I. How to enter Tibet and the best time
• The plane (direct flight to Gongga Airport) is the fastest, about 3-5h arrival time is tight, many round trips to Tibet, 2000-4000 yuan
• Train (Qinghai-Tibet Railway) adapts to the plateau along the way, the magnificent scenery enters Tibet for the first time, photography enthusiasts one way, 600-1200 yuan
• Self-driving / chartered car with high degree of freedom, in-depth tour as you go and stop, multi-person chartered car 600-800 yuan/day (4 people carpooling is cost-effective)
The best season: March-May Linzhi peach blossom season, September-October autumn high and fresh air (high and light, beautiful scenery); July-August peak season (more people and high price); off-season from November to April (half price for tickets, few people)
II. Classic itinerary recommendation (by number of days)
3-day overview (Lhasa + Yanghu Lake)
•D1: Arrive in Lhasa, rest and adapt, visit Bugong Square, drink sweet tea, and stay in a homestay near Baguo Street (80-100 yuan per capita).
•D2: Potala Palace (booked 15 days in advance, 200 yuan in peak season / 100 yuan in off-season) → Jokhang Temple (85 yuan) → Baguo Street Sutra, Tibetan portrait (about 80 yuan).
• D3: One-day trip to Yangzhuo Yongcuo (carpooling 150 yuan per person, view of Gangbala Pass / Rito Temple), return to Lhasa in the evening.
5-day essence (Lhasa + Linzhi)
• D1: Lhasa adaptation.
•D2: Bugong + Baguo Street + Jokhang Temple.
•D3-4: Linzhi (Yalu Zangbu Grand Canyon + Nangabawa Peak + Basongcuo), live in Bayi Town, see peach blossoms in spring and colorful forests in autumn
•D5: One-day trip to Yanghu Lake, return trip.
7-day depth (Lhasa + Shigatse + Everest / Namtcho)
• D1-2: Lhasa Adaptation + Bugong / Jokhang Temple / Baguo Street.
•D3: Yanghu Lake → Shigatse (Zashlunbu Temple, 100 yuan).
•D4-5: Everest base camp (border guard certificate required, ticket 180 yuan), watch the starry sky.
•D6-7: Namchuo (Zhaxi Peninsula Camping) → Yangbajing Hot Spring → Lhasa Return
III. Core scenic spots and ticket reservations
Scenic spot ticket reservation method opening hours must-see highlights
Potala Palace peak season 200 / off-season 100 yuan "Potala Palace Official Platform" official account, real-name reservation 15 days in advance 9:30-14:30 (closed on Mondays, except holidays) White House, Red Palace, Lingta Hall, Golden Top
Purchase tickets for Jokhang Temple for 85 yuan on the spot or make an appointment 1-3 days in advance from 9:00 to 18:00 Shakyamuni 12-year-old statue, ghee lamp room
Yangzhuo Yongcuo 60 yuan on-site ticket purchase all day long, the lake is blue gradient, the snowy mountains are reflected, and the Rito Temple has few people and the scenery is beautiful.
Namtso 60-120 yuan on-site ticket purchase all-day Zaxi Peninsula Starry Sky, Holy Elephant Gate (after closing, Zaxi Peninsula is the new favorite)
Yalu Zangbu Grand Canyon 290 yuan (including sightseeing bus) Scenic Area Official Website / Applet 8:00-18:00 The world's deepest canyon, spring peach blossoms and Nangabawa in the same frame
IV. Prevention and response of high atitude sis (key)
• Prepare in advance: stop high-intensity exercise 1 month before departure, drink Rhodia 3 days in advance; carry glucose, portable oxygen bottle, blood oximeter.
• After arrival: avoid taking a shower, washing your hair and exercising strenuously for the first 1-2 days, drink more water, drink ghee tea/sweet tea; absorb oxygen in time when blood oxygen is < 85%
• Emergency treatment: use ibuprofen for headaches, and seek medical attention immediately for severe altitude sickness (vomiting, dyspnea) or withdraw to low-altitude areas with oxygen absorption.
V. Cultural taboos and essential items
Cultural etiquette:
• Take off your hat, do not wear short skirts/exposed clothes, Buddha statues/religious activities are prohibited from taking photos.
• Turn the scriptures / go around the tower clockwise, and you need to get the consent of the local people to take pictures.
Essential items:
• Certificates: ID card, border guard card (you need to apply for Everest/Ali/Zhangmu Port, household registration or Lhasa are acceptable).
• Clothing: windbreaker + thin down jacket (day and night temperature difference 15℃+), non-slip hiking shoes.
• Protection: SPF50 + sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, lip balm (anti-cracking).
• Medicines: cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, plaster, erythromycin eye ointment (anti-nosebleed).
