Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland Group Tour
| Duration: | 8 Days |
|---|---|
| Price: | From USD1080 |
| Route: | Kathmandu - Gyirong - Tingri - Shigatse - Lhasa |
| Season: |
|
| Tour Type: | Group Tour |
| Group Size: | Max 12 |
Overview
The great Himalayas have created "two worlds" with different landscapes and climates on both sides, but have not hindered cultural and economic exchanges. Today, we no longer have to endure the hardships and obstacles that travelers have experienced in the very past, but we can still enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and feel the difference and connection between Nepal and Tibet. On the overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you will start from ancient and mysterious Kathmandu, pass through the forest-covered Himalayan Pass, stop at Everest Base Camp, and appreciate pristine alpine Yamdroktso lake, Karola Glacier, Buddhist sites, etc., finally get to the holy city of Lhasa. By joining our overland group tour, you don't have to worry about transportation from Kathmandu to Gyirong.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities | Accommodation | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathmandu - Syabrubesi, 137km, Approx. 7hrs | Syabrubesi Village | Syabrubesi, Guesthouse | |
| 2 | Syabrubesi - Gyirong, 40km, Approx. 4hrs | Gyirong Port, Paba Temple | Gyirong Town, 3★/4★ | B |
| 3 | Gyirong - EBC - Tashizong, 350km, Approx. 7hrs | Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk Monastery | Tashizong, Guesthouse/4★ | B |
| 4 | Tashizong - Shigatse, 300km, Approx. 5hrs | Tashilhunpo Monastery | Shigatse, 3★/4★ | B |
| 5 | Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa, 400km, Approx. 8.5hrs | Pelkor Chode Monastery, Karola Glacier, Yamdroktso Lake | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 6 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 7 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Drepung Monastery, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka | Lhasa, 3★/4★ | B |
| 8 | Lhasa Departure | Send off to the airport/train station | B |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseOur local operator will pick you up from your hotel in Kathmandu and get together around 9:00-9:30 am, and then we will drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, which is a beautiful resident village inside the Langtang National Park (a famous trekking region in Nepal). En-route, you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way such as green hills, deep valleys and Trisuli River.
Stay overnight in Syabrubesi village
After breakfast, we will drive to the border to enter Tibet. After immigration formalities at Gyirong Port, you will meet our Tibetan tour guide and driver. Then continue driving to Gyirong Town (2,800m). Gyirong has conserved many famous temples, such as the Nepali-style Paba Temple. It was built by Songtsan Gambo when he married the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. In the afternoon, you can rest in the hotel or take a short walk to visit the temple.
Stay overnight in Gyirong
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Drive along the highway to Tingri, then continue to Everest Base Camp. En route, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges, especially Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m) and Mt. Everest (8,848m). Upon arrival, visit Rongbuk Monastery, one of the highest monasteries in the world, located at the foot of Mt. Everest.
After visiting Everest Base Camp, drive back to Tashizong (4,200m), a small foothill village and an important stop for journeys to Everest Base Camp.
Stay overnight in Tashizong
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Drive from Tingri to Shigatse today, following a scenic route across the vast Tibetan plateau with wide-open landscapes, traditional villages, and distant snow-capped peaks. Feel free to ask your driver to stop along the way to capture the stunning views.
In the afternoon, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama, it is one of the most important monasteries in Tibet. Here, you can explore its grand assembly halls, golden-roofed chapels, and the impressive statue of the Maitreya Buddha.
