Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Mt. Everest Tour

After a few days to sightsee and acclimatize, head straight from Lhasa to the coiling scorpion-lake of Yamdroktso before heading over the glacier-draped Karola pass to Gyantse. The town is well worth a full day; the Gyantse Kumbum Chorten at Pelkor Chöde Monastery, literally means 100,000 images, is a must-see and there are several adventurous excursions in nearby area. A 90mins drive away is Shigatse, with its impressive Tashihunpo Monastery. Shalu Monastery is a worthwhile half-day trip from Shigatse, especially if you have an interest in Tibet art.

A popular side trip en route to Mt Everest is to recently renovated Sakya, a small monastery town located just 25km off the Friendship Hey.

Finally to reach at the star attraction, Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp. Mt Everest, viewed here in Tibet, unobscured by other mountains, it's hard not to feel awed by one of nature's boldest achievements.

Package Highlights

Itinerary
Service Includes / Excludes
Trip Note
Trip Gallery

Day 01ï¼šArrival in Lhasa by plane/train
Our local Tibetan guide will wait you at Lhasa airport or railway station holding your name sign. You will be greeted with a warm Tashidelek(meaning hello with blissing), and be presented with a white Hada(traditional Tibetan ceremonial by give you a white scarf). Then transfer to hotel in Lhasa city.
To rest well on your first arrival in Lhasa(3650m) is essential to ease Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS, also known as altitude sickness). Try your best to resist the temptation of going out.
Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 02: Lhasa City
Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan Carpet Workshop
- Potala Palace: Lhasa's cardinal landmark, Potala Palace is one of the great wonders of world architecture. As has been the case with centuries of Pilgrims before you, the first sight of the fortress-like structure will be a magical moment that you will remember for a long time. Entry to Potala is up two steep access ramps that will soon leave you wheezing in the oxygen-depleted air. Travel light and not to worry abt your water supplies for there are bottled mineral water for sell all along the way up to the top of Potala.
- Jokang Temple: also known in Tibetan as the Tsuglhakhang, Jokhang Temple is the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Thick with yak butter, the murmur of mantras and the shuffling of wide-eyed pilgrims, Jokhang is an unrivalled Tibetan experience. In front of the entrance to Jokhang is a forecourt that is perpetually crowded with pilgrims polishing the flagstones with their prostrations.
  Barkhor Street: Barkhor is a quadrangle of streets that surroungs the Jokhang complex. It is an area unrivalled in Tibet for its fascinating combination of sacred significance and push-and shove market economics. This is both the spiritual heart of the Holy City & the main shopping district for Tibetans.
- Tibetan Carpet Workshop: Tibetan Carpet making is an ancient, traditional craft. The knotting method used in Tibetan carpet-making is different from that used in other rug making traditions worldwide. Pay a visit to the carpet workshop and see how to make traditional Tibetan rugs is definitely a unique experience. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 03: Lhasa Suburb
Highlights: Drak Yerpa, Sera Monastery
- Drak Yerpa: for those with an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, Drak Yerpa(4885m), abt 16km northeast of Lhasa, is one of the holiest cave retreats in Ü of Tibet. Among the many ascetics who have sojourned here are Guru Rinpoche and Atisha(Jowo-je), the Bengali Buddhist who spent 12 years proselytizing in Tibet. King Songtse Gampo also medicated in a cave, after his Tibetan wife established the first of Yerpa's chapels.
- Sera Monastery: approximately 5km north of central Lhasa, Sera Monastery was one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries, second only to Drepung. Between 3pm~5pm of Monday to Friday, debating is held in the monastery's debating courtyard, which is a sight so extraordinary and enchanting even you don't understand a word they're saying. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 04: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse
Highlights: Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum
- Yamdrotso Lake: dazzling Yamdro-tso(elev 4441m) is normally first seen from the summit of the Kamba-la(4700m). The lake lies several hundreds meters below the road, and in clear weather is fabulous shade of deep turquoise. Far in the distance is the huge massif of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang(7191m).
- Karola Glacier: Mt Nojin Kangsang stands tall with an elevation of 7,191 m (23,592 ft) between Gyantze County and Nagarzê County, with several snow-capped mountains over 6,000 m (19,685 ft) surrounding it. Mount Nojin Kangsang is the most accessible glacier site on the Tibetan Plateau. The famous Kharola Glacier (elevation 5,560 m or 18,241 ft) is below the south ridge of Nojin Kangsang.
- Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum: the sprawling compound in the far north of town houses Pelkor Chöde Monastery and the monumental Gyantse Kumbum, a chörten filled with fine paintings and statues. Both are deservedly top of the list on most travellers' must-sees. Palkhor lies at the foot of Dzong Hill. It is well-known for its Kumbum, which has 108 chapels in its four floors. The multi-storied Kumbum Stupa was crowned with a golden dome and umbrella, surrounded with more chapels filled with unique religious statues and murals.
  Overnight in Shigatse.
Day 05: Shigatse - Tingri - Rongbuk - EBC
Highlights: Tashihunpo Monastery, Rongphu Monastery
- Tashilhunpo Monastery: it is a real pleasure to explore the busy cobble lanes twisting around the aged buildings. Covering 70,000 sq meters, Tashilunpo is essentially a walled town in its own right. from the entrance to the monastery, visitors get a grand view. Above the white monastic quarters is a crowed of ochre buildings topped with gold—the tombs of the past Panchen Lamas. To the right, and higher still, is the festival Thangka Wall that is hung with massive, colourful thangkas during festivals.
- Rongphu Monastery: Rongphu(elev 4900m) is the main Buddhist centre in Everest region and once coordinated the activities of around a dozen smaller religious institutions, all of which are now ruined. It was established in 1902 by a Nyingmapa lama. While not of great antiquity, Rongbu can at least lay claim to being the highest monastery in Tibet and thus the world. Some of the interior murals of Rongphu are superb. Rongphu and its large chörten makes a great photograph with Everest thrusting its head skyward in the background. Overnight in EBC.
Day 06: EBC - Tingri - Shigatse
Highlights: Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp: endowed with springs, Everest Base Camp(elev 5150m) has a couple of permanent structures and a small army base. Clamber up the small hill festooned with prayer flags for great views of the star attraction, Mt. Everest, then have your photo taken at the base camp marker, reads 'Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp'. Overnight in Shigatse.
Day 07: Shigatse - Lhasa
Highlights: Yungdrungling Monastery
Yungdrungling Monastery: just visible across the river from the road between Lhasa & Shigatse is the Bönpo Yungdrungling Monastery, which is on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo(Brahmaputra River), just east of where the Nangung-chu meets it. Yungdrungling, founded in 1834, was once the second most influential Bön monastic institution in Tibet. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 08: Departure from Lhasa by plane/train
After breakfast at your hotel make the most of the last morning of your tour in Lhasa. Transfer to Lhasa Airport or Railway Station for next destination.
End of service.