The amazing trip starts from the holy city Lhasa by appreciating its prominent historical and religious sites like mystical Potala Palace, sacred Jokahng temple, sprawling Sera and Drepung monastery, your arrival to the holy city will be greeted by the lovely blue sky and impressive glimpse of gigantic Potala palace perched on the red hill, while during a couple of days acclimation and jet-lag alleviation, you will deeply be overwhelmed by visiting numbers of world heritages and supernatural temples, bustling street around the Jokhang temple is one of the most devotional streets known as Bakhor, it will also extend the way to Gyantse and Shigatse in the west, experience the distinct culture of western(Tsang) Tibet, by driving along the stunning turquoise color lake Yamdrok and blooming Nyenchen Kangsar glacier under the sunny plateau climate, you will never waste even a  single minute by discovering new experiences and wonders on the way to Gyantse and Shigatse. The highlight of this customizable tour is overnight camping at the stunning Yamdrok lake, enjoy the peaceful campsite and have a wonderful sunrise and sunset at this crystal blue lake.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Lhasa (3680m)
Day 2 Lhasa (Bakhor street, Johkang Temple, Potala Palace)
Day 3 Lhasa (Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery)
Day 4 Lhasa-Palde Village (3950m), 150km/3hrs (Yamdrok Lake, Samding Monastery Camping)
Day 5 Palde-Gyangtse-Shigatse (3900m), 200km/5hrs Karola Glacier, Kumbum Stupa
Day 6 Shigatse-Lhasa (3680m), 280km/6hrs (Tashi Lhunpo Monastery)
Day 7 Depart from Tibet

Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 01-Arrival in Lhasa either by air or train.

A short flight to Tibet gives you a panorama of the snowy Himalayan ranges or the days of train ride over the high plateau by crossing the mighty Thangu la ranges will get you to Lhasa with beautiful sceneries along the route. On your arrival at the Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station, you will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver who will drive you to your hotel in Lhasa city. The airport is about 60km away from Lhasa which will take less than an hour through the recently built highway and from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half an hour, then you can check in the hotel and take some rest for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Then you can spend the night in Lhasa.

Day 02-Lhasa ( Visit Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor Street and Sera Monastery.)

Today is your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have a little headache which is very common for travelers by the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is recommendable. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take a short visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the Old Lhasa city. Jokhang temple is one of the most sacred temples in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since from the early days. After that, you have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as crowded central market of Lhasa, during the old days it was the most famous local market but now it is changed to tourist gift shopping center. The amazing day will end with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it was built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen choji Sakya Yeshi who was the  disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening every day in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 03-Lhasa ( Visit Potala palace and Drepung Monastery)

Today we will visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and later in the 17th century ,it was rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was the  home to the Dalai Lama and his government. Walking through the long stairs is quite challenging but it is worthwhile to leave your footsteps in the spiritual palace of God of compassion which listed in the world heritage in 1994. In the afternoon, we will visit the Drepung monastery, once the world’s largest monastery that housed for more than 10,000 monks, it was resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, but several destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots of things to see by walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lane through the monks apartments is thrilling. Then you can continue to acclimatize and alleviate jet lag for the rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 04- Lhasa (3600m) – Palde village (3950m), 150km, 4 hours drive. ( Visit Palde nunnery, typical Tibetan village)

Today we start to drive toward the southwest, through the zigzag road, you will climb up the Kampa la pass (4700m), from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdrok lake with its turquoise color and snow-capped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. After driving continouly along the lake for a few kilometers you will reach the campsite, an open area next to the lake and adjacent to the Palde village. Then you can walk around the village and visit Palde nunnery in the village which will be a totally different village experience. After that, you can start your camping with our guide and driver at the Yamdrok lake.

Day 05-Palde Village- Gyantse (3900m) – Shigatse(3900m), 350 km, 7hrs. ( Visit Yamdrok lake, Mt.Nyechen Kangsar glacier, Gyantse Kubum Stupa and Pelkhor Choede monastery)

Early in the morning, you have a chance to see the village people circumambulating around the nunnery and burning incense at a sacred spot on a ridge behind the village. Then we drive to Gyantse after breakfast, rest of the day will be spent enjoying the many magnificent valleys and exquisite Tibetan villages we pass through, en route we will stop at Karo la (5150m) to see the holy mount Nyenchen Kangsar glacier. Arrival at Gyantse visits Kumbum stupa and Palkhor Choede monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, it is not only well known for its architecture but also its old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls, late afternoon drive to Shigatse which is only 90km. Overnight in Shigatse.

