10 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake Small Group Tour

When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers of Tibet,  to get acclimatized to the high altitude in Tibet. Having a good sleep in your hotel is a good option.  Don not rush to visit attractions inside Lhasa city.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Besides, We can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house; The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly;

Optional:
With time permitting, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center. You can upgrade your service to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD)

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, you are going to visit Dadong Village, the most beautiful village in Lhasa. Located 25 kilometers southwest of Lhasa downtown, Dadong Village is a well-protected ancient Tibetan village that surrounded by valleys. After arriving, you will visit the Nyimatang Monastery (built in the 11th century), take a light walk in the village, and see what rural life in Lhasa is like. You will also visit a local Tibetan family and enjoy the lunch offered by the family.

In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery, which is one of the ‘great three’ Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3-5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour the Tibetan religious scripture printing house. Inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse .On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar, (7191m) the highest mountain near Lhasa .

Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass; Then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse).In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the Far view of Gyangtse Fortress.

After one and a half hours of driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse,  we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer). 

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse, it is a small town where you can have lunch.

After that, we will pass Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass(5248M). Shortly after we enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, tourists can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass(5198m).Then we drive along the New zigzag road to Everest Base Camp(5200m). You can get closer to gazt at the Mt. Everest peak. The sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.

Stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk monastery guest house.

In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbu Monastery - the unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. You can visit the Mt.Everest Sightseeing Spot and take the closest picture of Mt.Everest. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse. 

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Today, we will drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa. 

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Lake Namtso, one of the four holy lakes of Tibet and also the highest saline lake in the world. On the way, you can see snow-capped Nyenchen Thanglha Mountain Ranges and lots of nomads and their tent with grazing yak and sheep densely-populated on the flourishing grassland (in summer). Besides, you can enjoy the view of the Sky-Road Railway with snow mountain background; while standing at the famous Lagenla Pass(5190m), you can view the stunning vista of holy Namtso Lake.

Then we can enjoy our time doing a leisurely trek around Tashi Dor Island and along the lakeshore. Drive back to Damxung. (For environment protection, the Lakeshore guesthouses were close by the government.)

Stay overnight in Damxung.

After breakfast, we will first visit Chimelong Nunnery (Phyirmil Lung Nunnery). Roam over the peaceful small nunnery and get an idea of different Buddhist studies in Tibet, you may also spot a sky burial site (Tibet funeral site) in the distance.

Then, we can go to Tsurphu Monastery, the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism.  Here, you can learn more about the ‘Black Hats’, the Karma Kagyupa school of Tibetan Buddhism. In the summertime (June to September), we can also go for a ‘Linka outing’ (Tibetan-style picnic) in the small village at the foot of the hill of Tsurphu Monastery.

Finally, we will drive back to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today’s Cultural Tips: Sky burial is a funeral practice commonly seen in Tibet. The corpse will be disposed of and later devoured by vultures. In Tibetan Buddhism, sky burial is believed to represent their wishes to go to heaven. Only family members of the dead can attend the funeral.

The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.

Service Included:
Tibet Travel Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
Meals as specified in the itinerary;
Local tour Transfers, 5-29 seats comfortable Tourist Vehicle according to Group Size.;
Knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide shared in your group;
Comfortable Hotel Accommodations;
Service Charge & Government Taxes;
The above tour price does not include single room supplement. If you are a solo traveler, you need to share one room with another tourist (same sex in most cases); if you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement. And the exact price depends on market fluctuation in high and off season of Tibet tour. For the exact price, please refer to your travel consultant.
Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges.
Welcome Dinner in local restaurant when group members meet in Lhasa
Free Airport shuttle transfer between Lhasa Gongar airport and Hotel on designated time.
Group tours only include a welcome dinner after your arrival in Tibet.
Tibet Handy Map
Drinking water Provided during the trip
Tourist accident/casualty insurance;

Service Excluded:
International flight to and out of China;
Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price, please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
Lunches and dinners are not included, please pay on site by yourself.; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
Tips and gratitude to the guide and driver. If you are satisfied with their service, you may consider tipping them at an amount you find it suitable.
Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.

