa. Without it, you can't board a train or plane to Lhasa. It is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. But, this permit can only be applied by Tibet travel agencies. If you book your Lhasa Tour with us, we promise you will get it before you start your journey to Lhasa.
2 - How to adapt to the high altitude of Lhasa
Lhasa is a high-altitude city with an average elevation of 3,650 meters. Most people have mild or severe altitude sickness when they first arrive in Lhasa. In order to adapt to the high altitude of Lhasa, you should drink more water and have a good rest, and it's best to avoid showering and strenuous exercise.
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Great Tibet Tour is a local tour company based in Lhasa, Tibet. It was founded in 2005 and recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best reputed local Tibet travel agencies.
With the great responsibility, professional know-how and passion for innovation, Great Tibet Tour endeavors to provide you with enjoyable, thoughtful service, and authentic culture discovery.
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| inquiry@greattibettour.com | |
| Dava Private House, No. 8, Dang Re Road, Lhasa, Tibet, China |
