DAY 1 ARRIVE IN LHASA
Upon your arrival at the Lhasa airport, your tour guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel and help you get checked in. You will have the rest of the day and evening to rest and relax to become acclimatized to the higher altitude of Tibet.
Travel Tip:
With its much higher elevation, some visitors may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend taking everything slowly, getting plenty of rest the first day and staying very well hydrated by drinking plenty of water to minimize the effects of the high altitude. Usually you will fine by the second day, but if you do experience severe and/ or worsening symptoms, please contact your tour guide or a member of our staff immediately.
DAY 2 LHASA CITY SIGHTSEEING – POTALA PALACE – JOKHANG TEMPLE – BARKHOR STREET (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the incredible Potala Palace – the highest palace in the world. As we climb to the entrance gate, you will have a spectacular view over all of Lhasa. After exploring the numerous interesting chapels and learning about the traditional culture and history of the palace and the city, we will move on to the spiritually significant Jokhang Temple, one of the most important temples in Tibetan Buddhism. To see the “real” Lhasa, we’ll stroll through Barkhor Street with its thriving local market where you can pick up some local Tibetan, Nepalese and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.
DAY 3 LHASA – YAMDROK LAKE – KAROLA GLACIER – GYANTSE (KUMBUM MONASTERY) – SHIGATSE (B)
This morning we’ll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you’ll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier as seen from the Karola Pass. Later on we’ll be able to visit the Karola Glacier before continuing along the southern Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you will be able to see the famous Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late in the afternoon we will continue on to Shigatse where we will spend the night.
DAY 4 SHIGATSE – TINGRI – RONGPHU MONASTERY – EVEREST BASE CAMP (B)
After breakfast we’ll set out towards the peak of the world – Mount Everest. Departing from Shigatse and traveling via Lhatse and Tingri, you will see some of the most beautiful and unique scenery in the world – incredibly blue skies, floating high clouds, endless grasslands and the highest mountain peaks in the world. We’ll also stop by the Rongbuk Monastery – the world’s highest altitude monastery before spending the night at the Everest Base Camp.
Travel Tip:
Due to the high altitude, it is possible that you may have some symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend that you stay well hydrated, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery to minimize your symptoms.
DAY 5 EVEREST BASE CAMP – SHIGATSE
Enjoy a breathtaking sunrise at the Everest Base Camp before we journey back through the spectacular scenery to spend the night again in Shigatse.
DAY 6 SHIGATSE – TASHILUNPO MONASTERY – LHASA (B)
We will get an early start today to visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, which was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama. After visiting this ancient monastery, one of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism, we will take the train Z8804 (12:05 – 14:40) back to Lhasa.
DAY 7 LHASA DEPARTURE
Today you will have free time until your tour guide escorts you to the Lhasa train station or airport for your departing train or flight from Lhasa. This will end your tour services in Tibet.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
✓ All necessary Tibet Travel Permit. (Including Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, Boarder Pass)
✓ Private professional English-Speaking local tour guide
✓ Licensed Vehicle with experienced driver
✓ All Entrance tickets to the sightseeing places listed
✓ Airport (or train) pick up and drop off
✓ Accommodation listed in the itinerary
✓ Breakfast provided by the hotel
✓ Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance
✓ A container of Oxygen for emergency use
✓ All taxes, fees and handling charges
✓ Lodging and meal allowance to the guide & driver
✓ Reservation fee for visiting Potala Palace
✓ 2 bottles of drinking water per person per day
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
✗ Meals not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners)
✗ Flight/Trian tickets in and out of Tibet
✗ Sightseeing places not listed in the itinerary
✗ Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
✗ Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.
✗ Tips to the guide & driver (Tips is not required but expected)
✗ Single room supplement