Lhasa to Everest Base Camp
Discover the cradle of Tibetan civilization on an unforgettable journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa.
Route
Kathmandu – Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse – Shegar – Everest Base Camp
Duration
07 Nights - 08 Days
Tour Type
Adventure
Complete Tour Itinerary
Day 01 : Kathmandu / Lhasa
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport to connect with your flight to Lhasa via Air China or Sichuan Airlines. The flight offers spectacular aerial views of the high Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest. Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, our representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel.
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. It is one of the highest cities in the world, situated at an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,990 feet), with surrounding mountain peaks rising to 5,500 meters (18,000 feet). The city has served as the religious, cultural, economic, and administrative heart of Tibet since the mid-17th century and contains many of the most culturally significant sites in Tibetan Buddhism.
The legendary Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, became the leader of the Tibetan Empire in the mid-7th century and ruled until 649 AD. During his reign, he constructed many of the city’s most prominent monuments. Following the fall of the monarchy in the 9th century and the subsequent rise of the 5th Dalai Lama, Lhasa’s importance as a religious sanctuary grew significantly. In 1950, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Tibet. In March 1959, an uprising centered in Lhasa prompted a massive crackdown, forcing the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, to flee into exile in India.
The remainder of the day is completely free at your leisure to rest and focus on acclimatization to the high altitude.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 02 : Lhasa (CITY SIGHTSEEING)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then proceed for an immersive tour of Lhasa’s most iconic central landmarks: the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the historic Barkhor Bazaar.
Potala Palace: Majestically situated atop Marpo Ri (Red Hill) in the heart of Lhasa, the original palace fortress was built in 637 AD by King Songtsen Gampo. Though that structure was largely destroyed in the 9th century, construction on the grand palace we see today began in 1645 under the 5th Dalai Lama, taking 45 years to complete. The complex is divided into the structural zones of the White Palace (the administrative and residential quarters) and the Red Palace (dedicated to religious study and shrines). Rising 13 stories high, it contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, 200,000 statues, and the jewel-encrusted burial tombs of past Dalai Lamas. This architectural masterpiece of stone and wood covers 130,000 square meters and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas until 1959. It was named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of Avalokiteshvara, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Jokhang Temple: Founded in 652 AD by King Songtsen Gampo, this temple was built to house sacred Buddhist statues brought to Tibet as dowries by his two wives, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of China. The temple was expanded significantly over the next 900 years, with its final historical renovation overseen by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1610. The revered Indian master Atisha taught here in the 11th century, and the complex has been considered the most sacred temple in Tibet ever since. A major restoration took place between 1972 and 1980, during which expert Nepalese artisans contributed to repairing the temple’s intricate design elements. Jokhang Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Barkhor Market: This circular street forms the historic heart of old Lhasa. Encircling the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street serves as a sacred pilgrim inner circuit, as well as the city’s main trading hub. Its origins date back to the foundation of the temple itself. Every day into the deep hours of the night, Buddhist pilgrims can be seen walking clockwise or progressing by full-body prostrations along the paving stones. Often called “the window of Tibet,” it offers a vibrant look into traditional Tibetan lifestyle, clothing, and culture.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 03 : Lhasa (MONASTERY EXCURSIONS)
Following breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring two of Tibet’s legendary monastic universities located on the outskirts of the city.
Drepung Monastery: Built in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden (1397–1449), a direct disciple of Je Tsongkhapa (the founder of the Gelugpa school). Perched on the slopes of Mount Gambo Utse west of Lhasa, Drepung translates to “Rice Heap” due to the striking white appearance of its stacked structures on the hillside. It stands as the largest and historically wealthiest of the “Great Three” Gelugpa university monasteries in Lhasa, once housing over 10,000 monks and governing more than 7,700 subsidiary institutions across the plateau.
Sera Monastery: Founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey Sakya Yeshe (1355–1435), another prominent disciple of Je Tsongkhapa. At its historical peak, it housed over 6,000 monks and was famous for its formidable warrior-monks (Dob-dob). Sera, meaning “Enclosure of Roses,” is another of the “Great Three” Gelugpa university centers. The complex comprises a grand assembly hall, colleges, and 32 residential sectors. Extensively refurbished, it now houses a smaller community of active monks. The monastic library guards invaluable ancient texts and scriptures. The monastery is well known for its animated philosophical debates, which take place in the courtyard every afternoon between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 04 : Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Gyantse / Shigatse
Following breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Gyantse (265 km / approx. 5–6 hours). The route traverses three spectacular high mountain mountain passes: the Khamba La (5,100 m), Karo La (5,050 m), and Simi La (5,000 m). Along the way, you will drive alongside the breathtaking Yamdrok Lake (Turquoise Lake), surrounded by snow-capped peaks with views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance.
