Expedition to the Top of the World
This is a join-in group tour with fixed departure and valuable price. It is also the most classic Tibet travel itinerary with rich experiences of both Tibet's culture and nature. There is no doubt that Mount Everest is the best highlight of this tour, and you have chance to hike Everest Base Camp to take a close look at the famous Everest sunset, flat clouds, etc. At the same time, you will also travel other famous destinations in Tibet, including Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse. We have connected these destinations well for you. The tour pace is comfortable and suitable for most people. You will have several days to adapt to the high altitude before heading towards Mount Everest.
Best time: available all year around, but May to October is the best time.
The departure of Group CD-Le-69820D-Stacey-230422 has been confirmed. Its travel dates are from April 22 to April 29, 2023. Join them »
Welcome to Tibet! Your local guide will pick you up upon your arrival at Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station, then escort you to your hotel in Lhasa. Enjoy the heart-stopping views along the road.
After arrival at your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the local area and acclimatize yourself to this high altitude city.
High altitude acclimatization tips: 1) Keep taking medicine for preventing high altitude sickness 2 days before going to Tibet; 2) Go for some walking to acclimate but avoid strenuous activity after arrival in Lhasa; 3) You’d better not have bath; 4) Drink more water.
After breakfast, go to visit the No.1 attraction in Tibet - Potala Palace. It is known as the highest palace in the world and one of the most famous architectural works in the world. Standing on the Red Hill of Lhasa, the Potala Palace is a treasure house of Tibetan history, religion, culture, and art. The palace is well worth visiting for its artistic value, historic purposes, and cultural awareness. Importantly Potala Palace is the winter palace of Dalai Lama. You will see many chapels in which Dalai Lama used to study, meditate, work and rest. Many famous past Dalai Lama's stupa are also housed here and decorated with golds, jades and jewels.
There are two attractions for you to visit in the afternoon. First, you’ll visit the Jokhang Temple. As the house of the Buddha, Jokhang is the holiest destination for all Tibetan pilgrims; as the spiritual center of Tibet, Jokhang Temple is the perfect place for you to experience the devotion of Tibetans. Last activity is wandering around the bustling Barkhor Street. Whether you are there to visit the religious site, to do a bit of souvenir shopping, to taste some Tibetan or Chinese food or just for simple sightseeing, the Barkhor Street area is the right place to go.
This evening, a welcoming dinner will be held to welcome all the members in your group tour.
Tips of today: Wear hat and sunglasses to prevent ultraviolet radiation, but remember to take off when visiting in the monasteries.
Magnificent Architecture of Potala Palace
Meet with Tibet locals at Barkhor Street
Jokhang Temple
After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up in your hotel. Then drive about 30 minutes to visit the Drepung Monastery. This Gelug monastery has a history of more than 500 years. It used to be the largest monastery in the world with totally 10,000 monks there. Many precious stupas, sculptures, paintings, Thangka...are displayed in the hundreds of chapels. And the annual Shoton Festival is organized here.
In the afternoon, you will visit another famous Gelug monastery around Lhasa city - Sera Monastery, which is famous for its Buddhism Scriptures Debating. It is only 3km away from Lhasa city. Enjoy the debating.
Stay overnight in Lhasa.
Tips of today: 1) Feel free to ask tour guide questions about Buddhism or else; 2) If you have no idea where to have dinner, ask your guide for suggestions. Restaurant in your hotel is one of the choices.
Monks at Drepung Monastery Entrance
Buddhism Scriptures Debating at Sera Monastery
Today, you will start your lifetime journey to Mount Everest. After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours via Nyangchu Valley to visit the first attraction of today - Yamdrok Lake. It is known as one of "Three Holy Lakes" but featured in clearest lake views. The water is as clean as crystal, and the glimmering water will shock you in sunshine. With it being branded as the crystal holy lake, one will always carry a sense of worship when standing beside the lake. Leaving Yamdrok Lake, drive ahead to Gyantse, you will see the imposing Karola Glacier. At 5,560 m (18,241 ft) above sea level, and with an area of 9.4 sq km (3.6 sq mi), this imposing glacier is visible from the window.