Day 06-Shigatse – Lhasa, 280km, 4/5 hrs.

Today we will drive back to Lhasa along the northern friendship highway, the road cuts through numbers of villages and we will stop at Nyimo local home-based incense factory, that region is well known for their incense production since centuries ago, they use primitive water operated tools to process incense materials and each incense sticks are hand made, you may see locals making it on the spot, then you will arrive in Lhasa in the afternoon and you will have plenty of time to explore around the Bakhor to buy some gifts for your families and friends at home. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 07. Lhasa Airport/Train station send off.

Today our guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station. It is time to say your farewells and depart to your next destination.

Route – Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse – Mt. Everest – Namtso – Lhasa

Overview

This is the Classic tour itinerary to visit Lhasa, Everest Base camp and the holy lake Namtso Lake. If you are not used to the high altitude, then this is one of the best itineraries that cover the all the Lhasa main tourist sites like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street, Drepung and sera monastery with Gyantse Kumbum and Shigatse Tashi Lhunpho Monastery.

Tourists can see much natural scenery like beautiful sacred lake Yamdrok tso and karo glacier with beautiful views of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world from Everest Base Camp. Namtso Lake is  the second largest alpine saline lake in Tibet with an altitude of  4,718 meters above sea level. Its surrealistic beauty will take your breath away in no time.

Brief Itinerary

 Day-by-Day-Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)
When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 02: Lhasa Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Besides, we can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house; The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly;
Stay overnight in Lhasa

 Day 03: Lhasa Tour – Drepung monastery, Sera monastery
In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.

In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour  the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.
Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 04: Lhasa- Shigatse via Gyantse 360km
In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse .On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass; Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet’s third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse).In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyangtse Fortress.

After one and a half driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse,  we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).
Stay overnight in Shigatse

 Day 05: Shigatse (3900m) to Everest Base Camp(5200m)
In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama – Tashilunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse, it is a small town where you can have lunch.

After that, we will pass Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass(5248M). Shortly after we enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, tourists can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass(5198m).Then we drive along the New zigzag road to Everest Base Camp(5200m). You can get closer to gazt at the Mt. Everest peak. The sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.
Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk monastery guest house.

Day 06: EBC (5200m) and return to Shigatse (3900m)
In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbu Monastery – the unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. You can visit the Everest Base Camp monument and take the close-up shot of Mt. Everest. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 07: Shigatse (3900m) to Lhasa (3650m)
Today, we will drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 08: Lhasa to Namtso Lake (250km, 5 hours)
In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland ( in summer) . Besides, you can enjoy the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Lagenla Mountain Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake.

Then we can do leisure trek around Tashi Island and enjoy sunset of Namtso. At night, we you enjoy night view of the milky way at the lake shore.
Stay overnight at Namtso Tent Guest house

Day 09: Namtso Lake to Lhasa (250km, 5 hours )
Enjoy the clear morning at the lake shore, you can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Drive to Dumxung to have lunch. In the afternoon, you may enjoy Yangpachen hot spring (Optional) and have both indoor and outdoor swimming pool filled with hot springs water. Finally, head back to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa

Day 10: Depart from Lhasa
The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

Overview

The Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour is one of the best tour which begins and ends in Lhasa. This tour will take us from the capital city to the popular monasteries, pristine lakes, glaciers, rivers, farming valleys and breathtaking scenic  mountain views. Ultimately, passing through the fascinating Himalayas, we will drive to Everest Base Camp, the floor of the highest mountain in the world, and the main highlight of our trip. The spectacular view of the glorious Mt. Everest is such a sight to see and feels as if it was one of the greatest achievements of our life.

This Lhasa to EBC tour covers the beautiful Tibetan cities and historical towns of Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and Rongbuk. While there, we will visit the most popular landmarks like the Potala and Norbulingka palaces, the Tibet Traditional Hospital, Barkhor bazaar and Gyantse Dzong. We will also cross several passes and visit the beautiful turquoise-colored Yamdrok Tso Lake. Impressive Tibetan monasteries like Sera, Drepung, Jokhang temple, Khumbum stupa, Tashi Lhumpo, Sakya and Rongbuk are ours to admire. The Lhasa to Everest Base Camp tour, a distance covering around 800 km, offers you a complete tour and merges Tibet’s most famous and sacred sites into an ideal package.

