Tour Map Click on the map to enlarge

DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN LHASA EITHER BY AIR OR TRAIN AND MEET WITH YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS
Getting to Lhasa can be done via a flight from several cities across mainland China or from Kathmandu or you can take the train from one of seven gateway cities to Tibet. When you arrive at the railway station or airport one of our guides will be there to meet you and will help load your luggage to transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. The drive from the airport takes around an hour while the trip from the railway station across the Lhasa River is a mere 25 minutes. Once you check into your hotel you can spend the rest of the day resting to help acclimatize to the increased altitude of the city.
Note: If your arrival time is different from our free airport shuttle bus (see bottom of this page to see airport shuttle bus timing) then we will arrange private airport pick up which cost CNY400 all the train station pick up and transfer can be arranged without any additional cost. Please let us know your arrival time and detail information about flights/trains.

DAY 2. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR I
Attractions;Jokhang temple and bustling Bakhor street.
On your first day on the plateau you may have some headaches nausea or drowsiness. This is very common among travelers adjusting to the high altitude. Drinking plenty of water and limiting your activity during the first couple of days can help.

In the morning your first trip will be to the Jokhang Temple the most sacred temple in Tibet and the home of the famous Jowo Rinpoche Statue. The temple is also a major pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists from all across the plateau. After leaving the temple we will spend some time in Barkhor Street the ritual kora route around the temple in the middle of the Old City. As we walk around the streets we will see many Tibetan pilgrims doing the same murmuring the Buddhist sutras and spinning the prayer wheels with some prostrating at certain points along the route. The streets are also renowned as one f the best market streets in Lhasa and a great place to find unusual souvenirs.

After lunch in the city we will head towards the long steps of the Potala Palace the former center of the Dalai Lama’s governance of Tibet. The most famous landmark of Tibet this stunning red and white palace was constructed in the 17^th century on the site of an ancient 7^th century ruined fortress. The hike up the steps to the palace is a little demanding but it is well worth it for the amazing tour of this ancient Buddhist palace.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.

DAY 3.  LHASA ESCORTED TOUR II
Attractions; Drepung monastery and Sera monastery.
In the morning we will visit Drepung Monastery about 5km to the west of Lhasa center. One of the largest monasteries in the world at one point it housed more than 10000 monks. This unique university monastery is the original residence of the Dalai Lama which moved to Potala and then on to Norbulingka. The winding network of alleys around the monastery is an exciting place to explore and learn more of the real Tibetan culture.

In the afternoon we will travel to the north of the capital to visit the famed Sera Monastery. Just a few kilometers north of the city center Sera is renowned for its thrilling monastic debates which are held between monks and lamas as a training exercise in the debating courtyard every afternoon except Sunday. The monastery was built in the 15^th century and houses more than 600 monks lamas and novices.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.

DAY 4: LHASA (3656m) – GYANTSE (3977m) – SHIGATSE (3845m) 356km 7hrs.

Attractions; Yamdrok lake Mt.Nyechen Kangsar glacier Gyantse Kubum stupa and Pelkhor Choede monastery.
On leaving the Tibetan capital we will first drive southwest towards the beauty of Lake Yamdrok taking the winding road up to the crest of the Gampa La pass at 4794 meters. From the pass you get the first glimpse of the beauty of Lake Yamdrok below ringed by snowy mountain peaks and stretching out across the whole landscape before you. In the distance the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar stands tall in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain Range. We will drop down to the lake shore for a closer look before continuing on to Nagartse for a delicious local lunch.

On the way to Gyantse after lunch we cross over the pass at Karo La (5159m) where we can view the beautiful glacier that falls from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar.  In Gyantse we will stop at the Pelkor Chode Monastery to explore both the monastery and the outstanding 32-meter stupa that is the highlight of the day. Known as the Kumbum Stupa this one-of-a-kind stupa has nine floors and 108 chapels which contain thousands of images and statues throughout. Then we will continue on in the late afternoon to reach Shigatse before nightfall.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.

DAY 5: SHIGATSE – EBC (5100m) and Rongbuk Monastery 342km 7hrs.
Attractions; Rongbuk monastery andMt. Everest base camp.
After we depart from Shigatse we will drive direct to the base Camp of Mount Everest near the Rongbuk Monastery. The route takes us over several high passes and the first outstanding view you will see is from the Gyatso La pass at 5400 meters. From the viewpoint at the crest of the pass you can see Mount Everest standing tall in the distance.

At Old Tingri we will turn off the Friendship Highway and take the Zhufeng Road over the Gawu La Pass (5250m) from which you get an amazing view of the Himalayan panorama. The view of the peaks includes several mountains above 8000 meters including Mount Everest (8848m) Mt. Lhotse (8516m) Mt. Makalu (8463m) Mt. Shishapangma (8020m) and Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m).

On our arrival at the Rongbuk Monastery we will first check into the tent guesthouse or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse depending on the time of year. The tent guesthouses are not available in the winter months from November to March and are sometimes full in the peak months of summer. After a light lunch we will get time to explore the famous Rongbuk Monastery the official highest Buddhist monastery in the world. Housing both monks and nuns the monastery was a regular stopping point for explorers heading for Mount Everest in the early days after it was first discovered.
Stay overnight at EBC.
(Note: The Everest base Camp for tourists was moved back from the original climber’s base camp in February 2019 and is now close to the Rongbuk Monastery. Tourists can only go as far as the Dza Rongbuk Caves a short hike past the monastery itself.)

