2023 Kathmandu to Tibet Overland Tour, Tibet tour from Nepal-Tibet Odyssey Tours

Kathmandu Lhasa Tour9 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour with EBC

Home

TOT: 9 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Overland Tour with EBC

Tour Type: Private Tour: Flexible Travel Date & Travel Routes

Guide & Driver: Chinese-English-speaking guide & air-conditioned

Highlights:

Drive all the way from Nepal to Tibet along the sino-Nepal Friendship Highway
Visit one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa – the Tashilunpo Monastery
Witness the stunning scenery of Mt. Everest

Itinerary

Expand All

Collapse All

Day 1 Kathmandu to Chinese Border, Gyirong Port . (2000m)



Firstly, you need to travel from Kathmandu to Chinese border yourself, about 120km and 5 hours driving passing through the deep and big gorges. You need to cross the friendship bridge and will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver on Tibetan side. From the border to Gyirong Port, you will go through a steep winding road which passes through a mossy gully with cascading waterfall.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in local guesthouse

Day 2 Gyirong Port to Old Tingri(4300m) (B)



After breakfast, drive along the Sino-Nepal Highway to Old Tingri. Through a series of switchback bends the road ascends to Nyalam within the Matsang Tsangpo gorge and beautiful waterfalls can be seen on the both side of the road.

We visit Milarepa cave on the way. It is the site of the celebrated philosopher’s meditation. The trip continues to pass over two spectacular passes: Thong La pass (5050m) and Lalung La pass (5082m). Along with the two passes, we also get to enjoy fabulous views of the high mountains including Shisha Pangma (8,013m).

Then from old Tingri, you will view the amazing scene of Himalaya Range and Mt Everest. Before get into Himalaya Natural Reserve, which average altitude is above 5000m, you need thoroughly acclimatize the high altitude at Old Tingri.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in Old Tingri.

Day 3 Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp (B)



Today, we drive about 70km bumpy road from Old Tingri to EBC / Rongpuk. From New Tingri to Rongpuk, the road is under construction. From Old Tingri to E.B.C with the very rough road passes the wild grassland, and crosses the torrent and High Mountains.

You can have a glimpse of 4 mountains which are 8000m high or even higher, that is, Mt. Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag (8201m), and Mt. Mayalu (8463m).

Accommodation: Stay overnight at Rongphu Monastery (Tent or Guest House).

Day 4 Everest Base Camp to Sakya (B)



In the morning, you can see the sun rise on the top of Mt Everest, and have a full view the magnificent Mt. Everest standing like a snow-capped pyramid in front of you at Rongpuk, which is the vantage point for watching Mt. Everest.

Then you may trek from tent to Base camp 4/km one way or go to EBC by local bus.

After base camp, you can visit Rongphu Monastery which is the highest monastery in the world (5000m) and belongs to Nyingma sect.

After noon, drive back on that same bumpy road to reachTingri on Friendship Highway and move to Sakya.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in Sakya.

Day 5 Sakya to Shigatse (B)



Today you visit Sakya Monastery founded in 1073 by KhonKunchokGyalpo. It is the principal monastery of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Sakya was once recommended to be listed to World Heritage List in 90’s and was known for its huge collection of Buddhist scriptures and of vivid and artistically amazing murals.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Day 6 Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse (B)



In the morning, we drive 90km to Gyantse, an ancient county between Shigatse and Lhasa, which boasts a variety of important cultural and historical sites – Palkhor Chode monastery (Gyantse Kumbum) and Gyantse Dzong. The Gyantse Kumbum is commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427, the 35m-high chörten, with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome, is awe-inspiring. Also you can explore the real Tibet town in Gyantse.

In the afternoon, we drive 280km to Lhasa, and we will pass over the Karo la Pass (5010m) and Kambala Pass (4794m). While driving you will see the beautiful Karo la Glacier, Yamdrotso Lake (Truquoise Lake) and Brahmaputra River and finally reach Lhasa.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 7 Lhasa Tour - Potala Palace and Johkang Temple (B)



Today, you will visit the Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It is started since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The Palace contains the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

After lunch, we head to Jokhang temple, founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the single most venerated object in Tibet Buddhism. Around the temple Barkhor street where you can do kora( circle religious sites) with pilgrims and locals, and you can buy the souvenirs.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 8 Lhasa tour - Sera and Drepung Monastery (B)



After breakfast, you are going to visit Drepung monastery which is one of the “threegreat”Gelug monasteries of Tibet founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before he moves to the Potala palace.

