Tibet Small Group Tours

Day one: Arrival in Lhasa
You will be met at the Lhasa airport or train station by your Tibetan guide and transferred to the 4 Star Gang-Gyen Hotel located in the Old Town of Lhasa, elevation 3600 meters. You can then explore the nearby Old Town of Lhasa and the markets lining Barkhor Square.

Day Two: Lhasa sightseeing
After breakfast, you will visit the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in all of the Himalaya. Each day, many thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here to worship. Many have traveled well over a thousand kilometers by foot to see this 1400-year-old temple. After lunch,  you will visit the 600-year-old huge monastery complex of Sera. While at Sera, you watch the monks engage in entertaining Buddhist philosophical debates. In the evening, you will have free time to wander around the Old Town on your own.

Day three: Lhasa sightseeing
Today you will start your day by visiting the massive 1000 room Potala Palace, the most iconic building in Tibet. You will work your way up the steps of the Potala and then go through the most important rooms in this famous UNESCO site. After lunch, you will explore another one of Tibet’s important monasteries. Ramoche Temple is famous across Tibet for the 8 years old statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and is a great place to observe Local Tibetans. In the late afternoon and evening, you will have free time to explore Lhasa on your own or do some souvenir shopping.

Day Four: Lhasa—Yamdrok Lake—Karo La Glacier—Gyantse—Shigatse
You will depart Lhasa in the early morning and drive through the scenic Yarlung River Valley towards Yamdrok Lake. Yamdrok is one of Tibet’s 4 main holy lakes and is regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in the Himalaya. From the Kamba La Pass, you get a panoramic view of this spectacular lake with the nearby mountains. Next, you will drive along the lake shore to Nankartse, where you will stop for lunch.

Next, you will begin ascending again to the stunning Karo La Glacier. Here, you can get an up-close view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang and the glaciers coming off of it. Your next stop is the pleasant town of Gyantse where you will visit the massive Gyantse Kumbum Stupa as well as the Pelkhor Chode Monastery. You will then continue to Shigatse, elevation 3840 meters, and stay at the 4 Star Gesar Hotel. Total driving distance is 350 kilometers. Total driving time is 7 hours

Day Five: Shigatse—Gyatso La Pass—Everest Base Camp
This day will take you from Shigatse to Tibet’s North Face Everest Base Camp. Along the way, you will be passing through several small Tibetan farming villages that you will be able to photograph. You will cross over the 5248 meter high Gyatso La Pass, which offers a sweeping view of the rolling Himalaya Mountains. You will continue on to the Everest Region crossing over another high pass. This pass, the Geu La, offers a panoramic view of the glacier-covered Himalaya. From here, you can see 5 of the world’s 15 highest peaks, including Everest.

From the Geu La, you will then go to Rongphu, the highest monastery in the world at just under 5000 meters in elevation. The iconic view of Everest from here will be a high point of your journey! You will then continue on to the Tent Hotels, which operate from mid-April through mid-October. The Tent Hotels are the closest that travelers can stay to Mt. Everest and are located 2 kilometers before base camp. If you are traveling outside of this time frame, you will stay at the Rongphu Monastery Guesthouse. From the Tent Hotels, elevation 5050 meters, you will take a separate bus the remaining 2 kilometers to base camp. If you’d like, you can also hike this last short distance. The driving distance from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp is 350 kilometers with the driving time being 7 hours.

Day Six: Everest—Shigatse
After watching the sunrise on Mt. Everest, you will make the journey back to Shigatse. You will stop again at Rongphu Monastery and at the Geu La passes for some final views of Mt. Everest. In Shigatse, you will stay again at the 4 Star Gesar Hotel. Driving distance from Everest to Shigatse is 350 kilometers and driving time is 7 hours.

Day Seven: Everest—Shigatse
After breakfast, you will explore Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the main attraction in Shigatse. This is the largest monastery in area in central Tibet. You will then follow the beautiful Yarlung River back to Lhasa. You will arrive in Lhasa in the late afternoon with enough time to wander the Old Town one last time and to do any last minute shopping. In Lhasa, you will stay at the 4 Star Gang-Gyen Hotel. The distance from Shigatse to Lhasa is 270 kilometers and the driving time is 7 hours.

Day Eight: Depart Lhasa
In the morning, you will be transferred to the Lhasa airport or train station.

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa
Upon arrival in Lhasa you will be welcomed by your English-speaking Tibetan Guide and Tibetan Driver who will bring you to your hotel. Acclimatization to high altitude: please, drink lots of water and take plenty of rest in order to minimize altitude sickness.

