Southern Tibet (largely the area around Shigatse), is a beautiful highland region, located close to where the Yaruzhangbu river joins the Lichu river.

The former capital of Tibet, Shigatse stands 3800 meters above sea level and is now the second largest urban center in Tibet, aided greatly by the fact that this is one of the few places in the area with good transport links to and from Lhasa. Shigatse has always been an important trade and administration center and also has political and religious significance, once being the seat of the Panchen Lama. The town is essentially divided into two parts: the old Tibetan style area in the city and the concrete, modern Chinese part of the town. The older streets and alleys here are very pleasant to wander and there are a few sights of interest to warrant a stay of a day or two.

There is little to see or do in Shigatse other than marvel at the Tashilunpo Monastery. It is said that the PSB office here is better disposed towards travellers wishing to extend their visa permits than in Lhasa. There are no further money changing facilities until the Nepalese border, so stock up on cash here.

Lhatse [4050m] is a grotty trucker's stop, with nothing to see or do other than stop to eat a bowl over over-priced noodles. The worst of it is that by the time you arrive you will be desperate for it. The place simply breaks the journey to Tingri.

Tingri boasts a view of Everest on a clear day, although you need to make sure you are in Old Tingri, and not New Tingri [aka Shegar] [4350m]. Old Tingri has nothing other than this promise of a peek at THE peak, and consists only of a disparate collection of huts. It's wise to use the place as a stop on the way to Everest Base Camp. This does add a couple of extra days to the length of the trip. It is very disappointing to arrive in Tingri, look at the horizon, and know that Everest lies veiled in the mist, and to have to turn tail and head east back to Lhasa without a glimpse of the 8848m monster.

Gyantse, is the other major urban center here, most famous for its stunning KumBum, a place of great religious and artistic reverence and importance. The summer is a particularly lively time to visit here when a horse racing and archery festival takes place in June and July. Gyantse was an important wool trading post between Tibet and India in mediaeval times. At the beginning of the 20th Century Gyantse rose to prominence again when Younghusband's British expedition took the fort before marching on to Lhasa. The two things to see here are the old fort, dating from the mid 1300s, and the Pelkor Monastery, which contains the Kumbum, a remarkable building crowned with a golden dome and umbrella, with chapels radiating outwards from each of its eight levels. It's the best-preserved building in Tibet of this style unique to Tibetan architecture. The Monastery was closed for refurbishment when last heard, but the Kumbum is certainly a must-see. They are within the same compound.

The southern area of Tibet is popular with travelers as part of a land cruiser tour from Lhasa. A common route takes in Yamdrok Tso, Gyantse, Shigatse, Sakya, the Everest region and various monasteries and temples along the way.