In the afternoon, Sera Monastery: It is also one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet founded in 1419 by Jamchenchojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The highlight is that Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Day 9 Depart from Lhasa (B)



You will be accompanied with tour guide to airport/train station by private car, see good-bye and end the trip.

Accommodation:

Price Includes.

All necessary Tibet Travel Permit. (Including Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, border Pass
Private professional English-Speaking local tour guide
Licensed Vehicle with experienced driver
Airport (or train）pick up and drop off
Accommodation listed in the itinerary
Breakfast provided by the hotel
Tourists Accident/Casualty Insurance
A container of Oxygen for emergency use
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Lodging and meal allowance to the guide & driver
Reservation fee for visiting Potala Palace
2 bottles of drinking water per person per day

Price Excludes.

Meals not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners)
All Entrance tickets to the sightseeing places
Flight/Train tickets in and out of Tibet
Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.
Tips to the guide & driver ( Tips is not required but expected)
Single room supplement

Booking Information

1.The above routes accept Chinese people(people from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and foreign visitors to attend the group booking, foreign guests and Taiwan tourists to Tibet, please contact us to apply for Tibet Permit!

2.Due to Covid-19, there has international travel restrictions for Tibet travel, so we can not guarantee travelers in one group are all English speakers. Our professional tour guide will provide Chinese-English service if there has English speakers in the join-in group. Therefore, we will not make any reimbursement for tour guide language reason.

3.June, July, August, September is peak season. Joining our group can guarantee the ticket of Potala Palace. The Potala Palace may be adjusted to the other days because of the current limitation of 2,300 visitors per day to protect the historic site.

4.Without affecting the original standards and scenic spots, we might change the sequences of scenic spots according to the actual situation on the day of the trip.

5.Patients with severe hypertension, asthma or heart disease should not join the group. Patients with colds should only go to Tibet after recovery.

6.Due to force majeure factors in case of landslides, mud-rock flow, avalanche, flood, earthquake and other natural phenomena influence or airline flight delay, cancel to causes such as the increase of expenses or unable to follow a normal schedule, we shall not bear the liability for compensation according to the tourism related regulations, but we will actively coordinate processing, in order to ensure a smooth trip.

7.Any failure to complete the activities during the tour due to the guests' own reasons or early departure will be considered as a waiver and the fee will not be refunded.

8.Tibet is a borderland area inhabited by ethnic minorities with limited tourist reception conditions. We hope that visitors can have reasonable expectations, respect the cultural beliefs and living habits of ethnic minorities and live in harmony with each other.

9.If there is a single room due to gender reasons, we will arrange a triple room (or double standard room with and extra bed) or fill the single room difference by the guest.

10.The shops in scenic spots do not belong to the travel agency's shopping shop arrangement. Please consider carefully.

11.Self-paid items are considered according to the time and the proportion of the approved members on the day, and no mandatory consumption is made.

Warm Tips

1.Travelers with severe high blood pressure or heart disease should not go to Tibet. Please do not bring serious colds into Tibet. Don’t go before the serious colds recovered!

2.Tibet is located in the plateau and most of the travelers might have plateau reaction. Please pay attention to rest and have proper diet (do not eat too full, because it will increase the burden of the stomach). Travelers can be appropriate to take some drugs, such as: Gaoyuan An, Rhodiola, Nuodi Kang; travelers with serious can appropriately take oxygen or hanging saline.

3.Because of the long drive in Tibet, travelers will spend a lot of time in the car, and inevitably can not eat on time, please bring some snacks and biscuits during drive.

4.Due to the special conditions in Tibet, please pay attention to keep warm. On the first day of arrival, please do not try to take a bath. Taking a bath will accelerate blood circulation and increase the body's demand for oxygen.

5.Tibet has a strong sunshine, especially dry climate, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm and other essential are necessary.

6.From April to November is the best time for sightseeing.

Kathmandu Lhasa Tour FAQ

Related Itineraries