Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour - 10 Days

Highlights

• Explore some of the most sought-after historical destinations inside Tibet, including the UNESCO designated site of Potala Palace.
• Visit the most revered monastic destinations inside Lhasa, such as Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, and Jokhang Temple.
• Explore the miles-long desert-like landscape of Tibet and drive towards the Everest Base Camp (5100 meters)

• Duration10 Days
• Max. Altitude5250m
• Trip GradeModerate_strenuous
• Group Size2 - 10
• Meals Breakfast in kathmandu/Tibet
• Accommodation4-star Hotel in Kathmandu, 3- star hotel in Lhasa and Best available hotel in EBC

Overview

Itinerary

• Day 1: Katmandu to Lhasa

  Leaving Kathmandu, you’ll begin your journey towards Tibet. Drive to the Tribhuvan International Airport and embark on an adventurous trans-Himalayan flight to Lhasa. The one and a half-hour-long flight will offer a beautiful aerial tour of the snowcapped peaks such as Everest, Makalu, Dorje Lakpa, and Kanchenjunga. Tibetan plateau boasts of miles of sprawling desert-like landscape and remote valleys. Catch the beautiful sight of Potala Palace from the sky. Upon arrival, a local tour guide will receive you at the airport. You will check into one of the finest boutique hotels in the city. In the evening, you can head out to explore the market place and enjoy a lavish Tibetan dinner in one of the local restaurants. Overnight in Lhasa.

• Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa

  Day 6: After breakfast, you'll embark on a sightseeing tour of Lhasa City. The tour begins with a visit to the 16th Century Dzong (Fortress), Potala Palace. Located atop the Red Hill, Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. Witness the historic Dalai Lama's home, imperial office, library, and prayer rooms. You’ll advance towards the historical temple of Jokhang. Jokhang Temple dates back to the reign of King Songtsen Gampo, who introduced Buddhism in the region. Explore the historic site and witness hundreds of pilgrims circumambulating the temple at Barkhor Street. You'll indulge in a brief tour of Barkhor Street before heading towards Norbulingka Palace. The 17th Century palace served as the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas until the end of 1959. Witness the most extensive human-made garden at Norbulingka Palace. The annual Yoghurt Festival is also held at the Norbulingka garden. Overnight in

• Day 3: Sightseeing in Lhasa

  Embark on a tour of two of the most revered monastic sites in Lhasa. The tour begins with a visit to Drepung Monastery. Drepung is the largest monastery in the region that lies almost 5km from the city. It is also one of the ThreeGelug monasteries in Lhasa that houses 3,000 monks at any given time. During its heyday, the monastery was home to 10,000 monks. You can explore the 14th Century monastery before driving to another Gelug monastery of Sera. Sera Monastery came into existence in 1419 AD when Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe clan established the monastery at the foothills of the Wangbur Mountains. It remains home to 19 hermitages. Enjoy exploring the monastery and enjoy a delicious lunch before driving back to your hotel.

• Day 4: Lhasa to Gyantse

  Leaving Lhasa, you’ll begin driving south towards Gyantse County. The drive will take you through the rugged part of Southern Tibet en route to Gyantse. Visiting the high passes of Karo La (5010m) and Kamba La (4794m) remain the highlight of this tour. Continue driving alongside the majestic Yamdrok Tso Lake (Turquoise Lake) towards Karo La Pass. The top of the pass offers the scenic sight of the stunning glacier hanging from a snowy peak of NazinKangSa (7252m). A short road journey from here will take you towards Gyantse. En route, you'll encounter numerous quaint yet colorful Tibetan villages. Gyantse served as the major trade-center of Tibet in the past. Overnight at Gyantse.

• Day 5: Gyantse – Xigatse (3,900m): 90km

  After breakfast, you’ll embark on a tour of the nearby Pelkor Chode Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. A short road journey will take you to the foothills of Dzong Hill that remains home to Pelkor Chode Monastery. After exploring the monastery, you’ll drive towards Gyantse Kumbum. Kumbum is a large gold-domed stupa with numerous chapels. Here on, you’ll take a road south and begin driving towards Xigatse prefecture. Xigatse or Shigatse is a prefecture-level county and also the second-largest city in the country. En route to Xigatse, you can visit the historic Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Tashi Lhunpo is one of the four monasteries of Gelug Sect. Overnight at Xigatse.

