Lhasa Shigatse Everest Base Camp Sakya Tour

This is the first day in Tibet. Your guide will greet you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport/Railway Station and transfer you to your hotel. It usually takes around 1 hour to drive from Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa and takes about 20 minutes from Lhasa Railway Station. Tourists could have a look at the Yarlung Tsangpo River, the largest and longest river in Tibet on their way to the hotel. After check-in, you can have a good rest first. And if you feel like going out, you can wander around the city. But just remember that don't take too much stuff, try to go with a light pack. Meanwhile, drink some more water, and do not move strenuously. It’s really useful to get acclimatized to the high altitude.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

After resting one night, today you will recover sufficiently to launch your Lhasa city tour, with close contact with Lhasa, which is the political, economic, cultural, communication and tourism center of Tibet with a history of over 1,300 years.

At first, you will go to the Potala Palace, which is the symbolic place of Lhasa and also the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It was built by the 33rd great king of Tibet - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century. The gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king are the most worth seeing in Potala Palace.

After lunch, you are going to Jokhang Temple, which was founded at the same time and by the same king as Potala Palace. From the outside, you can see many pilgrims prostrating in front of the temple. The most precious treasure of this temple is the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of 12.

Barkhor Street is the next destination that women love a lot. Because it’s a famous busy walking street where they can go shopping. There are many distinctive shops and stalls that sell different Tibetan stuff, like handicrafts, Thangka, and so on. Except for shopping, tourists can also join the Kora with pilgrims and locals, to explore Tibetan religious culture more deeply.

Optional:

You can go to visit the Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center if time is enough. You can also watch the Tibetan Culture Show in the evening for USD60 per person at your own expense.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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Today you will leave Lhasa and head to Lhatse via Shigatse (3,840m). After breakfast, there will be 3.5 hours of driving along the new Lhasa - Shigatse highway, about 264km. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Lhasa River Valley, witness the spectacular Gambala Mountain, and enjoy the view of Yamdrok Lake from afar.

When you arrive at Shigatse, you will visit the famous Tashihunpo Monastery, the home of Panchen Lama. It's the largest monastery in Shigatse and one of the four Gelug monasteries in Tibet. Then you will go to Lhatse County (4,050m).

Stay overnight in Lhatse

After one night's rest, you are going to the world-known Everest Base Camp (5,200m) today. You will pass Tingri first. Then you will arrive at Rongbuk Monastery (5,154m), which is the highest monastery in the world. You can get a great view of Mt. Everest from there. And if the weather is good, the amazing sunset of golden Everest peak will get you intoxicated.

Stay overnight at Everest Base Camp

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In the morning, you can have a good look at Mt.Everest from EBC and take clear photos of it. The great sunrise of Everest Peak is far out of your imagination. Please get up early to enjoy the peaceful and wonderful morning you’ve never had.

After that, you will go back to Shigatse via Sakya County (4,440m). There are many different Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Sakya County, the most famous one is Sakya Monastery, the main monastery of Sakyapa. It was built in the Tubo Dynasty, the wall is colorful with red, white and cyan paint. That’s why Sakyapa is also called Colorful Buddhism.

After 2.5 hours of driving, you will arrive in Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

You will start to go back to Lhasa today. It takes about 3.5 hours to get to Lhasa via the newly built expressway.

In the afternoon, you can visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. You can explore the beautifully decorated palaces and pavilions, stroll through the lush gardens, and enjoy the serene lakes and ponds.

Stay overnight in Lhasa