Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kathmandu (1,370m) and drive to Gyirong port (2,927m). Although the distance is only 160km, it takes about 8/9 hours to the Gyirong border due to the muddy road condition. Alternatively, you can choose to take a helicopter to Gyriong from Kathmandu, which only takes 25 minutes but the price would be much higher.

After arriving at Gyirong port and getting through the customs, you will meet your Tibetan guide and driver. They will take you to Gyirong town (2,600m) for acclimatization.

Stay overnight in Gyirong

Gyirong Valley is the westernmost and deepest of the five Himalayan valleys. It is full of vitality and green, also known as "Tibet's last secret realm" and "the back garden of Mount Everest". Here you can see the different beauty of Tibet - snow-capped mountains, glaciers, grasslands and lakes. From Gyirong to Nyalam County and then to Tingri, you will follow the 219 National Highway, and see the winding snow-capped mountains. Among these snow-capped mountains, the most famous is Shishapangma, which is 8,012 meters above sea level and is the fourteenth highest mountain in the world. At the foot of Shishapangma is Peikutso Lake, the only and largest barrier lake in Shigatse City. It is shaped like a gourd and extremely blue.

Stay overnight in Tingri

After entering Mount Everest National Park, you will first arrive at the Gawu La Pass, adorned with fluttering prayer flags. Here you can enjoy a panoramic view of five towering peaks above 8,000 meters. Next, you will experience the famous 108 bends of Everest, a winding road offering breathtaking scenery along the way. Vehicles can only go as far as Tashizong Township, where visitors must transfer to a shuttle bus to reach the Everest Base Camp, a journey of approximately 50 minutes.

At Everest Base Camp, you can worship Mount Everest up close. Standing before the world's highest peak, you might feel a sense of awe and wonder. You will then visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest-altitude monastery, where you can immerse yourself in its unique spiritual atmosphere. Later in the afternoon, you will return to Tingri.

Stay overnight in Tingri

Drive from Tingri to Shigatse today via G318 and feel the pleasure and excitement that the plateau scenery brings to you. 

In the afternoon, you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery - the home of Panchen Lama. It was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447 and is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Drive Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse by Southern Friendship Highway. You will pass by the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where colorfully decorated yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to till the land. Arriving at Gyantse, you will visit Pelkor Chode Monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is not only the largest stupa in Tibet but also has old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls. En route, you will see Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway, as well as the holy Yamdroktso Lake with its turquoise color and snowcapped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel and first take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it's a museum and world heritage site. 

In the afternoon, you will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.

In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Your tour ends today. Our guide and driver will collect you from your hotel to transfer to Lhasa Airport/Railway Station for your next destination.