13 Days Kathmandu Lhasa Namtso EBC Tour (Start & End in Kathmandu)

Kathmandu - Putan City - Bhaktapur City - Lhasa - Namtso - Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Gyirong - Kathmandu

From USD p.p

Featuring the Everest Base Camp and the Namtso Lake, this tour is elaborately designed to present the most stunning scenery of Tibetan plateau with the least potential to get altitude sickness.

At first, you will spend 2 days in Kathmandu to visit Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath as well as Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Then, take a direct flight over the spectacular Himalayas to Lhasa (3650m), and visit the iconic attractions there like Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera Monastery. Afterward 2-day’s acclimatization in Lhasa, head for the stunning Namtso Lake (4718m), the largest lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region as well as one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Then, continue your trip to EBC (5200m) via Gyantse and Shigatse, along the way, you can adapt further to the high altitude and explore Yamdrok Lake, Pelkor and Tashilunpo Monastery. An overnight stay at EBC allows you more time to appreciate the awe-inspiring beauty of Mt. Everest. Then, you will traverse along the lush green Gyirong Valley to Kathmandu.

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu

Upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu, you will be greeted by our Nepali staff and be transferred to your hotel. You can have a good rest at the hotel or walk around by yourself.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Tips: Since it takes at least 3 business days to get your China Group Visa, it is advisable to arrive earlier in Kathmandu so as to give your original passport, photo, and Visa fee to our staff to apply for your Visa on time.

Day 2: Day tour to Kathmandu City, Swayambhunath, and Patan City (B)

The day starts with a tour of Kathmandu City, and takes in the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square. The most famous square in the city, the Durbar Square is the Royal Palace square in the city, and is surrounded by ancient buildings from the early 16th century. The magnificent architecture, exquisite decorations, and the intensity of historical items gives a great insight into Nepali culture.

You then continue the tour with a visit to the Swayambhunath Pagoda, which is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath is a huge golden stupa festooned with prayer flags that flutter in the breeze, on a hill that overlooks the entire city. Then it is on to Patan City, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley area. Patan City has one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nepal that dates back to the 12th century, and is a great place to explore the Buddhist culture of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 3: Day tour to Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Bhaktapur City (B)

You will also get to go further afield in Nepal, to visit the ancient Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in Asia, and a focal point for Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Set on the banks of the Baghmati River, Pashupatinath is one of Nepal’s famous UNESCO sites, and the sunset over the temple roofs is spectacular.

Another great place to see is Boudhanath, located on the ancient trade route. It is a place of meditation and part of the spiritual journey around Kathmandu. With one of the largest stupas in the world, it has been the site of many Tibetan prayers over the centuries. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the last place to visit for the day, with its pagoda and shikhara temples strewn around the royal palace. The square really highlights the ancient building arts of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 4: Fly from Kathmandu (1300m) to Lhasa (3650m)

Taking direct flight from Tribhuvan International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar Airport. Upon your arrival in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit and greet you with auspicious white Khata/Hada. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel, and the guide will give a brief introduction of the itinerary as well as dos and don'ts in Tibet. Then, you can take a good rest at hotel to acclimatize to Tibetan plateau environment.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 5: Lhasa tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (B)

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage and the winter palace of Dalai Lama. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, meditation cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then you 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 statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. On the top of Jokhang Temple, you can enjoy the panorama of old Lhasa City and great vista of Potala Palace.

Then you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals by circling the Barkhor Street around the temple, buy some souvenirs, and taste sweet tea and local snacks in local tea house. Later, you can take your family to explore farm products like yak butter in Tromzikhang, the famous farm produce market.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 6: Lhasa tour: 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 and used to be home to more than 10,000 monks. Hiking along the mountain steps, you can see Buddhist painting on the rock face. During Shoton Festival, locals and pilgrims swarm to Drepung Monastery to celebrate the gigantic Thangka Buddha unveiling ceremony on the Gambo Utse Mountain.

