9-Day Lhasa, Everest Base Camp & Namtso Lake Tour

You sleep at Everest Base Camp beneath the north face, then cross five 8,000-meter peaks on the way back.

A 9-day small-group tour through Tibet starting in Lhasa and ending at Namtso Lake, with nights in 4-star hotels (oxygen-supplied) in Lhasa and Shigatse, one night at Everest Base Camp, an English-speaking licensed guide, all Tibet permits arranged, shared vehicle and transfers, and daily meals including a specialty dinner in Lhasa and hot-pot lunch at Yamdrok Lake. The tour includes hands-on workshops in incense-making and woodblock printing, the debating monks of Sera Monastery, the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, Rongbuk Monastery overlooking Everest, and a walk on the Tashi Dor peninsula at Namtso. A 7-day option without Namtso is also available.

Step-by-step itinerary

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

• Meet at Lhasa railway station or airport
• Transfer to hotel
• Rest and acclimate to altitude

Day 2: Tibetan crafts and the debate at Sera

• Make Tibetan incense and woodblock prints
• See name written in Tibetan script
• Visit Sera Monastery
• Watch monks debate Buddhist philosophy

Day 3: Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple

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

Day 4: Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier to Shigatse

• Drive west to Kamba La pass
• View turquoise Yamdrok Lake
• Lunch with lake view
• Pass Karola Glacier
• Arrive in Shigatse

Day 5: 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 6: Everest sunrise, Gyatso La, back to Shigatse

• Walk to Everest viewpoint at dawn
• Return by eco-bus to Everest Town
• Drive back to Shigatse
• Stop at Gyatso La pass

Day 7: Tashilhunpo Monastery, back to Lhasa

• Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery
• Drive east to Lhasa

Day 8: Day trip to Namtso Lake (4,718 m)

• Drive north over Laken La pass
• Visit Namtso Lake and Tashi Dor peninsula
• Walk among monasteries and rock formations
• Return to Lhasa

Day 9: Depart Lhasa

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to railway station or airport

The experience

Lhasa sits at 3,650 meters, and the first three nights there let your body adjust before the higher passes. You make Tibetan incense and print from a carved woodblock at a handicraft center, watch monks debate Buddhist philosophy in the courtyard at Sera Monastery (afternoons, except Sundays), and visit the Potala Palace on a timed ticket: the winter home of the Dalai Lamas. The Jokhang Temple, Tibet's most sacred, sits at the center of the Barkhor pilgrim circuit, and you walk it after a Tibetan or Nepali specialty meal. The Potala closes on Mondays, so the order of these visits may shift depending on the day you arrive.

The drive west covers about 370 kilometers to Shigatse, crossing the Kamba La at 4,790 meters with a view down to turquoise Yamdrok Lake, where lunch is a mini hot pot overlooking the water. The road passes the Karola Glacier and farmland around Gyantse. From Shigatse, you cross the Gawu La at 5,198 meters, where five 8,000-meter peaks line the horizon in clear weather. The last 50 kilometers to Everest Base Camp travel by eco-bus. Bring warm clothes and essentials in your day pack. You visit Rongbuk Monastery, which faces straight at Everest's north face, and spend the night at base camp at 5,200 meters. If the sky is clear at dawn, you walk to the viewpoint and watch the sun reach the summit. The return journey stops at the Gyatso La (5,248 meters), where Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu are all visible, before the drive back to Shigatse.

After Tashilhunpo Monastery (founded in 1447 and seat of the Panchen Lamas, with its giant Maitreya Buddha statue), you drive about 270 kilometers back to Lhasa. The final full day goes to Namtso, one of Tibet's sacred lakes, reached over the Laken La at 5,190 meters once you are well acclimatized. You walk on the Tashi Dor peninsula among small monasteries and rock formations, then return to Lhasa. If snow closes the road in winter, that day visits Ganden or Tsurphu Monastery instead. Shared transfers cover your arrival at Lhasa railway station or Gonggar Airport and your departure on the last morning.

