10 Days Chengdu and Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour
Tour Overview
Tibet seems to be a dream place for most travelers. It is not only a place of natural beauty such as snow-capped mountains, plateaus and holy lakes, but also fascinating religious buildings and devotional beliefs.
The 10-day Chengdu Tibet tour will take you to the “Roof of the World” to explore the most exciting sights including the sacred Potala Palace, serene monasteries, exciting debating and breathtaking natural landscapes such as the Yamdrok Lake, the Karola Glacier and the awesome Mount Everest. Before that, you’ll have a relaxing time in Chengdu, where you’ll see giant pandas up close and enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine.
Travel destinations: Chengdu, Lhasa, Shigatse, Everest Camp Base
Suitable for: Adventure Seekers, Cultural Enthusiasts, Nature Lovers
Tour type: Private
Highlights of this tour:
- Have fun observing how the lovely pandas sleep, play and eat bamboo.
- Explore the bustling Jinli Pedestrian Street to enjoy shopping and tasting some yummy food.
- Uncover precious Buddhist artworks and stories of Dalai Lamas in Potala Palace.
- Take beautiful pictures of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake with snow-capped mountains.
- Visit the highest-elevation monastery ā Rongbuk Monastery which provides an ideal viewpoint of Mt. Everest.
- Witness the spectacular sunrise of the Everest and enjoy the magic flag clouds.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu
Welcome to the hometown of giant panda - Chengdu, the starting pointing of our 10-day Chengdu and Tibet tour. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province, which borders Tibet. Upon your arrival at the airport, your friendly driver will be waiting for you at the exit hall then escort you to your hotel in the city center.
The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the vibrant city of Chengdu at your own pace. You can take a leisurely stroll to explore the nightlife of Chunxi Road (Chengdu's busiest neighborhood).
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Chengdu
- Day 2: Chengdu TourA Day with Pandas and Cultural Experience
After breakfast, you will enjoy a Chengdu city tour beginning at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which provides an opportunity to allow visitors to get up close and personal with the adorable giant pandas and red pandas. The base is located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, about 10 kilometers from the city, and fully simulates the wild living environment of giant pandas, with lakes, streams, bamboo forests and lawns. Your tour guide will tell you about their daily activities and living habits.
Baby Pandas in Chengdu Giant Panda Base Then, head to the tranquil Wenshu TempleĀ which was built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) with a long history. The temple is still operating and frequented by local people who come to pray and relax themselves. It is a good place to learn Buddhism. You can have a nice stroll around the pleasant garden and take photos of the wonderful ancient architecture.
Later, you will be taken toĀ Renmin Park, whereĀ you can enjoy a cup of tea and watch local people doing various activities likeĀ playing cards, practicing Tai Chi, playing mahjong,Ā and napping. Last, explore the bustling Jinli Pedestrian Street, a must-see place in Chengdu. You can see the buildings hereĀ built in Qing Dynasty style, and meandering through the street gives people the feeling of traveling back in time. Enjoy shoppingĀ and tasting some yummy food that you never saw before.
In the evening, we can arrange a wonderful Sichuan Opera Face Changing ShowĀ for you (pay extra), which is a traditional Chinese dramatic art form that is truly unique to the area.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Chengdu
Sichuan Opera Face Changing - Day 3: Chengdu to Lhasa Tour by Flight
After a hearty breakfast, say goodbye to your China tour in Chengdu. Then your private driver will escort you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa. Lhasa in Tibet, the holy land of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the City of Light, is a gathering place for devotees. Upon arrival, a local driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your downtown hotel. Along the way you can enjoy the Himalayan landscape and unique Tibetan architecture.
Tips:
To reduce or avoid symptoms of altitude sickness, you are advised to avoid strenuous exercise on your first day in Lhasa. Do not take a shower to avoid catching a cold. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drink plenty of water and get enough rest.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
Natural views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River - Day 4: Lhasa TourExplore the Spiritual Heart of Tibet
Today, your Tibet tour takes you to the grand Potala Palace. Perched on Marpori Hill, the palace is the highest palace in the world and the largest and most complete ancient palace complex in Tibet. Originally built in the 7th century, the Potala Palace with a blend of Tibetan and Han architectural styles was established in the 17th century. You will see many chapels, sacred relics, and remarkable murals in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Potala Palace Continue your Lhasa tour to the revered Jokhang Temple, with a history of more than 1,300 years. This spiritual center, located in the heart of Lhasa, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a blend of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese and Indian architectural styles. After that, stroll through the surrounding Barkhor Street, the busiest commercial street in Lhasa where you can purchase unique Tibetan souvenirs and experience vibrant local culture.
Note thatĀ photography is not allowed inside the chapels of the monasteries.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
- Day 5: Lhasa TourDiscover the Tibetan Culture and Spirituality
After your breakfast in the hotel, your driver and guide will drive you to Norbulingka Park, a UNESCO-listed park established in the 18th century to serve as the summer palace for successive Dalai Lama. It is a combination of Tibetan and Han architectural styles, where you can see beautiful gardens, magnificent palaces, elegant pavilions, and vivid murals.
