10-Day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake Tour
Tour Route： Lhasa-Yamdrotso Lak-Gyantse-Shgiatse-Tingri-Mt.Everrest-Namtso Lake
$ From Loading...
Route Highlights:
Let’s explore the culture, folk activities, fantastic scenery of Tibet.
Journey Features
This journey is a symphony of breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural experiences, a journey that will stay with you for a lifetime. Starting from the sacred city of Lhasa, you will drive westward towards to the Himalayas. Crossing glaciers, lakes, farmlands, villages, and monasteries, the journey leads you deep into the heart of the Himalayas, reaching the Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5200 meters. Witness sunrise and sunset at the top of the world. You will also visit the Dangxiong Grassland, located 220 kilometers from Lhasa, where vast lakes and the distant Nianchu Tanggula Mountains stretch like a sea. This journey offers a remarkably diverse and enriching experience.
Itinerary Details
Itinerary Overview
D1 Arrive in Lhasa
D2 Lhasa City Sightseeing
D3 Lhasa City Sightseeing
D4 Lhasa – Yamdrotso Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse
D5 Shigatse – Tingri-Everest Base Camp
D6 Mt. Everest – Dingyal -Shigatse
D7 Shigatse – Lhasa
D8 Lhasa-Namtso
D9 DumXung-Lhasa
D10 Lhasa Departure
Airport/Train Station Pickup, Check-in at the Hotel
Greetings from Tibet! When you arrive, our welcoming guide and driver will meet you at the airport and present you with a traditional Tibetan white scarf called “Khata.” You will be taken to a comfortable hotel in central Lhasa in under an hour via the expressway, covering a distance of 70 kilometers. Once you check in, take a moment to relax and acclimatize to the altitude of 3,650 meters, ensuring a healthy beginning to your journey across the plateau.
Overnight in Lhasa
Tibet Road Trip Co., Ltd
Visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Debating
Today, you will explore two remarkable monasteries in Lhasa: Drepung and Sera, each offering a distinctive insight into Tibetan Buddhism. Your visit will include Buddhist halls, educational institutions, and the monks’ kitchen, where you can witness their unique style of debates that facilitate the learning of Buddhist teachings. Sera Monastery is particularly famous for its dynamic Buddhist debates, which embody the essence of Tibetan Buddhism. Monks engage in expressive body language, creating dance-like interactions as they discuss Buddhist doctrine, showcasing their knowledge in an animated way. In the evening, your guide will lead the group to a traditional Tibetan restaurant for a welcome dinner, marking the beginning of your journey in Tibet.
Breakfast/Welcome Dinner
Visit Potala Palace and Johkang Temple
Today invites you to embark on a captivating exploration of Lhasa’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, starting with a visit to the magnificent Potala Palace. Nestled against the backdrop of red hills, this impressive structure was once the heart of Tibetan religious and political authority. As you ascend the 365 steps to its towering main building, you’ll journey through history, discovering the Dalai Lama’s former political chambers, tranquil prayer halls adorned with intricate murals, and the sacred tomb stupas. Take in the stunning Buddha statues and precious artifacts that fill its halls, each a testament to the wealth and spiritual heritage of ancient Tibet.
After our visit to the Potala Palace, we will proceed to the esteemed Jokhang Temple, a site of immense spiritual importance. Home to the venerated 12-year-old statue of Shakyamuni, this temple is regarded as the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism. Joining fellow pilgrims in a sacred circumambulation around Barkor Street, you’ll engage with the vibrant essence of Tibetan faith and culture. Our experienced guide will then take us to a local Tibetan teahouse, where we can experience the cherished tradition of tea-drinking, gaining valuable insights into the social customs and fabric of this ancient land.
Breakfast
Yamdrotso Lake, Karola Glacier
Shigatse is approximately 7 to 8 hours away by car, covering a distance of 340 kilometers. During the journey, you’ll encounter two breathtaking natural sights: Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier. You’ll embark on a stunning 20-kilometer stretch alongside the lake’s retreating shoreline. We’ll pause in a lakeside village to explore the homes of local farmers and enjoy a delightful farmhouse meal. After lunch, we’ll continue for about an hour to witness one of Tibet’s most awe-inspiring glaciers, the Karola Glacier. This massive glacier tongue nearly reaches the road, creating a spectacular frozen cascade that hangs overhead. After visiting the Karola Glacier, we will drive past Lake Manla and the historic town of Gyantse before finally arriving in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.
Breakfast/Farm house Lunch
Gyawula Viewing Point, Everest Base Camp
Following breakfast, we will embark on a 6.5-hour (330-kilometer) journey to the pinnacle of the world, Mount Everest. Along the way, there will be multiple stops to catch glimpses of Everest. The tour culminates with an overnight stay at Everest Base Camp. As we leave Shigatse, you will be surrounded by picturesque rural farms and villages. About four hours into our drive, we will arrive at Dingri County, where you’ll have your first view of Everest from the Dingri viewpoint.
