Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour
- Duration:
- 7 Days
- Price:
- From USD980
- Route:
- Lhasa-Shigatse-EBC-Nepal Border
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Group Tour
- Group Size:
- Max 12
Overview
After exploring the most featured sites of authentic Tibetan culture in the holy city of Lhasa like the world heritage Potala Palace, sacred Jokhang Temple, etc., you'll drive to the Gyirong Port through the Friendship Highway. On the way to Gyantse and Shigatse, you will continue experiencing the distinct culture of western (Tsang) Tibet, view the turquoise Yamdrok Lake and stunning Karola Glacier, which is like a huge thangka falling from the sky. Admiring the world's highest peak Everest from Tibet is unobscured by other mountains, which is undoubtedly more magnificent than any of her Himalayan neighbors. And for travelers, it’s hard not to feel awed by one of nature’s boldest achievements. Finally, we’ll get to the Border between Tibet and Nepal to end this fantastic tour.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities | Accommodation | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Lhasa (3650m) | Pick up and transfer to the hotel | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | |
| 2 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Drepung Monastery, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 3 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 4 | Lhasa- Gyantse- Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs | Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chöde Monastery | Shigatse, 3★/4★ | B |
| 5 | Shigatse - Tingri - EBC, 350km, Approx. 7hrs | Tashilhunpo Monastery, Sunset of Golden Everest Peak | Nomad Tent(Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse | B |
| 6 | EBC – Gyirong Border, 370km, Approx. 8hrs | Rongbuk Monastery, Pekutso Lake, Far view of Mt. Shishapangma | Gyirong, Guesthouse / 4★ | |
| 7 | Gyirong to Nepal border | Send off to Gyirong border |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseOur staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, it usually takes about 1 hour; from Lhasa Railway Station, about 20 minutes. After being transferred to the hotel, you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself for the rest of the day. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not have a shower if you can help it.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Today, we will go to the famous world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m (12,359.55ft) at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After you visit the temple, you'll have time to walk around the Barkhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa since the early days. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
We will pass by Kampala Pass(4,790m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Standing at the lakeside, you can see its blue water shimmering with charming light, as well as the snow-capped holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar(7,191m) in the distance.
Next we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is about 300m from the main highway on your way to Gyantse.
Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.
Stay overnight in Shigatse
- Meals:
- Breakfast
In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery and then drive to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri by passing through Tsola Pass(4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass(5,248m). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, with countless prayer flags flying in the wind. Afterward, you will ascend to Gawula Pass(5,198m), where you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you will drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5,200m) to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of Golden Everest Peak.
Stay overnight in Nomad Tent (Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse
- Meals:
- Breakfast
You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at the lodging area if the weather is good. Then you will have Tibetan breakfast here, such as noodles, Zanba, etc. about CNY 30p.p. After that, we will go to the Rongbuk Monastery, which is the highest monastery in the world. Next, we will drive to Gyirong, the border that connects Tibet & Nepal. On the way, you can enjoy the breathtaking vista of Mt. Shishapangma and Pekutso Lake. After passing the Ghungtang Lhamo(5,236m), we will arrive in Gyirong in the late afternoon.
Stay overnight in Gyirong Town
Cost & Calendar
All prices are in US Dollar / Person
Economic Class (3-Star Hotels)
| 2024-11-01 ~ 2025-02-28 | 2025-04-01 ~ 2025-06-30 | 2025-07-01 ~ 2025-10-10 | 2025-10-11 ~ 2025-10-31 | 2025-11-01 ~ 2026-02-28 |
| USD980 | USD1070 | USD1180 | USD1070 | USD990 |
Comfortable Class (4-Star Hotels)
| 2024-11-01 ~ 2025-02-28 | 2025-04-01 ~ 2025-06-30 | 2025-07-01 ~ 2025-10-10 | 2025-10-11 ~ 2025-10-31 | 2025-11-01 ~ 2026-02-28 |
| USD1070 | USD1250 | USD1310 | USD1185 | USD1080 |
Schedule
Discount Policy
You may only enjoy one of the advantageous policy, not both.