Norbulingka Park Following that, we will transfer to Drepung Monastery, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Founded in 1416, this sprawling monastery houses exquisite carvings, solemn statues of Buddha, and a large number of Thangka paintings, embroidery, murals and other valuable art treasures. It showcase Tibetan architectural brilliance and artistic splendor.
Continue your journey to the renowned Sera Monastery. Together with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery, this temple is known as the three major monasteries in Lhasa and is the latest of the three to be built. Here you will witnessĀ the monks engaging in lively debates, a centuries-old tradition. Sera Monastery is also home to many ancient murals and tens of thousands of Vajra statues, both locally made and a few brought from India.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
- Day 6: Lhasa to Shigatse Tour by VanScenic Car Ride with Natural Wonders - Yamdrok Lake & Karola Glacier
After a hearty breakfast, we will depart for Shigatse, whose name means "estate with the best soil" in Tibetan. After approximately 1.5 hours, arrive at the Yamdrok Lake, which is known as the three sacred lakes of Tibet with Lake Manasarovar and Namtso Lake. In the hearts of Tibetans, the lake is regarded as "the goddess's turquoise earrings". Take a leisurely walk along its shores and capture the breathtaking beauty with your camera.
Ride a Yak by the Yamdrok Lake Continue your drive towards Karola Glacier, the nearest glacier to the highway in Tibet, only more than three hundred meters. As a result of years of highway dust, the glacier as a whole was black and white layered form, but the upper part of the glacier in the sunlight is like a giant Thangka painting hanging on the mountain wall. We will have lunch in Gyantse town.
In the afternoon, you will be guided to explore spiritual wonders of Palcho MonasteryĀ and the Kumbum Stupa. Palcho Monastery is a typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery building combined with a pagoda and a temple. Your tour guide will introduce the unique architectural features to you and you will learn the cultural significance of these sacred sites.
After the visit, drive to Shigatse for the night.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
- Day 7: Everest Base Camp TourEnjoy a Thrilling Expedition to the Rood of the World
Today, we will drive for 8 hours from Shigatse to the sacred Mount Everest. Throughout the car ride, capture the ever-changing landscape with your camera, from beautiful valleys to clear lakes and towering snow-covered peaks. We will make many stops to capture the ever-changing landscape with your camera, from beautiful valleys to clear lakes and towering snow-covered peaks of the Himalayan range.
Everest Base Camp Upon arrival, we will transfer to a tourist bus that will take usĀ toĀ Rongbuk Monastery. Located at the end of the RongbukĀ Glacier at the foot of Mount Everest, 5150 meters above sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is a rare mixed templeĀ of monks and nuns. The whole temple is built on the mountain, and there are five floors, now only two floors still in use. It is a good location for viewing Mount Everest, especially the Mani Stones Pile and the White Pagoda at the entrance of the temple.
After a short rest, have an expedition to Everest Base Camp. It is the starting point for mountaineers aiming to conquer the world's highest summit. You will see a lot ofĀ Mani Stones, each inscribed with prayers. TakeĀ photosĀ with the iconic stone tabletĀ with Mt. Everest in the background.
If you join the Tibet tour during the period from November to March, you will be arranged to stay overnight at a guesthouse near Everest Base CampĀ because of the cold weather.
Warm tips:
- Usually 8-12 people stay together in a tent, but it is clean. Please note that the tented camps have very limited facilities and food choices.
- Due to the high altitude and cold weather, you are advised to keep warm and drink plenty of water to reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp - Day 8: Drive to LhatseCapture the Stunning Sunrise over the Everest
Wake up early to witness the spectacular sunrise over Mount Everest. You will see the morning light coloring the snow-covered mountain top in gold and pink. This is something you will never forget. If you are lucky, you will be able to see the elusive milky white "flag clouds", a unique spectacle on Mount Everest. From a distance, the clouds look like a flag flying over the peak.
The Breathtaking Sunrise over the Mount Everest Then drive to Tingri Town for lunch. After that, drive to Lhatse, which in Tibetan means the top of the mountain where the light first shines. The region is known for its many distinctive Buddhist temples. Upon arrival, check in at local hotel and have a good rest.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhatse
- Day 9: Back to LhasaVisit Sakya Monastery's South Temple, Home to Vast Cultural Treasures
Your China tour of Tibet today starts at the Sakya Monastery, which is the main monastery of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism, divided into two monasteries, the North and South. The North Temple had suffered great damage. We now see the Sakya Monastery is the South Temple. The temple houses vast treasures and many cultural relics, especially the murals of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). You will also see a large number of cultural relics such as seals, canonical books, and statues of Buddha.
Sakya Monastery Continue the journey with a 3-hour drive to Shigatse for a relaxing lunch. Then drive approximately 5 hours back to Lhasa. Arrive in Lhasa and check into your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
- Day 10: Departure from Lhasa
Your 10-day Chengdu and Tibet tour ends here. After breakfast in the morning, your driver will escort you to the airport according to your flight time! Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour and hop to see you again in your next China trip!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
