The 5-day Tibet itinerary centers on Lhasa — the Potala Palace, Jokhang, and the Barkhor — then rolls west to Shigatse past Yamdrok Lake and the Gyantse stupa. Budget ¥500 / US$69 in Lhasa and ¥420 / US$58 in Shigatse. One hard rule first: foreigners need a Tibet Travel Permit and must travel on a licensed tour — you can’t freelance here.
Quick Answer
Five days, two bases, five nights, all at altitude. Lhasa sits at 3,650 m, so the first day is for acclimating, not sightseeing hard. The westbound drive to Shigatse (3,840 m) is the scenic peak — Yamdrok’s turquoise coil and the Gyantse Kumbum are unforgettable. Because Tibet requires a permited tour, your hotel, transport, and guide are usually bundled; the where to stay near the Potala Palace (Lhasa) guide still helps you pick the right district.
- Day 1 — Lhasa: arrive, rest, gentle Barkhor stroll.
- Day 2 — Lhasa: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple.
- Day 3 — Lhasa: Drepung & Sera monasteries.
- Day 4 — Lhasa → Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake & Gyantse.
- Day 5 — Shigatse: Tashilhunpo, return to Lhasa / depart.
- Bases — Lhasa (4 nights), Shigatse (1).
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Lhasa: Arrive & Acclimate
Land at Lhasa Gonggar (airport bus 1.5 hrs, or private transfer bundled with your tour). Check in, then do almost nothing. Walk the Barkhor circuit slowly if you feel fine, but skip stairs and alcohol. Altitude sickness is real — I spent my first afternoon napping and it paid off for the rest of the week. Hydrate hard; most Lhasa hotels keep oxygen canisters at the front desk for a few yuan if you wake up breathless.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: A Lhasa hotel near the Potala or Barkhor. The do you need a visa to check into a Chinese hotel rules apply on top of the Tibet permit — your tour operator handles the paperwork, but carry the passport.
Day 2 — Lhasa: Potala Palace & Jokhang
Morning at the Potala Palace (timed entry, book through your guide — foreign tickets are limited). Then the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism, and the spinning-prayer-wheel circuit of the Barkhor. Take the afternoon easy; the altitude wears you faster than at home.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: Same Lhasa base.
Day 3 — Lhasa: Drepung & Sera Monasteries
The Drepung monastery (once the world’s largest) in the morning, then Sera for the famous afternoon debate (around 3 p.m. — monks argue scripture in a courtyard). Sera’s debate runs roughly 3–5 p.m. and is free to watch from the courtyard edge; arrive by 3 to catch the opening rounds when the energy is highest. Both are a short drive from town. Evening free; try a Tibetan hotpot (yak meat, mild) if your stomach’s settled.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: Same Lhasa base.
Day 4 — Lhasa to Shigatse: Yamdrok & Gyantse
The westbound drive is the trip’s highlight. Yamdrok Lake coils below the road in impossible turquoise; stop at the viewpoint (bring a jacket — it’s windy at 4,400 m). Continue via Gyantse and its Kumbum stupa (100,000 images), then on to Shigatse, Tibet’s second city and home to the Panchen Lama’s Tashilhunpo Monastery.
WHERE TO STAY TONIGHT: Shigatse city. One night.
Day 5 — Shigatse: Tashilhunpo & Return
Morning at Tashilhunpo — huge, golden-roofed, and far less crowded than Lhasa’s sites. Then drive back to Lhasa (5–6 hrs) or take the flight/train out if your permit and schedule allow. If your permit allows an extra night, the Sakya monastery en route holds remarkable murals and is a calm detour. I prefer the drive back for the second look at Yamdrok in different light.
Where to Stay
| Base area | Nights | Nightly (¥ / US$) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lhasa (Barkhor/Potala) | 4 | ¥450–780 / US$62–108 | Walkable to old town |
| Shigatse city | 1 | ¥380–600 / US$53–83 | Near Tashilhunpo |
Because Tibet runs on permited tours, your hotel is usually pre-booked by the operator — but knowing the district helps you request well. The can foreigners book hotels in China rules still apply at check-in: passport scan, police registration. Some Lhasa guesthouses lack the foreigner license, so lean on your operator or a listed property via book on Trip.com.
Getting Between Cities
Lhasa–Shigatse is a 5–6 hour drive (or the new railway, ~3 hrs, on 12306China Railway (12306)with passport exact — but note foreigners on the Tibet train still need the permit). The road route via Yamdrok is the scenic one and standard on tours. The railway is spectacular but climbs past 5,000 m passes, so if you’re altitude-sensitive, fly in and take the road west rather than the train up — the gradual drive lets you acclimatize.
Honest caveat: the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB) is mandatory for all foreigners and takes ~15–20 days to arrange through a licensed operator — you cannot book this independently or show up at the Lhasa flight without it. Plan it before any hotel or flight. The what documents do foreigners need to check into a Chinese hotel guide lists the passport basics; the permit is the Tibet-specific extra.
Foreigner Check-in & Payment Tips on the Road
Two bases, two scans, plus permit checks. Lhasa’s better hotels take Visa; Shigatse mostly wants Alipay or yuan, so withdraw cash in Lhasa. Deposits ran ¥400–500; the China hotel deposit & foreign credit cards guide covers holds. When I checked into a Barkhor hotel, the desk scanned my passport and also asked for my permit copy — both filed, no friction.
The 240-hour visa-free transit hotel guide is moot in Tibet — the permit replaces the transit exemption, and you must enter as a tour. Confirm current rules atNational Immigration AdministrationThe how to use Trip.com as a foreigner walkthrough helps only for the Lhasa flight, not the permit.
When to Go & What It Costs
May–October is the open season: clear, warmer, roads to Shigatse reliable. November–April is cold (Lhasa can hit -10°C), some passes close, and many guesthouses shut. Avoid the rainy July–August afternoons but the green is lovely. One planning note: the permit window means you can’t be spontaneous — lock your Lhasa flight and tour operator before booking anything else, because the permit references your exact entry city.
| Season | Lhasa | Shigatse | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–May) | 12°C | 10°C | Quiet, cool |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 19°C | 17°C | Green, rainy PM |
| Autumn (Sep–Oct) | 14°C | 12°C | Best overall |
| Winter (Nov–Mar) | -2°C | -5°C | Cold, some closure |
Mid-range daily cost per person (tour-inclusive): hotels ¥380–780, permit+tour ¥600–1,000/day bundled, food ¥120–200. Budget US$120–180 a day excluding the tour fee.
