Lhasa, Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake Tour

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa

After arriving in Lhasa, you will be met by a local tour guide who will welcome you at the airport/train station after which he will transfer you to the hotel. Here, you have the chance to acclimatize the high altitude.

Day 2: Lhasa

Your tour today will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site - Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artefacts.

Then continue onwards to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual centre for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewellery. After the tour through Lhasa, you will be taken back to your hotel for your overnight stay.

Day 3: Lhasa

In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

In the afternoon, there will be paid a visit to the Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debating at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Day 4: Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse

Today, you will leave Lhasa and head out to Gyantse where you will admire the Gampala pass (4790m) on the way and get a glimpse of the Yambrok-tso (4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Then, continue driving west towards Gyantse where you will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. After a one and a half hour drive, you will arrive in Shigatse; the second largest city in Tibet. Here, you will have your overnight stay.

Day 5: Everest Base Camp

You will leave Shigatse behind and head on to Lhatse where you can enjoy your lunch. Afterwards, you will drive to Shegar where you will be able to have a stunning view of the Mount Everest on your way back down, if the weather is clear enough. After a 4 to 6 hour drive, you will arrive at the Rongbuk monastery. Along the way there, you will pass Pang La Pass; one of the highest passes in Tibet at 5050m. From that pass onwards, you can enjoy the view of all the five highest peaks in the world until you arrive at the Everest Base Camp where you will have an overnight stay.

Day 6: Everest Base Camp Return to Shigatse

In the early morning, you will be able to experience the sunrise appear on the top of Mount Everest where you will have a full view of the magnificent mountain. There is the option to trek from your tent to the base camp 4km one way, or go to the Camp by local bus. After this, you will head back to Shigatse.

Day 7: Shigatse - Lhasa

Today, you will explore Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built in 1447. This monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha - the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa, which will take around 6 hours.

Day 8: Lhasa to Namtso Lake (240km, 5 hours )

In the morning, you will drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso. Along the way you will be able to see the Nyenchen Thanglha (snow mountain ranges) and lots of nomads tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated around the mountain side. Namtso Lake is the Heavenly Lake which is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest salt lake. You can do a very relaxing trekking around the lake side and Tashi Island. Your overnight stay will be at the lake shore which is the perfect spot to see the stars.

Day 9: Namtso Lake to Lhasa (240km, 5 hours)

Enjoy the clear morning at the lake shore where you can trek along the lake shore to Tashi Dor Island to explore the meditation caves. Afterwards, you will be taken to Dumxung where you will have lunch.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy the Yangpachen hot spring (Optional) and have both indoor and outdoor swimming pool filled with hot springs water. Continue driving back to Lhasa.

Day 10: Depart from Lhasa

It is time to leave Tibet behind and head homewards. You will be transferred to the airport or train station and depart home from there.