Five Things to do in Tibet

The old city of Lhasa is situated around the Jokhang Temple. The Old Lhasa city had a limited perimeter before the 1950s. Locals still recognize it as  Lhasa, and outside this parameter, it is considered the outskirts of Lhasa. However, many travel agencies don’t have this in their itineraries, and many don’t even mention the old city of Lhasa.

For some reason, many of my visiting friends are saying I am not here to visit the monastery only, which many tour providers do. However, it would be in your best interest to explore the old city on your own. Many shops sell local delicacies and handicrafts. Also, local children would greet you with a “Halo” as soon as they saw you.

Many of the houses in the old city were built before the last century, offering a unique opportunity to experience the authentic architecture of Tibetan homes. You can hop in some courtyards to see how Tibetans live their life. Many of the courtyards have a tea house where you can sip with locals. Visiting Tibetans in their traditional setup could provide a unique experience for you and offer an excellent opportunity to take a picture.

Your travel agency could arrange a dinner at the Dining with Culture Show restaurant. During the peak season of August and September, it is recommended to book in advance. Could you ask your tour operator for a complimentary dinner at that restaurant? Many travel agencies are generous enough to invite you and your group to dinner with a cultural show, as we do.

You will be served delicious local Tibetan food, and you will also have the opportunity to enjoy local Tibetan songs and dances. There are many occasions when our guest takes part in the dance. Your guide could also provide you with information about the songs and dances of Tibet. Tibet is renowned as the “ocean of music and dance” in China. We have a rich history of the song and a great diversity of Songs and Dances. You can find a list of the Best Restaurants in Lhasa: where to eat in Lhasa?

Traditionally, Tibetan society is divided into two significant professions: farming and nomadic herding. Nomad is unique in Tibet. They live a short life with fundamental amenities. There is genuinely a non-possessiveness of worldly wealth. They live their lives depending on what nature can give them in this harsh and extreme weather of the high plateau. There are many occasions when every traveler has the opportunity to get closer and live a moment with them. However, many rush to take advantage of this opportunity. If you are traveling in Tibet, you may have the opportunity to visit a nomad.

We recommend taking a day tour to Namtso, which offers a golden opportunity to meet the nomads. You may want to speak with your tour guide and ask if you can visit a nomad. Then, we would recommend a night camp with the nomad and live their life for a day.

While in Tibet, you are not here to see the monasteries and drive through the beautiful landscape. Why not visit a Tibetan village and a Tibetan family? We are very welcoming, and we treat our guests as the most crucial people in our family. Several factors may have influenced your decision to visit Tibet. The Tibetan culture and the Tibetan people should be the main influencing factors in visiting our great land. So why not see them in their everyday life setting?

When traveling, you can ask the guide and driver to stop by a village for an hour or two, allowing you to visit the town and meet some local families. My guests would often stop by the city, participate in the village ceremony, and work in the fields for some hours. For example, we had a client from England last year who, instead of visiting Everest Base Camp, stopped at a village on the way and participated in a temple-building project. We stayed in a village guesthouse, and every villager was happy to have a foreign friend making them laugh. He told me it was the most incredible experience of the entire trip.

Along the way, you will find many Tibetan Home restaurants. You could ask your guide to recommend one and ask them to stop by. In those family restaurants, your host will sing for you, dance for you, and you can even wear the local dress and pose for a picture with them.

The advice is to live a local life for a day. Every morning, the locals of Tibet would go for a circumambulation of either the Jokhang Temple or the Potala Palace. After circumambulating those two holy places, people would go to the Tea shop to drink plenty of tea. Tibetans are very fond of drinking tea. There would sometimes be Tibetan noodles. If you go for the circumambulation and then visit the tea house, you will encounter numerous local people and experience their daily life for a day. If you’re a photographer, this could provide an excellent opportunity to capture a picture with a story.

Above is something you can do in Tibet that your Tibet travel agency may not mention to you. Enjoy. However, remember to discuss the ideas with your guide, as the tour provides further instructions and feedback.