9 Days Lhasa to EBC Photography Tour

Reputed as “Paradise for Photographers”, the exotic life-style and breathtaking scenery in Tibet has attracted professional photographers and photography geeks all over the world. Escorted by Tibetan guide good at photographing, you can fully experience the great beauty of Tibetan plateau and record it with your camera. Besides the authentic Tibetan life at Barkhor Street, you can record the sunrise over Potala Palace at Chagpori Mountain and the panoramic view of Lhasa Valley at Ganden Monastery, take photos of grandeur monastery complex in different architectural style, turquoise Yamdrok Lake glimmering in various shade, as well as the spectacular sunset, starry night, and sunrise over the majestic Mt. Everest.

Itinerary Day by Day

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Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa

When you arrive in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit to welcome you. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel. You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on the way from airport to Lhasa. Then, you can take a good rest at hotel to acclimatize to Tibetan plateau environment.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 2: Lhasa Day Tour (B)

After breakfast, you will visit Jokhang Temple, the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet. You will follow the famous Barkhor Circuit to Jokhang Temple and see the devote Tibetan pilgrims prostrating in front of it. After enjoying the stunning vista of Potala Palace and panoramic view of Barkhor Street on the rooftop of Jokhang Temple, you can stroll on the bustling Barkhor Bazaar and shoot photos of Tibetan hawkers, Thangka painters, delicate souvenirs, and a variety of farm products in Tromzikhang, and ancient alleys nearby.

After lunch, you will head to Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. You can appreciate the religious complex and watch the wonderful monks debate in the courtyard at around 3-5 pm. Later, take the car ride back to the downtown of Lhasa, and enjoy the sweet tea and local snacks like Tibetan noodles in Canggu Nunnery.

Tips: Usually, photo taking is forbidden inside the hall of Buddhist temple. You can try telescope lens for portrait shots.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 3: Lhasa Day Tour (B)

Head to Chagpori in the early morning for the daybreak of Potala Palace and take the iconic photo of the grandeur Potala Palace there. Then follow the stone steps to visit Potala Palace, the winter palace of former Dalai Lama. You can explore the mysterious chapels in it and take panorama of Lhasa City and great vista of Lhasa Valley on the top of the palace. Afterwards, descend to experience the Potala kora circuit down below the Red Hill.

In the afternoon, you will visit Ganden Monastery, the first Gelugpa monastery founded by Tsongkhapa. You will follow the winding road to visit the monastery built on Wangbur Mountain, and enjoy the scenic Ganden Kora and take incredible landscape photography of Ganden Monastery and Lhasa Valley.

Tips: It is advisable to use tripod and remote shutter.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 4: Lhasa to Gyantse (B)

Today you will head for Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake. You can have panoramic view of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake and the snow-capped Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7191m) at Gangbala Pass (4790m), and have close view of the lake which is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet later.

After having lunch at Nagarze, you will visit the Karola Glacier at the roadside to appreciate the massive icy glacier and the white Tibetan stupas around it. When arriving at Simila Mountain Pass, you can hang auspicious prayer flags on the mountain pass and view Manak Dam Lake.

Finally you will arrive in the historical Gyantse Town, you can visit Pelkor Monastery and appreciate the Nepali-style Kumbum Stupa, enjoy the spectacular vista of Gyantse Fortress, and tour the Tsulaklakang Monastery right beside.

Stay overnight in Gyantse.

Day 5: Gyantse to Tingri via Shigatse

In the morning, you will visit the historic Gyantse Fortress. Climbing to the top of the awe-inspiring fortress, you can appreciate the panorama of Gyantse Town and Pelkor Monastery.

Then, head to Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse where you can take photos of pencil-thin cobbled lanes, fluttering door curtains, and gigantic festival Thanka Wall. Later, follow the classic kora route of Tashilhunpo Monastery to capture the past glory of Shigatse Dzong, which is known as the small Potala. Finally, you will arrive at to Tingri via Tsola Pass (4600m) and Gyatsola Pass (4528m).

Stay overnight in Tingri.

Day 6: Tingri to Everest Base Camp

Set off in the early morning to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise over the top 4 peaks along Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5198m), which are Mt. Everest (8844.43m), Cho Oyo (8201m), Lhotse (8516m), and Makalu (8463m). Then keep traveling to Rongbuk Monastery, the highest Buddhist site in the world. You can photograph Mt. Everest with White Stupas as the foreground there and explore the medication cave of Tsongkhapa.

Then trek about 4km to the camping site of EBC (5200m), get close-up of the north face of Mount Everest, and see the Everest Monument. At night, you may do the time-lapse photography of starry night sky at EBC.

Tips: Please walk slowly and bundle up in warm clothes when traveling to Mt. Everest.

Stay overnight in the tent at EBC.

Day 7: EBC to Shigatse

In the morning, you can appreciate the sunrise over Mt. Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then take the car ride back to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 8: Shigatse to Lhasa

Travel back to Lhasa along the Yarlung Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and appreciate the vast Yarlung River bed. At last, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9: Depart from Lhasa

The guide will pick you up from your hotel, transfer you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, and help you get on board.

Service Inclusion

Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
All meals listed in the above itinerary;
Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
First aid kit;

Service Exclusion

International flight to and out of China;
Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.

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9 Days Lhasa to EBC Photography Tour

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