• Day 6: Xigatse – Xegar (4,100m): 270km

  Xigatse is a part of the historical Tsang province of Tibet. Explore the historical city before embarking on a road journey towards Xegar County. You'll drive almost 270km for 9hr to arrive at Xegar. En route, you will cross two high passes of Tropu La (4890m) and Gyatso La (5250m). A rougher part of the trail, these high passes remain inaccessible for most of the year because of huge snowfall. Catch the beautiful sight of the mountains as you continue driving towards your destination. Visit the Sakya monastery renowned for Sakya Buddhist School before arriving at Xegar.

• Day 7: Xegar – Rongbuk (4,980m): Approx. 90km

  Leaving Xegar, you'll catch the main highway that connects Tibet to Nepal. Continue driving south through the Friendship Highway en route to Rongbuk. Rongbuk lies amidst the high mountains in the Shigatse prefecture. You'll drive almost 90km south from Xegar to Rongbuk Monastery. Rongbuk Monastery at 4980 meters lies on the foothills of Mount Everest. Before approaching the Everest Base Camp, you will visit the Rongbuk monastery and spend the night just beside the monastery overlooking the beautiful mountains. Rongbuk is famous for being the highest monastery in the entire Tibet. The 8th-century site is originally a cave-monastery dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava. Overnight in Rongbuk.

• Day 8: Rongbuk – Everest BC – Kerung (2,800m) 370 km

  Leaving Rongbuk, you’ll indulge in a scenic drive south towards Everest Base Camp. En route, witness the larger-than-life sight of the mountains, including Qomolangma (Everest), Shishapangma, and Makalu North. Unlike the Southern Everest Base Camp in Nepal, the Everest Base Camp in Tibet remains accessible through a major roadway. Enjoy a delicious lunch and salted butter tea at the base camp. You will find many souvenir shops around the base camp. Leaving Everest Base Camp, you’ll catch the friendship highway and begin driving towards Kerung. The drive continues through Tingri province towards the Thong La Pass. Continue driving alongside the Paigu-Tso Lake and Brahmaputra River en route to Kerung. Catch the beautiful sight of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Melungtse, and Gauri Shankar peaks en route to the town.

• Day 9: Kerung – Kathmandu: 165 km.

  After breakfast, you’ll continue on your road journey and drive through the Friendship Highway towards Nepal-Tibet Border. As you make your way towards the border, you will find larger towns with many shops. After getting your permit checked, you’ll enter Nepal and begin driving south through Syabrubensi village towards Kathmandu. Check into a hotel and enjoy the evening exploring the nearby Thamel Town. Enjoy a delicious farewell dinner at a Nepali restaurant before heading back to the hotel.

• Day 10: Flight back to home

  We'll drop you off at Tribhuvan International Airport in the time of your flight.

Inclusion

Notes

Best time to visit Tibet

You can get visit Tibet at any time of the year. However, August and September are the simplest months to travel to Tibet. Also, the start of April until November may be a blast to visit Tibet. The weather is pretty stable and is ideal for activities like hiking and trekking. you'll get the simplest views of the gorgeous landscape and luxuriate in your trip to the fullest.

FAQs of Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour

• How can I get Tibet Visa? Can I get my visa for Tibet from home?

  Authorized travel agencies in Lhasaare responsible for providing your Tibet Travel permit(Tibet visa). You should pre-arrange your trip itinerary through these travel agencies in Lhasa.The strict tourism policy of Tibet requires travelers to have the permit in hand to board the flight or drive overland to Tibet. If you are planning to travel to Tibet from Nepal, you should prepare for a Chinese Group Visa through legal travel agencies in Kathmandu.

• Can I organize a Tibet visa myself? Can I travel alone in Tibet? If No How do you organize Tibet Tour?

  No, you cannot organize a Tibet visa by yourselfand travel alone in Tibet. The Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) in Lhasa, and to obtain this permit, you will need to contact a legal travel agency in Lhasa. Only these registered agencies are permitted to apply for the TTP. So, you should provide the required documents to a trustable travel agency to process for your Tibet tour. You can choose to join a group or customize your private tour with the help of your travel agency.