As you enter the breathtaking Everest region, you’ll be treated to stunning panoramic vistas of the Himalayan range from Gawula Pass. The towering peaks of the Himalayas, reaching heights of 7,000 to 8,000 meters, rise majestically above the clouds, creating a truly awe-inspiring sight. From there, we will continue along the designated route to Everest, with the mountain growing taller and closer until we reach the base camp at its northern face. From this vantage point, Everest presents itself as a colossal pyramid directly in front of you.
We’ll aim to arrive at Everest Base Camp before sunset, allowing you to witness the breathtaking natural phenomenon of the sunset casting golden light upon the mountain. (In winter months, when the tented lodges at Everest Base Camp are closed, we will adjust our accommodations to Basong Settlement, which is the closest village to Everest.)
Breakfast
Everest East side Viewpoint
Take a leisurely walk around the base camp to soak in the stunning beauty of the early morning. After breakfast, your guide will take you to Rongbuk Monastery, which holds the title of the highest monastery in the world and served as the backdrop for the final scenes in the movie “2012,” where the ocean enveloped the last piece of land. This location also offers an incredible perspective for capturing photographs of Mount Everest’s natural scenery and cultural heritage.
Following your visit to Everest, we will drive you to the Xilin View Point, where you can marvel at breathtaking views of Everest’s eastern face and Mt. Lhotse. Our journey will then take us through the historic village of Sakya before we return to Shigatse. Upon arriving in Shigatse in the evening, your guide will treat you to a traditional Tibetan dinner to celebrate the successful completion of your Everest trek. You will have the opportunity to enjoy local dishes while immersing yourself in Shigatse’s unique folk songs and dances.
Dinner with Song and Dance Performance
Tashilunbo Monastery, Yarlung Zangpo River
On the final morning of your journey from Everest to Lhasa, you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest monastery in western Tibet. This significant site has been the residence of the Panchen Lamas and is renowned for its impressive scale and stunning architecture. Within its walls, you will find the world’s largest gilded bronze statue, stupas dedicated to the Panchen Lama, and remarkable Buddhist art. After exploring Tashilhunpo Monastery, we will return to Lhasa through the scenic Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley. (Depending on the situation, we may also offer guests the option to travel back to Lhasa by train.)
Breakfast
Grassland, Namtso Lake, Trek at Tashido Island
The adventure to the sacred Namtso Lake starts in Lhasa and travels northward through the expansive Damxung grasslands. These grasslands are stunning, featuring distant views of the impressive Nyenchen Tanglha snow peak, herds of cattle and sheep grazing peacefully, and smoke rising from traditional tents, all while a winding river flows gracefully across the verdant landscape. Upon reaching Namtso Lake, take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking sight of the lake, resembling a blue jewel nestled among the grasslands, from the 5,190-meter-high Lagen La Pass. Descend to the lakeshore and hike up the charming Tashido Island for an even better perspective of the expansive lake. Enjoy the refreshing breeze by the water, observe the vibrant prayer flags dancing along the shore, and allow yourself ample time to unwind or explore the area around the lake. In the afternoon, make your way back to Damxung in a sightseeing vehicle.
Breakfast
Chimelong Nunnery, Tsurphu Monastery
Tsurphu Monastery is the founding temple of Tibet’s renowned living Buddha tradition. This distinctive Kagyu sect monastery is situated in the expansive Chupu Valley and is encircled by vibrant green grasslands. Here, you might encounter valuable and rare relics, including the silver statue of the 8th Karmapa and a relic from the leg bone of the 16th Karmapa. At midday, we will enjoy a farmhouse lunch in the nearby meadows or at the cafeteria within the monastery. Following that, we will make our way back to Lhasa. Chimelong Monastery, the closest large nunnery to Lhasa, serves as the sole residence for female practitioners on this journey. You’ll observe many nuns here, all while taking in the stunning valley framed by snow-capped mountains.
Breakfast
Airport/Train Station drop off
Today signifies the conclusion of your tour in Tibet, and we will be accompanying you to the airport or train station. We are grateful for the chance to share this wonderful experience with you in Tibet. Wishing you a safe journey!
Breakfast
Dates and Prices
Prices
Service Included:
- Tibet Travel Permit application service and mailing service within China.
- Entrance tickets to the listed attractions and activities.
- Accommodations are in three-star hotels with breakfast throughout the journey.
- Comfortable and safe tourist vehicle.
- Excellent Tibetan English-speaking guide.
- Farm house lunch and welcome dinner.
- Travel accident insurance and high-altitude sickness insurance.
- Shuutle service between the airport/train station and Lhasa city.
- Exquisite Tibetan gifts and travel maps.
- On-board medical oxygen supply for travel in high-altitude areas.
Service Excluded:
- International and domestic transportation to and from Tibet.
- Single room supply for solo travelers who require a single room.
- Some meal expenses are not included in the tour (the guide will assist in arranging and recommending meals; you are responsible for the cost).
