A 6-day Tibet trip for a foreign passport holder means sleeping all six nights in Lhasa — the only realistic base — and using day trips to the surrounding valleys. You cannot freelance into Tibet: a Tibet Travel Permit, arranged through a registered agency that also books your licensed hotel, is mandatory, and your permit name must match your passport exactly.
Tibet is not a DIY destination
Foreigners cannot enter Tibet independently. You must travel on a pre-arranged tour with a local agency that secures your Tibet Travel Permit and assigns a guide and, outside Lhasa, often a driver. The permit is tied to your itinerary and your booked hotels, so where you sleep is decided partly by the agency, not just by you.
Because of altitude, Lhasa (3,650 m) is where you acclimatize, and it is the hub for every excursion. Hotels here are licensed for foreigners and register you normally. Read can foreigners stay in Chinese hotels for the general registration rule that still applies once you are inside Tibet.
Day 1 — Fly into Lhasa, rest only
Fly to Lhasa Gonggar (LXA). The drive from the airport to the city is about 60 km and takes an hour. Check in to a hotel in the Chengguan district, ideally near Barkhor Street or the Potala Palace area. Do almost nothing on day one — altitude sickness is real, and rest is the best medicine.
Sleep in Lhasa. Your agency will have named this hotel on your permit.
Day 2 — Potala Palace and Jokhang, still in Lhasa
Visit the Potala Palace (timed entry, book through the agency) and the Jokhang Temple, then circle Barkhor Street. Keep the day light. Sleep in the same Lhasa hotel — no relocation while acclimatizing.
Day 3 — Drepung and Sera monasteries
Both monasteries sit on Lhasa’s outskirts, reachable by car in under an hour. The Sera debate session in the afternoon is the highlight. Return to your Lhasa base for the night.
Day 4 — Day trip to Yamdrok Lake
A guided drive south to Yamdrok, a turquoise high-altitude lake, is a long day return. You sleep again in Lhasa. Some agencies offer an overnight in a lakeside guesthouse, but for permit simplicity most foreigners stay based in the city.
Day 5 — Ganden or a second valley
Options include Ganden Monastery east of the city or the Drak Yerpa caves. Both are day returns. Sleep in Lhasa.
Day 6 — Depart or extend
Fly out from Gonggar, or extend toward Shigatse with the agency (this changes your permit and hotels). For most first-timers, six nights in Lhasa with day trips is the safe, permit-friendly shape.
Night-by-night base plan
| Night | Base area | Why here | Transfer note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lhasa (Chengguan, Barkhor) | Acclimatize, permit hotel | Airport transfer 1 hr from Gonggar |
| 2 | Same Lhasa base | Potala, Jokhang nearby | Walk or short taxi |
| 3 | Same Lhasa base | Monasteries on outskirts | Agency car, return same day |
| 4 | Same Lhasa base | Yamdrok day trip | Guided drive, return |
| 5 | Same Lhasa base | Ganden day trip | Guided drive, return |
| 6 | Same Lhasa base | Departure or permit extension | Transfer to Gonggar |
Choosing where to sleep in Lhasa
The Chengguan district around Barkhor and the Potala Palace is the obvious choice: it is where licensed foreigner hotels cluster, it is walkable to the holiest sites, and your agency already works with these properties. Staying put for six nights keeps your registration clean and avoids altitude swings from moving around.
Permits and hotels are linked. If you swap hotels without telling the agency, your permit may not match where you actually sleep, which can cause problems at checkpoints. Confirm any change in writing.
Booking and registration notes
You will not book the hotel yourself first — the agency bundles it. Still, ask which hotel and check its foreigner licence. At check-in, present your passport and permit copy; the desk registers you. For area detail, see where to stay near the Potala Palace, which covers the streets and price bands around the palace.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just book a Lhasa hotel myself?
Not for entry — you need the agency permit that names the hotel. Once inside, the hotel is real and registers you, but you cannot arrive without the permit.
Is six nights in Lhasa too long?
For acclimatization and day trips, it is about right. If you want Everest or Namtso, you need an extended permit and more nights, planned months ahead.
Will my foreign card work in Lhasa?
Often not at smaller hotels. Many travelers prepay through the agency or use cash. Confirm payment method before arrival.
Do I need a special visa for Tibet?
You need a Chinese visa first, then the separate Tibet Travel Permit on top. The agency handles the permit after your visa is issued.
Is altitude a real problem?
For many, yes at first. Rest, hydrate, and avoid strenuous walking on day one. Most people adjust within two to three days in Lhasa.
Can I visit in winter?
Yes, and it is quieter and cheaper, but cold. Some passes close with snow. The agency will advise what is open.
Should I fly or take the train to Lhasa?
The train from Xining is scenic and helps acclimatization, but it is long. Flying is faster; just rest hard on arrival either way.
