This seven-day tour of Tibet from Nepal is one that gives you amazing views of the Himalayas from both the Nepal side and the Tibetan side. As an overland drive from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you will get to see the change in scenery from the Kathmandu Valley as you climb up into the high Himalayas, crossing the overland border at Gyirong port. Then it is on to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, Gyantse, the site of the famous Pelkor Monastery, and on to Lhasa, where you will tour the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most sacred site.
Day 1: Kathmandu to Rasuwagadhi, Gyirong (distance 130km)
You will be picked up by our staff from your hotel, and transported along the small, mountain road that leads to the Nepal side of the border. The route passes spectacular waterfalls, river gorges, and stunning ancient forests before arriving at Rasuwagadhi, the Nepalese border town and the site of an ancient, ruined fort. Once you cross the border, you will be met on the other side and taken to your guesthouse in Gyirong County.
Stay overnight in Gyirong.
Day 2: Gyirong to Tingri (distance 300km)
From Gyirong, your guide will take you to Old Tingri, via the Tong La Pass, at 5,100 meters above sea level. The route from Gyirong passes along the beautiful border country of Tibet, with its spectacular evergreen forests and stunning snow-covered mountains. The views of the awe-inspiring mountains along the road to Tingri are some of the most beautiful in the world, and well worth the long drive.
Stay overnight in Tingri.
Day 3: Tingri to EBC to Shigatse (distance 450km) (B)
On the third day you will get to visit the amazing Everest Base Camp (EBC), before moving on to the beautiful city of Shigatse. The road to EBC passes over the famous Gawu La Pass, at an elevation of 5,198 meters, where you get a great view of the four highest peaks in the world - Mt Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Everest (8,848m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201m), and Mt Makalu (8,463m). EBC is one of the most popular sites in Tibet for foreign visitors, and the views of the world’s highest mountain are spectacular.
After taking plenty of photos at EBC, you will then transfer to the nearby Rongbuk Monastery. The highest monastery in the world, at 5,000 meters above sea level, it is part of the Nyingmapa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and is unique in that both monks and nuns live together in the same monastery. After that, you will be driven to Shigatse for the night.
Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Day 4: Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse (distance 375km) (B)
The following morning, you will get to visit the famed Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, with its ancient statue of Jampa, the “future god”. Tashi Lhunpo is also the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. You can also see the monastery’s Barley Mill, and the fields of barley around the site, and see how the barley is ground into flour to make the staple food of Tibetans, tsampa.
Afterwards, you will drive the short distance to Gyantse and visit the famed Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. The monastery is the main monastery for Buddhists in Gyantse, and houses thousands of Buddhist sutras, scripts, and artifacts, as well as many paintings, which have left a deep influence on Tibetan art.
The rest of the day is spent driving back to Lhasa along the famous Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway. The road to Lhasa is 280 km long and it takes around six hours to drive. The road follows the course of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which is the longest and largest river in Tibet. As you pass the Manak Dam Lake, you will have chance to get out and hang prayer flags on the Simila Mountain Pass, before moving on to pass the beautiful Karola Glacier, with its pristine white ice face.
The last part of the long drive takes you past the beautiful, turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok, one of the three holy lakes in Tibetan Buddhism, and the spectacular Nyenchen Khangsar Mountain, the highest mountain near Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 5: Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street (B)
The following day your first stop will be the world famous Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Sitting atop Moburi (Red Hill), the palace looks down on the town of Lhasa from its 3,750-meter vantage point. The temple dates back to the 7th century, and houses artifacts and works of art from throughout Tibetan History. The palace also has the gilded burial stupas of the past Dalai Lamas, and below ground lies the ancient meditation cave of the 33rd King of Tibet.
After some lunch, you will head downtown to Jokhang Temple, the primary seat of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It was built by the 33rd King of Tibet in 647AD, and is the spiritual center of Tibet and the holiest temple in Tibetan Buddhism. Inside sits the most precious object in the temple, a life-sized statue of Buddha Sakyamuni when he was just 12 years old. Adorned with many precious gems, this gilded statue is the most sacred object in Tibet.
Running around the temple is the famed Barkhor Street. As well as the route of the holy kora, or religious circumambulation, it is also the site of many sellers where you can buy authentic souvenirs from across the region. You can join the pilgrims on their clockwise walk around the temple.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 6: Lhasa Tour - Drepung and Sera Monastery (B)
The next morning you will leave early for a trip outside Lhasa, first to Drepung Monastery, one of the Great Three monasteries of the Gelugpa sect. Sitting at the foot of Gambo Utse, 5 kilometers outside Lhasa, it was founded by Jamyang Choge, one of the disciples of Tsong Khapa, in 1416. The Ganden Potrang, sited in the southwest corner of the monastery, was the former residence of the Dalai Lama, until the move to the Potala Palace.
In the afternoon you will travel back across the city to the northern suburbs, to visit Sera Monastery, another of the Great Three monasteries. Founded in 1419, the name, Sera, means "wild rose" in Tibetan, and was named because of the roses that were in bloom on the hill behind it when it was built. The main attraction of the monastery is the colorful and animated debating of the monks, held under the trees in the debating field every afternoon. Definitely something to watch, even if you do not understand what is said.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Day 7: Depart from Lhasa (B)
On the last day of your tour, our guide will take you to the airport or train station, and help you with checking in and boarding.
Please Note: The Tibet train ticket is not included in this group tour package. Please feel free to tell us your preferred train route and departure date, we will help you get the Tibet train ticket.
Service Inclusion
Tibet Travel Permit and all other necessary permit to Tibet
All lodging listed in the itinerary. If you travel individually, you will need to share one room with another tourist. If you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement
Meals listed in itinerary
Entrance fees of all tourist sites listed in the itinerary
Local Tour Transfers according to group size
Local Tibetan English-speaking guide
One shared big Oxygen tank in the car
Service Exclusion
Chinese visa
International flight to and out of China
Domestic train/flight out of Tibet.(We offer domestic train/flight ticket booking service, please contact our travel experts for the details.)
Meals not specified the itinerary
Tips and gratitude to tour guide and drive
Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
Book Tibet train ticket together with your Tibet tour package!
All train tickets are not included in our package, which offer you more flexibility to choose your favorite train to Tibet. Just tell us your preferred route to/from Lhasa and the ticket class you want when you enquire the tour.
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