8 Days Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lhasa Arrival
   Thank you for joining our Tibet trip! Upon your arrival at Lhasa airport, your local English-speaking guide and driver will welcome you at the exit gate and accompany you to the downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to acclimate to the high altitude and weather in Lhasa (altitude of 3,600m).

    Overnight in Lhasa
2. Day 2: Lhasa Tour
   Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street

   Start today with a visit to Potala Palace (altitude of 3700m) - a Tibetan landmark and highlight of the Lhasa trip. Some zigzag stone paths will lead you to the top to appreciate the Tibetan-style architectures and amazing panoramic view of urban Lhasa area. Then walk into the White Palace and Red Palace to explore the resplendent chambers with exquisite Thangkas, wall paintings, Buddha statues, and more Buddhist artworks, and learn the history of the palace and stories of Dalai Lamas.

   

   Continue your exploration to the holy Jokhang Temple - the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism where hundreds of pilgrims from different places come to worship Buddha everyday. Combining Tibetan, Chinese, Indian and Nepalese architecture styles, Jokhang Temple has stood the test of time for over 1300 years, and impress many visitors with a life-sized 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue interior.

   

   After coming out of the Jokhang Temple, you will make your way through crowds of pilgrims and visitors on the Barkhor Street which encircles the Jokhang Temple. Here a wide variety of restaurants, stores of handicrafts and Tibetan religious articles, and ancient Tibetan architectures will allow you a deeper glimpse into the life and faith of local Tibetans.

   Then, transfer back to your hotel.

   Overnight in Lhasa

3. Day 3: Lhasa Tour
   Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery

   Today is the exploration of two significant monasteries in Tibet. The first one is Drepung Monastery - the largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. Housing immense temples and chapels, it is the place where Dalai Lamas and many important Tibetan leaders used to study.

   

   The second monastery for today is Sera Monastery. This is the second largest monastery in Tibet. It got its fame for the daily route of the monks when they gather in the courtyard and debate intensely about Buddhism with dance-like gestures.

   

   Transfer back to your hotel in the end.

   Overnight in Lhasa

4. Day 4: Lhasa-Gyantse Shigatse (370km/ Approx 6hrs）
   Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Manla Reservoir, Palcho Monastery & Kumbum Stupa

   You will drive to Shigatse today, and many natural beauties are waiting for you along the way. The first site is Yamdrok Lake (altitude of 4,441 meters), one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. The turquoise water in sunny days, surrounding snowy mountains, fertile pastures dotted with Tibetan villages, herds of yaks and sheep combined to make it the most breathtaking beauty in southern Tibet.

   

   Not far away from Yamdrok Lake is the imposing Karola Glacier (altitude of 5400 meters) where you will be greeted by spectacular white glacier stretching from the top of icy and perennially frozen peaks.

   

   Keep driving from Karola Glacier, you will see the Manla Reservoir. It is an artificial lake embedded between the awe-inspiring mountains which were decorated into a wonderland with the colorful fluttering prayer flags and turquoise water.

   Then, you will arrive at Gyantse, and visit the iconic Palcho Monastery. Architecturally, the monastery is a fusion of Han, Tibetan and Nepali architecture styles. Kumbum Stupa (aka the Ten Thousand Buddha Pagodas) is widely known as its symbol, highlighting 'tower upon tower' structure, and 76 small chapels with thousands of Buddha statues, images and murals.

   Overnight in Shigatse

5. Day 5: Shigatse-Rongpuk （340km/6 hrs driving ）
   Rongbuk Monastery & Pang La Pass

   Continue your Tibet exploration after breakfast. You will drive around 150 km to Lhatse where you can enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

   Then continue driving to Rongbuk Monastery. If the weather is good, you will see Mt. Everest from afar on the way.

   Before a 4-6 hours drive take you to Rongbuk Monastery, you will cross the Pang La Pass which is considered one of the best viewpoints to enjoy Himalaya and some of the most majestic Tibetan ridges.

   Friendly Tip: Today you’ll stay overnight in Rongbuk guesthouse. Please note that the guesthouse is barely-furnished without independent toilets due to in such a harsh geographical conditions. There is only dorm bed lodging available, and breakfast is not included.

   Overnight in Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse

   

6. Day 6: Rongpuk- Shigatse （340km/6 hrs driving）
   Everest Base Camp

   If weather is good, you can get up early to enjoy the gorgeous sunrise view of Mount Everest from Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse. Walk around 15mins, you will arrive at the amazing Everest Base Camp, and have a relaxing walk there to memorize the holy moment.

   Then head to Rongbuk Monastery, the highest-elevation monastery in the world sitting 5,100 meters above sea level. Lying near the north slope of Mount Everest, the monastery is widely known as the best viewpoint to appreciate the highest peak in the world.

   After visiting Rongbuk Monastery, you will drive about 6 hours back to Shigatse.

   Special note: Since Everest Base Camp is not available to the public now, tourists can go as far as the Rongbuk Monastery to enjoy Mount Everest from afar.

   Overnight in Shigatse

   

7. Day 7: Shigatse-Lhasa （270km/Approx 5hrs）
   Tashilhunpo Monastery

   After breakfast, you will be accompanied to the Tashilhunpo Monastery (altitude: 3,800m/12,467 feet) the largest Gelug Monastery in Shigatse prefecture, and the traditional residence of Panchen Lamas. Besides the gorgeous architectures and pagodas with golden roofs and red walls, it is also renowned for the enormous statue of Future Buddha which is the largest one of the same kind in the world.

   Later, drive around 5 hours back to Lhasa.

   On the way, you can enjoy the breathtaking view of endless mountains.

   Overnight in Lhasa

   

8. Day 8: Lhasa Departure

   Enjoy your free time until the pickup time. You will be escorted to the Lhasa airport for departure. This is the end of your 8 days Tibet Classic Tour.