• Where is Tibet? What is Tibet known for?

  Tibet is situated in the southwestern part of China, bordering Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Burma. Tibet is famously known as the "Roof of the World." The plateau landscape, vast Himalayan Mountains, colorful monasteries, trekking destinations, sacred lakes, and unique Tibetan culture makes this country stand out from the rest of the world.

• Do you have Airport pickup facilities? What kinds of vehicles are available for getting around Tibet?

  Yes, there are airport pickup facilities available for the tourists. In Lhasa, there are many options for vehicles to travel around, such as taxis, jeeps, and minibusses. Outside Lhasa, you can travel by van or a 4-wheeler. You can discuss the mode of transportation with your travel agency and local guide.

• What do you suggest including in the clothing list if we travel to Tibet?

  You should pack casual clothing and dress with layers as the daytime can be pretty warm, and the evenings can be chilly. You should pack cotton t-shirts, jackets, warm pants, and warmers. If you are traveling further from Lhasa to places like Shigatse and Mt. Kailash, you should pack gloves, sunblock cream, sunglasses, warm trousers, thermal wears, hats, sleeping bags, raincoat, and thick socks.

• What currency do I have to use in Tibet? Are there ATMs counters in Tibet?

  The currency used in Tibet is the Chinese Yuan. In Lhasa, you can exchange money in banks. Remember, the banks remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Also, some 5-star hotels can provide facilities for currency exchange services. Outside Lhasa, you can exchange money in Shigatse and Purang. Similarly, ATM facilities are available in Lhasa, Shigatse, and Gyantse. However, as the Chinese banking system is not linked to many international banks, it is best to have a UnionPay card for your stay in Tibet.

• What kind of weather (how cold does it get) can we expect while in Tibet?

  The winter season in Tibet occurs from November to March. The weather is quite cold; however, there is not much snowfall. The winter in Lhasa, located at 3685m, is dry, with temperatures ranging from around 16 degrees in April to 8 degrees in December. If you are traveling to Shigatse, at a slightly high altitude (3836m) than Lhasa during winter, be prepared to face harsh climatic conditions with the temperature dropping as low as minus 13 during nighttime in peak winter months of December and January.

• How bad is Altitude Sickness in Tibet, and what can I do to avoid or treat it?

  Tibet is one of the highest places on Earth. Many visitors traveling from lower altitude regions may suffer from altitude sickness. Generally, many visitors suffer only from minor symptoms of altitude sickness like headaches and loss of appetite. However, with time and rest, the body adjusts to the surrounding, and the symptoms go away. In any case, you should be prepared to tackle altitude sickness by packing necessary medicine and taking care of your body with enough rest and hydration. Your tour guide will be there to assist you too.

• What is the electricity supply in Tibet, and what plugs are used? Is there internet access in Tibet for the foreign traveler?

  The electricity supply in Tibet is 220V, 50HZ. You should pack master plug-ins to charge your electronic devices while in Tibet. You can access the internet in Tibet, but only in places like Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse, and Tsedang. Hotels and cafes in cities like Lhasa and Shigatse also offer internet facilities to foreign travelers.

• What type and standard of accommodation will I encounter? Is tap water safe to drink in Tibet?

  Accommodation in Lhasa ranges from basic guesthouses to 5-star hotels. Other cities like Shigatse and Gyantse also have some 3-star hotels for accommodation. However, in other remote regions, travelers will be accommodated in simple guesthouses. Drinking from tap water can be risky when traveling to a foreign place. So, you should take precautions and follow the safety measures. It is recommended that you buy bottled water instead of drinking from tap water.

• Is it safe to travel in wintertime, especially from Tibet to Kathmandu? What is the Time Zone of Tibet?

  Wintertime means that the Chinese-Nepal highway can be blocked due to snowfall. Driving during such harsh conditions is also not a good option. So, it is recommended that you do not travel during wintertime. Tibet follows China Standard Time (GMT +8). It is 2 hours 15 minutes ahead of Nepalese Standard Time.