11 Day Shanghai Lhasa Everest Namtso Lake Tour by Flight

Your tour guide and professional driver will await your arrival at the Shanghai Port, airport or train station to escort you by private car to your Shanghai hotel. You will have the rest of this day to rest and relax from your trip, or you can begin to explore the local area on your own.

Recommended evening activitiy:

Experience the amazing Acrobatics Show, featuring breathtaking performances of traditional Chinese acrobatics. Usual showtimes are 19:30 – 21:00 daily.

Best ways to get to Shanghai: 

As Shanghai is a major international travel hub, there are numerous international flights connecting Shanghai with other major cities throughout the world, as well as domestic flights available to and from most cities in China. There are also modern and convenient high-speed trains available from other major cities in China: Beijing (5 – 6 hours travel time), Xian (6 – 7 hours), Hangzhou (1 hour), Suzhou (30 minutes), Huangshan (4 hours) and more.

Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

For your escorted tour today, we will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel and take you to visit the world-class Shanghai Museum. Rated as one of the “Best Four Museums” of China, the Shanghai Museum has more than 120,000 pieces in its collections, including ancient bronzes, paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, ceramics, jade and much more that trace more than 5,000 years of China’s phenomenal history.

Next up is a visit to Yuyuan Garden, an ancient masterpiece of classical Chinese gardens. First constructed in 1559, Yuyuan consists of beautiful traditional architecture, water features, verdant green plants and rockeries that create an oasis of peaceful calm in the midst of modern Shanghai. Nearby is the Yuyuan Bazaar where you can try some traditional Shanghai snacks and shop for souvenirs and traditional Chinese handicrafts and works of art.

After Yuyuan we will take you to the Lujiazui area to visit the “Eye of Shanghai” – the Shanghai World Financial Center. As one of the world’s tallest buildings, the Shanghai World Financial Center has an observation deck with a glass-walled walkway that will give you a panoramic view of all of Shanghai and the Huangpu River from 474 meters above sea level.

From high above Shanghai to street level, we will move on to another of Shanghai’s popular attractions at Nanjing Road, a shopper’s paradise as well as a great place for a walk to experience the modern and vibrant atmosphere of the city. From Nanjing Road we will travel on to The Bund, which started off as a simple towpath for transporting goods from the river but eventually transformed into a world-class trading district. The Bund is a special area that fully reflects the fusion of Chinese and Western culture and architecture with the stunningly modern buildings of the new Shanghai skyline just across the river.

After today’s tour we will take you back to your hotel for the night.

Recommended evening activity (optional, for an extra charge):

Enjoy a relaxing Huangpu River cruise to see Shanghai’s incredibly beautiful skyline when it is lit up at night.

Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

This morning we will pick you up from your hotel for an early morning flight from Shanghai to Lhasa. Upong your arrival at Lhasa Gonggar airport, your local tour guide and professional driver will meet you to take you by private car on to your downtown Lhasa hotel, where you will have the rest of the day to relax and acclimatize to the higher altitude of the Tibet Plateau.

Tips for High Altitude Acclimatization:

1) Go for a leisurely walk in the fresh high altitude air, but avoid any strenuous activity after your arrival.

2) It's better to avoid taking a bath to avoid catching a cold.

3) Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and eat some fresh fruit.

4) Get plenty of rest.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Start your exploration of Lhasa today with a visit to a world-famous landmark - the Potala Palace, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of architecture in the world. Climb up to the palace along zig-zagging stone paths alongside the white and red walls to the top of the palace where you can gain a greater appreciation of the exotic Tibetan-style buildings as well as for a great view of Lhasa's entire urban area. After admiring the sweeping outside views, explore the inner spaces of the Potala Palace to find the stately chapels and learn more about the fascinating history of this special place.

From one historic landmark to another, your next stop will be at the Jokhang Temple, considered as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Every day thousands of pilgrims come from all over Tibet and other places to the temple to worship the Buddha. The Jokhang Temple is also known as the "House of Buddha" because it houses the precious Jowo Rinpoche, a life-sized (1.5 meter/5 feet) image of the Sakyamuni at the age of 12.

The last stop for today's Lhasa exploration is Barkhor Street, the wide, circular street that surrounds the Jokhang Temple. Local residents enjoy walking on the street, completing several circuits around the temple as a daily tradition of pilgrimage. The street also has many small shops selling a wide variety of traditional Tibetan goods, religious items and handicrafts.

After your visit to the Jokhang Temple, we will take you back to your hotel for the evening.

Tips for Visiting the Potala Palace
1. The number of visitors to the palace is strictly limited to 2,300 per day. Visitors can only visit during the time specified on the admission ticket.
2. Admission tickets to visit the Potala Palace are sold out almost every day, so it is strongly recommended to book your tickets several days in advance.
3. There are many steps at the Potala Palace, so it’s best to take it slowly to avoid possible altitude discomfort.
4. Visitors should respect the rules while visiting. Do not wear hats, wear revealing clothes or step on thresholds as these actions violate local customs.
5. Photography and the taking of videos are forbidden inside the Potala Palace.
6. A security search will take place at the entrance to the palace. Explosives, flammables, knives, lighters and even water bottles are not allowed inside the Potala Palace.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

After breakfast at your hotel, we will visit the beautiful Norbulingka Palace and Park, the location of the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until 1959. It features the famous Potrang, the private palaces of former Dalai Lamas built in the grandiose style of traditional Tibetan architecture.

