12-Day Tibet Tour: Lhasa, Everest Base Camp & Namtso Lake

Climb through four of Tibet's sacred sites in one journey, from forest to glacier to saltwater lake.

A 12-day shared group tour of central and eastern Tibet starting in Lhasa, visiting Nyingchi, Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake with an English-speaking licensed guide, shared vehicle and all permits arranged. The route is built for altitude: lower forests and lakes come first, Everest Base Camp on day 8 at 5,200 m, and Namtso on day 11. You spend three days in Lhasa with the debating monks of Sera, the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, then drive south past turquoise Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier to Shigatse, cross into the Everest region, and return via Tashilhunpo Monastery. Hotels in Lhasa and Shigatse are 4-star with oxygen supply. One night is spent at Everest Base Camp tent camp.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650 m)

• Meet at Gonggar Airport or railway station
• Transfer to hotel
• Rest and adjust to altitude

Day 2: Drive east to Nyingchi and Kadinggou gorge

• Drive 420 km east along Niyang River
• Walk about an hour into Kadinggou gorge

Day 3: Sejila Pass, Lulang and Basum Tso

• Climb to Sejila Pass
• Stop at Lulang forest viewpoint
• Visit Biri Mountain pilgrim circuit
• Enjoy stone-pot chicken meal

Day 4: Tashi Island on Basum Tso, back to Lhasa

• Walk around Tashi Island and Tsozong Monastery
• Drive 360 km back to Lhasa

Day 5: Tibetan crafts and debate at Sera

• Make Tibetan incense and try woodblock printing
• Have name written in Tibetan
• Watch monks' debate at Sera Monastery

Day 6: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor

• Visit Potala Palace on timed ticket
• Visit Jokhang Temple
• Walk Barkhor pilgrim circuit
• Enjoy Tibetan or Nepali specialty meal

Day 7: Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier to Shigatse

• View Yamdrok Lake from Kamba La
• Have hot pot lunch with lake view
• Pass Karola Glacier and Gyantse
• Arrive in Shigatse

Day 8: Gawu La, Rongbuk and Everest Base Camp

• Cross Gawu La pass
• Travel last 50 km by eco-bus
• Visit Rongbuk Monastery
• Overnight at Everest Base Camp

Day 9: Everest sunrise, Gyatso La, back to Shigatse

• Watch Everest sunrise if clear
• Return via Gyatso La viewpoint
• Arrive in Shigatse

Day 10: Tashilhunpo Monastery, back to Lhasa

• Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery
• Drive 270 km east to Lhasa

Day 11: Day trip to Namtso Lake (4,718 m)

• Cross Laken La pass
• Walk on Tashi Dor peninsula
• Visit small temples and rock formations

Day 12: Depart Lhasa

• Breakfast at hotel
• Shared transfer to Gonggar Airport or railway station

The experience

The route opens in the green southeast. You start with a 420 km drive east along the Niyang River through mountains and forest to Nyingchi, then climb to Sejila Pass at 4,728 m to look out on Namcha Barwa, stop at the Lulang forest viewpoint, and walk the pilgrim circuit on Biri Mountain. A stone-pot chicken meal is included. The next day you walk around Tashi Island and the small Tsozong Monastery on Basum Tso, a holy lake set in a forest park, before driving 360 km back to Lhasa.

Three days in Lhasa anchor the middle of the trip. On one day you make Tibetan incense and try woodblock printing at a handicraft center, then watch the monks' debate at Sera Monastery from around 3 pm. On another you visit the Potala Palace on a timed ticket, then the Jokhang Temple and walk the Barkhor pilgrim circuit. A Tibetan or Nepali specialty meal is included. The Potala is closed on Mondays, so the order may shift. The third day is free to rest and adjust to the altitude, or explore on your own.

Day 7 takes you south from Lhasa. From the Kamba La at 4,790 m you look down on turquoise Yamdrok Lake, and lunch is hot pot with a lake view. You pass the Karola Glacier and Gyantse on the way to Shigatse. On day 8 you cross the Gawu La, where Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma stand on the horizon in clear weather, then ride an eco-bus the last 50 km to Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp at 5,200 m. You spend the night there and watch the sunrise on the summit if the sky clears. The return to Shigatse goes via the Gyatso La viewpoint at 5,248 m. Day 10 visits Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lamas, then drives 270 km east beside the Yarlung Tsangpo back to Lhasa. The trip ends with a day trip north across the Laken La to Namtso Lake at 4,718 m, where you walk on the Tashi Dor peninsula among small temples and rock formations.

What’s included

• English-speaking licensed guide and shared licensed vehicle with driver.
• all Tibet permits arranged.
• entrance fees to Sera Monastery, Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Rongbuk Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Basum Tso, Namtso Lake and the eco-buses at Everest Base Camp.
• 4-star hotels with oxygen supply in Lhasa and Shigatse.
• one night at Everest Base Camp tent camp.
• hotels in Nyingchi and Basum Tso.
• shared airport or railway station transfers on arrival and departure.
• daily breakfast.
• three specialty meals including stone-pot chicken, a Tibetan meal and Yamdrok hot pot.
• portable oxygen bottle per person and emergency oxygen in the vehicle.
• daily bottled water.
• travel accident insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Tibet Trails

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide to navigate permits and explain sites across Tibet's major regions (from Nyingchi forests through Lhasa's monasteries to Everest Base Camp and Namtso), while sharing the journey with other travelers on set dates.

Top questions

What is included in the 12-day tour?

The tour includes an English-speaking licensed guide, shared licensed vehicle and driver, all Tibet permits (Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and military permit where required), entrance fees to all sites including the eco-buses at Everest and Namtso, shared airport or railway station transfers on the first and last day, 4-star hotels with oxygen supply in Lhasa for 6 nights and Shigatse for 2 nights on twin share, one night at Everest Base Camp tent camp (or guesthouse in winter), hotels in Nyingchi and Basum Tso, daily breakfast, three specialty meals (stone-pot chicken, a Tibetan meal and Yamdrok hot pot), travel accident insurance, portable oxygen bottle per person and emergency oxygen in the vehicle, and daily bottled water.

How does the altitude progression work across the 12 days?

The route is built to let your body adjust gradually. Nyingchi and Basum Tso are lower than Lhasa at around 2,900 m, so you spend the first three days there. Lhasa sits at 3,650 m. Everest Base Camp comes on day 8 at 5,200 m, after you have had five days to acclimatize. Namtso Lake on day 11 reaches 4,718 m. The highest pass crossed is the Gyatso La at 5,248 m on the return from Everest.

What happens if snow closes the road to Namtso in winter?

If snow closes the Laken La in winter, the day trip to Namtso Lake is replaced with a visit to Ganden or Tsurphu Monastery instead, both accessible from Lhasa.

Can the order of sightseeing change during the tour?

Yes. The Potala Palace is closed on Mondays, so the days may be reordered to fit the schedule. Occasionally the group stays in Damxung on the Namtso road instead of Lhasa on day 10. The guide or vehicle may also change during the trip.

What do you do at Sera Monastery?

You watch the monks' debate at Sera Monastery, held from around 3 pm. The debate does not take place on Sundays, so the day may be rescheduled if needed.

How many people travel in the group?

These are shared group tours with up to 12 travelers per departure on fixed dates.