5 Days in Tibet

Lhasa sits around 3,650 m and the airport about 60 km out — land, hydrate, and spend the afternoon on one slow Barkhor circuit of roughly one kilometre. Keep the day deliberately light; altitude pays you back for rushing.

1. barkhor street

Potala on a reserved timed entry — 13 storeys, about 117 metres, no photography inside, several hundred metres of climbing at altitude. Jokhang in the afternoon, then dusk on the Barkhor circuit.

1. potala palace
2. jokhang temple

Drepung in the morning on the western hillside — the kora path climbs gently, take it slow — and Sera in the afternoon for the courtyard debates that usually start about 15:00. Both lie within an hour of the old town by taxi.

1. sera monastery
2. drepung monastery

A lower-effort day — the summer garden park with its pavilions, then the Tibet Museum nearby (free with ID, closed Mondays). Early night, because tomorrow is a long one.

1. tibet norbulingka
2. tibet museum

Honestly labelled long day — Namtso lies about 240 km northwest, mostly across Damxung County, with the road cresting the 5,190-metre Nagenla pass before the lake at 4,718 m. Most of June to September is the reliable season; leave early, carry warm layers, and plan your evening flight or train with slack.

1. namtso lake