Lhasa Tour with Everest Base Camp - 8 Days

Your adventure begins with a scenic drive from Kathmandu toward the Kerung border, the gateway between Nepal and Tibet. The journey winds through lush hills, terraced farmlands, and charming roadside settlements before gradually ascending along the mighty Trishuli River Gorge. En route, you’ll pass through small villages where daily Nepali rural life unfolds against a backdrop of green valleys and cascading waterfalls.

As the road climbs higher, the landscapes become more rugged, with glimpses of Himalayan peaks in the distance. Upon reaching the Kerung border at 2,750 meters, you will complete the immigration formalities and cross into Tibet. Overnight stay at a guesthouse or hotel near Kerung town, where you’ll get your first taste of Tibetan highland culture and prepare for the exciting journey ahead.

After breakfast, the journey continues deeper into the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most striking landscapes on Earth. The drive passes through high-altitude valleys, dramatic cliffs, and endless stretches of open plateau, where yaks graze under a vast blue sky.

You will travel across Tingri and Lhatse, both historic Tibetan towns with panoramic views of the Himalayan giants, including Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, and Mount Everest on a clear day. These stops also provide the chance to acclimatize gradually to the altitude.

By afternoon, you’ll arrive in Shigatse (3,900m), the second-largest city in Tibet and the cultural hub of western Tibet. Known as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, Shigatse offers a blend of historical and spiritual importance. Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Shigatse.

This morning begins with a visit to the magnificent Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama in 1447. This monastery remains the most important religious center of Shigatse, home to the world’s largest statue of the Maitreya Buddha. Pilgrims circumambulate the monastery, spinning prayer wheels as they chant mantras, creating an immersive cultural and spiritual experience.

After exploring Shigatse, you will continue the journey to Lhasa, the spiritual and political capital of Tibet. The drive is scenic, passing through picturesque valleys and stretches of golden barley fields. As you approach Lhasa, the city reveals itself like a hidden jewel surrounded by rugged mountains. Overnight stay in Lhasa at a luxury or boutique hotel.

Today marks the beginning of your exploration of Lhasa (3,650m), a city steeped in mysticism and history. The highlight of the day is a guided tour of the iconic Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rising majestically above the city, its white and red walls house thousands of chapels, murals, and sacred relics. The panoramic views from the palace terraces are unforgettable.

Next, you will visit the Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine in Tibetan Buddhism, which houses the revered Jowo Shakyamuni statue. Pilgrims from all across Tibet gather here, prostrating themselves in devotion, making the atmosphere deeply spiritual.

The day also includes a stroll through the Barkhor Bazaar, a lively market encircling Jokhang Temple, where traders sell Tibetan handicrafts, prayer flags, thangka paintings, and traditional jewelry. Overnight stay in Lhasa.

On your second day in Lhasa, you’ll continue exploring Tibet’s grand monastic heritage. Begin with a visit to the Drepung Monastery, once the largest monastery in the world, home to over 10,000 monks at its peak. Its whitewashed walls, sprawling courtyards, and prayer halls showcase Tibetan Buddhist architecture and history at its finest.

In the afternoon, visit the Sera Monastery, renowned for its monastic debates. Here, monks gather in shaded courtyards to engage in animated discussions about Buddhist philosophy, clapping their hands in emphasis—a tradition that dates back centuries.

The day concludes with leisure time to explore Lhasa at your own pace. You may enjoy a traditional Tibetan tea house or simply soak in the atmosphere of this mystical city. Overnight in Lhasa.

Leaving Lhasa, the road takes you across the Kamba La Pass (4,794m), offering a spectacular first glimpse of the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. The lake stretches like a blue ribbon amid snow-capped peaks, creating a postcard-perfect view.

Further along the journey, you’ll witness the mighty Karola Glacier, descending from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, Tibet’s highest peak. The glacier’s sheer scale is breathtaking, a reminder of the raw power of nature in the Himalayas.

Upon arrival in Gyantse, you’ll explore the Kumbum Stupa, an architectural masterpiece featuring tiered chapels and murals that depict Buddhist cosmology. Overnight stay in Gyantse.

Today’s drive takes you across high-altitude roads toward Xegar (Shegar) and onward to Tingri, small Tibetan towns that serve as the staging points for Everest expeditions. En route, you’ll pass remote valleys, yak herder camps, and traditional Tibetan villages.

From here, the journey offers magnificent views of the Himalayan range, including the north face of Mount Everest (8,848m), Makalu, Cho Oyu, and other towering peaks. Depending on conditions, you may take an excursion to Everest Base Camp (North Side), where you can stand before the world’s highest mountain. The sight of Everest’s sheer north face rising into the sky is one of the most awe-inspiring moments of the journey. Overnight stay in Tingri.

On the final day, the journey retraces its way back toward the Nepal–Tibet border. The descent from the high Tibetan Plateau back into the lush valleys of Nepal provides one last chance to soak in the grandeur of the Himalayas. After completing immigration formalities at the Kerung border, you will drive back to Kathmandu, where the trip concludes.

Arriving in Kathmandu by evening, you’ll be filled with lasting memories of an extraordinary journey across Tibet’s cultural and natural wonders, crowned by the unforgettable sight of Mount Everest from its northern base camp.