Transfer Service between Hotels and Airport/ Train Station
Lhasa Gongar International Airport is about 70km from the downtown, and it takes about 1.5 hours for a car transfer between airport and hotel. Considering the distance and language barrier, Tibet Vista provides free transfer service from/to airport.

Upon your arrival at airport, our Tibetan local pick-up guide will hold a board with your name and wait for you at the exit, he will escort you to the transfer car, accompany you to the hotel, and assist you with hotel check-in. When tour ends, our guide will pick you up at hotel and escort you to the airport.

Airport Pick-up Schedules: Pick up tourists at 10:00 am; 13:30 pm; 17:00 pm

Airport Drop-off Schedules: Pick up tourists at 06:30 am; 08:00 am; 12:00 pm

If your flight time is not within our transfer schedule, feel free to contact our travel consultant, we will do our best to arrange the most proper transfer service for you.

Besides the airport transfer, Tibet Vista also provides unlimited free transfer between hotel and Lhasa Railway Station according to your arrival/departure time.

Please kindly note: if passengers are less than 3 per transfer, we may use publish transportation like public airport bus or Taxi instead of using our shuttle service.

Travel Tips for 10-day Lhasa to EBC & Lake Namtso Tour

1. Is there enough oxygen to breathe at EBC?

The oxygen level at EBC is only half of that of the plain. So, to most of the travelers, you might have a sleepless night at EBC, due to the thin air. However, we offer enough oxygen supply for you when needed. Meanwhile, our expert local leader will meter your oxygen level in the vein sporadically with Pulse Oximter.

Even the Portable Hyperbaric Chamber is installed to guarantee your safety for the emergency. Walk slowly, breathe evenly and keep calm or chat with your friends. You can make it.

2. Is there an age limit for EBC tour?

Well, officially there is no age limit for the EBC tour. So far, our youngest client is 4-year-old Swiss kid who made it to EBC with his parents in 2017, while the oldest is 82-year-old Gerhard, a beloved German traveler who visited both EBC and MT. Kailash in 2018.

Though these might be an exceptional case, it showed that with our attentive service, and your great preparation, most of the travelers can visit EBC without any issue.

3. What should I pack for visiting EBC?

Since you only spend one night at EBC, there is no need to pack too many travel gears with you. Traveling light is always preferred. The key for EBC visit is to keep warm, protect your skin from bone-chilling wind and powerful sunlight.

Beanies, breathable and thermal underwear, windbreaker, down jacket, vest, hiking pants and warm boots, woolen socks, sunblocks and sunglasses, lip balm, mittens are recommended. Meanwhile, don’t forget the toiletries and medicines for high altitude sickness, cold relief, etc. And some cash and toilet paper.

4. Why is this 10-day tour often referred to as the best Tibet tour?

Well, this 10-day tour combines the classic EBC tour from Lhasa with an extended visit to serene Lake Namtso. You can enjoy the incredible Himalayan Range and close-up view of Mt. Everest at EBC and then travel past turquoise Lake Yamdrok and heavenly Lake Namtso, etc.

The jawdropping Himayalayan vista, otherworldy alpine lakes and exotic vibes of Tibetan Buddhism will bring you the best experience Tibet has to offer.

5. What about the accommodation at EBC and Namtso respectively?

A journey to EBC is essentially an adventure tour. For the extreme altitude and its remoteness at EBC, only locally-run yak tents and the guesthouse of the Rongbuk Monastery are available to you. Both accommodations are quite humble with rudimentary facilities. Yet, it brings you a warm shelter against the extreme cold of EBC at night.

On the other hand, to protect the environment of Namtso, so far the guesthouse around the lakeshore has remained unavailable. After you visit Lake Namtso, you will be staying at Damxung (4200m) (62km east to Namtso, 1h30min drive). The much lower altitude will bring you a sound sleep.