It is well-known that Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region with an altitude of 3,650 meters. Lhasa is located in the Nyainqentanglha Mountains of southern Tibet, with the Lhasa river flowing through this holy city at an altitude of over 3,600 meters. And it has been the center of the Tibetan Buddhist world for over a millennium, which makes this city a holy and mysterious place.

Almost all Tibet tours start in Lhasa. So, tourists will get a chance to visit those significant cultural sites, including the Potala Place, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka Palaces, Sera Monastery, etc. Knowing the detailed altitude information about those destinations in Lhasa will help tourists to be well prepared for their Lhasa tours.

Nearly all those attractions in downtown Lhasa share the same altitude as Lhasa. The Potala Palace is a must-see place in your Tibet tour route. It is situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa at an altitude of 3,700 meters. Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street are nearly sitting together at an altitude of 3,600 meters. There will be many pilgrims and tourists around these two places. Lies in the western suburbs of Lhasa, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama - Norbulingka Place is 3,650 meters above sea level.

With about a 20-minute drive, tourists will get to Sera Monastery, one of the great three holy monasteries of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism. It is 3,700 meters above sea level. Another great monastery is Drepung Monastery, which lies within less than half an hour’s drive from Lhasa city at an altitude of 3,800 meters. Ganden is the third of the great holy monasteries that lies at an altitude of around 3,800 meters. It is located in Dazi District, more than 40 kilometers east of Lhasa city.

Prayer Wheel around the White Tower at Sera Monastery

How to prevent high altitude sickness while traveling in Lhasa?

Usually, when traveling in places at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, tourists will have high altitude sickness. Lhasa is around 3,650 meters above sea level, which means people will get high altitude symptoms easily. When you feel headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, anorexia, or when you have trouble falling asleep after arriving in Lhasa, you should know that you are experiencing high altitude sickness. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is very dangerous. So, if you want to reduce the risk of getting those symptoms, you need to be well-prepared for your Tibet tour.

Before visiting Tibet, get your body checked to ensure that you don’t have diseases that may lead to high altitude sickness. Besides, prepare some proper medicine that can help prevent or relieve the symptoms of high altitude. It is not recommended to get to Tibet when you are having a cold since your body will not be able to acclimate to the bad conditions in high-altitude areas. After arriving in Lhasa, try to reduce your activities during the first days. And you’d better eat more protein-rich food to help your body to acclimate quickly. However, if you feel more and more sick, please contact your tour guide and get help from the doctors.