9 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp in-depth Travel: Discover Tibet’s Top Natural and Cultural Highlights in One Go

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, our Tibetan guide will be greeting you at airport or train station with auspicious white Hada. Then you will be transferred to hotels in Lhasa.

The guide will briefly introduce the itineraries and remind you about other dos and dont's for newcomers. To quickly get acclimatized to Tibetan plateau, it’s better to have a good rest in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Tibetan tour guide greets you at Lhasa Airport.
• Lhasa River

Our first stop is to visit the Potala Palace, the UNESCO world heritage site and the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Walking slowly along the long stone steps to the White and Red Palaces, you can explore the former residence of Dalai Lama and his meeting room and religious chamber.

You can see the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. A bird's-eye view of Lhasa city and Lhasa valley from the top of Potala Palace will take your breath away.

After we have lunch and then we will head to holy Jokhang Temple. It's the most sacred Buddhist site in Tibet. Outside the temple, you will witness pious Tibetan pilgrims, young and old, prostrating themselves in front of Jokhang and long lines of Tibetans following the Barkhor circuit.

Inside, traveling in dim butter light, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibet Buddhism. You may reach the top of Jokhang Temple to enjoy the panorama of old Lhasa city and great vista of Potala Palace.

Then we may do the kora by circling the Barkhor Street with pilgrims and locals and buy some souvenirs. Never miss the chance to enjoy the tasty sweet tea in local tea house and visit Tromzikhang , the famous farm produce market. 

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism.
• Tourists can do kora (circling the Barkhor street) with pilgrims and locals and buy the souvenirs.

In the morning, we are going to visit Drepung monastery which was the largest of the "Three Great ” Gelug monasteries in Tibet founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa's main disciples. As you hike along the mountain steps, you can see mysterious Buddhist painting on the rock face.

During Shoton Festival, locals swarm to Drepung Monastery to enjoy the gigantic Thangka Buddha being unfolded on the Gambo Utse mountain. Then we will stop by the nearby carpet factory, where you can enjoy the Tibetan artisans make traditional carpets with great skills.

After having lunch, we will head to Sera Monastery. It's also one of the must-visit Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa. The highlight is the vibrant Monks debate 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. We may also enjoy the delicately-made Mandala, Tibetan sanding painting and massive Buddhist scriptures, etc. inside Sera Monastery.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Drepung Monastery was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet.
• Dramatic monk debate in Sera Monastery

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Shigatse. On the way, passing over the Gampala pass (4790 m), you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .

The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance, you have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa.

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass;

Gyantse was historically known as the Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Nepali-style Kumbum stupa.

The Kumbum has nine floors and each tier has unique chapels. It is considered the largest stupa in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Gyantse

• Bathing in sunshine, Yamdrok lake is dispalying its dazzling beauty to visitors both home and abroad.
• A great view of Palkhor Monastery

In the Morning, we drive towards Shigatse. In Shigatse, you will visit the famous Tashi Lhunpo monastery where you can see the well-preserved largest statue of Jampa (future Buddha) in the world. This monastery is the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama.

In the afternoon we drive to the Sakya County where tourists can visit the famous Sakya monastery. It was founded in 1073 and was the principal monastery of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Sakya monastery has an invaluable collection of sacred Buddhist scripts. It’s a treasure house of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture and history.

Stay overnight in Sakya

• Nowadays, there are still over 800 monks living and studying in Tashilhunpo Monastery.
• The Mongolian architecture of Sakya Monastery is quite different from that of temples in Lhasa and Yarlung.

The distance between Sakya to Rongpuk is neither too long nor short, and the road is under construction. From Tingri to E.B.C, the team has to drive on the  rough road, pass the wild grassland and cross the torrent and lofty mountains. If the weather is fine,  on the way down to shegar you will view the Mt, Everest in the distance.

After around 4 hours' drive, then you will arrive at Rongbuk monastery but on the way, you will pass the famous Gawu La Pass (5198m) where you will view the top 4 highest peaks in the world. Try not to drop you jaw upon seeing awe-inspiring Mount Everest at Everst Base Camp(5200m). 

Tips: Our well-trained Tibetan guides will closely follow each client's response to altitude ascent and provide timely help when needed.

Stay overnight at Rongpuk Guest House or Tent

• Take a life-time trip to Everest Base Camp with local guide
• The View of Rongbuk Monastery

In the morning, you can see the sunrise appearing on the top of Mt Everest, and have a full view the magnificent Mt. Everest standing like a snow-capped pyramid in front of you at Rongpuk, which is the vantage point for watching Mt. Everest.

Tourists can also tour Rongphu Monastery which is the highest monastery in the world (5000m) and belongs to Nyingma sect. After that, drive back to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

• It will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take photos against Mt.Everest.
• A lovely snapshot with Everest North Face on Tibetan side

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa on the friendship Highway. The whole distance is almost 280km and it takes 6 hours along the Yarlung Tsangpo River / Bhamaputra River (the Longest and largest river in Tibet).

Stay overnight in Lhasa

The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

• Big farewell to Lhasa, and may you have a safe and pleasant journey back home!
• Your guide will escort you to Lhasa Railway Station if you depart Tibet by train.