10 Days Lhasa, Everest and Namtso Lake Tour

Tour summary

If ten days exploring the ancient, windswept landscape of the Tibetan Plateau, and experiencing its ancient and mysteries customs and culture sound like your adventure, then come join us for this 10 Days Lhasa-Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake journey! From the bustling Bakhor Street exploding with sights and sounds akin to the ancient silk road, to the dark and secretive Johkang Temple filled with the devote from every corner of Tibet, you will feel the heartbeat of Tibet and its people. Along with the exciting capitol, the tour will journey through the landscape to holy lakes and commanding views of Mt Everest from its basecamp in the north! Come and fill your senses with all the sights, sounds, and colors of this enigmatic world.

Tour photos

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa(3650m) by Plane or Train

You are welcomed warmly in Tibetan by the greeting “Tashi Delek” at Train station/ Airport by our professional Tibetan guide. After meeting your guide you will be transferred to your prearranged hotel in Lhasa. The choice is yours, either enjoy some time relaxing or take a stroll through the city’s’ streets to take in some of the local flavor. Whatever you choose it is important to take it slow as your body needs time to acclimatize. This will help you to have a more enjoyable experience for the rest of your time.

Day 2: Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace/ Jokhang Temple/Barkhor Street

In the morning, we will begin the tour with the grand Potala Palace! Built in 7th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the highest building in Lhasa. With roughly 1000 stairs to climb, you will enjoy a commanding view of beautiful Lhasa City and the surrounding mountains. There are many rooms, courtyards, and views to explore in Potala Palace, so the better part of the morning will be spent here. In the afternoon we will visit Jokhang Temple, which is considered the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It was built approximately 1350 years ago in a mix of styles including: Tibetan, Tang Dynasty Chinese, Nepalese and Indian. After experiencing this incredible and ancient temple you will find it is the perfect opportunity to envelope yourself in the famous shopping district of Barkhor Street. Beautiful and unique handicrafts from all over Tibet can be found here, and the shopping is enjoyed by both tourists and locals alike! After perusing the wares, join in with locals and pilgrims from around the country and the world in a traditional “kora”. A kora is a clockwise walk done around Buddhists sites, and is traditionally done three times. You may see some walking counterclockwise, however this is only for Bon religion followers, and it is best to stick to clockwise as a tourist. After your kora, sit and watch the many faces and colorful clothed locals while sipping traditional Tibetan butter tea, made with fresh yak butter and yak milk. Free welcome dinner will be arranged for the first night!

Day 3: Lhasa/ Dadong Village Family Visit/ Sera Monastery

Drive 30km far from Lhasa to Dadong Village. The 6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso lived here for 3 years. Pay a visit to a local family in this traditional village, learn about their daily lives, experience tsampa making, a simple tibetan lunch is included. Later in the afternoon, we will explore another of the “Great Three” monasteries, Sera Monastery. Visitors will have the unique privilege in witnessing one of the magnificent traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, the courtyard debates among the monks. These lively debates contribute to the monks understanding of Buddhist philosophy and achieve a higher level of study. The debates are held on weekdays from 3pm to 5pm in the afternoon.

Day 4: Lhasa/ Gyangtse(4040m)/ Shigatse(3836m): Yamdrok Lake, Karo-la Glacier, Pelkor Monastery, Gyantse Kumbum, 360km, 7-8hrs

On day four, our tour leaves the bustling and ancient city of Lhasa and heads into the Nyangchu Valley. The valley follows the Nyang River, one of the tributaries to the Yarlung Zangbo which later becomes the Bramaputra River. This wide floodplain is home to a host of wildlife and bird species. The road will also cross over the Gampala Pass(4900m), on the way to Yamdrok Lake(4400m). Yamdrok Lake with its turquoise waters looks surreal as it stretches from horizon to horizon. After driving along the picturesque lake, and leaving it behind we then meet the Karo-la Glacier(4960m) which is in easy view from the roadside. Once pictures are taken and memories made we continue on to Gyantse, a famous historical city, where we will pay a visit to Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. Later we arrive in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Day 5: Shigatse/ Everest Base Camp(5200m), 350km, 7-8hrs

On the fifth day of the tour, you will make your way to the highest monastery in the world, Rongbuk Monastery (5100m). First the tour will pass by Latse, and Shegar before arriving at the Rongbuk Monastery, from here, it offers a commanding view of Everest, or “Qomolangma” in Tibetan. Rongbuk Monastery sits small and unassuming tucked into the rock, a visit to this retired monastery with its one monk caretaker is a window into the past with its secret spaces and wall frescos.

Day 6: Everest Base Camp/Shigatse, 350km, 7-8hrs

A pre-dawn rise and swift boarding of the tour bus will allow you to climb from EBC back to the pass for a breathtaking sunrise behind Mt. Everest (8848m) weather permitting. You will also get the chance to look at other famous peaks such as Cho Oyu(8201m), and Shishapangma(8012m). After that, we drive back to Shigaste.

Day 7: Shigatse/Lhasa:Tashilumpo Monastery, 280km, 6hrs

In the early morning, the tour will arrive at Tashilunpo Monastery which is the seat of the of Panchen Lamas. Built in 1447, the monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha, the biggest gilded statue of the Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lamas. This enormous Buddha is decorated with jewels and precious stones, and many pilgrims come to rub their “malas” or prayer beads along the flanks of this statue. In the afternoon, we drive back to Lhasa.

Day 8: Lhasa/Namtso Lake/Damxung, 280km, 6-7hrs

Lake Namtso is the destination for day eight of our adventure in the beautiful landscape of Tibet. On the way, you will see sweeping vast open landscapes surrounded by snow covered mountain ranges such as Nyenchen Thanglha. Along the way you may notice nomad tents with grazing yak and sheep dotting the hillsides of the mountains. Lake Namtso is known as heavenly lake to locals, and it is one of the four holy lakes in Tibet. Once at the lake you can relax with an easy hike around the lake and see Tashi Island floating in the distance. After the tour finishes on Namtso lake, we will drive back to Damxung to stay overnight.

Day 9: Damxung/Lhasa, 160km, 3 hrs

Enjoy the breakfast, we journey to Yangpachen, it is famous for its geothermal resources. You can pay extra here to enjoy the hot spring(Optional). Later we drive back to Lhasa.