Everest Base Camp Lhasa Tour

The Trans- Himalayan flight takes you to Lhasa in one hour time right after departing from Kathmandu. Three nights in Spiritual city Lhasa, exploring ancient monuments likewise Potala Palace, Barkhor Market, Sera monastery, Derpung monastery.  You will start from the sand dunes along the Brahmaputra basin.  Through the high passes ornamented with colorful flags beating endlessly against the stone cairns, to the blue salt lakes of Namtso, you will travel an ancient trail alive with color, ritual, and history.  The own unique cultures and traditions of the Tibetans Monpas, Lhopas, and Moslems and their style of large exciting celebrations will keep you astonished. Outside the cities, you will meet natives in their long chubas and exquisite turquoise jewelry who will share with you whatever little they have, exhibiting inspiring Buddhist compassion. So come and visit the land rich in mountains, monks, mystery, and adventure. Catch the truly nomadic lifestyle and share your experience with your friends.

The drive Lhasa to Kathmandu  via Everest Base Camp takes seven days over the 'Friendship Highway'; along the way stopping at quietly enchanting Buddhist monasteries  like Sakya, Shalu , Natang and remote villages which are untouched by modern civilization. A generous one night will be spent at Ronbuk gateway to Everest base camp offers you breathtaking view and unforgettable time with the highest mountain on the planet. The road also passes through quiet and historical Gyatse, famed for the Gyantse Kumbum,  Shigatse and Nyalam A scenic drive from Friendship bridge to Kathmandu through the Bhote Koshi (Highland River) gorge and beautiful waterfall remarks complete adventure tip which is once have to do in the lifetime.

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft)

Day 02: Sightseeing in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft): Potala Palace/Sera Monastery

Day 03: Sightseeing in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft): Norbulingka, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazar, Drepung Monastery

Day 04: Sightseeing in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft): Tibet Museum & afternoon free

Day 05: Drive to Gyantse (3950m/12956ft) -265 km

Day 06: Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3900m/12792ft) -90km

Day 07: Drive to Sakya, Visit Natang Monastery en route-150km

Day 08: Drive to Rongbuk (5050m/16564ft)-Explore Everest Base Camp (5250m/17,220 ft)-190 km

Day 09: Drive to Zhangmu (2300m/7, 544ft)-245 km

Day 10: Drive to Kathmandu (1350m/4428ft)-123km

Day 01: Arrive in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft)

Your tour starts with your arrival in Lhasa today. There are two ways to arrive Lhasa- one is via Nepal and another via mainland China. If you choose to fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa you will have 1 hour 10 minutes Trans-Himalayan flight which is considered one of the most beautiful air route in the world that takes you over the Everest (8848m), Kanchenjunga (8536m) and other Himalayan peaks. If you are coming via mainland China, you might fly from any major cities or take the world's highest train route to reach Lhasa. You will be received by our Tibetan guide at the airport/train station. Approximately 1.5 hours drive along 93 km road, from the airport/train station, you will reach Lhasa. It's advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa's altitude. Overnight in Lhasa

Day 02: Sightseeing in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft): Potala Palace/Sera Monastery

Foremost, our tour begins with a visit to Potala Palace and Sera Monastery with an experienced tour guide also working as an interpreter escorts. The Potala Palace is the Dalai Lama's winter palace since the 7th century. There are two sets of Palaces in Potala: the White & the Red Palaces. The 15th century Sera monastery is famous for the "monk debates" which take place nearly everyday of the week. The monks gather each afternoon to debate Buddhist teachings and philosophy. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 03: Sightseeing in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft): Norbulingka, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazar, Drepung Monastery

Equally adventurous and exciting rhythm builds up while touring Norbulingka, Jokhan Temple, Barkhor Bazar and Drepung Monastery. Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace, constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site which unravels more deep seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit to Barkhor Markets can be quite an alter from other visits as you roam around the city testing every details around the stalls and you may purchase some goods that displays Tibetan culture, custom and tradition. Similarly, the Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa Order in Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 04: Sightseeing in Lhasa (3650 m/11972ft): Tibet Museum & afternoon free

