There are many incredible locations near Lhasa worth visiting for a day or two. These sites — from sacred lakes and ancient monasteries to peaceful hermitages and hot springs — allow you to experience the beauty of Tibetan landscapes and culture beyond the city.
Namtso Lake
(1–2 days)
This stunning turquoise lake, sacred to Tibetans, is the highest saltwater lake in the world. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, nomads camp here in the summer. To make your visit special, hike up a nearby mountain for panoramic views, play a game of pool with the nomads, or take a picture riding a yak. Staying overnight in a nomad family’s tent guesthouse offers a chance to taste traditional tsampa dough.
Note: Namtso is inaccessible in winter.
Ganden Monastery
(1 day, or 2 days with Drigung Til & Tidrum)
One of the three great monasteries of Lhasa (alongside Sera and Drepung), Ganden sits high on a mountain ridge. Explore its prayer halls, then hike the kora (circumambulation path) for breathtaking valley views. For the adventurous, continue the longer hike up the ridge, hang prayer flags, and soak in sweeping mountain vistas.
Pabonka Hermitage Hike
(Half-day to 1 day)
Located behind Sera Monastery, Pabonka Hermitage is reached by walking through a village and hiking up the mountainside. Few tourists make it here, so it feels peaceful and secluded. Explore small chapels, nearby ruins, and a nunnery, while enjoying excellent views of Lhasa Valley and the Potala Palace.
Drak Yerpa Caves
(1 day)
About 30 km north of Lhasa lies one of Tibet’s holiest cave retreats. Carved into the mountainside, Drak Yerpa is serene and atmospheric. You’ll find dozens of meditation caves and might encounter pilgrims practicing inside. The surrounding scenery is quiet and beautiful, making it a memorable spiritual stop.
Drigung Til & Tidrum Nunnery
(2 days)
Drigung Til Monastery is famed for its sky burial site, offering unique insight into Tibetan spiritual traditions. Nearby, Tidrum Nunnery sits in a peaceful mountain valley, complete with natural hot springs. In summer, you may even meet local nuns tending yaks. The combination of monasteries, villages, and hot springs makes this trip especially rewarding.
Tsurphu Monastery
(1 day)
The traditional seat of the Karmapa lineage, Tsurphu Monastery (founded in 1159) lies in a secluded valley surrounded by mountains. Above the monastery are meditation retreats and ancient rock paintings. A kora trail offers a 2–3 hour hike with stunning valley views.
Samye Monastery & Yumbulakhang Palace
(1–2 days)
Samye, Tibet’s first monastery, is over 1,200 years old and uniquely designed in the shape of a mandala. After exploring Samye, continue to the Yarlung Valley to visit Yumbulakhang Palace, Tibet’s oldest fortress. Extend the trip for a hike to Chimpu Hermitage, a sacred cave site linked to Guru Rinpoche.
Yangpachen Hot Springs
(1 day)
On the way to Yangpachen, visit the monastery perched on a hill overlooking the Himalayas. At the hot springs, soak in naturally heated pools with snowy peaks as your backdrop — an ideal way to relax after days of exploring.
Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Yumtso)
(1 day)
One of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, Yamdrok is known for its turquoise waters and breathtaking mountain scenery. The drive offers two spectacular viewpoints: first along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and then crossing the Kamba La Pass (4,794m). Once at the lake, walk or hike along its shores before returning to Lhasa.
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