China7 days
Tibet to Nepal Overland: Lhasa, Everest & the Himalayan Highway — 7 Days
Traverse the Sino-Nepal highway from Lhasa (3,650m) to Kathmandu, crossing the Tibetan plateau via Gyantse, Shigatse, and Everest Base Camp (5,200m).
This seven-day overland journey follows the Sino-Nepal highway across the Tibetan plateau, moving south from Lhasa through Tibet's three largest cities and culminating at Everest Base Camp before crossing into Nepal. The route passes through monasteries, over passes, and alongside snow-capped summits that shape the geography and spiritual life of the region. Days in Lhasa establish the religious and cultural foundations—the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the great monasteries of Drepung and Sera—while the southern segment moves through progressively higher terrain, ending at the frontier town of Kyirong before the Nepal border crossing.
Highlights
- Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, the religious and administrative center of Tibetan Buddhism
- Drepung and Sera monasteries, two of Tibet's three great Gelug institutions, with monk debate at Sera
- Yamdrok-tso Lake (4,400m), ringed by snow-capped peaks with views toward Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191m)
- Gyantse Kumbum and Pelkor Monastery in Tibet's historic third city
- Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse, the seat of the Panchen Lama
- Everest Base Camp (5,200m) and Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastic community
- Gawula Pass (5,198m) panorama of the Himalayan chain
- Shishapangma and Pekutso Lake from the descent toward Kyirong
Day by day
1Arrival in Lhasa and AcclimatizationLhasa airport or train station · Potala Square · Yarlung Tsangpo River and Lhasa River valley
Your guide meets you at Lhasa airport or train station and transfers you to your hotel. The route into the city offers views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River—Tibet's longest and largest river—and the Lhasa River valley. The afternoon is deliberately unscheduled; acclimatization to Lhasa's 3,650-meter altitude takes priority over sightseeing. If you feel ready to venture out, Potala Square offers views of the Potala Palace and a chance to photograph the surrounding cityscape. Most travelers do better with rest and an early night.
2Lhasa: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor StreetPotala Palace · Jokhang Temple · Barkhor Street · local restaurant · Tibetan tea house
The morning focuses on the Potala Palace, the winter seat of the Dalai Lamas since the 7th century. The complex houses gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of Tibet's 33rd great king. After lunch, the route leads to Jokhang Temple, founded in the 7th century and home to a statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at age twelve. Outside the temple, pilgrims perform prostrations as part of their devotional practice. Barkhor Street, the circuit that encircles the temple, operates as both a pilgrimage route and a traditional market where locals and visitors walk the kora together. A welcome dinner at a local restaurant marks the group's first evening meal in Lhasa. An optional stop at a Tibetan tea house allows time to sit with residents over butter tea.
3Drepung and Sera MonasteriesDrepung Monastery · Sera Monastery
The morning visits Drepung Monastery, founded in 1416 by Jamyang Chogey and one of the three great Gelug monasteries. The monastery kitchen, among the largest in Tibet, operates as a working commissary. A nearby Buddhist sculpture carving workshop demonstrates traditional iconographic techniques. In the afternoon, Sera Monastery, the second of Tibet's three great Gelug institutions, hosts its most popular activity: the monks' debate, typically held from 3 to 5 p.m., where resident monks engage in structured philosophical argument. The monastery also contains a Tibetan religious scripture printing house and displays three sand mandalas and colorful rock paintings of Buddhist figures.
4Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse: Mountain Passes and Sacred LakesShigatse · Gampala Pass · Yamdrok-tso Lake · Manak Dam Lake and Simla Mountain Pass · Pelkor Monastery · Gyantse Kumbum
The drive south departs Lhasa and climbs over Gampala Pass (4,790m), offering views of Yamdrok-tso Lake (4,400m), ringed by snow-capped mountains with views in the distance toward Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191m), the highest peak near Lhasa. Along the roadside, the Korola Glacier appears on the landscape. At Manak Dam Lake and Simla Mountain Pass, you can hang prayer flags. The route then descends toward Gyantse, historically Tibet's third-largest city after Lhasa and Shigatse. In Gyantse, stops include Pelkor Monastery and the Gyantse Kumbum, a distinctive stupa-shaped structure, with views toward Gyantse Fortress in the distance. After about ninety minutes' drive, the route arrives in Shigatse (3,900m), Tibet's second-largest city, where a traditional barley mill and barley fields (visible in summer) reflect local agricultural life.