Stay overnight in Shigatse
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse by the Southern Friendship Highway. You will pass by the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where colorfully decorated yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to till the land. Arriving at Gyantse, you will visit Pelkor Chode Monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is not only the largest stupa in Tibet but also has old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls. En route, you will see Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway, as well as holy Yamdrok Lake with its turquoise color and snowcapped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace, which is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Potala Palace was the winter palace of successive Dalai Lamas. It was built by the 33rd great king of Tibet - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th Century. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, you will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
- Meals:
- Breakfast
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Cost & Calendar
All prices are in US Dollar / Person
Economic Class (3-Star Hotels)
|
2026-03-01 ~
2026-05-31 |
2026-06-01 ~
2026-06-30 |
2026-07-01 ~
2026-10-10 |
2026-10-11 ~
2026-10-31 |
2026-11-01 ~
2027-02-28 |
| USD1190 | USD1240 | USD1290 | USD1190 | USD1080 |
Comfortable Class (4-Star Hotels)
|
2026-03-01 ~
2026-05-31 |
2026-06-01 ~
2026-06-30 |
2026-07-01 ~
2026-10-10 |
2026-10-11 ~
2026-10-31 |
2026-11-01 ~
2027-02-28 |
| USD1310 | USD1370 | USD1430 | USD1310 | USD1160 |
Schedule
| Starting Date | Price From | Booked | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-04 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-08 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-11 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-15 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-18 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-22 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
| 2026-05-25 | USD1190 | 2 | Book |
| 2026-05-29 | USD1190 | open for booking | Book |
No desired date of departure? Please send us an inquiry and we will try to arrange your tour according to your plan.
Discount Policy
You may only enjoy one of the advantageous policies, not both.
| Option A: | 3 or More from You Join Together | $30 Off / person |
| Option B: | Tour in Apr~Oct |
|
Our Service
INCLUSIONS
* Transfer from Kathmandu to Gyirong border (you don't have to wait for the bus for hours on Gyirong border!);
* Lodgings: 6 Nights, a twin room in 3★/4★; 1 Night, a twin room in Guesthouse;
* Breakfasts provided by hotels & 1 farewell dinner;
* Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as per itinerary needed including gas and parking fees;
* Drop-off from your hotel to Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm on the last day;
* Guide: experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
* Attractions: all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary;
* Permit: Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit; Alien's Travel Permit;
* Travel Agency Liability Insurance;
* Government Tax;
* Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
* Emergency oxygen tank available in the vehicle;
* Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
EXCLUSIONS
* China Group Visa;
* International or domestic flight out of Tibet; (We can book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.);
* If you miss the free transfer schedule due to flight delay or cancelation, then you are required to pay a private transfer at USD 80/vehicle/time;
* Single Room Supplement: Hotels are based on twin-sharing rooms. If you prefer a single room or cannot share, an additional single supplement will apply;
* Lunch & Dinner are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes USD 5-15/person for each meal;
* While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them USD 8-15/day in total;
* All the commissions and taxes charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making a payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
* Personal expenses;
* Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.
NOTE
* Considering the increasing high altitude from 1,370m of Kathmandu to 5,200m of the EBC, to avoid the high altitude sickness, we will arrange the sightseeing of Mt. Everest on the way from Gyirong to Tingri, instead of staying overnight at Everest Base Camp;
* Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) usually takes about 12 working days to apply. If you couldn't provide the required docs & info on time, an extra handling fee will be charged. Please consult your travel consultant for details;
* We reserve the right to change the itinerary order and attractions in Lhasa;
* If you prefer to book your own hotels over those included in our group tour, please meet the rest of the group at their daily hotel on time. Transfers to and from your own hotels are not included;
* We need to drop off all members of the group on the last day at Lhasa Airport/Railway Station. Please book the flight or train as per your travel advisor's suggestion;
* Due to the special nature of Tibet travel, any unforeseeable and unavoidable objective circumstances, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion, strikes, public health emergencies, government action, major traffic jams, delay or cancellation of flight/train, or attractions temporarily closed. etc., resulting in a change of itinerary, the increased cost will be paid by travelers; if any attraction visits have to be canceled due to the same reasons above, GTT won't be held responsible for a refund, except for certain attraction entrance fees, which will be solely decided by GTT;
* From Nepal to Tibet, you must apply for China Group Visa at the Chinese embassy in Nepal with our assistance, even if you already have a China Visa. After you book your Tibet tour with us, we will send an official invitation letter for you to our partner in Kathmandu. After your arrival in Kathmandu, our Nepali partner will meet you to collect your original passport. With an invitation letter, your original passport and one photo(passport photo size with white background), our Nepali partner could help you get your China Group Visa there in 4 working days.
