8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Group Tour

When you arrive in Lhasa, our staff will pick you up at Lhasa Airport/ Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel. Afterward, it's better to relax and take it easy on the first day to get acclimatized to high altitude and alleviate the jet lag. You might go to the local market and wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself.

After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

In the afternoon, you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace, which is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Potala Palace was the winter palace of successive Dalai lamas. It was built by the 33rd great king of Tibet - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th Century. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days.

Later in the day, take a walk around Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.

We will pass by Kampala Pass (4,790m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Standing at the lakeside, you can see its blue water shimmering with charming light, as well as the snow-capped holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191m) in the distance.

Next, we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is about 300 meters from the main highway on your way to Gyantse.

Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse — Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In the morning, you will leave Shigatse to Lhatse, a small town located 150 kilometers from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass through the first high mountain pass—Tsola Pass (4,600m), then the second one—Gyatsola Pass (5,248m), the mountain pass of Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, with countless prayer flags flying in the wind.

Afterward, you will keep ascending to Gawula Pass (5,198m), where you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you will drive along the zigzag road to the Everest Base Camp (5,200m) to stay overnight. You can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good.

You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at Everest Base Camp if the weather is good. After sightseeing, we will drive you back to Shigatse and enjoy the fabulous view along the way.

In Shigatse, we will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the home of Panchen Lama. It was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447 and is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse. It's located on the central hill of the city, the full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory".

Drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse along the Friendship Highway, the northern route to Lhasa. On the way, you’ll see the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley.

Your trip ends today. Your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for your departure.