Lhasa to Everest Base Camp: 8-Day Tibet Tour & Monasteries

Summary

Journey from Lhasa’s streets to Everest’s wild silence

You’ll walk through Lhasa’s ancient streets with locals, sip yak butter tea (maybe twice), cross mountain passes toward turquoise lakes and glaciers, then wake up beneath Everest’s silent peak. With permits handled and pickups included, you’ll have time to notice the little things — like prayer flags snapping in the wind or laughter over lunch in a village kitchen.

What’s the experience like?

We were already halfway up Barkhor Street when Tenzin, our guide, handed me a tiny cup of yak butter tea. I’ll be honest — it’s an acquired taste (I tried not to make a face). The air in Lhasa felt thinner than I’d expected, but the colors — all those prayer flags flapping above us — made it hard to feel tired. Inside Jokhang Temple, I watched pilgrims prostrating over and over on the cold stone. Our group was quiet for a bit after that. Potala Palace glowed in the late light; even if you’ve seen it in photos, standing there is different. You can smell incense everywhere.

The next day we squeezed into a van and headed out of town — past barley fields and villages where kids waved at us. Yamdrok Lake looked unreal, turquoise and still except for wind ripples. We stopped at Gyantse Kumbum, which is stacked with little chapels; my knees got wobbly climbing all those steps but the view was worth it (I think I lost count). Lunch with a family in Dadong Village was simple but good — salty soup, warm bread. Li laughed when I tried to say thank you in Tibetan; probably butchered it.

I didn’t expect how much colder it would get as we got closer to Everest Base Camp. The guesthouse at Rongbuk is basic — beds lined up under thick blankets — but waking up before sunrise there is something else. The mountain just sits there, huge and silent, pink light creeping down its sides while everyone stands outside shivering and grinning like kids. The drive back to Shigatse felt quieter somehow; maybe we were all just tired or maybe it was hard to leave that view behind.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and acclimatization in Lhasa

• Arrive in Lhasa
• Meet Tibetan guide at airport or station
• Transfer to downtown hotel
• Rest and acclimate to altitude

Day 2 — Lhasa city tour and cultural sites

• Visit Potala Palace
• Lunch break
• Visit Jokhang Temple
• Walk Barkhor Street and do kora
• Taste Tibetan tea in tea house
• Attend welcome dinner

Day 3 — Visit Dadong Village and Sera Monastery

• Visit Dadong Village and Nyimatang Monastery
• Walk in village and visit local family
• Enjoy lunch with local family
• Visit Sera Monastery
• Watch monks debate
• Tour scripture printing house

Day 4 — Drive Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse

• Drive over Gampala Pass
• View Yamdrok Lake
• Pass Karola Glacier and Manak Dam Lake
• Arrive in Gyantse
• Visit Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum
• View Gyantse Fortress
• Drive to Shigatse
• Visit traditional Barley Mill and fields

Day 5 — Shigatse to Everest Base Camp via Tingri

• Obtain Alien’s travel permit
• Drive to Lhatse and have lunch
• Pass Tsola and Gyatsola Passes
• Enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve
• Enjoy panorama at Gawula Pass
• Drive zigzag road to Everest Base Camp
• View Mt. Everest peak and sunset

Day 6 — Sunrise at Everest and return to Shigatse

• Watch sunrise on Mt. Everest
• View Mt. Everest from Rongpuk
• Drive back to Shigatse

Day 7 — Shigatse to Lhasa via Tashilunpo Monastery

• Visit Tashilunpo Monastery
• Drive 280km to Lhasa via Friendship Highway

Day 8 — Departure from Lhasa

• Leave Tibet by air or train
• Arrange airport or railway drop-off if needed

Top questions

How many days is the Lhasa to Everest Base Camp tour?

The tour lasts 8 days from arrival in Lhasa until departure.

Is hotel pickup included for this Tibet tour?

Yes, airport or train station pickup in Lhasa is included.

Are meals included on this trip?

Breakfasts are included at hotels; one welcome dinner and one lunch are provided.

Do I need a Tibet Travel Permit for this tour?

Yes, but your operator arranges all necessary permits for you.

What kind of accommodation is provided at Everest Base Camp?

You stay at Rongbuk Tent Guest House with dorm beds and winter care service during colder months.

Is an English-speaking guide provided?

Yes, an English-speaking Tibetan guide accompanies you throughout the tour.

How far is Lhasa from Everest Base Camp by road?

The journey covers several days with stops; direct distance is about 600 km but includes sightseeing en route.

Are oxygen cylinders available during the trip?

Oxygen cylinders are available in the vehicle if needed due to altitude.

What’s included

Your days include airport or train pickup in Lhasa, comfortable van transport with an experienced local driver, entry fees for every site listed (from Potala Palace to Everest Base Camp), all necessary Tibet travel permits arranged ahead of time, hotel stays with daily breakfast plus one welcome dinner and one home-cooked lunch with a village family along the way. At higher altitudes near Rongbuk Guest House you’ll get extra warmth from hot water bottles or electric blankets during winter months—plus drinking water always on hand as you go.