VI. Food recommendation
• Glutinous rice cake: green barley fried noodles + ghee tea dough, salty and fragrant and full; plateau carrying hungry staple food, experience Tibetan food culture
• Tibetan noodles: alkaline water surface + yak bone soup, with beef pieces; breakfast standard, strong and delicious, 15 yuan per person
• Ghee tea: brick tea + ghee + salt stir, salty and mellow; anti-altitude high reaction, warm body, the first taste can start with a small cup
• Sweet tea: milk + tea boiled, milky and sweet; easier to accept than ghee tea, teahouse 2 yuan/cup, perfect match with Tibetan noodles
• Yak yogurt: thick and slightly sour, with sugar/honey; rich in nutrition, helpful for digestion, 5-10 yuan/bowl on the street
• Tibetan steamed buns: yak stuffed with thin skin, juicy in one bite; breakfast / night snack, with sweet tea, 20 yuan per person
• Tibetan hot pot copper: pot yak bone soup + yak beef + mushrooms; heart-warming hard dish, dipped in Tibetan hot sauce, 80-120 yuan per capita
• Lulang stone pot chicken: Mode stone pot + Tibetan fragrant chicken + palm ginseng / pine mushroom; Linzhi must-eat, fresh and nutritious soup, 150 yuan per capita
• Air-dried yak: air-dried on the plateau, salty and chewy; authentic about 150 yuan / catty, choose a regular store to buy
VII. Accommodation recommendation
• Baguo Street / Jokhang Temple: Zaxi Quta Style Hotel (Tibetan Manor, near Jokhang Temple), Fengma Feiyang Hostel (refered for backpackers); 200-400 yuan / night in the off-season, 400-800 yuan / night in the peak season for the first time, like to be lively
• Bugong Square / Jiangsu Road: Lhasa St. Regis Hotel (oxygen supply, Bugong landscape), Jicai International Hotel (in the middle of Bugong Baguo Street); off-season 400-600 yuan / night, peak season 800-1500 yuan / night business / high-end tourists, photography party
• Xianzu Island / Sun Island: Xianzu Island Resort Hotel (oxygen supply, independent courtyard); 200-300 yuan / night in off-season, 300-600 yuan in peak season / high sensitivity in the evening, pursuit of quiet
• Linzhi: Bayi Town (many hotels, complete catering, adapt to altitude altitude); Sosong Village (Pingcuo Kangsang Xueli Peach Blossom Manor, facing Nangabawa Peak, the first choice for peach blossom season).
• Shigatse: Choose an oxygen hotel in the old city, near the Zashlunpo Temple, 200-400 yuan/night per capita.
• Everest / Namtso: live in a tent or a simple homestay, bring your own sleeping bag, 100-200 yuan per person / night, keep warm first
VIII. Notes
Prevention and response of high-alte sicis (the top priority)
• Prepare in advance: stop high-intensity exercise 1 month before departure, drink rhodrodia 3 days in advance; carry glucose, portable oxygen cylinders, blood oximeter, ibuprofen (headache).
• After arrival: do not take a shower and wash your hair for the first 2 days, do not exercise vigorously, drink more water (2-3 liters per day), drink ghee tea / sweet tea; blood oxygen < 85%, absorb oxygen in time, avoid drinking alcohol.
• Emergency treatment: severe altitude sickness (vomiting, dyspnea) immediately seek medical attention or take oxygen and retreat to a low altitude (such as Linzhi).
Cultural etiquette (respect first)
• Take off your hat and sunglasses in the temple. It is forbidden to take photos (in some areas). Do not touch the Buddha statue/Dharma, and turn the sutra/goda clockwise.
• Don't step on prayer flags, mani piles, and don't sit on the threshold. You need to get the consent of the local people.
• Dress decently, avoid short skirts/exposed clothes, and do not wear hats/sunglasses when entering the hall.
Travel and life details
• Transportation: Lhasa taxi starts from 10 yuan, take the meter; go to Yanghu Lake/Namu wrongly choose a regular tourist car (Hidded AL license plate), carpooling is 180 yuan per capita, to avoid black car price increase.
• Sun protection and warmth: SPF50 + sunscreen every 2 hours, sunglasses, sun hats and thermal hats are essential; the temperature difference between day and night is large, wear a windbreaker + thin down jacket + hiking shoes.
• Dry and hydrated: with lip balm, hand cream, physiological saline nasal spray, hotel humidifier or sprinkle water to moisturize.
• Border protection permit: You need to apply for it in advance to go to Everest/Ali/Zhangmu Port. You can apply for it at your place of residence or Lhasa (ask a travel agency), indicating "Shikatse, Ali" and other destinations.