About Us

Potala Travel is a Tibetan owned travel service based here in the heart of Lhasa. Our team members consist of knowledgeable program directors, experienced English speaking tour guides and trained cooks and drivers. We have access to all types of reliable vehicles: 4WD, van, and bus, as well as lodgings: hotels, local guesthouses and homestays and provide all the permitting and logistics of your travel within Tibet.

• Experience: Most of us have worked in the travel industry for numerous years as guides, cooks and drivers and have accumulated many years of experience. Some our Tibetan team members have been educated and employed in the West, which eliminates cultural and linguistic barriers between the two worlds. Whether researching future destinations, attending additional trainings, or studying languages, we constantly strive to improve our staff. All of our team members have completed at least 80 hours of ecotourism training and have participated in many community development projects.

• Knowledge: We live here, and we know Tibet! When our clients want to know more about a particular cultural tradition such as a ritual, custom, or the history of a local village or monastery, we don’t refer to travel guides…we share our knowledge of our country and people gleaned from our own experiences and from what we learned from our ancestors, teachers, and childhood traditions.

• Value: By working directly with us you eliminate the unnecessary costs and complication from working with middlemen through layers of service providers. At a very comparative price, we ensure your health and safety during your trip, offer quality services and provide enriching experiences.

• Responsible Tourism: We encourage our guests to shop locally, by arranging their stay in local lodgings, meals in local restaurants and visits to local shops and markets. We ask everyone to minimize their impact on the environment by using recyclable materials, packing out your own trash, and educating others on responsible travel. We support local communities by using local services, volunteering in local villages, and donating a percentage of our profits to sustainable community projects and programs.

Our Staff

Sonam Jamphel (Tour Operator and Guide) was born near Samye in Southern Tibet. He is the second youngest of seven siblings. Like many of the tour guides, Jamphel also went abroad to study English for 8 years and obtained a Chinese National Tour Guide license. He speaks excellent English, Tibetan (Lhasa dialect) and Chinese. Since 2004, Jamphel has been organizing and leading trekking, cultural, and spiritual trips in all Tibetan areas. In addition, Jamphel has attended several ecotourism workshops and travels extensively in remote villages to promote positive interactions that benefit both local communities and visitors. Through these assessments, Jamphel creates a “win-win experience for tourists and locals alike. His knowledge and experience working with Western tourists and local communities enable him to design unique trips. As a result, Jamphel is recommended on Lonely Planet’s website by many of his previous clients.

Samdup Gyal (Tour Guide), or Sam, comes from a small, humble family from Amdo in eastern Tibet. He obtained his China National Tour Guide license and has been a tour guide for five years. He speaks Tibetan, (Amdo dialect) Chinese and English. With many years of experience, Samdup is known for his good heart, great sense of humor, easy-going nature, and problem solving skills. If your car gets stuck or you miss your flight, Sam will come up with the best possible solution. He always makes sure you are well taken care of!

Tenpa Tenzin (Tour Guide and Driver) is from the Minyag region of Kham and currently lives in Kangding. He speaks good English, Tibetan (Lhasa and Kham dialects) and Chinese. He is in charge of organizing trips throughout the Kham region and is one of Potala’s most versatile tour guides acting as a trip organizer, tour guide, and driver (with his newly acquired 4WD); he’s got the whole package!

Tashi (Tour Guide) is from Lhoka (near Lhasa Airport). He studied Tibetan Buddhism and English abroad for 11 years. Tashi returned to Tibet near the end of 2003, obtained a tour guide license from the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, and began to work as a tour guide with many different travel agencies. As of 2010, Tashi has led about 300 different tour groups throughout the Tibetan Plateau without receiving a single complaint! His knowledge about Tibetan Buddhism, history and culture enriches the customer’s Tibetan experience in very authentic way.