How high is Lhasa
Lhasa lies at around 3,700 m according to the CDC. That is high enough for altitude sickness to be a real planning topic, and it is the first thing to think about when you build an itinerary around the Potala Palace. Lhasa altitude sickness can affect anyone who flies or takes the train straight to the city, and fitness does not protect you reliably.
This page gives general information based on CDC guidance. It is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, talk to a doctor before the trip.
Our pick: tour with oxygen on hand
This Namtso tour lists a portable oxygen bottle per person and a cylinder for the group, which is a practical note for high altitude, not medical advice.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours with oxygen on board
Lhasa tours and lake trips with a slow pace. The private Namtso trip lists one portable oxygen bottle per person and one cylinder for the group in its included items.
Potala Palace elevation
UNESCO gives 3,700 m as the elevation of the Potala Palace complex on the Red Hill. This is the height of the site above sea level and not the height of the building. The visit starts with a long stairway, so the climb happens at the height where breathing is already harder. For the rooms, routes and rules, see inside Potala Palace.
The first 48 hours
The CDC advises light activity only in the first 48 hours and no alcohol. Applied to Lhasa, this means: do not treat the long palace stairs, or a trip to a higher place, as an easy plan for your arrival day. Put the Potala Palace on a later day and spend the first day walking slowly and drinking water.
Going higher
Above 3,000 m of sleeping height, the CDC advises raising your sleeping height by no more than 500 m a day, and adding an extra night of acclimatization for each further 1,000 m. A route that climbs to a lake or a pass, such as the Namtso lake trip, should therefore come after several nights in the city, not before. Nagen-La Pass on that road is 5,190 m high.
Early symptoms and emergency signs
After going up, headache, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and nausea can appear. If you have symptoms, do not go higher to sleep. If they get worse despite rest and treatment, go down. Confusion, problems with coordination and shortness of breath can signal severe altitude illness. These need urgent medical help and a descent, not waiting for the next morning.
Medication: talk to a doctor
If you must go up quickly, prevention with medication is a question for your doctor before you leave. This page gives no doses and no self-treatment advice. Tell your guide at once if you feel unwell; the guide travels with you for the whole route.
Practical planning for the first days
Choose a hotel in Lhasa for your first nights and keep your plans loose. For where to base yourself, see where to stay in Lhasa. Remember that tours to Tibet need a permit and an agency; the steps are in the Tibet travel permit guide. Some packages list oxygen in their included items. Read that list rather than assuming it, because it differs from one package to the next.
Lhasa altitude sickness: frequently asked questions
How high is Lhasa?
Around 3,700 m according to the CDC.
How long does it take to adjust?
The CDC describes the first 3 to 5 days as the main adjustment period. Do not count on being adjusted after a fixed number of days.
Does fitness protect me?
Not reliably, according to the CDC. Fit people can get altitude sickness too.
What should I do on the first day?
Keep to light activity for the first 48 hours and avoid alcohol. Leave the Potala Palace stairs for a later day.
When do I need urgent help?
Confusion, problems with coordination or shortness of breath need urgent medical help and a descent.