| Option A: | 3 or More from You Join Together | $30 Off / person |
| Option B: | Tour in Apr~Oct |
|
Our Service
INCLUSIONS
* Lodgings: Comfortable Hotel Accommodations as listed in the itinerary;
* Meal: Breakfasts provided by hotels;
* Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
* Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all times on the first day;
* Pick-up from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to your hotel at 9:30 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on the first day;
* Guide: experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
* Attractions: all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary;
* Permit: Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit; Alien's Travel Permit to be applied in Shigatse with your original passport which takes about 30mins;
* Travel Agency Liability insurance;
* Government Tax;
* Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
* Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
* Oxygen tank for emergency use;
* Two bottles of mineral water per person per day;
EXCLUSIONS
* International flight to and out of China;
* Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.);
* If you miss the free transfer schedule due to flight delay or cancelation, then you are required to pay a private transfer from USD 80/vehicle/time;
* Transfer from Gyriong port to Kathmandu;
* Lunch & Dinner are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 5-15 USD per person for each meal;
* While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. You are suggested to tip each of them 8-15 USD/day in total;
* All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
* Personal expenses;
* Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions;
Note
* Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) usually takes about 12-working-day to apply. If you couldn’t provide the required docs & info on time, an extra handling fee will be charged. Please consult your travel consultant for details;
* We reserve the right to change the itinerary order and attractions in Lhasa;
* If you prefer to book your own hotels over those included in our group tour, please meet the rest of the group at their daily hotel on time. We don’t include the transfers to your own hotels;
* We need to pick up and drop off all members of the group on the first day from Lhasa Airport/Railway Station, thus there may not always be a guide's presence but a driver;
* Single Supplement: our quote is based on twin rooms. For single travelers, a single supplement is required at the time of booking. If later we manage to match you with another traveler to share the twin room, the single supplement will be refunded;
* The accommodation condition at EBC is kind of basic due to the geographic and climatic situation. If you want a better travel experience, Rongbuk Monastery Hotel is our recommendation. However, there are limited rooms, especially during the peak tourist season. Thus, if you want to stay at Rongbuk Hotel, please contact us in advance as there's some price difference, then we can upgrade the hotel for you;
* All members of the same group must be with the same tour guide during the whole trip. So all members must follow the same itinerary and visit the same attractions. If anyone requests to change the scheduled arrangement for your own reasons, you need to get permission from other members and accept the possible payment change if any;
Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Asked by Simo***
Dear Sir or Madam,
Me and my girlfriend are currently traveling through Asia. We are in China and want to travel across Tibet and Nepal to reach India. We are looking to book a Lhase to Kathmandu tour and I am thus contacting your company. I have a few questions about the state of Nepal after the landslides and the tours your company offers.
As I have read, the roads from Gyirong to Kathmandu are open again. Can you confirm this? Will it be possible to find a Jeep to go to Kathmandu at the border crossing? Also, do you happen to know whether the roads from Kathmandu towards India are open as well?
We are planning on doing the tour around the end of November. Would it still be possible to book the tour around that time? (For example the one scheduled on November 25) If yes, when would be the latest date booking this tour is possible?
Finally, I wanted to ask about the possibility of booking a private, shorter route with your company. We have limited time in Asia and so it would fit us best to do a shorter, more direct route from Lhasa to Kathmandu, maybe in 3-4 days, depending on what is feasible. For instance, would it be possible to cut the visit in Lhasa and to Mount Everest base camp to allow for a shorter travel time? And if it is possible, how much would such a tour cost? We are two people and are flexible when it comes to hotel comfort.
Thank you very much for your help,
Best regards
Dear Simo****,
We can arrange the Lhasa Kathmandu Overland Tour at the end of November. I will answer your questions one by one.
1. Yes, the road from Gyirong Border to Kathmandu and Kathmandu to India are open now. We can arrange a jeep to take you to Kathmandu.
2. Yes, we can arrange the Lhasa Kathmandu Overland Private Tour for you around 25 Nov. You'd better book the tour before 15 Nov, because we need time to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit and post it to you. Since travelers from France can enjoy the 15-day China-visa-free policy, what we need is copies of your passports.
3. Yes, we can shorten the itinerary. However, I suggest you stay in Lhasa for at least 2 nights to acclimatize, or there's a high possibility of altitude sickness.
Asked by Bett***
Dear Team,
I want to fulfill my dream this year to visit Tibet.