Hi Nance: We are back in Canada. We had a great time on the Tibet tour, thank you. It was all well organized. Communication was good. The vehicle and guide and driver in Tibet were excellent. Are you on Trip Advisor? I will leave positive feedback. Regards, Iain Hallam ....
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Nils***
Hello,
I'm interested in the 8 Days Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland Group Tour for 2 people, starting on October 2nd. This is a group tour with a minimum of 3 people to guarantee departure. Most dates look like no one has booked. How likely is it that someone else would book on that specific date? If no one else books, how much more expensive is it to proceed as a private tour? Group price is $1,350/person ($1,282.50 with early booking discount) in 3-star hotels. We would be looking to share a hotel room with two twin beds.
Dear Nils***,
We can open an 8-day Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland Group Tour starting on 2 October. It requires a minimum of 4 tourists. We can try to recruit enough tourists. The earlier you book, the more likely we are to confirm the group. It is very rare for our tours not to be formed.
The tour for only two people costs around USD2800 per person based on 3-star hotels.
If you book the tour 6 months in advance, you can enjoy a discount of 5% on the tour cost. We can arrange a twin room (two beds) for you.
Ange***
Good afternoon,
We would like some information about this trip.
Our plan is to leave Lhasa on the last day by train to Xining.
Would that be possible?
Dear Ange***,
Yes, you can take the train from Lhasa to Xining after the tour.
Olai***
Dear Great Tibet Tour Team,
I am very interested in your pilgrimage tour from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash, and I would like to join as a solo traveler in mid-September. However, I would like to ask if it would be possible to continue my journey to Lhasa after completing the trek instead of returning to Kathmandu.
Could you provide details on the feasibility of this route adjustment, as well as the additional cost it would entail? I would also appreciate any information regarding permits and transportation arrangements for this option.
Dear Olai****,
We can arrange a tour from Kathmandu to Mt.Kailash and then continue to Lhasa for you in mid- September. The total price for a solo traveler is very expensive. We currently do not have any group tours on this route. If possible, I suggest you consider flying directly from Kathmandu to Lhasa and then joining a 12-day Lhasa Mt Everest & Mt Kailash Kathmandu Group Tour.
Maxi***
Hello there!
I am planning to come to Tibet via Kathmandu overland with my wife, my brother and his partner (4 people). We have a few questions:
1) Do you propose private tours? If so, how much would it be for 4 ppl?
2) Are the itineraries flexible? We are more interested in nature and would love some recommendations to replace maybe some of the monasteries in the set itinerary.
4) Is it possible for us to take the train onwards to continue visiting China from Lhasa?
5) What do you need for the visa/permits?
Dear Maxi***,
We can arrange a private Kathmandu Gyirong Lhasa Overland tour departing on 27 Nov. for you.
We can adjust the itinerary according to your preference. After the tour, we can help you book the train ticket to leave Lhasa to continue visiting China. Or you can book the train ticket via booking.com or trip.com.
For this overland tour from Kathmandu, you need a China Group visa instead of a normal China visa. We'll provide supporting docs for you to apply for a China Group visa in Kathmandu if you book the tour with us. Usually, it takes 3 working days to obtain a visa. The application time is from 9:00 am-11:00 am on working days.
Travelers on the same Group Visa should exit China at the pre-arranged city together. Otherwise, one can't get through customs when exiting China, even if she/he takes a copy of the group visa.
Ms K***
I am a solo traveler hoping to join a group tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Can you please advise: can I join an existing group tour?
Dear Ms Kimb****,
Frankly speaking, it's not easy to recruit other tourists to join. Tourists going to Tibet from Kathmandu overland need a China Group visa which requires at least 4 applicants to present together for an interview and have their fingerprints collected.
For tourists on the same Group Visa, they should exit China at the pre-arranged city together, as the exiting city listed on the group visa should be exactly as same as their export city.
As a solo traveler, I suggest you consider a tour departing from Lhasa.
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