Itinerary
- Day 1
Lhasa
You'll land in Lhasa and your local Tibetan guide greets you with a traditional hada scarf. After you check in and spend time adjusting to the high altitude (11,975 feet/3,650 meters), there's an evening orientation where your guide walks through travel tips and introduces everyone in the group.
Landmarks/POIs Lhasa River Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) - Day 2
Lhasa
Today focuses on Tibetan Buddhism, starting with Drepung Monastery, which was once the world's largest. You'll walk through assembly halls and prayer rooms while learning about Tibetan Buddhist beliefs. In the afternoon, head to Sera Monastery to watch monks in red robes doing animated debate sessions. Later, wrap up with a traditional Tibetan welcome dinner with your group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Tibetan welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Drepung Monastery with guide
- Explore Loseling College
- Visit Sera Monastery
- Watch monks debate sessions
- Traditional Tibetan welcome dinner
Landmarks/POIs Drepung Monastery Loseling College Sera Monastery - Day 3
Lhasa
Start the day in Lhasa's spiritual heart at Potala Palace, climbing its steps to see ancient meditation caves, sacred relics, and golden stupas. Take a break at Longwangtan Park, then go to Jokhang Temple, Tibet's holiest temple, and walk the Barkhor Kora pilgrimage circuit around it. By evening, stop at a Tibetan tea house and visit Ping'an Courtyard, a historic residential block that has a hidden monastery inside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Potala Palace
- Relax at Longwangtan Park
- Visit Jokhang Temple
- Walk the Barkhor Kora pilgrimage circuit
- Visit Tibetan tea house
- Visit Ping'an Courtyard
Landmarks/POIs Potala Palace Longwangtan Park Jokhang Temple Barkhor Kora Ping'an Courtyard - Day 4
Lhasa to Shigatse
Leave early heading west toward the Himalayas. Stop at Gampala Pass for views of turquoise Yamdrok Lake, then visit a traditional Tibetan village where you'll have fresh lunch with a local family. Continue to Karola Glacier to see its dramatic ice wall, pass through Simila Pass with prayer flags, photograph Gyantse's ancient fortress, and reach Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city, by evening (75°F/24°C).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Freshly prepared lunch with local family in traditional Tibetan village)
Included Activities
- Stop at Gampala Pass viewpoint
- View Yamdrok Lake
- Visit traditional Tibetan village
- Lunch with local family
- Visit Karola Glacier
- Pass through Simila Pass
- Photo stop at Gyantse fortress
Landmarks/POIs Gampala Pass Yamdrok Lake Karola Glacier Simila Pass Gyantse Fortress - Day 5
Shigatse to Mount Everest Base Camp
Head out early ascending through Gyatsola Pass into Mount Everest National Nature Reserve. At Gawula Pass you'll see panoramic views of the five highest Himalayan peaks in a row. Descend the famous zigzag road to Everest Base Camp and stand before Mount Everest's iconic north face, which glows golden at sunset. After dark, the Milky Way appears above the world's tallest peak under clear skies.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ascend Gyatsola Pass
- View from Gawula Pass
- Visit Mount Everest Base Camp
- View Mount Everest north face
Landmarks/POIs Mount Everest National Nature Reserve Gyatsola Pass Gawula Pass Mount Everest Mount Lhotse Mount Makalu Mount Cho Oyu Mount Shishapangma - Day 6
Mount Everest Base Camp to Gyirong
Wake early for one last look at Mount Everest's snowy outline. Visit Rongbuk Monastery, Earth's highest monastery where monks and nuns live above 5,100 meters (16,732 feet). Drive toward Gyirong in the lush Tibetan-Nepali border valley, getting close-up views of Mount Shishapangma and Pelku Tso Lake's mirror-like surface. As you descend from the plateau, everything changes from snowy mountains to waterfalls, dense forests, and subtropical valleys.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Mount Everest at sunrise
- Visit Rongbuk Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Mount Everest Rongbuk Monastery Mount Shishapangma Pelku Tso Lake Gyirong Valley - Day 7
Gyirong to Kathmandu
After breakfast, head to the border post where your Tibetan guide helps you through Chinese immigration before saying goodbye. Nepali staff take over with visa procedures and luggage. The 7 to 9 hour drive to Kathmandu passes through rural mountain roads and terraced farmland. You'll arrive in Kathmandu where the tour finishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
