Luxury Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp – 9 Days

The moment you enter Tibetan airspace, you will see the snow-veiled Himalayas. The aircraft will descend at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport, which is situated an hour from the main city center.

Our Tibetan representatives will welcome you in the city. They can speak English well, so there will be no miscommunication. After a quick meet and greet, they will transfer you to one of the finest luxury hotels in Lhasa.

We provide a high-end vehicle. Upon getting your room keys, freshen up and rest. If you are not used to high altitudes, you may find it a little difficult to adjust to Lhasa's environment.

But do not worry. Give your time to rest and have warm soups and food. You will be fine. In the evening, go on a light stroll around your hotel. Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.

You will officially start exploring tourist sites and hidden gems in Lhasa today. Start the morning with a scrumptious breakfast and wear your comfortable pair of shoes.

You will be doing a lot of light walking around tourist sites and local markets, so you have to be comfortable. Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and guide you through several Tibetan monuments.

While visiting these sites, you will learn a lot about Tibetan heritage, traditions, beliefs, art, architecture, and craftsmanship. On this day, you will visit the following tourist sites in Lhasa:

➜ Potala Palace:

The Potala Palace will be the first place you will visit. Perched on the Red Hill, this 13-story palace is one of the extraordinary architectural works on Earth. The palace was built in the 7th century and long served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama.

Inside the Potala Palace, there are complicated corridors that house chapels, sacred relics, and ancient murals. As the visitor numbers are strictly controlled, our team will secure a morning time slot for the visit that is best suited to explore Potala Palace before the crowds hit.

➜ Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar:

The Jokhang Temple is the spiritual heartbeat of Tibet. Here, you will see the deep Tibetan faith, spirituality, and life. The Jokhang Temple was founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampa.

Inside the temple, you can see the rare, revered Jowo Shakyamuni statue. It is believed that Buddha himself blesses the state. The rooftop of the temple has the wheel of dharma and two golden deer.

Around the Jokhang Temple, there is a pilgrimage circuit, known as the Barkhor Circuit. Tourists famously recognize this place as Barkhor Bazaar. It is a quite happening, bustling market where you see all sorts of Tibetan traders, monks, tourists, and pilgrims.

Pilgrims walk the Barkhor circuit in a clockwise direction while chanting matras and offering prayers. Around the circuit, there are hundreds of shops selling Tibetan goodies, handicrafts, statues, jewellery, snacks, incense, textiles, etc.

➜ Norbulingka Palace:

For the last activity of the day, you will visit the Norbulingka Palace. It used to be the summer residence of the Dalai Lama from the 18th century onwards.

The Norbulingka Palace is not heavily structured. It is a serene oasis of landscaped gardens and pavilions. Here, you will discover walled gardens with ancient willows and painted pavilions.

The palace also has its private small zoo and intricately designed audience halls. In Norbulingka Palace, you can also see the 14th Dalai Lama's books, telescope, and modest personal quarters.

Note:

Visit the Ani Tsankhung Nunnery tucked into a quiet lane behind the Barkhor Bazaar. It is not famous among tourists. You can experience an authentic monastery here.

If you are interested in handwoven Tibetan textiles, thangka paintings, turquoise-inlaid jewelry, or ethically sourced yak wool shawls, let us know. We are connected with Tibetan artisans from whom you can buy top-notch products.

Similarly, we can take you to high-end boutiques that offer museum-quality artifacts, paintings, and textiles, along with their authenticity certificate.

You will continue the guided tour in Lhasa. Begin your day with a delicious breakfast and get ready to leave your hotel. Do not forget to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

After the tour of these historical sites, you may go on a scenic drive in the late afternoon along the Lhasa River. As the light turns golden, you will see a breathtaking view of the city with mountains and glaciers in the distance.

Today, you will visit the following palaces in Lhasa:

➜ Sera Monastery:

Sera Monastery is one of the great three Gelug university monasteries of Tibet. It was founded in 1419. In Sera Monastery, you can explore beautiful assembly halls and chapels.