In the morning you will visit Tibet Museum. Officially inaugurated in October of 1999 the museum houses a rich collection of prehistoric cultural relics including Buddha statues in different postures, imperial jade seals, gold albums, gifts granted by emperors, colorful Thankas, and various printed Sanskrit and Tibetan scriptures. You can also see variety of folk art such as unique Tibetan handicrafts, costumes, jewelry, and adornments made of gold, silver, and jade, as well as fine Chinese pottery. Despite the collections the museum holds, the museum building complex with its ornamented beams, pillars, lintels, banners and wall hangings exhibit traditional Tibetan architectural styles. In the afternoon, you will be free for shopping. Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 05: Drive to Gyantse (3950m/12956ft) -265 km

Following Friendship Highway, while driving past Khamba La (4794 m), you will have a break to appreciate majestic views of Yamdrok Tso Lake, a lake deep blue in color and Nazin Kang Sang glacier standing proud at 7252m. Ahead to westwards, you come across another Karo La pass at 5045m. Glance through the road, you can see huge glaciers tumbling down into the road. After hours of driving for 261 km, you enter town of Gyantse where you will see beautifully landscaped Tibetan villages. Overnight in Gyantse.

Day 06: Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3900m/12792ft) -90km

Gyantse prides on Gyantse Dzong and Kumbum. Gyantse Dzong is a historical fort built in the 14th century and overlooks a mesmerizing view of entire Gyantse and surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. Kumbum has large gold domed 35m high chorten(stupa) and houses with several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals. Kumbum means 100,000 images in Tibetan. After enjoying and exploring Gyantse, you will take a 90 km drive to Shigatse. Shalu monastery built with Han, Tibetan and Indian style architecture is about one and half hour away from Gyantse on the way to Shigatse. After a brief observation of the monastery you drive further to Shigatse, second largest city of Tibet. Overnight in Shigatse.

Day 07: Drive to Sakya, Visit Natang Monastery en route-150km

Today, we make a morning city tour of Shigatse with sightseeing. Then, we visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery - a major attraction and one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet. Then we transverse along the Friendship Highway amidst picturesque landscape driving past small town of Lhatse and Gyamtso La pass at 5220m. You will visit Natang Monastery which is 12 Kms far from Xigatse, again you drive to Sakya Monastery, where you can see the largest book in the world in Sakya's great library written in gold. In the evening time we reach in Shegar. As the route opens into plains, many monasteries and camps of nomadic herders become visible in route to Sakya. Overnight in Sakya.

Day 08: Drive to Rongbuk (5050m/16564ft)-Explore Everest Base Camp (5250m/17,220 ft)-190 km

Away from Sakya, you drive to the south crossing Pang La pass at 5150m/16890ft. Along the drive, you can laze around in the splendor of majestic views of snow capped peaks such as Makalu and Shishapangma. After driving for 190 km, you eventually reach Rongbuk from where you get spectacular sight of Mt. Everest. The program today is to explore to Everest Base Camp throughout the day. Drive to EBC is allowed only for expeditions, so you need to walk 8 km (one way) or take a horse or local bus to reach the Everest Base Camp. You will also visit Rongbuk Monastery, a Buddhist pilgrimage site founded in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama in an area of meditation huts that had been in use by monks and hermits for over 400 years. Hermitage meditation caves dot the cliff walls all around the monastery complex and up and down the valley. Many walls and stones, carved with sacred syllables and prayers, line the paths. Overnight in Rongbuk.

Day 09: Drive to Zhangmu (2300m/7, 544ft)-245 km

In case, on Day 08 due to bad weather or some consequences, if you are not able to explore around Everest Base Camp, today's first light will be utilized to explore around Everest Base Camp and to watch sunrise on Mt. Everest. It is a truly awe inspiring place with the absolute north face of the highest mountain in the world soaring above you. You return back to the Friendship Highway to continue drive to Zhangmu. Driving past Tingri crossing Lalung La pass at (5124 m/ 16068 ft) and Shung La pass at (5200 m/ 17056 ft), Nalyam Pass (3800m/12464 ft) which offer enchanting views of the surrounding peaks of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse and Gauri Shanker, you tumble down from gradually from the dry Tibetan Plateau. Now, you find yourself amidst the verdant and fertile vegetation of Zhangmu at 2300 meter in the Nepalese border.Overnight in Zhangmu.

Day 10: Drive to Kathmandu (1350m/4428ft)-123km

Few kilometers drive away from Zhangmu to Friendship Bridge across Bhote Koshi River brings you closer to Immigration Control in Kodari where you depart with your Tibetan guide and driver, and walk across the river to meet Nepalese guide to drive to Kathmandu. After 4 hours of driving through deep valleys, you finally arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu

Departure Dates for Everest Base Camp Lhasa Tour