Why order matters
Tibet’s best-known Buddhist sites are spread across a very large, high plateau, and most travellers see them in a loose sequence: first Lhasa and its surroundings, then the towns of Tsang to the west, and, for a minority, the far west around Mount Kailash. The order is not only about geography. It also reflects altitude, since most itineraries begin in the lowest of these regions and climb gradually. This page sketches how the main areas link up and what a sensible sequence looks like. It is not a booking or permit guide, and conditions change.
Stage one: Lhasa and the central valleys
Lhasa, at roughly 3,600 to 3,700 metres, is the usual starting point and the centre of devotion for much of the plateau. Pilgrims commonly begin at the Jokhang and walk the Barkhor kora around it, then visit the Potala and the great Gelug monasteries on the edge of the city. Together these make up the core Lhasa Buddhist sites. Many people give themselves several days here simply to adjust before going higher.
Day trips or short excursions from Lhasa often include Ganden to the east, a ridge-top Gelug monastery above 4,000 metres, and Samye to the south-east, traditionally the first Tibetan monastery, associated with the 8th century. Both involve road travel and additional height or river crossings, so they are better placed after a few days in the city.
Stage two: Tsang and the road west
Travelling west from Lhasa follows a long-used corridor through the region called Tsang. The road crosses high passes and passes close to Yamdrok Lake, a large lake sacred in Tibetan tradition. Typical stops include:
- Gyantse, known for its fortress and the multi-storey Kumbum stupa-temple, dating to the 15th century.
- Shigatse, home to Tashilhunpo, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Pilgrims walk the Tashilhunpo kora around the monastery’s outer wall.
- Sakya, further west and south, the centre of the Sakya school; the Sakya Monastery has a large assembly hall and is the focus of most visits to Sakya town.
Taken together, this section offers the most continuous run of major monasteries on the plateau. Road conditions, checkpoints and the availability of lodging may vary by season.
Stage three: western Tibet
Beyond Tsang the landscape becomes sparser and the distances longer. The principal pilgrimage goal is Mount Kailash, sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and followers of Bon, whose circuit is known as the Kailash kora. The kora is roughly 50 kilometres around the mountain and is commonly walked over about three days, crossing a pass above 5,000 metres. Lake Manasarovar nearby is also revered. Further west lie the ruins of the old Guge kingdom, including Tholing and Tsaparang, which are tied to a revival of Buddhism in the 10th and 11th centuries. The remote western Tibet Guge region is among the least visited parts of the plateau.
This part of the journey is demanding, remote and often costly in time. It should not be treated as an add-on to a short trip.
Other places that fit in
Some travellers add a stop at Namtso, a high lake north of Lhasa that Tibetans traditionally regard as sacred. Others look eastward to Kham or Amdo, which are separate regions with their own monastic centres and their own travel conditions. These are best planned as separate trips instead of squeezed into this sequence.
What can change, and what to check
Several things that shape any route can be altered without much notice:
- Permits. Foreign visitors have typically needed a Tibet-specific permit and may need to travel under particular arrangements. Some areas, including parts of the west, have required additional permits. Rules and their enforcement have varied over time.
- Access. Roads, passes, checkpoints and individual monasteries can close for weather, repairs, festivals or political reasons.
- Opening hours and ticket rules. Some sites limit daily numbers or require advance reservation.
- Safety and political context. Conditions in Tibetan areas can be sensitive, so consult government travel advice from your own country before setting out.
Check the latest official information close to departure and again just before you travel. Treat anything on a general site such as this as a starting point rather than a rule.
Altitude and pacing
Most of this route lies well above 3,500 metres, and parts exceed 4,500 or 5,000. Altitude illness can be serious, and it does not depend on fitness. This is general information only, not medical advice. Seek medical guidance before the journey, build in rest days, avoid ascending too fast, and be ready to change plans or descend if symptoms appear. Sections of the route west of Shigatse are far from major hospitals. Reading about altitude sickness awareness and speaking to a travel health professional is sensible well before departure.
Travelling respectfully
The monasteries on this route are working religious communities and the people you meet may be on pilgrimage themselves. Dress modestly, walk clockwise around stupas, mani walls and monasteries, ask before taking photographs, and do not touch monks, nuns or sacred objects. Customs differ between communities, so follow local guidance. Giving yourself enough time to sit quietly, rather than rushing between sites, is closer to the spirit of pilgrimage than ticking off a list.