After having lunch, you will visit 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. By yelling at each other, slapping hands and rolling mala, two monks make a pair to debate on philosophical issues. You can also appreciate the delicately-made Mandala, sanding paintings, and massive Buddhist scriptures inside Sera Monastery.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 7: Lhasa (3650m) to Namtso Lake (4718m) (350km, B)

In the morning, we’ll drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. On the way, you can see Nyenchen Tangula Mountain Range and lots of nomads with yaks and sheep grazing in the flourishing grassland (in summer). In addition, you can also appreciate the view of Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background. Driving over Lagenla Mountain Pass (5190m), tourists can far view Namtso Lake shinning under the sun.

Then you can take a leisurely trek around Tashi Island and enjoy the stunning sunset of Namtso Lake. Finally, we will head to Damxung (or Yampachen) and spend the night there (since the accommodation facilities around Namtso Lake were closed by the government in late 2018). The lower altitude at Damxung and Yampachen shall bring you a sound sleep.

Stay overnight in Dumxung or Yampachen.

Day 8: Journey back to Lhasa (220km)

The trip back to Lhasa is relaxing both to body and soul. You will make a stopover at Yampachen, where the famous mineral-rich hot spring will remove your tiredness and get your refreshed. Having enjoyed the joyful time at the outdoor hot spring, you again hit the road to Lhasa. The final leg of the road trip takes you to visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery) and you may have a far view of a sky burial site nearby.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Cultural Tips: Tibetan Buddhists believe that the corpse is nothing but a discarded shell, and offering their bodies to vultures is an offering of generosity back to the earth that gave them life. The master of the sky burial ceremony will perform rituals over the body, summon vultures by burning incense and tsampa, and dispose of the body into pieces. Sky burial is a private and sacred matter, it is not recommended to go to sky burial sites or take pictures.

Day 9: Lhasa (3650m) to Shigatse (3900m) via Gyantse (360km, B)

Today, you will set off from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse. On the way, when passing over the Gampala Pass (4,790m), you can have a far view of Yamdrok Lake and the snow-capped mountains around it. You can also get spectacular views of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain around Lhasa. After visiting the turquoise Yamdrok Lake, you can admire the Korola Glacier on the roadside and hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass around Manak Dam Lake before arriving at Gyantse.

Gyantse was historically known as the Tibet's third largest city after Lhasa and Shigatse. In Gyantse, you will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and the Nepali-style Kumbum Stupa. After one and a half hour's car ride, you will arrive in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. You may also visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 10: Shigatse (3900m) to Everest Base Camp (5200m) (330km, B)

In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen 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, you will head for Lhatse and have lunch there.

Afterwards, you will pass Tsola Pass (4,600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m). Shortly after entering Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, you can appreciate the panoramic view of Himalaya at Gawula Pass (5,180m). Keep marching along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp, you can get closer view of Mt. Everest peak. You can also enjoy the sunset of golden Everest peak at the lodging area if time and weather permits .

Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk Monastery guesthouse.

Day 11: EBC (5200m) to Gyirong Town (2700m) (370km)

In the morning, you can admire the stunning sunrise of Everest peak if weather permits. After having a full view of the magnificent Mt. Everest, you will visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world as well as the unique Nyingma Sect monastery where nuns and monks live together.

After that, set off from EBC to Gyirong Border. On the way, you can enjoy breathtaking vista of Mt. Shishapangma and the Pekutso Lake. After passing the Ghungtang Lhamo (5236m), you will arrive at Gyirong Town in late afternoon.

Stay overnight in Gyirong Town.

Day 12: Gyirong Town to Kathmandu (B)

Our Tibetan guide will drop you off at Gyirong Border and assist you to exit China. And your Nepali guide will wait for you at the other side and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu. You can have a rest in your hotel or walk around if you like.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 13: Depart from Kathmandu

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a private car, take you to Tribhuvan Airport, and help you with your luggage and checking in for your flight from Nepal.

Route Map

Service Inclusion

  1. Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  2. All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
  3. Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
  4. Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
  5. 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.
  6. Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
  7. All meals listed in the above itinerary;
  8. Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
  9. First aid kit;

Service Exclusion

  1. International flight to and out of China;
  2. 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. )
  3. 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.)
  4. Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  5. Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
  6. 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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13 Days Kathmandu Lhasa Namtso EBC Tour (Start & End in Kathmandu)

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