At a Glance

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa. After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 2: Lhasa Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (B)

Today’s tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Lhasa Tour – Drepung monastery, Sera Monastery

In the morning ,you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. You can visit biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung.

In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 – 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour  the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Lhasa- Shigatse via Gyantse 360 km

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse .On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass; Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet’s third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse).In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyangtse Fortress. After one and a half driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse,  we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer). Stay overnight in Shigatse

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Shigatse (3900m) to Everest Base Camp(5200)

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama – Tashilunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse, it is a small town where you can have lunch.

After that, we will pass Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass(5248M). Shortly after we enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, tourists can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass(5198m).Then we drive along the New zigzag road to Everest Base Camp(5200m). You can get closer to gazt at the Mt. Everest peak. The sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area. Stay overnight at Rongbuk monastery guest house.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: EBC (5200m) and return to Shigatse (3900m)

In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbu Monastery – the unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together and later trek from lodging place to EBC (4kms, or take Eco bus). You can visit the Everest Base Camp and take the close-up shot of Mt. Everest. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Shigatse (3900m) to Lhasa (3650m)350km

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Depart from Lhasa

The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

Trip Overview

This mind-blowing 4 days private Lhasa City tour is the perfect way for a taste of Lhasa’s best in a short amount of time. During this tour, there are many “Wow” moments that set your heart racing and make your eyes widen, like the first time you go down into the bowels of the Potala, or walk amongst a sea of pilgrims around Barkhor Street, peer into the hidden life of chanting Tibetan Monks at Jokhang Temple, or take in a prayer meeting or some monk-debating at Sera and Drepung Monastery. It’s a journey where you scratch beneath the surface to get the real story, get to know the locals and experience more for less.

At a Glance

Detailed Itinerary

 Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa; get the first impression of Tibetan daily life

Welcome to the roof of the world! Your Tibet journey starts with a warm Tibetan style greeting from your local tour guide who will present you with Hada (traditional Tibetan scarves). Then be escorted to your hotel in Lhasa city at the comfort of your own private vehicle. For most of the way, you follow the Kyichu River, you could see Tibetan homes with their trapezoid shaped windows and fluttering prayer flags, and Tibetans walking beside the roads wearing their distinctive national costumes. Do have a comfort stop near Nietang Buddha where a giant statue of Buddha has been carved out of a stone cliff-face centuries ago. One of the first buildings you could see as you enter the city is the Potala Palace, sitting majestically on a hill dominating Lhasa. Stay at the hotel after arrival for adapting to the high attitude. It is helpful to take things easy for the first few days, and try to drink some water just and now. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 2: Lhasa Highlights Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street

After breakfast, we go to the Potala Palace, is the center of the holy city Lhasa, which was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. You will spend one hour wondering around the inside of this magnificent building exploring the rooms previously used by the Dalai Lama and the many Buddhist icons within.

In the afternoon we go inside of the Jokhang Temple. The Jokhang, like most of the larger temple structures have numerous individual temples within it dedicated to specific enlightened beings, protectors, high lamas, or saints. Images, both sculpted and painted, are everywhere. Every inch of wall and ceiling is brightly painted with images of clouds, beings, mandalas, or decorative patterns. Colorful silk banners, three stories high, hang in various places. Color, pattern, and images crowd in around you. The central image inside the building is a 30-foot high gilded image of Maitreya Buddha.

Then stroll around the back alleys of the Barkhor area of Old Lhasa. The streets smelled of yak butter and incense while hordes of pilgrims shuffled along the main Kora (circumambulations) around Jokhang Temple. If someone just walked at a normal pace, one kora would take about 15-20 minutes. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

 Day 3: Visit Drepung and Sera Monastery

In the morning have a tour for Drepung Monastery, the ever largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, Buddhist debates often occur there. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the monastery the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given its name which, in the Tibetan language, means Monastery of Collecting-Rice. Learn about the lives of Tibetan monks there. The afternoon is spent touring Sera Monastery, have a little hike for the beautiful valley scenery nearby and picnic there, in the afternoon, visit Sera monastery, which was created in 1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. As rose are planted everywhere in the monastery, it is also called “the court of wild rose”. Today still 200 lamas live in there. Catch the famous debate session of the monks before returning back to Lhasa. Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 4: Finish This Unforgettable Tour and Depart from Lhasa

Our guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

Yamdrok Lake Tour-05 Days

Namtso Lake Tour-06 Days