Day 2: Lhasa Sightseeing
We begin visiting Jokhang Temple, the most sacred monastery in Tibet. It was founded in the 7th century by the first great Buddhist king Songtsen Gampo. Later you can explore the surrounding Barkhor old quarter and spend time walking around Jokhang Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau. In the afternoon we go to Sera Monastery, one of three great universities of Gelugpa Sect. We will attend the debating session of the monks.

Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing
Today we visit the beautiful Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala winter palace was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. Provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama. It’s tradition to do picnic in its beatiful garden and perform opera dances during Shoton Festival (August-September).

Day 4: Lhasa – Shigatse [354Km, 3840m]
Adventure starts: we drive West to reach second largest city in Tibet. First we cross Kampa-la Pass [4797m] and then Karo-la Pass [5050m], where Mt. Noijin Kangsang [7206m] glacier lies near the road. In the middle, we enjoy the unreal turquoise waters of holy lake Yamdrok-Tso. Then we stop in Gyantse town, where we visit the considered best tibetan art paintings in Kumbum Stupa inside Pelkor Chode Monastery. Also, we admire the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) overlooking the valley. Finally, we reach Shigatse before dinner.

Day 5: Shigatse – Lhatse [250Km, 4300m]
Today we will visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery in morning and guide will make his/her time to obtain the ATP permit from the local PSB, Tashi Lhunpo monastery is one of the largest functioning monastery in the western part of Tibet which has more than 600 years of history, it is a different experience by walking with local pilgrims through temples and twisted lanes within the old buildings in the campus. Then drive to Lhatse for the night, en route we will drive off the main road to Sakya monastery which is located in a small village, this area and monastery has a different architectural design and color. Sakya monastery was an important scholastic study center in the 13th century and under the leadership of Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen, Sakyapa ruled Tibet for decades during that period of time. Overnight in Lhatse

Day 6: Lhatse – Saga [340Km, 4500m]
Today we will drive straight to Saga through a long valley of Brahmaputra tributary, compare to the last few years, the road condition is much better as it is recently reconstructed and paved. Overnight at Saga

Day 7: SAGA – DARCHEN (5000m), 520km
Today the thrilling journey across the dry and vast plain with stunning views of great Himalaya in the south and Trans-Himalayan in the north, the moonscape plain of the region is home for sparse lone nomads whose lifestyle remains close to what it has been for centuries, and numbers of plateau wild lives. Different natural landscapes like sand dunes and picturesque mountain views are not only the great beauty of the day but also the holy lakes and mountains. Then we will reach to the Manasarovar Lake (victorious lake) in the late afternoon, which is one of the holiest lakes in Tibet and every year it receives hundreds of hundreds of pilgrims from all corner of Tibetan plateau, India and Russia. The lake is surround by several prominent peaks like Gurla Mandata (7760m). Then we will further drive to Darchen which is the starting point of the Mt Kailash (7762m) trekking, you will also have great view of the Kailash from the front. Darchen is a small nomadic village and now increasing number of guesthouses and restaurants make it more commercial. At your arrival you have plenty of time to explore around the town and prepare for the trekking, you can also hiking around the hills to get physically ready for the trekking. In the afternoon, your guide will arrange others trekking necessities like porters and yaks for your luggage transportation. You can find different restaurants according to your taste or your guide will help you to find some better ones.Overnight at Darchen.

Day 8:1st DAY TREKKING TO DIRAPUK. 20km.
Today our trekking start from Darchen and tracing the small trail in the clockwise circuit around the Peak on an average altitude of 4700m. You will encounter numbers of local Buddhist pilgrims doing along your way and several Bon believers in the anti-clockwise direction. After 4hours trek we will reach to Tamdin(4780m) where a nomadic tents serves simple lunch and boil water. From there it is only 4km to Dirakpuk monastery but between this stretches has the some of the best scenery of the entire kora. Dirakpuk was rebuilt in 1985 located
on the north side of the Lha-chu River facing to the north face of the Mt. Kailash. Dirakpuk name originally comes from a word Dira that means female yak horn and Puk means cave that in a mythical story says a female yak opened the cave. Overnight at Dirapuk guesthouse

Day 9: 2nd DAY OF THE TREKKING TO ZULTUL PUK(4790m) 18km.
Today is the most challenging part of the trekking where we will cross two passes, though there are not too steep but the altitude make is more tiring and slow, after we cross Dikpala (5000m) & Dormala (5600m), the passes are remarked by heaps of prayer flags and cairns, It is worthwhile to spend some minutes on the pass to view and relax, as you are right backside of the Mt. Kailash and offers great view of the holy peak. Then we will climb down into the long valley and stop lunch at Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent for lunch. Zuktul puk monastery (4790m) also calls the miracle cave that is built by two religious figure Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. And still you can see the footprint and handprint of Milarepa inside the cave. Overnight at Zultul Puk

Day 10: LAST DAY TREKKING AND DRIVE TO LAKE MANASAROVAR. (12km trekking and 80km drive).
Today is an easy day trek to complete the circuit and your driver will pick you up from Tashi Do (which is also called as Dzongsar). Then continues drive to Lake Manasarovar and overnight at guesthouses near the lake.

