Lhoka
The cradle of Tibetan culture, with classic sights such as Yumbulagang, Samye Monastery and Yamdrok Lake clustered together.
Lhoka lies in southern Tibet along the middle reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo, and the Tsetang area is considered an important birthplace of Tibetan civilization. Yumbulagang is said to be Tibet's first palace, and Samye Monastery was the first in Tibet to have the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha all present. Tradruk Temple and the Tombs of the Tibetan Kings are also here. Part of Yamdrok Lake lies in Nagarzê County, and the Lhünzê-area Lebugou valley (Cona) offers primeval forest and Monpa culture. May to October is the main travel season. Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is located within Lhoka and is the main gateway to southern Tibet; permits are required for travel to border areas.
Destinations
Itineraries
- Lhasa, Shannan, Yamdrok Tso & Namtso – Travel outward from Lhasa to Shannan and two sacred lakes, covering the cradle of Tibetan civilization while skipping E…
- Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse & Mount Everest – The most classic route for first-time visitors to Tibet: acclimatize in Lhasa for three days, then travel through Shiga…
- Self-Drive Tour of Yadong, Mount Everest, and Gyirong Valley in Tsang – Drive along the northern foothills of the Himalayas, connecting Yadong Valley, Mount Everest, and Gyirong Valley to exp…
- East-to-West Tibet Traverse: Nyingchi, Lhasa, and Mount Everest – Fly into lower-altitude Nyingchi to acclimate, then head to Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake, and Mount Everest, covering both the e…
- Ngari Loop: Mount Kailash Kora, Guge Kingdom, and Northern Route – Depart from Lhasa to visit Mount Everest, complete the Mount Kailash Kora, explore the Guge Kingdom and Pangong Tso, an…
- Lhasa First Visit Classics – Day one to acclimatise to the altitude, then two days to cover the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Drepung and Sera…
- Lhasa Old Town In-Depth and Yamdrok Lake – Explore the old town's temples, Norbulingka and the Tibet Museum at a relaxed pace, with a day trip to Yamdrok Lake.
- Lhasa Monasteries and Meditation Caves – Based in Lhasa, walk the Lingkor and visit Phabongkha, with day trips to Drak Yerpa, Ganden Monastery and Tsurphu Monas…
- Qinghai-Tibet Highway: Xining to Lhasa – Follow the Qinghai-Tibet Highway across Hoh Xil and the Tanggula Pass, passing Namtso to enter Lhasa.
- Sichuan-Tibet Highway G318: Chengdu to Lhasa – Traverse Western Sichuan and Eastern Tibet along National Highway 318, crossing high mountain passes, glaciers, and lus…
- Yunnan-Tibet Highway Self-Drive: Lijiang to Lhasa – A classic road trip from Lijiang to Lhasa via Shangri-La, Meili, Yanjing, and Nyingchi.