However, the dynamic debates between monks remain the main attraction. The debates are held each afternoon (except Sundays).

During the debate, the monks express philosophy through centuries-old dialectical rhythmic clapping and animated gestures. Witnessing a debate at Sera Monastery will be one of the most amazing memories of your luxury Tibet tour.

➜ Drepung Monastery:

Drepung Monastery is a big monastery that houses over 10,000 monks. The monastery is spread across the slopes of Gambo Utse Mountain, west of Lhasa.

This monastery is also one of the great three Gelug monasteries of Tibet. Before the Potala Palace was constructed, the Drepung Monastery used to be the residence of the Dalai Lamas.

The monastery has whitewashed buildings, winding lanes, assembly halls with three-storey gilded Buddhas, and roof-top terraces.

➜ Nechung Monastery:

The Nechung Monastery is located adjacent to Drepung Monastery. This monastery is not famous among tourists but houses some of the most dramatic interior murals in Tibet. We will have a quick stop here.

➜ Tibet Museum:

The Tibet Museum in Lhasa is an incredible place to visit to gain a deep understanding of Tibetan culture, art, and archaeological sites.

The museum is well-curated to present an excellent overview of Tibetan traditions, beliefs, historical artifacts, ritual implements, painted manuscripts, and ancient bronzes.

Today, you will travel to Shigatse. The Lhasa-to-Shigatse road via Gyantse offers a cinematic ride. Every turn will bring wonderful scenery.

Leaving Lhasa, you will follow the Friendship Highway and ascend over the Kamba La and Karo La mountain passes. Both these passes are above 4,700 meters.

We will take a short break at the top of both passes to enjoy the view before continuing the ride. The vehicle will be a luxury SUV or a similar one, depending on the group size.

Therefore, the ride will be comfortable. Upon reaching Shigatse, you will check into one of the finest high-end hotels in the city.

You will see the following sites while driving from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse:

➜ Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Tso):

The Yamdrok Lake is one of the sacred lakes in Tibet. The lake suddenly appears once you get close to Kamba La Pass (4,794 m).

The lovely turquoise color of the lake, framed by snow-covered mountains and pale gravel shores, creates a scene like something you see in a high-end magazine.

➜ Karo La Glacier:

The Karo La is a high-altitude glacier in Tibet. It sits over 5,560 meters along the highway between Gyntase and Nagarze. The Karo La is also one of the highest drivable passes in the world.

The glacier is so close to the road that you can almost touch it. Sometimes, the glacier tumbles almost to the roadside.

➜ Pelkor Chode Monastery:

You just do not pass by Gyantse. Here, we will take you to Pelkor Chode Monastery. It is one of the most complex Tibetan structures built in 1427.

This monastery is famous for its Kumbum Stupa, which means 100,000 images. It is a 10-storey mandala stupa. There are 72 chapels on nine levels. Each of the chapels contains exquisitely painted sculptures and murals.

➜ Gyantse Dzong:

The Gyantse Dzong is another landmark you will visit in Gyantse. It is an ancient fortress that goes back to the 14th century. It is one of the finest preserved dzongs in Tibet.

The unique location of the Gyantse Dzong makes it look quite regal and magical. There are many historical significance inside the Gyantse Dzong that presents Tibetan resistance to the British Younghusband Expedition of 1904.

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast. After that, get ready to explore Shigatse. In Shigatse, you will experience Tibetan cultural refinement. The city presents a profound blend of spirituality, history, and everyday Tibetan life.

Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and serves as the vital cultural and spiritual center. Here, you will visit:

➜ Tashilhunpo Monastery:

Tashilhunpo Monastery is the seat of the Panchen Lama. It was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama. The Tashilhunpo Monastery is a huge complex and very peaceful.

