9 Days Tibet Tour with Everest and Namtso Lake

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa

   Welcome to our 9-day Tibet Tour with Everest and Namtso Lake! Tibet is known as the roof of the world, with an average altitude of over 4,000 meters! Upon your arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, your knowledgeable guide and experienced driver will meet you at the exit of the Arrival Hall and transfer you to your downtown hotel. Along the way, you will first glimpse Tibet's beautiful nature along the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

   To reduce or avoid symptoms of altitude sickness, you are suggested to avoid strenuous exercise on your first day in Lhasa. And don't take a shower to avoid catching a cold. Avoid drinking alcohol and drink plenty of water and get enough rest.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

2. Day 2: Lhasa City Tour
   Discover Lhasa's Heritage: Potala, Jokhang, & Barkhor Stroll

   Today, your tour guide leads you to discover the rich cultural heritage of Lhasa. We will first visit the Potala Palace, which is a sacred place in the hearts of all pilgrims! Here, you can not only admire many historical relics such as pagodas, sculptures, murals, Thangka paintings, jade, porcelain, enamel, and admire the wonderful architectural art of the Tibetan ethnic group, but also undergo a spiritual baptism in that sacred atmosphere. The Potala Palace is one of the top ten earthen buildings in the world, consisting of the White and the Red Palaces.

   

   After lunch, continue your Lhasa tour to the sacred Jokhang Temple, a true holy land and center in the hearts of Tibetan Buddhist believers. Founded in the mid-7th century AD, this temple features a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha at the age of twelve as its precious treasure. It is one of the must see attractions for tourists and those who go to worship. Taking photos is not allowed inside the chapels of the monasteries.

   Last, take a leisurely stroll through Barkhor Street. Barkhor Street is the famous pilgrim route and the busiest commercial street in Lhasa, which preserves the traditional appearance and living style of the ancient city more completely.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

3. Day 3: Lhasa Tour
   Explore Lhasa's Summer Palace & Must-see Monasteries

   In the morning, your tour guide takes you to visit the tranquil Norbulingka Park, a typical Tibetan-style garden established in the 18th century as the summer palace for successive Dalai Lama. After more than 200 years of expansion, the whole garden covers an area of 360,000 square meters. There are more than 100 species of plants in the garden, not only common flowers in Lhasa, but also exotic plants from the northern and southern foothills of the Himalayas, as well as rare flowers introduced from abroad. It can be called the Plateau Botanical Garden.

   

   Following that, we drive 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 showcases Tibetan architectural brilliance and artistic splendor. Last, transfer you to the Sera Monastery, where you can witness the monks engaging in traditional debates. The temple houses tens of thousands of Vajra Buddha statues, mostly made locally in Tibet, as well as many bronze statues brought from India. In addition, you will enjoy a large number of colorful murals.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

4. Day 4: Lhasa to Shigatse Tour
   Experience the Beauty of Tibet's Natural Wonders

   After a hearty breakfast, we will depart for Shigatse, whose name means "estate with the best soil" in Tibetan. After about 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.

   

   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 Monastery 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.

   

5. Day 5: Everest Base Camp Tour
   Pay a Visit to the World’s Highest Temple and Enjoy Breathtaking Views of Everest

   In the morning, we will drive for 8 hours from Shigatse to the magnificent Mount Everest. Throughout the car ride, you can 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.

   

   Upon arrival, we will transfer to a tourist bus that will take us to Rongbuk Monastery. Located at the end of the Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of Mount Everest, 5150 meters above sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is a rare mixed temple 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 of Mani Stones, each inscribed with prayers. Take photos with the iconic stone tablet 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 Camp because of the cold weather.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Shangri-La

   

6. Day 6: Drive to Shigatse
   Capture the Unforgettable Sunrise over Mount 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.

   

   Then drive back to Shigatse. Arriving in Shigatse in the evening, check in at local hotel and have a good rest.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Shigatse

7. Day 7: Shigatse to Lhasa Tour
   Visit the Spiritual Heart of Shigatse - Tashilhunpo Monastery

   After breakfast, your Tibet tour in Shigatse takes you to explore the spiritual heart of the city - Tashilhunpo Monastery, which the first Dalai Lama founded and served as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. You can wander through the alleys, marvel at the tall statues of Buddha, and witness the prayers of the devoted monks.

   

   After the monastery visit, embark on a 5-hour drive back to Lhasa. In the evening, take some time to capture the night view of the Potala Palace at your own pace.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

8. Day 8: Lhasa to Namtso Lake Tour

   Today, from Lhasa, drive 3.5 hours north to Namtso Lake, one of the "Three Holy Lakes" in Tibet. The lake is the highest lake in the world and the second largest saltwater lake in China after Qinghai Lake. Along the way you can see sheep and yaks grazing on the vast grassland.

   Upon arrival, the first thing that catches the eye is the vast lake surface, which is clear and transparent, presenting a beautiful blue-green color. The lake shimmered in the sunlight, like a huge mirror reflecting the magnificent scenery of the surrounding snow capped mountains. This is an excellent photography opportunity. Besides, you will see many yaks by the lake. You can pay extra to ride a yak and take photos as a souvenir. As the day winds down, we will return to Lhasa.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Lhasa

   

9. Day 9: Departure from Lhasa

   After breakfast in the morning, your 9-day Tibet tour ends here. Your driver will pick you up at the agreed time and escort you to the airport to catch the flight to your next destination or home! Hope to see you next time.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A