DAY 6: RONGBUK MONASTERY/EBC – SHEGAR – SHIGATSE 342km 7hrs.
Attractions;Rongbuk monastery-world highest monastery Himalayan ranges.
After a pleasant night at the base camp or monastery guesthouse we can rise early to get the best view of the sunrise on the eastern sloped of Mount Everest. The hill behind the monastery is the best spot for good early-morning photos of the mountain. Then it is time to say goodbye to the world’s highest mountain as we pack up and prepare to drive back to Shigatse. The 342-kilometer trip takes around 6-7 hours and once back in Shigatse we can take a well-earned rest anda relaxing hot bath.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.

DAY 7: SHIGATSE – LHASA 280km 4/5 hrs.
Attractions;Tashi Lhunpo monastery .
After breakfast we will spend the first part of the morning touring around the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery the seat of the Panchen Lama before heading off along the Friendship Highway towards Lhasa the Tibetan capital. Built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama the monastery is now the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama Tibet’s second highest religious incarnation. There you will be able to see the tombs of 7 Panchen Lamas explore the twisting cobbled streets and get a peek into monastic life.

Then drive back to Lhasa through the brand new Lhasa-Shigatse highway which is half done at the moment, but it shorten the driving journey around a hour.

Arriving in Lhasa in the late afternoon you will have time to explore Barkhor Street once more and pick up souvenirs for your friends and family if you wish.
Overnight in Lhasa

DAY 8: LHASA AIRPORT/TRAIN STATION DEPARTURE.

We will head to the airport or train station and say our goodbyes. Before your departure we would appreciate it if you can spare some time to evaluate our services either by completing our feedback form or by sending us an email when you get home.

In the spring and autumn seasons the temperatures are moderately warm and the skies are clear and bright with no rain in the region. Nights can get a little chilly sometimes dropping to below freezing in April and November but not too cold that you will freeze too. The winds also blow away any clouds that could cover the summit of the mountain giving you an almost completely unrestricted view of this massive peak.Summer is the monsoon season in Tibet but at Mount Everest July and August actually see a lot less rainfall than many places in Tibet in summer. And with temperatures reaching up to around 16 degrees it is pleasantly warm for traveling. However there is no guarantee that the clouds will not be covering the summit of the mountain so getting the best views can sometimes be pot luck.

Obviously the best part of this tour is going to be the view of the mountain’s high summit after reaching EBC. While the base camp may have been moved back from the mountain a little closer to the Rongbuk Monastery you will still get the best possible view of this awesome peak than from anywhere else in the world. And the Rongbuk Monastery is one of the best possible places to get som great sunrise and sunset shots of the mountain with the light hitting the slopes of the mountain and turning them a stunning color of burnished orange.

With a wealth of stunning attractions to choose from this 8-day tour has more to see than most tours in Tibet. The route to the massive mountain takes you all the way across the plateau and passes through some of the most stunning attractions and towns you could imagine. In Lhasa you can visit the ancient 7^th century Jokhang Temple home of the famous Jowo Rinpoche statue; and the beautiful Potala Palace set high on the Red Hill overlooking the city. On the road to EBC you will also get to visit the Gyantse Kumbum a 32-meter high stupa that has 108 chapels and is the only one of its kind in Tibet. You also have the amazing Rongbuk Monastery known in Tibet as the “official” highest Buddhist monastery in the world close by the Everest base Camp. And of course there is no attraction more unique than the base camp of Mount Everest itself. One of the highest points tourists in Tibet can travel to the base camp has seen some of the most famous mountaineers in the world traveling through it. And as the older of the two base camps for Mount Everest it has a history that goes back almost 100 years.

One of the most varied tours in Tibet in terms of altitudes you will travel from as low as 3600 meters to heights of up to 5400 meters along the course of the tour. And EBC at 5100 meters above sea level is not even the highest point of the tour which is actually the crest of the Gyatso La Pass at 5400 meters. The altitudes change frequently throughout the tour rising and falling depending on where you are stopping. High passes lift you up into the sky while the major cities are normally at lower altitudes such as Shigatse at 3845 meters and Gyantse at 3977 meters.

Top Hotels While you can get great hotels in Lhasa and Shigatse and even in places like Gyantse and Tingri this is one of the tours in Tibet where you will find yourself roughing it for at least one night. During the part of the tour in the Tibetan capital you have a wide range of places to stay from the five-star hotels such as the Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise the Four Points by Sheraton and the St. Regis Lhasa Resort to the cheaper guesthouses such as the Yabshi Phunkhang Heritage Hotel r the House of Shambhala. In Shigatse you also have some good hotels to choose from though there are no 5-star hotels in the city. 3-4 starred hotels and guesthouses abound including the Shigatse Yak Hotel and the Manasarovar Hotel. You can also choose from several cheaper guesthouses which offer more basic accommodation but still with excellent service. However when you reach EBC you will be a little surprised at the accommodation you have to choose from. There are only two places to stay in at EBC: the Tent Guesthouses and the Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse. Aside from the unique experience of staying in a nomadic-style tent in the Tent Guesthouses there is little to separate the two styles of accommodations. Neither have running water nor indoor toilets and heating is provided in the center of the tents from a dung-burning stove while in the guesthouse you have a stove in the common area. You should bring a sleeping bag with you and be prepared to sleep in your clothes as it can be cold and there are few blankets in these guesthouses to keep you warm. And be prepared for only local food as western foods are rarely found this far west unless you bring them yourself. While it is a tough option for a place to stay it is really only for one night and is worth the sacrifice for the amazing views.

Undoubtedly the tour that runs from Lhasa all the way to Mount Everest is the most popular tour on the plateau and rightly so. With Mount Everest being the most popular attraction in Tibet and tours to the base camp being relatively affordable even in the peak season for tourism it is no wonder around 39% of tourists to Tibet choose to take this epic adventure to the highest point on the planet.