Tibet · Lhasa & Shigatse · Tour
Lhasa to Everest North Base Camp
Eight days overland across the Tibetan plateau
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 4–12
- Difficulty
- Gentle · 2/5
- Highest point
- 5,200 m
Is this your kind of journey?
The published itinerary covers 5 of the 8 days in detail, typically 3 hours of walking a day, with tibetan-style hotel in the old town accommodation. Read the day-by-day route and preparation information below to judge whether this journey suits you.
Explore fitness and preparation ↗The journey
More than a destination.
A journey through Lhasa & Shigatse.
This eight-day Tibet group tour begins with three nights in Lhasa for the Potala, Jokhang and the Barkhor, then drives west along the Friendship Highway to the Rongbuk valley and Everest's north face.
All Tibet travel permits, the group visa (for travellers entering from Kathmandu) and the Everest region permit are arranged by us. The tour returns to Lhasa for the flight out; a Kathmandu overland exit via Gyirong can be requested at booking.
- ✓Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and Everest area permit
- ✓Lhasa airport or station transfers
- ✓Seven nights hotel, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓Private vehicle with driver for the full route
- See all inclusions and exclusions ↗
Highlights
- •Potala Palace and Jokhang temple
- •Yamdrok Lake and the Karo La glacier
- •Gyantse Kumbum and Tashilhunpo monastery
- •Rongbuk, the highest monastery in the world
- •Everest north face from Base Camp at 5,200 m
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive Lhasa
Meet at Lhasa airport or station and drive an hour into the city. Rest, hydrate and take it slowly at 3,650 m.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Tibetan-style hotel in the old town.
Day 2Potala and Jokhang
Morning at the Potala Palace on the timed entry, afternoon at the Jokhang and a walk around the Barkhor with the pilgrims.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Tibetan-style hotel in the old town.
Day 3Drepung and Sera
Drepung monastery in the morning; the monks' debating session at Sera in the afternoon at 3 pm.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Tibetan-style hotel in the old town.
Day 4Lhasa to Gyantse
Over the Kamba La (4,794 m) to Yamdrok Lake, past the Karo La glacier to Gyantse and the Kumbum stupa.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Hotel, twin-share.
Day 5Gyantse to Shigatse
Ninety minutes to Shigatse and the afternoon at Tashilhunpo, seat of the Panchen Lama.
Meals: Breakfast. Overnight: Hotel, twin-share.
Full day-by-day detail for all 8 days is in the itinerary PDF we send with every inquiry.
Route map
Route map is sent with the itinerary PDF.
Dates & prices
| Dates | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 2027 – 22 Apr 2027 | 12 seats | $1,980 | Book |
| 6 May 2027 – 13 May 2027 | Guaranteed | $1,980 | Book |
| 9 Sept 2027 – 16 Sept 2027 | 12 seats | $1,980 | Book |
| 12 Oct 2027 – 19 Oct 2027 | 12 seats | $1,980 | Book |
Prices per person, twin-share. Single room supplement $340. 25% deposit at booking; balance due 60 days before departure.
What's included
- ✓Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and Everest area permit
- ✓Lhasa airport or station transfers
- ✓Seven nights hotel, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓Private vehicle with driver for the full route
- ✓Licensed Tibetan guide
- ✓All monastery and site entrance fees
- ✓Oxygen cylinder in the vehicle
Not included
- –International or China domestic flights
- –Chinese visa or Tibet group visa fee
- –Lunches and dinners
- –Travel insurance
- –Tips for guide and driver
- –Personal expenses
Travel information
Best time to visit
April to October. May and September have the clearest Everest views; July and August are warmer but cloudier. Tibet closes to foreign travellers for most of February and March.
Difficulty & fitness
Grade 2. No trekking; the challenge is altitude, with two nights at 3,650 m before going higher and one night at Rongbuk (4,980 m). Short walks at each site.
Accessibility & dietary needs
Vegetarian food is straightforward in Lhasa and available at every stop. Hotels have lifts in Lhasa and Shigatse; the Rongbuk guesthouse is basic with shared facilities.
Health & safety
Three nights in Lhasa before driving higher is the acclimatisation plan. Your guide carries oxygen in the vehicle and knows the clinics in Shigatse and Tingri. Consult your doctor about altitude medication before travel.
Local etiquette
Walk clockwise around monasteries and the Barkhor. No photography inside chapels unless the guide confirms it is permitted. Political conversation with locals can put them at risk; keep it to the group.
Travel documents & permits
A Chinese visa obtained in your home country (or a Tibet group visa if entering from Kathmandu, arranged by us). Send passport scans at least 30 days before departure so the Tibet Travel Permit can be issued; without it you cannot board the flight to Lhasa.
Packing list
Everything we recommend bringing for this trip.
- Warm layers for early mornings at 4,000–5,000 m
- Down jacket for Rongbuk
- Sun hat, sunglasses and SPF 50
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Lip balm and moisturiser for the dry air
- Refillable water bottle
- Passport and permit copies
- Small daypack
- Torch for Rongbuk evenings
- Any personal medication, including altitude medication if prescribed
Questions about this trip
Do I need a separate permit for Everest on the Lhasa to Everest tour?
Yes, three permits in total: the Tibet Travel Permit, an Alien's Travel Permit for Shigatse prefecture and the Everest area permit. We arrange all of them; you need only send your passport and Chinese visa scans 30 days before.
How high is Everest north Base Camp on this Tibet tour?
The tourist base camp is 5,200 m. The night before is at Rongbuk monastery guesthouse at 4,980 m, which is the highest overnight on the tour.
Can I enter Tibet from Nepal for this group tour?
Yes. Travellers starting from Kathmandu fly to Lhasa on the group visa we arrange there, which takes three working days. Tell us at booking so the paperwork starts early enough.
Is the Lhasa to Everest Base Camp tour suitable for older travellers?
Many travellers in their 60s and 70s join it. There is no trekking, the vehicle carries oxygen and the itinerary spends three nights in Lhasa before going higher. Check with your doctor about altitude.
What is the accommodation like at Rongbuk on the Everest tour?
The monastery guesthouse: dormitory-style rooms with shared toilets, thick blankets and a stove in the dining room. It is the only place to sleep with the north face in view. The other six nights are in hotels.
What are the meals on the Tibet Lhasa to Everest tour?
Breakfast is included at every hotel. Lunches and dinners are on your own, usually with the group at local restaurants for USD 8–15 per meal; the guide chooses places with vegetarian options.
Reviews
★★★★★
Everest from the other side
Seeing the north face from Rongbuk in the evening light was worth every kilometre of driving. Our guide Tenzin explained the monasteries without rushing us.
★★★★★
Smoothly handled permits
I was nervous about Tibet paperwork. It all just arrived. Lhasa deserves the three days.
You might also like
Tibet · 14 days · Demanding
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Fourteen days from Kathmandu overland through Gyirong to Lake Mansarovar and the three-day kora around Mount Kailash over the Drolma La (5,630 m).
Tibet · 5 days · Easy
Lhasa Cultural Tour
Five days based in Lhasa: the Potala, Jokhang, Sera debates, Ganden monastery's kora and the meditation caves at Drak Yerpa, with all permits arranged.
Nepal · 14 days · Demanding
Everest Base Camp Group Trek
The classic 14-day Everest Base Camp trek in a group of no more than 12, with rest days at Namche and Dingboche and a dawn climb of Kala Patthar.