Our Team
Potala Guide is built by three people who share an uncommon depth of experience with Potala Palace, Lhasa, and the Tibetan Plateau. Between us, we have visited the palace across seven seasons — winter stillness, summer crowds, autumn light, and the brief, brilliant Lhasa spring. We have climbed the east stairs in the thin morning air, stood in the Red Palace as butter lamps flickered against gilded stupas, and photographed the golden roofs from every public vantage point in the city.
We are not a faceless content operation. We are travelers, researchers, and writers who believe that a place as extraordinary as Potala Palace deserves a guide as thorough as the palace itself. Every page on this site reflects firsthand experience, cross-referenced against official sources and verified through the latest traveler reports.
Tenzin Dorje
Lhasa-based Researcher & Cultural Guide
- BA Tibetan Studies, Tibet University
- 20+ years guiding at Potala Palace and Lhasa monasteries
- Fluent in Tibetan, Mandarin Chinese, and English
Born in Shigatse and raised in Lhasa, Tenzin has spent over 20 years studying Tibetan Buddhist art and architecture. He has guided hundreds of visitors through Potala Palace and holds a degree in Tibetan Studies from Tibet University. Tenzin writes the history, architecture, and cultural etiquette content on Potala Guide.
Covers: Tibetan architecture · Buddhist art · Cultural etiquette · Potala Palace history
Sarah Chen
Senior Travel Writer & Tibet Specialist
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified
- Contributor to major travel guidebooks since 2017
- 6+ visits to Tibet across all seasons
- High-altitude first aid training
Sarah has visited Tibet six times across all four seasons since 2017. A former Lonely Planet contributor and Wilderness First Responder, she focuses on practical trip planning, altitude safety, and honest logistical advice. Sarah writes the travel tips, permits, and itinerary content on Potala Guide.
Covers: Trip planning · Altitude safety · Permits & logistics · Seasonal travel advice
Michael Rivera
Travel Photographer & Visual Guide
- Published in National Geographic Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler
- 4 photography expeditions to Lhasa since 2018
- Specialist in high-altitude and architectural photography
An award-winning travel photographer whose work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler and Conde Nast Traveler. Michael has documented Potala Palace through every season and lighting condition over four visits to Lhasa. He writes the photography guide and contributes images throughout the site.
Covers: Travel photography · Architectural photography · Photo spot scouting · Camera technique
The Visit That Started This Guide
This site began after a specific visit in autumn 2023. Sarah and Tenzin stood on Chakpori Hill at sunrise, watching the first light hit the White Palace walls. A traveler nearby was reading a four-year-old guidebook that listed a ticket price that had changed twice since publication and made no mention of the online reservation system introduced the year before. The realization hit: the English-language information about visiting Potala Palace was scattered across outdated guidebooks, incomplete blog posts, and forum threads full of conflicting advice. The most important landmark on the Tibetan Plateau had no single, reliable, current guide.
We decided to build it. Michael joined the project six months later, adding the photography guide and contributing images drawn from four photography expeditions to Lhasa. The site launched in early 2026 and has been updated quarterly since.
How We Research
Every piece of information on this site goes through a multi-step verification process:
- On-the-ground verification: We have visited Potala Palace in person across multiple seasons. Our most recent on-site verification was May 2026 (Tenzin Dorje), with photography updates from March 2026 (Michael Rivera).
- Cross-referencing: Prices, hours, permit rules, and transport details are cross-checked against official sources, recent traveler reports, and local operators.
- Regular updates: Content is reviewed and refreshed on a quarterly basis. The most recent comprehensive update was August 2026.
- Expert review: Medical and altitude-related content is reviewed against guidelines from recognized health authorities, including the CDC and WHO high-altitude guidance.
Editorial Standards
We hold our content to three principles:
- Accuracy: If a fact is wrong, it helps no one. We correct errors promptly and note when content was last reviewed.
- Practicality: Travel guides should answer the question you actually have, not the question a search engine wants to rank. We prioritize actionable, specific information over generic travel writing.
- Transparency: We clearly disclose our limitations. We are not official tourism authorities, not medical professionals, and not licensed tour operators. When we cannot verify something definitively, we say so.
Content Updates
Potala Palace ticket prices, permit regulations, and transport schedules can change. We update our content on the following schedule:
- Ticket prices and hours: Verified at the start of each calendar year and updated within 48 hours of official announcements.
- Permit rules: Reviewed quarterly, as regulations can shift with little notice.
- Transport schedules: Updated whenever airlines or railways announce changes to routes or timetables.
- Medical/altitude guidance: Reviewed semi-annually against current CDC and WHO recommendations.
Each page displays its last-updated date and contributing author. If you spot an error or outdated information, please contact us and we will correct it promptly, with the correction noted in our changelog.
Independent and Unaffiliated
Potala Guide is not affiliated with the Tibet Tourism Bureau, the Potala Palace administration, the Chinese government, or any travel agency. We do not sell tours, accept payment for listings, or publish sponsored content. Our recommendations are based on research and experience, not commercial arrangements.
When we link to external sources — UNESCO, Wikipedia, government health agencies — we do so because they are authoritative, not because of any partnership or payment.
Corrections and Changelog
We maintain a public record of significant corrections and content updates:
- August 6, 2026: Full site content refresh. Updated ticket prices, permit processing timelines, and transport schedules to reflect current conditions.
- May 15, 2026: Updated photography page following on-site re-verification of all photo spot accessibility. Removed one location (Dragon Pond Park south gate) due to temporary construction closure.
- February 2026: Initial site launch with comprehensive guides.
Contact Us
For corrections, suggestions, or questions about our content, you can reach us at:
Email: hello@tibet-lhasa-potala.com
We read every message and aim to respond within 48 hours. If you are a traveler currently in Tibet with an urgent question, please contact your tour operator or local authorities directly — we cannot provide real-time travel assistance.
Published: January 1, 2026 · Last updated: August 6, 2026