Cona & Lebu Valley

Home of the Monpa people on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, with the misty Lebu Valley and its countless waterfalls, the Tsangyang Gyatso Palace, and Nariyong Tso lake and ancient sea-buckthorn forests on the northern plateau.

Cona & Lebu Valley lies in Cona City (upgraded from a county in 2023) in the south of Shannan (Lhoka), Tibet, straddling both sides of the Himalayas. The north is high pastureland at 4,300–4,700 m, home to Nariyong Tso lake, the thousand-year-old Qudromu sea-buckthorn forest and hot springs. Cross the Bola Pass heading south and the Nyamjang Chu has carved the Lebu Valley more than 2,000 m deep; the elevation drops to around 2,800 m, and primeval forest, waterfalls and streams weave through four Monpa ethnic townships: Jiba, Gongri, Mama and Le. Inside the valley are the Tsangyang Gyatso Palace (Mama Lhakhang), Gangting Waterfall, the Senmuzha "Witch Valley", Wolf Valley and the site of the frontline headquarters from the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Monpa timber-and-stone houses, stone-pot chicken and guozhuang dance evenings are further highlights.

The best season is May–Oct: summer brings full waterfalls and lush greenery, while Sep–Oct is the best time for autumn foliage and sea-buckthorn berries; winters on the plateau are bitterly cold and snow may close the pass. Self-drive from Tsetang in Shannan or from Lhasa; it takes about 4–5 hours to reach Cona town, then another 40 km (about half an hour) to Mama Township in the Lebu Valley, where you can stay in the new Monpa village. This is a border area: obtain a border permit in advance and carry your ID at all times. Some areas are closed to visitors, and photographing military facilities is prohibited. Cona town sits at high altitude, so take care with altitude sickness on arrival; the valley is rainy, so bring rain gear. Allow 2–3 days. Most sights are currently free; check local announcements for opening information.

Top sights