Itinerary Day by Day
Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3650m)
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 the way from airport to Lhasa. Then, you can take a good rest at hotel to acclimatize to Tibetan plateau environment.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 2: Lhasa tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (B)
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.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery (B)
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.
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 in the afternoon.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 4: Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyangtse (B)
At first, you will pass over the Gampala Pass (4790m) and have a far view of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) at the viewing platform there. Then at the lake, you can see many snow-capped mountains surrounding it and and have spectacular far view of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. Later, you will stop by the Karola Glacier on the roadside. When arriving at Simila Mountain Pass, you can hang auspicious prayer flags on the mountain pass and view Manak Dam Lake.
Then you’ll go to the heritage Gyantse, Tibet's third largest city after Lhasa and Shigatse. In Gyantse, you can visit Pelkor Monastery and Nepali-style Kumbum Stupa, with nine floors and unique chapels in each tier, this stupa is considered the largest one in Tibet. After about 1.5 hours’ car ride, you will arrive in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet after Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Day 5: Shigatse to Shegar (B)
In the morning, you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama, Tashilunpo Monastery remains the seat of the Panchen Lamas. You can see the world’s highest gilded Future Buddha statue and get an insight of the glorious history of Tibetan Buddhism there.
Afterwards, traverse along the Sino-Nepal Highway to Shegar. On the way you will cross over Tsola Pass (4,500 m) and Gyatsola Pass (5,220m). If the weather permits, you can have far view of the snow-capped summits of Mount Everest and Lhotse.
Stay overnight in Shegar.
Day 6: Shegar to EBC (B)
Today, you will head to Everest Base Camp. At Gawula Pass (5,180m). At Gawula Pass, you can view the top 4 highest peaks in the world, namely, Mt. Everest (8844m), Cho Oyo (8201m), Lhotse (8516m), and Makalu (8463m).
Continue to traverse along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp and get closer to Mt. Everest peak. You are see the Mt. Everest under the clear blue sky and visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world.
Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse.
Day 7: EBC to Cho Oyu Base Camp
You can watch the sunrise over the top of Mt. Everest if weather permits. Then, you can enjoy a full view of the magnificent Mt. Everest standing like a snow-capped pyramid in front of Rongpuk Monastery. After that keep traveling to Cho Oyu Base Camp.
Stay overnight at tent or tent or guesthouse.
Day 8: Enjoy the trip and relax
Enjoy the road trip and relax.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Day 9: Shigatse to Lhasa (B)
Today, you will take car ride back to Lhasa along the Friendship Highway. The whole ride is about 280km and takes 6 hours along the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet).
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 10: Depart from Lhasa (B)
The guide will pick you up from your hotel, transfer you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, and help you get on board.
Route Map
Service Inclusion
- Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
- Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
- Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
- Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
- All meals listed in the above itinerary;
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
- First aid kit;
Service Exclusion
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
- Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
- Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
- Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.
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