17 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Tour with Namtso EBC Kailash

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit and greet you with auspicious white Khata/Hada. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel, and the guide will give a brief introduction of the itinerary as well as dos and don'ts in Tibet. Then, you can take a good rest at hotel to acclimatize to Tibetan plateau environment.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage and the winter palace of Dalai Lama. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, meditation cave of the 33rd Great King of Tibet, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then you will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. On the top of Jokhang Temple, you can enjoy the panorama of old Lhasa City and great vista of Potala Palace.

Then you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals by circling the Barkhor Street around the temple, buy some souvenirs, and taste sweet tea and local snacks in local tea house. Later, you can take your family to explore farm products like yak butter in Tromzikhang, the famous farm produce market.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Tips: Please follow your guide’s guidance when visiting Potala Palace especially during peak season, and dress properly when visiting Buddhist sites. Please kindly note that taking photo is not allowed inside the Buddhist hall.

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416 and used to be home to more than 10,000 monks. Hiking along the mountain steps, you can see Buddhist painting on the rock face. During Shoton Festival, locals and pilgrims swarm to Drepung Monastery to celebrate the gigantic Thangka Buddha unveiling ceremony on the Gambo Utse Mountain. Then you will stop by the nearby carpet factory to appreciate the Tibetan artisans make traditional carpets with great skills.

After having lunch, you will visit Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most interesting thing is to see monks debating in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon. By yelling at each other, slapping hands and rolling mala, two monks make a pair to debate on philosophical issues. You can also appreciate the delicately-made Mandala, sanding paintings, and massive Buddhist scriptures inside Sera Monastery.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Take the car ride in the morning to Lake Namtso (4718m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet as well as the world’s highest saline lake. On the way, you can see Nyenchen Tangula Mountain Range, enchanting villages around Lhasa Valley, and lots of nomads with yaks and sheep grazing in the flourishing grassland (in summer). In addition, you can appreciate the view of Qinghai-Tibet Railway with snow mountain background. Driving over Lagenla Pass (5190m), you can far view Namtso Lake shinning under the sun.

Then you can take a leisurely trek around Tashi Island and enjoy the stunning Namtso Lake against the snow-capped Mt. Nyenchen Thanglha. Finally, you will head to Damxung or Yampachen and spend the night there. The lower altitude at Damxung and Yampachen shall bring you a sound sleep.

Stay overnight in Dumxung or Yampachen.

Tips: The wind at Namtso Lake is chilly even in summer. So please bring warm jacket, as well as sun protection gears like sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm for a comfortable trip.

The trip back to Lhasa is relaxing both to body and soul. You will make a stopover at Yampachen, where the famous mineral-rich Yampachen Hot Spring will remove your tiredness and get your refreshed. Having enjoyed the joyful time at the outdoor hot spring, you again hit the road to Lhasa. The final leg of the road trip takes you to visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery) and you may have a far view of a sky burial site nearby.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Cultural Tips: Tibetan Buddhists believe that the corpse is nothing but a discarded shell, and offering their bodies to vultures is an offering of generosity back to the earth that gave them life. The master of the sky burial ceremony will perform rituals over the body, summon vultures by burning incense and tsampa, and dispose of the body into pieces. Sky burial is a private and sacred matter, it is not recommended to go to sky burial sites or take pictures.

Take the car ride from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake. On the way, you can appreciate the picturesque Yarlung Tsangpo River. When arriving at the Gangbala Pass (4790m), you can enjoy a panoramic view of Yamdrok Lake and Mt. Naiqinkangsang at the viewing platform.

After having lunch in Baidi Town. you can ride on the mountain bike offered by us, and follow your guide to cycle along the turquoise Yamdrok Lake. Finally, you will cycle back to Baidi Town and set up campsite to spend the night there.

Camp in Baidi Town.

Tips:The cycling route is suitable for travelers of all ages and escorted by our professional guide.

Continue your car ride from Baidi Town to Shigatse via Gyantse. After passing Nagarze, you will have a stopover at Karola Glacier to appreciate this incredible land glacier cascading from the peak, right on the roadside. At Manla Reservoir, you can enjoy the turquoise Manak Dam Lake and hang the auspicious prayer flags at Simila Pass (4200m).

