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In September 2024, we set off on a mission: to ‘slow’ travel for 12 months across Europe and Asia, with as few flights as possible!
We knew Nepal was on our ‘must visit’ list, alongside Tibet, and the rest of East Asia…but how could we possibly avoid flying when the colossal Himalayas stood in our path?!
We did some research and soon discovered Tibet Vista as one of very few companies offering a road trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa- exactly what we were looking for! Tibet Vista stood out as being a well-reviewed and trustworthy agency to take us on this adventure.
Photo with other tourists from different nations within the group.
My Feeling During the Planning Phase: Questions Reassuringly Addressed
As the trip approached, we felt the usual combination of excitement and a little apprehension too about our Tibet tour! Tibet felt like quite an unknown and mysterious place to visit, and we were very much looking forward to learning about its culture and religion, and enjoying its incredible scenery.
We had a few questions about altitude sickness however these were reassuringly addressed by our contact at Tibet Vista. As British nationals, there were strict visa requirements for a visit to Tibet, and we were slightly nervous about whether our visas would be approved.
The application process was a little bumpy (e.g. we only found out last minute that we needed to be in Kathmandu during the process, and the forms were not filled out correctly first time) however the team in Kathmandu helped us to sort through any issues. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end as our applications were successful…here we go!
Lively monks debate at Sera Monastery.
The stunning view of Potala Palace during the night.
Join our classic 8-day Kathmandu to Lhasa tour and cross the Himalayas with unforgettable cultural highlights.
The itinerary we chose: 8 Days Overland Adventure from Kathmandu to Lhasa
At the beginning of our 8 days Lhasa to Kathmandu tour, we were picked up from Kathmandu and driven on the bumpy Nepalese roads to a small border town where we met our tour group - a lovely bunch of travellers from different parts of Europe, who all had so many stories to tell!
The next day, we crossed the Chinese border and journeyed on the much smoother Tibetan roads to Gyirong where we visited our first monastery and had our first taste of Tibetan food!
Over the next couple of days we travelled through the Gyatso-la pass, Shigatse, and onto Lhasa, taking in stunning views of glacial lakes, towering mountains, including a visiting to Everest Base Camp and majestic yaks.
During our Lhasa tour, we were immersed in Tibetan Buddhism, visiting lots of beautiful monasteries, temples and of course the iconic Potala palace. Evenings were spent enjoying the variety of delicious Chinese food on offer in Lhasa and drinking Tibetan barley beer with our tour mates.
The golden summit of Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest one in Shigatse.
We visited Karola Glacier on the way from Shigatse to Lhasa.
Biggest Highlights During the Tibet Trip: Tibet Vista’s Tour Guide Tenzing
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the whole trip was our wonderful Tibetan tour guide, Tenzing from Lhasa. Tenzing was extremely well organised and made sure every aspect of the tour ran smoothly.
He went the extra mile by consulting us on how we wanted the tour to run, and assisting me in ordering vegetarian food (sometimes difficult to find in China!), which was hugely appreciated.
He was extremely passionate about Tibetan culture and very knowledgable on Tibetan Buddhism - and even wore his traditional Tibetan dress for the day on our request! But most importantly, he had a cracking personality, making us laugh and sharing lots of wisdom.
Our drivers Sang Gyal and Norbu were also very friendly and efficient. Despite the language barrier, Sang Gyal really bonded with all of us on the tour, and we were sad to part ways with him!
Gandan monastery, just a few hours trekking from Lhasa.
Tibetan yaks could be seen along the way during our Tibet journey.
The Challenges We Faced: Altitude Sickness During the Road Trip
Of course, no adventurous journey like this comes without its challenges! We were expecting to - and we did - experience some altitude sickness in Tibet. We found ourselves feeling a little lightheaded and out of breath whilst doing any exercise, and at the very highest points we suffered from quite intense headaches.
These were normal symptoms and by the time we got to Lhasa we had completely acclimatised and were ready to enjoy some beautiful walks in and around the city.
For us, there were a couple of additional hiccups which are unlikely to affect other travellers. Firstly, the temperature checks at the Chinese border picked up my partner’s high temperature- he was still recovering from a mild cold the week before.
Tenzing was on hand to help him navigate some additional health checks, and thankfully we were given the all clear to continue on our trip- phew! Secondly, we were a little unlucky that our bus broke down a few hours away from Lhasa (this was a random fault rather than a reflection on the state of the vehicle).
Sang Gyal and Tenzing handled this extremely well, and it wasn’t long before we were in a replacement vehicle with another crazy travel story in our arsenal!
Along the shore of Yamdrok lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet.
The Greatest Impression Left on Me: Tour Guide’s Compassion about This Land
On the last day of the trip, we asked Tenzing what the main thing was that he wanted us to take away from our visit to Tibet. His answer: ‘compassion’, the most important message of Tibetan Buddhism. Looking back, this word really does capture the spirit of Tibet.
We were made to feel so welcome, with smiles and greetings everywhere we went. And we saw how the Tibetan people treated each other like brothers and sisters, whether strangers of friends.
A trip to Tibet is such a special and unique journey and one which we would highly recommend. For those who love an adventure and want to experience a different way of travelling, a road trip with Tibet Vista is the way to go! Suggested packing list: altitude sickness tables, warm clothes, Chinese travel apps, and an open heart and mind!
Explore the both sides of Himalaya on a 8-Day Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour.
"Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland: Our Slow Travel Adventure with Tibet Vista"