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

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12 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

From the forests of Nyingchi to Everest Base Camp and sacred Namtso Lake, this is the most complete small-group journey through central and eastern Tibet. Start in the green southeast with the Kadinggou gorge, the Lulang forest viewpoint and Basum Tso Lake, then spend three days in Lhasa with the debating monks of Sera, the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple. Drive past turquoise Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier to Shigatse, cross the Gawu La to Rongbuk Monastery and spend a night at Everest Base Camp, then return via Tashilhunpo Monastery. The trip ends with a day at Namtso, the great saltwater lake north of Lhasa. The order is built for altitude: Nyingchi and Basum Tso are lower than Lhasa, Everest comes on day 8 and Namtso on day 11. Shared group on fixed dates, with an English-speaking licensed guide, a licensed tourist vehicle and all Tibet permits arranged. Hotels in Lhasa and Shigatse are 4-star with oxygen supply.

What's Included

English-speaking licensed guide (also speaks Chinese for mixed groups)
Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and military permit where required
4-star hotels with oxygen supply in Lhasa (6 nights) and Shigatse (2 nights), twin share
Entrance fees for all sites, including the eco-buses at Everest Base Camp and Namtso
Shared airport or railway station transfers on the first and last day
Shared licensed tourist vehicle and driver
Lunch (Optional[3])
Lunch
1 night in the Everest Base Camp tent camp (Everest Town guesthouse in winter)
Breakfast (Optional[11])
Breakfast
Daily breakfast and 3 specialty meals: stone-pot chicken, a Tibetan meal, Yamdrok hot pot
Travel accident insurance
Portable oxygen bottle per person, emergency oxygen in the vehicle, daily bottled water
Hotels in Nyingchi (1 night) and at Basum Tso (1 night), no oxygen supply
Lunches and dinners other than those listed
Flights or trains to and from Lhasa
Chinese visa
Tips for guide and driver
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

On Day 1 your English-speaking guide meets your arriving flight at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or your train at Lhasa Railway Station and transfers you to your hotel. After booking, please share your flight or train arrival details and your Lhasa hotel so we can confirm the exact pickup time. On the last day, a shared transfer takes you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station for your departure.

Itinerary

Duration: 12 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arrive in Lhasa (3,650 m)

    1 stop
  • 1
    Lhasa Railway Station

    You are met at Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station and taken to your hotel. Rest and let your body adjust to the altitude.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Drive east to Nyingchi and the Kadinggou gorge

    1 stop
  • 2
    Kadinggou Scenic Spot

    Follow the Niyang River about 420 km east through mountains, forest and grassland. In the afternoon you walk for about an hour into Kadinggou, a narrow gorge of strange rocks and old trees. Nyingchi, at about 2,900 m, is lower than Lhasa.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
    • Day 3

    Sejila Pass, Lulang and Basum Tso

    1 stop
  • 3
    Lulang Forest

    Climb to the Sejila Pass (4,728 m), which looks out to Namcha Barwa (7,782 m) when the cloud lifts. Then stop at the Lulang forest viewpoint and visit Biri Mountain's pilgrim circuit. A stone-pot chicken lunch or dinner is included.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 4

    Tashi Island on Basum Tso, back to Lhasa

    2 stops
  • 4

    Walk around Tashi Island and the small Tsozong Monastery in Basum Tso, a holy lake set in a forest park. Then drive about 360 km back to Lhasa.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 5

    The small Tsozong Monastery on Tashi Island in Basum Tso.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket included
    • Day 5

    Tibetan crafts and the debate at Sera

    1 stop
  • 6
    Sera Monastery

    At a handicraft center you make Tibetan incense, try woodblock printing and have your name written in Tibetan. In the afternoon you watch the monks' debate at Sera Monastery, held from around 3 pm (no debate on Sundays).

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 6

    Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor

    2 stops
  • 7
    Potala Palace

    Visit the Potala Palace on a timed ticket, then the Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit. A Tibetan or Nepali specialty meal is included. The Potala is closed on Mondays, so the days may be reordered.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 8
    Jokhang Temple

    The Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 7

    Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier to Shigatse (3,850 m)

    2 stops
  • 9
    Yamdrok Yumtso Lake

    From the Kamba La (4,790 m) you look down on Yamdrok Lake, and lunch is hot pot with a lake view. You pass the Karola Glacier and Gyantse on the way to Shigatse.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
  • Karo La Glacier (Pass by)

    The Karola Glacier, passed on the way to Shigatse.

    • Day 8

    Gawu La, Rongbuk and Everest Base Camp (5,200 m)

    2 stops
  • 10
    Rongbuk Monastery

    Cross the Gawu La, where Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma stand on the horizon in clear weather. The last 50 km are by eco-bus. Visit Rongbuk Monastery and spend the night at base camp.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 11
    Mount Everest Base Camp

    Base camp, where you spend the night.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 9

    Everest at sunrise, the Gyatso La, back to Shigatse

    1 stop
  • 12
    Mount Everest Base Camp

    Watch the sunrise on the summit if the sky is clear, then return to Shigatse via the Gyatso La viewpoint (5,248 m).

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 10

    Tashilhunpo Monastery, back to Lhasa

    1 stop
  • 13

    Visit Tashilhunpo, seat of the Panchen Lamas, then drive about 270 km east beside the Yarlung Tsangpo to Lhasa. Occasionally the group stays in Damxung on the Namtso road instead.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
    • Day 11

    Day trip to Namtso Lake (4,718 m)

    1 stop
  • 14
    Lake Namtso

    Cross the Laken La (5,190 m) to Namtso and walk on the Tashi Dor peninsula among small temples and rock formations. If snow closes the road in winter, you visit Ganden or Tsurphu Monastery instead.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 12

    Depart Lhasa

    1 stop
  • 15
    Lhasa Railway Station

    After breakfast, shared transfer to Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Send a passport scan and your Chinese visa as soon as you book. The Tibet permits are applied for about four weeks before arrival.
  • These are shared group tours (up to 12 travelers). The guide or vehicle may change during the trip.
  • The Potala Palace is closed on Mondays, so the order of sightseeing may change.
Supplied by Tibet Trails
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Tags

Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Cultural Tours
Small Group
Adventure Tours

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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