Days
11 Days
Arrival City
Kathmandu
Departure City
Kathmandu
Best Season
April–October
Max Altitude
5,500m
Accommodation
Hotel in Lhasa/Shigatse/Tsedang, guesthouse at Namtso and Rongbuk
Transportation
Private vehicle/flight
Difficulty
Moderate
Group Size
1–10+
Filled with alpine scenery and Tibetan Buddhist culture, this 11-day fly-in/fly-out circuit runs from Lhasa's Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple out to the north face of Mount Everest at Rongbuk, via Gyantse, Shigatse, Sakya and the high passes of the Friendship Highway. En route it also takes in Yamdrok-Tso and Namtso, two of Tibet's three holy lakes, along with the Ganden, Sera and Drepung monasteries.
Kathmandu → Tsedang → Lhasa → Namtso → Yamdrok-Tso → Gyantse → Shigatse → Sakya → Shegar → Everest Base Camp/Rongbuk → Lhasa → Kathmandu.
Fly from Kathmandu to Gonggar Airport, then drive roughly 170km to Tsedang to rest and acclimatize.
Visit Mindroling Monastery, Samye Monastery — reputedly Tibet's first monastery — and the Tara temple of Dromlga Lhakang before continuing to Lhasa.
Explore Potala Palace, Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery and Barkhor Street around Jokhang Temple.
Visit Ganden Monastery, one of the Gelug school's "great three" university monasteries alongside Sera and Drepung.
Drive via Damshung to Namtso, the highest of Tibet's three holy lakes, with an excursion around the lakeshore and Tashi Hermitage.
Return via Lhasa and cross Kampala Pass (4,790m) for views of turquoise Yamdrok-Tso Lake, then visit Samding Monastery, seat of a female incarnate lama.
Visit the Gyantse Kumbum stupa before continuing to Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city.
Drive the Friendship Highway to Sakya Monastery, home to about 200 monks since 1268, then cross Gyatso La Pass (5,248m), the trip's highest point, to Shegar.
Cross Pang La Pass for a panorama from Makalu to Shishapangma, then reach Everest Base Camp (5,200m) by local bus for close-up views of the North Face.
A long return drive north to Lhasa via the newer highway.
Fly from Lhasa back to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel.
This trip runs on a customizable, on-request basis — choose your own start date and we'll build the group and logistics around it.
Kathmandu → Tsedang → Lhasa → Namtso → Yamdrok-Tso → Gyantse → Shigatse → Sakya → Shegar → Everest Base Camp/Rongbuk → Lhasa → Kathmandu.
Every itinerary can be adjusted for extra acclimatization days, private departures, or combining with another region. Mention it in your enquiry and we'll rework the day-by-day plan accordingly.
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