Gyantse (3,977 meters / 13,050 feet): Tibet’s third-largest historical city is a quiet agricultural town strategically located in the Nyang Chu Valley along ancient trade routes linking India, Sikkim, and Tibet. The town is famous for its hand-woven wool carpets and well-preserved fortresses. The primary highlights here are within the Pelkhor Chöde Monastic Complex:
The Kumbum Stupa: Commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427, this giant octagonal structure is one of Tibet’s grandest architectural achievements. Standing 35 meters high across nine tiers, it is surmounted by a golden dome and contains 77 chapels adorned with over 10,000 historic murals showing heavy Newari (Nepalese) artistic influence. Kumbum translates to “One Hundred Thousand Images.” It is one of the few structures of its scale to completely survive the Cultural Revolution.
Pelkhor Chöde Monastery: Founded in 1418, this unique complex seamlessly unifies three different sects of Tibetan Buddhism (Sakya, Kadam, and Gelug) under one roof. Its main temple, the Tsulaklakang, features architectural influences from Han Chinese, Tibetan, and Nepalese designs, housing pristine 15th-century murals.
After exploring the Kumbum, continue your drive through the valley to Shigatse (3,840 meters / 12,598 feet), the second-largest city in Tibet. Steeped in over 600 years of history, Shigatse rests in an alluvial plain at the confluence of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) and Nyang Chu rivers.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 05 : Shigatse / Shegar (NEW TINGRI)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, followed by an exploration of Shigatse’s spiritual centerpiece before moving deeper into the Himalayas.
Tashilhunpo Monastery: Founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the 1st Dalai Lama and close disciple of Je Tsongkhapa. It stands as one of the six great state monasteries of the Gelug school. Boasting signature white stone walls and sweeping golden roofs, Tashilhunpo is the traditional seat of the successive Panchen Lamas—the second-highest lineage of reincarnated tulkus in Tibetan Buddhism. The complex holds invaluable relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, a massive collection of sacred thangkas, and the world’s largest covered bronze statue of the sitting Maitreya (Future) Buddha.
Following the monastery tour, enjoy a short stroll through Shigatse’s local market to view local handicrafts, Tibetan daggers, and yak butter before joining the Friendship Highway.
The drive toward Shegar takes roughly 4 to 5 hours, crossing the high Gyatso La Pass (5,248 meters / 17,217 feet). On the descent, clear weather offers your first breathtaking glimpses of Mount Everest and Mount Cho Oyu. Arrive in Shegar (4,350 meters / 14,271 feet), a small mountaineering base settlement near the foot of the ancient Xegar Dzong ruins.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 06 : Shegar / Ronbuk Monastery / Everest Base Camp / Shigatse
An early breakfast flags off your ultimate Himalayan detour. Leaving the main highway, drive through Qomolangma National Nature Park and ascend the winding switchbacks of the Pang La Pass (5,150 m). This pass offers an unparalleled panoramic view of the central Himalayan ridge, spotlighting five of the world’s highest peaks: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma.
Rongbuk Monastery (4,980 meters / 16,338 feet): Situated near the north face of Mount Everest at the end of the Dzakar Chu Valley, Rongbuk is celebrated as one of the highest-elevation monasteries on Earth. It has served as an important sacred pilgrimage stopover for Sherpas crossing from the Khumbu region of Nepal via the Nangpa La, and historically hosted the first British climbing expeditions of the 1920s and 1930s.
From the eco-terminal near Rongbuk, transfer into the environmental protection shuttle (eco-bus) for the short final drive to the Everest Base Camp viewing area. Stand directly before the iconic, vertical north face of the world’s highest peak (Mount Qomolangma / 8,848.86 m).
After absorbing the historic alpine views, board your vehicle and trace your route back down the valleys, returning to Shigatse for a well-deserved rest.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 07 : Shigatse / Lhasa
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today, travel along the northern highway route back to Lhasa. This scenic, direct road follows the banks of the roaring Yarlung Tsangpo River, showcasing sweeping views of the stark Tibetan plateau landscapes.
Arrive back in Lhasa by afternoon. Enjoy your final day completely at leisure to relax at the hotel or wander through the vibrant, incense-scented alleyways of the Barkhor circuit to pick up souvenirs.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day 08 : Lhasa / Kathmandu / Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Your morning is free for independent exploration or packing until you are transferred to Lhasa Gonggar Airport to board your return flight to Kathmandu.
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