15 Days Mt. Everest Trekking Tour from Rongbuk Monastery to Advance Base Camp

When you arrive in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit to welcome you. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel. You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on their way to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then tourists will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the holiest statue of Buddha. Around the monastery is the famous Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different part of Tibet.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. Situated at the foot of Gebeiwoze Mountain, it was once home to more than 10,000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving Workshop near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most interesting thing is to see monks debating in the courtyard at around 3-5 pm in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan religious text printing house.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Optional:
After finishing the sightseeing, if time allows, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan Handicraft Art Center or Tibetan Traditional Medicine Center. Besides, you can also choose to upgrade your tour to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD).

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. On the way, we’ll drive over the Gampala Pass (4,790m) to view Yamdrok Lake and Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar. Besides, you can also appreciate Korola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, tourists can hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass.

Then we’ll go to the heritage town Gyantse and explore its old street, Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. Here you can catch the far view of Gyantse Fortress.

Stay overnight in Gyantse.

Today you set off from Gyantse to Shigatse to visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. It is the largest monastery of the Gelug Sect in Rear Tibet, and the main stage where generations of Panchen Lamas carried out religious and political activities. After getting your Alien’s Travel Permit, we will leave Shigatse and then drive to Sakya County where Sakya Monastery is located.

Stay overnight in Sakya County.

In the morning, you will visit Sakya Monastery, the principal monastery of the Sakyapa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Different from other monasteries in Lhasa, its walls are painted in red, white and grey strips, which represent Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. You can also see the largest book written in gold in the world in Sakya's great library.

After that, you will climb over Tsola Pass (4,600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m). At Gawula Pass (5,180m), tourists can view the panorama of Himalaya. Then we’ll drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp and get closer to Mt. Everest peak. You are lucky enough to catch the sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.

Stay overnight at Rongbuk Guesthouse.

After visiting Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world, you will start your warm-up trekking from Rongbuk Monastery to EBC (5,200m). You can see the famous Rongbuk Glacier along the way.

Stay overnight in EBC.

You will trekking from EBC to Camp 1 (5,450m) via the massive Rongbuk Glacier. Then take a trail rising to the east side of the ice cap and heading toward the peak of Mt. Everest. Though the trekking distance is only 5km, the high altitude makes it strenuous for many tourists.

Stay overnight in Camp 1.

Trek from gravel hills to the west of the glacier and spend the night in Interim Camp (5,760m). During the trekking, you will find yourself surrounded by ice pinnacles in all directions.

Stay overnight in Interim Camp.

Today you will meet up with the grand Changste Glacier and trek on the highest mountain of the world. You will spend the night in Camp 2 (5,970m) which is surrounded by various glaciers and icicles on all sides. What an incredible experience to trek in this frozen world!

Stay overnight in Camp 2.

Note: Sometimes in summer, since the above route is blocked by the flooding river, you have to trek from Interim Camp early to ABC, then return to Interim Camp and stay overnight there.

Today you can choose to stay overnight at Camp 3 or hike around it and return to Camp 2. On the way to Camp 3, you can see many imposing pinnacles, ridges, and even the rock summit of Mt. Everest. As the highest point in the world, Camp 3 is in the center of flattened gravel mounds next to the glacier and is only 2,400m from the top. However, if you return to Camp 2, you will have a less difficult trek next day.

Today you will trek back to EBC and get on the car waiting there.

Stay overnight at Rongbuk Guesthouse.

Drive from Rongbuk Monastery to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

We’ll follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa and drop you off at hotel in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

The driver will take you to airport or train station.

Service end.