Maitreya Chapel is the monastery's most prominent feature. It houses a 26 metre gilded Buddha of the Future. There is also a magnificent Kelsang Temple, which is a series of ornate funeral stupa chapels for past Panchen Lamas.

➜ Shigatse Dzong:

The Shigatse Dzong was originally built by Karma Phuntsok Namgyal. The dzong is perched above the city of Shigatse. The quiet location of the Shigatse Dzong presents a rugged elegance for seasoned travelers.

Shigatse Dzong is a fortress that once served as the administrative and defensive center of the Tsang region. The location of the dzong offers sweeping views across the Nyang Chu Valley.

➜ Narthang Monastery:

The Narthang Monastery is located west of Shigatse. It was once Tibet's most important printing house, which was the source of Buddhist literature spread across the Himalayan world.

Even though a huge part of the Narthang Monastery was destroyed, a partial rebuild offers a glimpse into the traditional wood-block printing for the tourists.

➜ Shigatse Market:

Compared to the Barkhor Market in Lhasa, the Shigatse Market is less bustling and less touristy. Here, you will have an authentic Tibetan market experience.

You can explore the finest textiles from Bhutan and India, high-quality Tibetan carpets, nomadic jewellery, dried yak meat, medicinal herbs, and many other products.

*If you are interested in hand-knotted Tibetan rugs, Shigatse is renowned for them. From traditional geometric to floral patterns, you will find several options.

Today, you will drive from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp. It is the north base camp of Mt. Everest is situated on the Tibet side. After leaving Shigatse, you will traverse the Gyatsola Pass (5,280 m).

From the top of the pass, you will see the first glimpse of Mount Everest. It will be a captivating view. Then, you will continue the drive and enter the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve.

Then cross the Gawula Pass (5,198 m). The mountain view from the top of this pass is also marvelous. You can see the lineup of the five highest peaks in the Himalayas, including Everest.

Further, you will drive on a new zigzag road that will take you to Rongbuk Monastery. Check in at your hotel and freshen up. Later, hike up to Everest Base Camp to witness a gorgeous sunrise.

North Everest Base Camp (5,200 m):

There are two base camps on Mt. Everest - the north base camp and the south base camp. The North Everest Base Camp is located on the Tibetan side and can be reached by overland drive.

The road goes up to Rongbuk Monastery. From here, you have to walk around 4 km to reach the base camp. Given the high altitude, the climate will be cold and windy at this point.

Begin the day early and hike to Everest Base Camp to witness a breathtaking sunrise and outstanding mountain vista. Then return and have breakfast.

After that, get ready to drive back to Shigatse. To make the journey adventurous, we will follow an alternative Himalayan route. On the way, you will stop at the Dinggye Xilin Viewpoint.

From here, you can see the majestic eastern slope of Mt. Everest along with Mt. Lhotse (the 4th tallest mountain in the world). Then, you will take a brief stop in the ancient town of Sakya on the way to Shigatse.

Upon arriving in Shigatse, check in at your luxury hotel and spend the remaining day as you wish. Take a rest, enjoy spa and massages, and buy souvenirs in the late evening.

On this day, you will return to Lhasa following the same highway. You will cross the Karo La and Kamba La Passes and enjoy stunning landscapes on the way.

We may take you on a scenic detour to the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley. Yarlung Tsangpo is one of the world's highest river valleys that eventually turns into the sacred Brahmaputra River.

It will be a short drive off the main road. You will witness a full scale of Tibet's highland geography. Likewise, we may stop at Chusul Suspension Bridge. It is an old iron suspension bridge fastened with colorful prayer flags above the Kyichu River.

Upon reaching Lhasa, you will check in at your hotel. Relax and enjoy the luxurious amenities of the hotels. Later in the evening, we will take you on a market stroll where you can buy souvenirs and end the day with a delicious dinner.

Begin the day at a slow pace and have breakfast. Enjoy your last few hours at the hotel. Our representatives will soon pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the Lhasa International Airport for your departure.