After visiting the palaces and park at Norbulingka, we will travel around 5 kilometers to the western outskirts of Lhasa to visit the Drepung Monastery. The word "drepung" in Tibetan language means "prosperity". Since its establishment in 1416, Drepung Monastery has served as one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. During its prime, more than 10,000 monks lived and studied in the monastery. Throughout its history, many important and famous Tibetan leaders studied at this monastery, including the Dalai Lamas. Accordingly, Drepung Monastery is also respectfully known as the “Mother School of Dalai Lamas”.

In the afternoon, we will escort you on to another famous monastery in Lhasa - the Sera Monastery. Sera Monastery is famous for its spectacular “Buddhist Debates”. As a daily routine, the monks gather in a courtyard, and debate on the various Buddhist doctrines with exaggerated gestures, which is thought to be helpful in facilitating a better comprehension of the Buddhist philosophy to attain higher levels of study. After enjoying the "Buddhist Debates", we will take you back to your hotel with the rest of the day and evening to relax or explore on your own.

Tips for Proper Etiquette While Visiting Monasteries
1) For clothing, shorts and/or bare shoulders are not allowed.
2) Hats and sunglasses should be removed before entering the chapels.
3) Taking photos is usually not allowed inside the chapels.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

This morning we’ll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you’ll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the four holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar as seen from the Karola Pass. Later on we’ll be able to visit the Karola Glacier before continuing along the southern Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you will be able to see the famous Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late in the afternoon we will continue on to Shigatse, the location of the Tashilunpo Monastery.

Accommodation: Overnight in Shigatse

After breakfast we’ll set out towards the peak of the world – Mount Everest. Departing from Shigatse and traveling via Lhatse and Tingri, you will see some of the most beautiful and unique scenery in the world – incredibly blue skies, floating high clouds, endless grasslands and the highest mountain peaks in the world. We’ll also stop by the Rongbuk Monastery – the world’s highest altitude monastery before spending the night at the Everest Base Camp, or depending upon the season and weather, the Rongbuk Gueshouse.

Travel Tip:

Due to the high altitude, it is possible that you may have some symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend that you stay well hydrated, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery to minimize your symptoms.

Accommodation: Overnight at Rongphu Guest House or Tent

This morning, wake up early to see the incredible sunrise as it shines upon the peak of the world. If we have stayed overnight at the Rongbuk Guesthouse, we’ll drive to the Tibetan Tent Camp (elevation 4900 meters) to enjoy a closer view of Mount Everest. Of course the peak of Mount Everest is covered by snow year-round, so when the sun shines on the peak it looks like a giant white pyramid. This is one of the most famous views of Mount Everest in photographs, and if the day is clear enough you will be able to witness it with your own eyes. On bright days you may also see a wisp of a cloud hanging just above the tip of Mount Everest, which flies eastward in the fast-moving westerly wind, creating an effect just like a flapping flag. This unique effect is known as the “Cloud Flag” and it is spectacular as it changes from surging waves into a thin wisp of smoke, or from something resembling galloping stallions into the mysterious veil of a goddess.

After plenty of time taking in the incredible scenery of Mount Everest, we will drive back to Shigatse.

Overnight accommodations in Shigatse.

Today’s trip notes:

1) To protect the fragile environment of Mount Everest, Everest Base Camp is currently not open for tourists, but the Everest landscape can still be enjoyed at the Rongbuk Monastery and the Tibetan Tent Camp. The Everest Base Camp marker, a tablet reading “Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp” has been transferred to the Tibetan Tent Camp. We suggest that you take a photo with this marker to commemorate this wonderful adventure tour;

2) Sunrise usually begins around 6:30 to 7 a.m. on Mount Everest;

3) Please remember to dress warmly for the cold mountain temperatures.

Accommodation: Overnight in Shigatse

We will get an early start today to visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, which was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama The Tashilunpo Monastery is the officlal seat of the Panchen Lama, and as such, it is the largest and most influential Gelug Monastery in Shigatse Prefecture. It contains a giant statue of the Future Buddha, the largest one of its kind in the world, standing 26.2 meters tall and 11.5 meters wide and decorated with precious pearls, turquoise, coral and amber.

After our visit to the Tashilunpo Monastery, we will drive back to Lhasa to spend the night.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

We will get another early start today as it takes about 4 hours to get to the holy Namtso Lake – but the stunning beauty that awaits you will make the drive worthwhile. There is also much to see along the way, so we will have time to stop and take pictures of some of the magnificentt landscape enroute. We should arrive at Namtso Lake around noon, just in time for a nice local lunch with a view of the peaceful lake. You will have the opportunity to spend about two hours exploring around the lake, which is the highest altitude saltwater lake in the world, as well as one of the holiest lakes in Tibetan Buddhism. Snow-capped mountains and rolling grasslands dotted with nomadic herdsmen and their sheep and yaks make this one of the most beautiful places in all of Tibet. After visiting this gem of a lake, we will drive back to Lhasa.

Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa

Today you will have free time until we meet you in the lobby of your hotel to transfer you to the Lhasa airport or train station for your departing flight or train.

Today's Tips:

1) Please take care to pack all of your belongings, particularly the small things that are easy to forget about, such as phone and camera chargers, power adapters, mobile phones, wallets, etc.

2) If your flight or train is in the afternoon, please be sure to check out of your hotel room by 12 p.m.

Accommodation: None