Tibet's best walking is often not the famous long treks but the short routes around Lhasa, where you climb a ridge, cross a pilgrimage path and look down on a valley of barley fields with the Potala in the distance. These walks need no permit beyond what you already have for Lhasa, and they are the easiest way to feel the scale of the plateau.
The Drepung kora
A pilgrim path circles the hillside above Drepung Monastery, west of the city. It climbs steadily for about an hour to a ridge with prayer flags and rock carvings, then drops back toward the monastery. The path is well used by local pilgrims, the views over the Lhasa Valley are wide, and the whole walk takes two to three hours.
Sera Monastery and the debating courtyard
Sera, north of the city, has its own kora on the hillside behind the monastery. The combination of a short climb and the afternoon monk debates in the courtyard, where monks argue points of doctrine with dramatic clapping gestures, is one of the best half days in Lhasa.
Valley walks
Further out, the Lhasa Valley has easy routes through villages and along irrigation channels, with barley fields, willow trees and farmhouses. These are gentle walks on flat ground, good for a first day at altitude, and can be arranged with a local guide and a vehicle transfer.
Practical notes
All these walks start above 3,600 meters. Walk slowly, take twice as long as you would at sea level, and turn back if you get a headache that does not ease. Carry water, sun protection and a windproof layer; weather changes quickly and the wind on exposed ridges is cold. Wear shoes with grip for loose stone paths.