I have some ideas, but would be happy to get your recommendations:
* timeframe: I consider leaving Germany 12- 15th of October (2024) I would book my own flight into China and ideally board the Tibet Train in the later parts (like Lanzhou)
* Lhasa - I am super keen to visit the Potala Palace, but I assume this is quite standard in all tours :-) but also to spend some time in the city overall for the other monastaries etc.
* if possible, Lake Namtso
* Yamdrok Lake
* Mount Everest Basecamp, incl. a night there
* Mount Kailash, unsure about it but I would to do a 3-5 hike while in Tibet and maybe that is the right option?
* ending in Kathmandu/Nepal
I am currently planning to travel alone and would appreciate a nice group tour ( I am quite flexible).
Do you have some offers that you could provide me around costs, routes, timing etc.?
Main questions, that I am currently considering in regards to the route are:
* optional hike ? or is it better to do some hikes then from Nepal?
* where to best board the Tibet train?
* Lake Namsto (I didn´t see it in too many routes) ?
* Mt. Kailash ?
I would love to hear from you!
Thanks a lot.
Dear Bett***,
We don't have any group tours including both Kailash and Namtso Lake. It's difficult to add Namtso Lake before or after the group tour. In addition, a private tour to Namtso costs USD500-USD700 for a solo traveler.
Xining to Lhasa soft sleeper train is the most popular and easiest booking one. You can try to book it on trip.com or booking.com
We have 12 days Lhasa Mt Everest & Mt Kailash Kathmandu Group Tour departing on 8 Oct. and 7 Days Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour departing on 11 Oct.
Asked by Dan ***
Our family comprises 2 adults and 2 children, 6yo and 10yo. We want to travel between last week of May and 3rd week of Jun 2025. For the private tour, will the guide be able to speak in Mandarin? Will you be able to arrange a day tour at Kathmandu?
Dear Dan****,
We can arrange your Lhasa to Kathmandu tour in around June 2025. And we also can arrange a day trip to Kathmandu. If you want, we can assign your tour guide who is good at speaking Mandarin besides English in Tibet.
Asked by Harr***
We would like to take the train from Xining to Lhasa, then overland to Kathmandu by vehicle with guide.
We only want to travel with a very small group, preferably only another four people.
Please advise if this is something you can assist with.
Dear Harri****,
For 7 Days Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour, we don't have a departure date on 25 August but on 26 August. And it needs further confirmation. Our small group tour is 3 pax-12 pax. We can't guarantee there are only 4pax in the group tour at the end.
The 7 days tour starts in Lhasa and ends in Gyirong border. We can arrange a jeep to send you to Kathmandu from Gyirong but without the tour guide. If you need a tour guide, we can arrange a tour guide from Kathmandu at an extra cost.
Regarding the train from Xining to Lhasa, you can book the train ticket via booking.com or trip.com 15 days in advance.
Asked by Arte***
Dear Greattibettour Team,
I would like to visit Tibet in the period of 3-17 August (flexible) and visit Lhasa and the Tibet Everest base camp. I would like to leave China to Nepal at the end of the tour (ideally, overland after visiting the Everest base camp).
I am going to travel alone. I would be happy to join other people if anyone is going to travel along this or a (partially) similar route at the specified period. If possible, I would like to spend one or two days cycling in some scenic place; I can cycle 40-50km on gravel or paved roads.
My situation: I am a 31, Russian citizen who is now in Beijing on a business visa (type M). I speak English, but I don't speak Chinese. I don't have a Tibet Entry Permit. I can travel to Lhasa from Beijing by air or by train (if time permits). I can buy tickets to Lhasa myself if needed (once a Tibet Entry Permit is ready).
Dear Arte****,
We can arrange the 7-day Lhasa Mt. Everest Kathmandu Overland Group Tour for you on 5 August. We have guests booked the tour on 5 August and you can arrive in Lhasa on 5 August to join them.
If you want to spend one or two days cycling, we can arrange 1-2 private days for you in Lhasa and you can arrive in Lhasa on 3 August or 4 August. We will arrange a private pick-up service for you. Please let me know if you want it, then I can quote you.
I suggest you fly from Beijing to Lhasa rather than train because the train tickets in August are difficult to obtain. We will help you obtain the Tibet Travel Permit. We also can help you book the flight.
Except for the scan of your passport and China Visa, we also need your unit certificate to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit.
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