Itinerary
- Day 1
Lhasa
You'll arrive at Gonggar Airport and meet your Serene Himalaya representative who'll get you settled. Since you're landing in Lhasa, Tibet's main city and one of the world's highest places, you'll want to take it easy for the rest of the day. The altitude here is around 3,100m on the Tibetan Plateau, where oxygen levels sit at about 68% of what you're used to at sea level, so resting helps your body adjust to the elevation.
- Start point
- Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) ལྷ་ས་གོང་དཀར་རྫོང་, Shannan Shi, Tibet Autonomous Region 850700, China (from your hotel where you stay)
- Day 2
Tsedang to Lhasa
Starting early, you'll drive toward Lhasa and stop at Samye Monastery, Tibet's first Buddhist monastery with its distinctive mandala layout on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. From there, you'll hike up to the Chim Phu caves above the monastery for some great views. After that you'll check out Yambulakhang palace, which sits high above the Yarlung River valley. Then it's on to Lhasa where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet
- Hike to Chim Phu caves
- Visit Yambulakhang palace
Landmarks Samye Monastery Chim Phu caves Yambulakhang palace Yarlung Tsangpo River 
- Day 3
Lhasa
This morning you'll see Lhasa's major sites starting with Potala Palace and its impressive city views, including the Dalai Lama's private quarters. Next you'll visit Norbulingka Palace, the summer residence with Tibet's largest man-made garden. Later you'll head to the Tibet Museum to walk through its permanent collection of around 1,000 artifacts showing Tibet's cultural history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Potala Palace
- Visit Norbulingka Palace
- Visit Tibet Museum
Landmarks Potala Palace Norbulingka Palace Tibet Museum - Day 4
Lhasa
You'll start at Drepung Monastery, a 14th-century site that once housed around 10,000 monks and remains central to Tibetan history and religious practice. After that, head to Sera Monastery with its white-washed walls and golden roofs. Then visit Jokhang Temple, an important sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism. Later you'll stroll through Barkhor Bazaar with its open-air stalls and pilgrims walking around the temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Drepung Monastery
- Visit Sera Monastery
- Visit Jokhang Temple
- Stroll through Barkhor Bazaar
Landmarks Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery Jokhang Temple Barkhor Bazaar - Day 5
Lhasa
You'll drive to Ganden Monastery sitting at 4,300m on Wangbur Mountain, one of Tibet's three great Gelug University monasteries. Spend time looking at the detailed murals, sculptures, and two dozen major chapels with large Buddha statues, plus see artifacts from Tsongkhapa and his tomb. After that you'll visit Drayerpa Cave in a valley with over 30 meditation caves used by lamas. You'll head back to Lhasa by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ganden Monastery
- Visit Drayerpa Cave
Landmarks Ganden Monastery Wangbur Mountain Drayerpa Cave - Day 6
Lhasa to Gyantse
You'll drive through mountain scenery toward Gyantse, crossing the Karo La and Kamba La passes with views of the Nazin Kang Sang glacier and the sacred Lake Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise Lake). Once in Gyantse, you'll check out the Khumbum Stupa, Phalkot Monastery, and the Gyantse Fortress built in 1390 to guard the town, which is surrounded by a 3km-long wall.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Khumbum Stupa
- Visit Phalkot Monastery
- Visit Gyantse Fortress
Landmarks Karo La Pass Kamba La Pass Nazin Kang Sang glacier Lake Yamdrok Tso Khumbum Stupa Phalkot Monastery Gyantse Fortress - Day 7
Gyantse to Shigatse
You'll drive to Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city. On the way you'll visit Shalu Monastery, founded in 1040 and known for its beautiful ancient mural paintings. Then you'll continue to the large Tashilhunpo Monastery, a historically important site the 1st Dalai Lama founded in 1447.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Shalu Monastery
- Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery
Landmarks Shalu Monastery Tashilhunpo Monastery - Day 8
Shigatse to Rongbuk
After breakfast you'll leave Shigatse and drive toward Rongbuk, stopping at Sakya Monastery, the ancestral temple of the Sakyapa sect with its main halls including the Dajing Hall and Buddhism Hall. Later you'll head to Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery at 4,980 meters, located near Mount Everest's north base.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sakya Monastery
- Visit Rongbuk Monastery
Landmarks Sakya Monastery Rongbuk Monastery - Day 9
Rongbuk to Zhangmu
You'll drive to Everest Base Camp at 5,250m and take in views of Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, and Mount Everest (Mt. Chomolungma). You'll do an approximately 16km round trip around the base camp for a close look at Everest's north face. Then you'll cross the scenic Thong La Pass and Lalung La Pass with Himalayan views before heading down a steep winding road to Zhangmu, a small Tibetan town near the Nepal border.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Everest Base Camp with approximately 16km round trip
Landmarks Everest Base Camp Mount Everest Cho Oyu Shishapangma Thong La Pass Lalung La Pass - Day 10
Zhangmu to Kathmandu
A 30-minute drive from Zhangmu gets you to Kodari where you'll pass through the Tibetan immigration checkpoint. You'll cross the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge over the Bhote Koshi River and meet your Serene Himalaya representative. After saying goodbye to your Tibetan guide, you'll drive to Kathmandu for your final night.
- End point
- Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal (At your hotel where you going to stay)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge Bhote Koshi River 
