About 250 km from Lhasa, Namtso (Sky Lake) is the second-largest saltwater lake in Tibet. It is bordered by the sacred Nyenchen Tanglha snowy peaks. You can explore the water’s edge, Tashi Do Hermitage, and a nearby bird sanctuary, There’s also a 2-3 hour walking circuit along the shoreline. This can be a day trip from Lhasa or extend your excursion by visiting the hot mineral springs at Yangpachen and overnighting in a hotel. On the way back to Lhasa, visit Tsurphu Monastery, home of the famous Karmapa lamas.

The Yarlung Valley, south of Lhasa, is the cradle of the Tibetan nation. The beauty of the Tsangpo River, the vistas, and sand dunes will delight you! The first stop is Samye, the first Buddhist monastery built in the 8th century. It is designed as a geomatic layout of the cosmos, and the main temple houses the most exquisite sacred art in all of Tibet. You can mingle with devotees from all over Tibet and enjoy the street markets in the small town. Stay overnight in Samye and explore the still active mountain hermitage of Chimphu with breathtaking views. Return to Lhasa or cross the Tsangpo River to arrive at Tsetang City. Then visit Yumbu Lhakang, a 100 m high stone watch tower, rebuilt temple fortress of the 2nd century King Nyatri Tsenpo. Ride a small horse to the top. Extend by visiting Trandruk Temple, a geomatic temple; Tsechu Bumpa Stupa, and/or the royal tombs of Chognye.

A few hours northeast of Lhasa, is Zhoto Tidro, commonly known as Terdrom Nunnery. This is where the great 8th-century female adept, Yeshe Tsogyal, meditated. At the entrance are the hot springs believed to have been created by Padmasambhava to benefit visitors in the future. The average temperature is 40°C. This is a favorite holiday destination. For those in excellent physical condition, there is a 10-12 hour hike high into the mountains, leading to Yeshe Tsogyal’s cave, Kiri Yangdzong. For a more leisurely hike, you can visit Padmasambhava’s Cave, nestled into the mountainside. Paradiscial!

Built on the limestone cliffs of the Yerpa Valley, this area is renowned for its historical complex of temples and 108 meditation and retreat caves, some of which date from the earliest period of Buddhism in Tibet. Filled with Buddhist history, Drak Yerpa is home to a small community of monks. At an altitude of about 4000 m/13,023 ft., the view from Drak Yerpa is spectacular and inspiring. One can feel the past mingled with the present.

About 45 km from Lhasa, Ganden Monastery was founded in the 15th century by Tsongkhapa. During the scenic and easy trek to Samye, you will cross two high passes, traverse mountains, enjoy beautiful lakes and meet nomads. This is quite adventurous, so you should be in excellent physical condition. The trek is 4-5 days. A guide, a cook, yaks, and camping equipment will accompany you. From Samye, you can return to Lhasa or exit Tibet from Gonggkar airport.

Pabongka Hermitage, 8 km northwest of Lhasa and atop a mountain, offers spectacular views of Lhasa. It dates back to the 7th century to the era of the famous Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo.There are several ancient artifacts. The foundation is all that survived the Cultural Revolution, and restoration has been in progress since 1986. The hike around Pabongka takes one day. Visitors are rare, so this is a great off-the-beaten-path destination near Lhasa.

Yumbu Lhakhang in Shannan, southern Tibet, is an ancient structure that stands atop a hill on the eastern bank of the Yarlung River and offers a panoramic view of the fertile planes. Legend holds that it was originally built as a palace by the first Tibetan king, Nyatri Tsenpo, in the 2nd century BC and later expanded and used as a summer palace by Songtsen Gampo and his wife Princess Wencheng in the 7th century AD. The building is divided into two parts – the multi-storied front part is a tower, while the rear part is a castle. There are beautiful statues and paintings inside the palace. Heavily damaged in the Cultural Revolution, it was rebuilt in the 1980s. Don't miss the donkey rides to the top of the hill.