What’s included

• English-speaking licensed guide.
• Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and military permits where required.
• daily breakfast, a Tibetan or Nepali specialty meal in Lhasa and a hot-pot lunch at Yamdrok Lake.
• shared licensed tourist vehicle and driver.
• shared airport or railway station transfers on arrival and departure.
• one night in the Everest Base Camp tent camp (Everest Town guesthouse in winter).
• entry to all sites including the eco-buses at Everest Base Camp and Namtso.
• travel accident insurance.
• portable oxygen bottle per person, emergency oxygen in the vehicle and daily bottled water.
• 4-star hotels with oxygen supply in Lhasa (5 nights) and Shigatse (2 nights) on a twin-share basis.

Options for this experience

2 options

7-day Lhasa and EBC tour, without NamtsoGuide in English · No fixed timeAccommodation is in 4-star hotels with oxygen: 3 nights in Lhasa and 2 in Shigatse. At Everest, guests stay in a base-camp tent, or in a guesthouse in Everest Town during winter. The trip lasts 7 days and 6 nights: 3 nights in Lhasa, 2 in Shigatse and 1 at Everest. Gyantse and Namtso are not visited, and the tour ends in Lhasa on Day 7. Breakfast is provided daily, along with two specialty meals: a Tibetan or Nepali meal in Lhasa and a mini hot pot lunch at Yamdrok Lake. Other meals are not included. Stops include Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Shigatse, Rongbuk, EBC, Gyatso La, Tashilhunpo and back to Lhasa; Gyantse and Namtso are not included. Travel is by a licensed 7–26 seat vehicle shared with the group. In Lhasa, if there are fewer than 4 guests, the guide may use a taxi, with the fare paid by the group. Pickup is included.

Lhasa, Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake: a 9-day small-group tourGuide in English · Available from 17 Nov · No fixed timePickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and Wednesday

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (8 to 11 years) · Under 8: 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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Tibet Trails

Is this one for you?Groups stay under 12 travelers with a shared guide and vehicle, so the pace is set by the group and the schedule is fixed on set departure dates. If you want to move at your own speed or need a private vehicle, a different tour option may suit you better. Children are welcome from age 8, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health. At least moderate physical fitness is needed for the high-altitude passes and walks.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 11 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.

What is the Potala Palace and when can I visit it?

The Potala Palace is the winter home of the Dalai Lamas and sits in central Lhasa. You visit on a timed ticket during the tour, but the palace closes on Mondays, so the order of your Lhasa sightseeing may be rearranged depending on which day you arrive.

How high do we go, and what happens if I'm not accustomed to altitude?

The tour reaches 5,248 meters at the Gyatso La, with a night at Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters. Three nights in Lhasa at 3,650 meters ease you into the altitude before higher passes. The hotels in Lhasa and Shigatse have oxygen supply, and the tour includes a portable oxygen bottle per person, emergency oxygen in the vehicle, and daily bottled water. Travelers with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before booking.

What meals are included?

Daily breakfast is included at your hotel. A Tibetan or Nepali specialty meal is included in Lhasa, a hot-pot lunch at Yamdrok Lake, and meals at Everest Base Camp. Other lunches and dinners are your own cost.

What is Namtso Lake and how do we spend the day there?

Namtso is one of Tibet's sacred lakes, reached over the Laken La at 5,190 meters. You walk on the Tashi Dor peninsula among small monasteries and rock formations, then return to Lhasa the same day. If snow closes the road in winter, the day visits Ganden or Tsurphu Monastery instead.

Can I choose between the 9-day and 7-day versions?

Yes. The 9-day tour includes Namtso Lake as the final full day. A 7-day option without Namtso is also available. Both follow the same route through Lhasa, Everest Base Camp and Shigatse.

What do I need to arrange before the tour starts?

Send a passport scan and your Chinese visa as soon as you book. The operator applies for Tibet permits (Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and military permit where required) about four weeks before your arrival. Flights or trains to and from Lhasa, your Chinese visa, and tips for the guide and driver are your own cost.