Soon, you will arrive at the heritage town Gyantse, historically the third largest city in Tibet after Lhasa and Shigatse. You can visit Kumbum Stupa in Pelkor Monastery and catch the far view of Gyantse Fortress, take a leisurely stroll in the old street nearby and visit the memorial site of Gyantse Dzong, and climb the Gyantse Fortress for the panorama of the Gyantse County. Finally, after about 1.5 hours’ ride, you will reach Shigatse (3900m), the second largest city in Tibet and the gateway to Mt. Everest.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, you will go to the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery, and visit the 26.2-meter-high golden statue of Future Buddha, the golden stupas of Panchen Lamas and Amitabha Buddha, and assembly hall there.

Then, you will leave Shigatse for EBC. On the way, you will pass Tsola Pass (4,600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m). Shortly after entering Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, you can appreciate the panoramic view of Himalaya at Gawula Pass (5,180m) where you can have a panorama of the world’s top 4 highest peaks. Keep marching along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp, you can get closer view of Mt. Everest peak. You can also enjoy the sunset of golden Everest peak at the lodging area if time and weather permits .

Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse.

Tips: Besides the oxygen supply, your guide will also meter your oxygen saturation sporadically to ensure a safe Mt. EBC trip for you. It is advisable to prepare some snacks and wear warmly because the lodging at EBC is basic and the temperature there is relatively lower. 

Have an early rise to appreciate the stunning sunrise over the summit of Mt. Everest at lodging area if weather permits. Later, stroll to the legendary Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world as well as the unique Nyingma Sect monastery where nuns and monks live together. Then take the car ride to Saga, along the way, you will pass the turquoise Lake Peikutso (4,590m) and catch the view of the world’s 14th highest peak Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m), the only peak above 8,000 meters that is wholly inside Tibet. You can also see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope etc if lucky enough.

Stay overnight in Saga.

Tips: You can use our binoculars to enjoy the vista of Mt. Everest at Rongbuk Monastery.

In the morning, you can appreciate the stunning view of the Saga Valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, you can also view the beautiful grassland and local's villages along the way. While crossing the Mayomla Pass (5,112m), you can catch the far view of Mt. Naimonanyi (7,694M).

Before reaching Darchen, you will pass through Hor Qu Town on the northeastern shore of Lake Manasarovar (4,590m) and stop at the lakeshore for a while to appreciate the sacred lake. Later, head to the legendary Chiwu Monastery nearby to enjoy the panorama of Manasarovar from the hilltop before heading for Darchen.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

Tips: Ngari Prefecture in western Tibet has much higher altitude (Avg above 4500m) and more barren land than the central and eastern Tibet.

At first, you will take an eco-bus ride (about 15mins, 6km) from Darchen to Serlung Chu Valley, the trail head of Mt. Kailash Kora. Start your trekking at the terminal of the bus, walk through the Two-legged Stupa adorned by colorful prayer flags, and keep trekking to Guqu Temple about 2.6km away. You can see prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and enjoy the grand Serlung Valley with spear-shaped summit of Mt. Kailash in the background. After enjoying sweet tea at tents around Guqu Temple, you can circumambulate Guqu Temple before heading back to Darchen.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

Drive from Darchen to Saga.

Stay overnight in Saga.

Traveling along the scenic Gyirong Valley to Gyirong County.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

After passing through China Customs with the assistance of you Tibetan guide, you will meet you Nepali guide on the other side of the border and enjoy the jeep transfer service to your hotel in Kathmandu.

Tips: The road to Kathmandu is bumpy. To avoid motion sickness, it is suggested not to eat too much for breakfast.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

The day starts with a tour of Kathmandu City, and takes in the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square. The most famous square in the city, the Durbar Square is the Royal Palace square in the city, and is surrounded by ancient buildings from the early 16th century. The magnificent architecture, exquisite decorations, and the intensity of historical items gives a great insight into Nepali culture.

You then continue the tour with a visit to the Swayambhunath Pagoda, which is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath is a huge golden stupa festooned with prayer flags that flutter in the breeze, on a hill that overlooks the entire city. Then it is on to Patan City, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley area. Patan City has one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nepal that dates back to the 12th century, and is a great place to explore the Buddhist culture of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

You will also get to go further afield in Nepal, to visit the ancient Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in Asia, and a focal point for Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Set on the banks of the Baghmati River, Pashupatinath is one of Nepal’s famous UNESCO sites, and the sunset over the temple roofs is spectacular.

Another great place to see is Boudhanath, located on the ancient trade route. It is a place of meditation and part of the spiritual journey around Kathmandu. With one of the largest stupas in the world, it has been the site of many Tibetan prayers over the centuries. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the last place to visit for the day, with its pagoda and shikhara temples strewn around the royal palace. The square really highlights the ancient building arts of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in a private car, take you to Tribhuvan Airport, and help you with your luggage and checking in for your flight from Nepal.