Day 11: TRACE THE ROAD BACK TO SAGA
Today we will trace the road back to Saga for the night.

Day 12: SAGA – EBC (5150m).
Today we will drive straight to EBC by driving along the Pekutso Lake, you will have a picturesque of Mt Shishapama and other peaks of mighty Himalayans too. Continues drive towards south-east, from Old Tingri you will amaze the spectacular Himalayan Ranges and its mighty peaks beyond 8000m, Mt.Makalu (8463m), Mt.Lotse (8516m), Mt.Everest (8844m) and Mt.Cho Oyu (8201m) from Left to right, drive off the main road and head into the valley to the south to the day’s destination – Everest Base Camp located in the Rongbuk valley. Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world and it consist both monks and nuns. Afternoon you have an option to do a short trekking from the tent guesthouses community to E.B.C, it will take you about 2 hours or more per your physical condition (6Km). Or you can take the dedicated minibus instead. We suggest you to bring your own sleeping bags for the night if available as the local tent guesthouses reuse the blankets for several weeks due to their poor facility. Overnight at local tent guesthouses except from Nov – Mar where the tent guesthouses close and only Rongbuk monastery guesthouse is available.

Day 13: EBC (5150m) – SHIGATSE, 350km.
After we enjoy the sunrise view of the Mt Everest, we will gradually drive back to Shigatse through the friendship highway, you will have beautiful hot shower at the hotel and rest. Overnight at Shigatse.

Day 14: SHIGATSE – LHASA, 450km/280km
Today we will drive back to Lhasa, in the afternoon you have sometime to explore around the town and buy some gifts for your family and friends at home.

Day 15: LHASA AIRPOR/TRAIN STATION SENDS OFF.
Today our guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station and it is time to say your good bye and depart to your next destination.

Day one: Lhasa Arrival
You will be met at the Lhasa airport or train station by your Tibetan guide and transferred to the 4 Star Gang-Gyen Hotel located in the Old Town of Lhasa, elevation 3600 meters. You can then explore the nearby Old Town of Lhasa and the markets lining Barkhor Square.

Day two: Lhasa sightseeing
After breakfast, you will visit the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in all of the Himalaya. Each day, many thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here to worship. Many have traveled well over a thousand kilometers by foot to see this 1400 year-old temple. After lunch, you will visit the 600 year old huge monastery complex of Sera. While at Sera, you watch the monks engage in entertaining Buddhist philosophical debates. In the evening, you will have free time to wander around the Old Town on your own.

Day Three: Lhasa sightseeing
Today you will start your day by visiting the massive 1000 room Potala Palace, the most iconic building in Tibet. You will work your way up the steps of the Potala and then go through the most important rooms in this famous UNESCO site. After lunch, you will explore another one of Tibet’s important monasteries. Ramoche Temple is famous across Tibet for the 8 years old statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and is a great place to observe Local Tibetans. In the late afternoon and evening, you will have free time to explore Lhasa on your own or do some souvenir shopping.

Day Fours: Lhasa—Yamdrok Lake—Karo La Glacier—Gyantse—Shigatse
You will depart Lhasa in the early morning and drive through the scenic Yarlung River Valley towards Yamdrok Lake. Yamdrok is one of Tibet’s 4 main holy lakes and is regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in the Himalaya. From the Kamba La Pass, you get a panoramic view of this spectacular lake with the nearby mountains. Next, you will drive along the lake shore to Nankartse, where you will stop for lunch.
Next, you will begin ascending again to the stunning Karo La Glacier. Here, you can get an up-close view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang and the glaciers coming off of it. Your next stop is the pleasant town of Gyantse where you will visit the massive Gyantse Kumbum Stupa as well as the Pelkhor Chode Monastery. You will then continue to Shigatse, elevation 3840 meters, and stay at the 4 Star Gesar Hotel. Total driving distance is 350 kilometers. Total driving time is 7 hours.

Day Five: Shigatse— Train to Lhasa.
In the morning, you will be free time in Shigatse to exploration. Afternoon with the help of guide take train back to Lhasa. Overnight in 4 star Gangyan hotel.

Day Five: Depart
In the morning, you will be transferred to the Lhasa airport or train station