Keep driving forward, you will arrive at Gyantse city and have lunch there. Then visit the characteristic Palcho Monastery which is located in northern corner of Gyantse city. Found in 1436, this monastery is famous for its Kumbum, a magnificent stupa and symbol of the monastery. It consists of hundreds of chapels arranged in layers, housing some 100,000 images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, vajras, dharma kings, arhats and disciples of the different schools from throughout Tibetan Buddhist history with 3,000 statues in total. After visiting at Palcho Monastery, drive about 2 hours heading to Shigatse.
Have a good sleep in Shigatse city.
Tips of today: 1) Wear warm clothes to prevent from cold and wild; 2) Prepare some food and drinks in advance because you will spend much time on the road.
Holy Yamdrok Lake
Palcho Monastery and Monks
After breakfast, leave Shigatse city and drive westwards along the Friendship way to Lhatse with a good road condition. Keep driving from Lhatse, after about two hours driving, turn left to the new-paved highway to Rongbuk Monastery. En route, enjoy the fabulous landscapes, also witness four giant peaks over 8,000 meters at the sightseeing platform of Gawula Pass (5,250m) - Lhotse, Everest, Gyachung and Cho Oyu.
You will arrive at Rongbuk Monastery which is the highest monastery by altitude in the world. Here is the best location to catch the incredible views of Mount Everest. Also explore Everest Base Camp where you can see many Marnyi Stones and take photos with the marker of EBC.
Accommodate at Tent or Guest House near to Rongbuk Monastery. Please note that the accommodations at both places are very simple and basic. There are dorms with beds, duvets, heated blankets and hot water provided. You are suggested to bring your own sleeping bag if you have one. There is no running water, sinks or showers. The guest house only offers basic breakfast and dinner without menu. There is no private bathroom in the dorms. Only communal squat toilets are available. Remember to bring your own toilet paper.
Tips of today: 1) Bring more food and drinks for long driving; 2) Bring a warm and thick coat for low temperature in Everest. 3) Avoid strenuous activity.
Our Group Tourists in Kyawulha Pass on the Way to Everest
Mount Everest - Rongbuk Monastery
Accommodation in Mount Everest
Get up early to catch the stunning sunrise on this peak of the world. You can see the Mount Everest appears gradually as the clouds are being blown away by the strong wind. The sleeping pure peak puts on a shining costume that is lit by the orange sun. And then, when the sun all rises up, the mountain shows her bright red face completely like a young girl putting up the best blusher ever, with the red cloud fairies dancing by side. If you are lucky, you will have a chance to see the famous "flag clouds" which is a famous wonder on Mount Everest.
Then drive back to Shigatse along the coming route, and be wrapped again in the endless vistas of the Tibetan plateau. Have a good sleep in Shigatse.
Tip of today: 1) Sunrise starts around 6:30 am to 7 am; 2) Get well-prepared for long driving on the road.
Amzing Sunrise in Mount Everest
Today, before driving back to Lhasa, you will firstly go to visit the most important monastery in Tsang Tibet region -Tashilunpo Monastery which is located in northwestern corner of Shigatse City. Tashilunpo Monastery is famous as the seat of successive Panchen Lama who is another leader of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is an interesting sprawling amalgam of traditional Tibetan monastic style halls, chapels and other structures connected by precipitous steps and narrow cobblestone alleys.
After the visit, drive about 280km (6~7hrs) back to Lhasa. You'll take a slightly different route this morning back to Lhasa. So, sit back and enjoy amazing scenery of Tibetan villages, snow mountains, farm fields, etc.
Tip of today: You may get back to Lhasa in the early afternoon, you can just go for a walk around Barkhor Street, or Potala Square, or do some shopping of souvenirs.
Tibetan Style Architectures of Tashilhunpo Monastery
Today is free for you until your driver transfer you to catch your flight (or train) leaving Tibet. Please check your luggage and make sure everything is packed, and then check out from your hotel before 12pm.
Lhasa City & Suburb
Lhasa / Gyantse / Shigatse/ Everest
Lhasa / Yamdrok Lake / Lhasa
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