5Shigatse to Everest Base Camp: High Passes and the Himalayan CrestEverest Base Camp · Tashilunpo Monastery · Tsola Pass · Gyatsola Pass · Gawula Pass · Rongbuk Monastery's guesthouse
The morning includes a visit to Tashilunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. After obtaining the Alien's Travel Permit required for the Everest region, the drive heads east toward Lhatse, a small town where lunch occurs. From there, the route climbs over Tsola Pass (4,600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m), then enters Mount Everest National Nature Reserve. At Gawula Pass (5,198m), a panoramic vista across the Himalayan chain unfolds. The final section follows a new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5,200m). Weather and daylight permitting, the golden light on Mount Everest's peak at sunset is visible from the lodging area. Accommodation is at Rongbuk Monastery's guesthouse.
6Everest Base Camp to Kyirong Border: Sunrise, Monastery, and DescentEverest Base Camp · Everest Base Camp to Kyirong · Kyirong · Rongbuk Monastery · Ghungtang Lhamo Pass
Early morning at the base camp offers the possibility of witnessing sunrise on Everest's peak, contingent on clear weather. The morning also includes a visit to Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest functioning monastic community, where nuns and monks live together—a unique arrangement in Tibetan Buddhism. Time at Everest Base Camp itself allows for photographs at the closest accessible distance to the mountain. The 370-kilometer drive west toward Kyirong follows a route with views of Mount Shishapangma and Pekutso Lake. After crossing Ghungtang Lhamo Pass (5,236m), the road descends into Kyirong, a small border town where you overnight in a guesthouse.
7Kyirong Border Crossing to NepalGyirong border · border to Kathmandu
Your guide assists with China exit procedures at the Gyirong border. The tour operator's services conclude at the frontier. A Nepal-based driver then transfers you from the border to Kathmandu.
Where you go
- 1Potala Palace
- 2Jokhang Temple
- 3Barkhor Street
- 4Sera Monastery
- 5Shigatse
- 6Everest Base Camp
- 7Kyirong
- 8Rongbuk Monastery
Included
- Accommodation
- Comfortable Hotel Accommodations (3 stars hotel in Lhasa and Shigatse
- Guestroom at EBC and Kyirong)
- The above tour price does not include single room supplement.
- For solo travellers, a single supplement is applicable at an additional cost. Solo passengers have the option to share their room with another traveller of the group to avoid paying this supplement, but please note that this is only possible if another solo traveller joins the same departure. Should no other solo traveller to share, the single supplement will be added to the total cost.
- Guide
- Knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide shared in your group
- Insurance
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance
- Meals
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Welcome Dinner in local restaurant when group members meet in Lhasa
- Group tours only include a welcome dinner after your arrival in Tibet.
- Drinking water Provided during the trip
- Additional Services
- Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
- Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges
- Tibet Handy Map
- Safe transfer from Gyirong border to Kathmandu
- Transport
- Local tour Transfers, 5-29 seats comfortable Tourist Vehicle according to Group Size
- The free airport pick-up time is as follows on the day the itinerary begins (From airport to hotel, Fixed departure): Pick up tourists at 10:00 am
- 13:30 pm
- 17:00 pm
- All the shuttle service from/to the train station on the date of tourists' arrival and departure would be free.
- International flight to and out of China
- Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price, please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
- Optional
- Other activities and services are not included
- Additional Services
- Lunches and dinners are not included, please pay on site by yourself.
- usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region)
- Tips to tour guide and driver, you are suggested to tip them 7 USD/day in total
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc