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Tibet's Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Adventure
Tibet - 3,656m
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Intermediate
Type:
Cultural
Duration:
10 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Tour Highlights
- Learn traditional Tibetan arts from local artisans in Lhasa
- Join pilgrims on Barkhor Street's sacred kora route
- Explore the UNESCO-listed Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple
- Spend a night beneath Mount Everest at Everest Base Camp
- Visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery
From Lhasa to Everest Base Camp: Culture, Connection and Discovery
Tibet remains one of the world's most fascinating and least accessible destinations, where centuries-old traditions continue to shape daily life against a backdrop of vast mountain landscapes and high-altitude plateaus. This 11-day adventure combines meaningful cultural encounters and iconic landmarks with remote Himalayan scenery, offering a deeper understanding of Tibetan heritage beyond the usual sightseeing experience.
Beginning in Lhasa, you'll have time to acclimatise before exploring the city’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions. A dedicated cultural experience day provides hands-on insight into ancient Tibetan arts, from incense making and woodblock printing to calligraphy and traditional pigment preparation. Visits to the UNESCO-listed Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the lively Barkhor district reveal the history and beliefs alongside the daily rhythms of Tibetan life. This, combined with shared moments in local tea houses offer a more personal connection with the people who call this remarkable region home.
Leaving Lhasa, the journey continues across the Tibetan Plateau through a landscape of turquoise lakes, glaciers, mountain passes and fertile valleys. Along the way, you'll visit traditional villages, where you will meet local families and also explore historic towns including Gyantse, Shigatse and Sakya, each home to significant monasteries and stories that have shaped Tibet's past.
A highlight of the adventure is the journey to Everest Base Camp on the northern side of the world's highest mountain. Travelling through the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, you'll witness some of the Himalayas' most impressive panoramas before spending a night beneath Everest's towering north face. Visits to Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery, and the ancient Sakya Monastery provide further insight into Tibetan Buddhism and life in this remote region.
The adventure concludes with visits to Tashilhunpo and Samye Monasteries, two of Tibet's most important religious sites, before returning to Lhasa.
Designed for curious travellers seeking genuine cultural connection and a sense of discovery, this small-group journey offers access to places and experiences that can be challenging to navigate independently. As with all YellowWood Adventures, the trip is delivered with a commitment to responsible travel, supporting local communities and guides while helping protect the environments that make journeys like this possible.
Day 1: Arrival In Lhasa
Transfer
Breakfast
4 star hotel
When you arrive in Lhasa, whether by train or flight, our friendly Tibetan guide will greet you with a Hada (the traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarf) and warm blessings to welcome you to Tibet.
Then, the guide and the driver will take you to your hotel in downtown Lhasa. On the way you will see the Yarlung Tsangpo River or the Brahmaputra River, the longest and largest river in Tibet, and the Lhasa River.
After settling into your hotel, take some time to rest and adjust to the high altitude. In the afternoon, or evening, your guide will meet you with traditional Tibetan gifts, provide travel instructions and introduce your group members.
Altitude in Lhasa 3650m
Transfer time - airport to Lhasa 70kms, ~1 hour
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel Lhasa or similar
Day 2: Lhasa Cultural Experience Day
Transfer
Breakfast
4 star hotel
Our day starts with a trip into the historic heart of the city for a Cultural Experience Day. This day is a carefully curated and immersive journey into ancient Tibetan arts. In a single day, you have the opportunity to learn to grind mineral pigments and sketch sacred deities, hand-roll herbal incense, practice traditional walnut-woodblock printing and master the delicate strokes of Tibetan calligraphy.
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel Lhasa or similar
Day 3: Lhasa - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
Transfer
Breakfast
4 star hotel
Today’s highlight is a visit to UNESCO World Heritage Sites Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, providing a glimpse into the daily lives and beliefs of the people of Lhasa.
After breakfast, your first stop is the Potala Palace, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Lhasa Old Town. Discover the lives and stories of the Dalai Lamas through history within the palace and the extraordinary treasures it holds. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
After touring the Potala Palace, you will visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, you can appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities that occur in and around the park.
In the afternoon, you will head to the heart of Tibetan religion - the Jokhang Temple. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrations in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor Street, where you can do kora with pilgrims and locals, a religious circling of a building or mountain, and explore the old market. Next, follow your guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. Sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as your guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life.
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel Lhasa or similar
Day 4: Lhasa - Yamdrotso Lake - Gyantse
Transfer
Breakfast
4 star hotel
In the morning, start the overland journey from Lhasa to Gyantse, which includes visits to Tibet's most beautiful lake, glacier and a charming Tibetan village at the shore of Yamdrotso Lake.
First, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m) to catch a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m). The Yamdrok Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you will see spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. Continue on to explore the lakeshore from various viewpoints, and at the end of the lake, you have the option to visit a local family in the village and then have lunch with the locals.
Next, you will pass by the Korola Glacier. It is the largest glacier in Tibet and you will be able to see the ice tongue of the glacier climb the entire hillside. Then, continue your journey to Gyantse. On the way, you will stop at Simila Mountain Pass, where you can hang prayer flags to pray for world peace and the health of your family.
After arriving in Gyantse, you can spend some time taking photos of the ancient city of Gyantse and take a visit to Gyantse Bally farmland, often referred to as Highland Barley, vast, fertile agricultural fields located in the Nyangchu River Valley in Gyantse. Sitting at over 4,000 meters in elevation, it is known as the "Granary of Tibet" for its rich highland barley production.
Transfer: ~4 hours
Accommodation: Gyantse Echarm Hotel or similar
Day 5: Shigatse (3850m) to Everest Base Camp (5200m)
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
From Gyantse to Shigatse, you will pass by green (in summer) and golden (in autumn) Tibetan barley fields and countless farms. On route, you will visit Gyantse Dzong, one of Tibet's most important historical fortresses. From here your journey continues and we arrive in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. After checking into the hotel, you can take a good rest and prepare for the next day’s trip to Mount Everest.
Transfer: ~1.5 hours
Accommodation: Shiga-Yangcha Hotel Shigatse or similar
Day 6: Shigatse - Tingri - Everest Base Camp
Transfer
Breakfast
Guest house
After breakfast, we continue towards the Himalayas. On route, we stop at Dingri Viewpoint in Dingri County for panoramic views of the Himalayan range before continuing to Gawula Viewpoint. Shortly after entering the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, we reach Gawula Pass (5,198m), where the five highest peaks of the Himalayas come into view, with Mount Everest dominating the skyline.
We then follow the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5,200m). With each turn, Everest draws closer until its distinctive white pyramid rises directly ahead. As dusk falls, the setting sun casts a golden light across Everest's northern face.
After dark, the Milky Way appears above Mount Everest's snow-covered summit. You will then be transferred to your guest house near Everest Base Camp for the night.
Transfer: ~5 hours
Accommodation: Rongpuk Tent Guest House (twin or triple room)
Day 7: Mt. Everest - Sakya
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
In the morning, before departing from the base camp, you will visit Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest monastery, where nuns and monks live together at 5154 meters above sea level.
From the monastery, we will drive across the vast Tibetan plateau, passing through remote valleys, traditional Tibetan villages and expansive grasslands. Along the way, enjoy magnificent views of snow-capped mountains, colourful prayer flags and the unique high-altitude landscapes of western Tibet before arriving in Sakya.
The ancient town of Sakya is situated roughly127km west of Shigatse. It is internationally renowned as the principal seat of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism and served as the ancient political capital of Tibet during the Yuan Dynasty.
Transfer: ~4 hours
Accommodation: Sakya Yuanfu Hotel or similar
Day 8 - Sakya - Shigatse
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
Today, we visit the renowned Sakya Monastery, one of Tibet's most influential Buddhist monasteries, known for its unique architecture, centuries-old murals and extensive collection of Buddhist scriptures. Sakya Monastery also known as Pel Sakya is the primary home of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. Located 127km west of Shigatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the monastery was founded in 1073 and is famed for its massive, fortress-like Mongolian architecture and vast collection of ancient scriptures, thangkas and mandalas.
Transfer: ~2.5 hours
Accommodation: Shiga-Yangcha Hotel Shigatse or similar
Day 9 - Shigatse - Lhasa
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
In the morning, we will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the largest temple in western Tibet. The full name of Tashilhunpo Monastery, in Tibetan, means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory" and was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama. From here we will take the bus, or the train, along the Yarlung Zangbo River, the mother river of the Tibetan people, and then back to Lhasa.
Transfer: ~5 hours
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel Lhasa or similar
Day 10 - Lhasa – Tsedang - Lhasa
Transfer
Breakfast
Boutique Hotel
You will set out to explore Samye Monastery today, the first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet and one of the most important religious sites in Tibetan Buddhism. Admire its unique architecture and experience the peaceful spiritual atmosphere that has attracted pilgrims for centuries.
Transfer: ~1 hour
Accommodation: Xinding Hotel Lhasa or similar
Day 11 - Departure Day
Transfer
Breakfast
Today marks the end of your Tibet tour. You will be transferred to the hotel for your return flight home, or onwards to another adventure. We hope you feel refreshed by the crisp mountain air and the beauty of Tibet.
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International Flights & airport taxes
- Visas
- Insurance (compulsory)
- Some meal expenses not included in the adventure
- Tips for the guide and driver
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and recognise the value of using hotels run by locals. Throughout your journey, we will arrange comfortable hotels each day, many of which are locally owned and operated by Tibetans with rich ethnic charm. They are strategically located near Tibet's most vibrant cultural attractions or old city areas, making it convenient for your exploration and shopping.
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
All accommodations are twin rooms in 3 to 4 star hotels, with private bathrooms and a warm and comfortable ambiance.
In Everest Base Camp (spring, summer, and fall seasons), you will stay in tent guesthouses operated by local Tibetan villagers, where you can appreciate the beautiful sunset and the brilliant night sky over Everest.
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your trek will be our local guide who loves his ethnic history and the mountains and rivers of Tibetan landscape.
We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
Due to the altitude and hilly locations in this itinerary this adventure a reasonable level of general fitness is expected.
Altitude
Lhasa, Tibet, is at an elevation of 3560m so some newly arrived visitors can experience some altitude sickness symptoms. Our guides are pre-prepared to care for your health when you are travelling in high altitude and their vehicles are equipped with medical oxygen cylinders, ensuring a supply of oxygen for several hours.
Seasons
In Tibet, September and October are generally considered the peak season. The weather is usually very pleasant, with comfortable temperatures, clear skies, and excellent visibility for sightseeing and photography. This is often regarded as the best time to visit Tibet.
July and August are considered the shoulder season. Temperatures are mild and comfortable, but this is also the rainy season, so travelers should be prepared for occasional rain and cloud cover.
Travel & Arrival
Your YellowWood adventure starts in Lhasa which can be reached by plane or train. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately, anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend arranging your insurance cover when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hour emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
You must ensure the travel insurance you purchase provides you with suitable cover for the entirety of your trip. Your travel insurance must include cover in the event that you have to cancel for a reason outside your control prior to departure, for any medical expenses you may incur whilst away (including repatriation in the case of medical need) and for the activities which you may participate in during your trip.
General Information
For information on Tibet such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specific information.
A detailed packing list will be sent to you as part of your departure pack
Compulsory
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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