Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour
| Duration: | 7 Days |
|---|---|
| Price: | From USD1763 |
| Route: | Lhasa-Shigatse-EBC-Gyirong-Kathmandu |
| Season: |
|
| Tour Type: | Private Tour |
Overview
Via this 7 days overland tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu, you will travel from Lhasa along the Sino-Nepal Highway, across the roof of the world and the Himalayas, visit the Everest Base Camp, enjoy the landscape of picturesque Tibetan countryside, and finally arrive in the exotic Kathmandu Valley. On the way, you will visit the ancient cities of Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, etc., to explore the religion, cultural treasures and fantastic scenery of Tibet. The highlight of this trip is Everest Base Camp, which will be a great memory of your lifetime. Although the whole journey is only 7 days, it is full of adventures and surprises.
| Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m) | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
| 2 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street |
| 3 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery |
| 4 | Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs | Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chode Monastery |
| 5 | Shigatse - Tingri – EBC, 350km, Approx. 7hrs | Tashilhunpo Monastery, Everest Base Camp |
| 6 | EBC - Gyirong, 350km, Approx. 6.5hrs | Everest Base Camp, Peikutso Lake |
| 7 | Gyirong - Kathmandu, 160km, Approx. 8hrs | Transfer to Kathmandu via Gyirong Border |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseThis 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
In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel and first take you to visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. It was first built by the 33rd King - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th century and rebuilt later by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Now it's a museum and world heritage site.
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
In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.
In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
From Lhasa to Gyantse is about 264km, en route you will pass by Gambala Mountain Pass (4,790m), where's the best place to overlook the Yamdroktso Lake. Later we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier, which looks spectacular from the highway. Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues. Finally head to Shigatse via the fertile Nyangchu Valley, a wide agricultural plain where yaks and horses are used by Tibetan farmers to cultivate this land.
Stay overnight in Shigatse
In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery and then drive to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass Tsola Pass (4,600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m), where you can hang prayer flags and spread Longda, letting the wind carry your blessings to heaven. In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. At Gawula Pass (5,198m), you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you'll drive along the New Zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5,200m) to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of the Golden Everest Peak.
Stay overnight in Nomad Tent (Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse
You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at the lodging area if the weather is good. After sightseeing, we will drive to Gyirong, the border that connects Tibet & Nepal. On the way, tourists can enjoy the breathtaking vista of Mt. Shishapangma and Peikutso Lake. After passing the Ghungtang Lhamo (5,236m), we will arrive in Gyirong in the late afternoon.
Stay overnight at Gyirong Town
Tour Price and Service
From US$1763 p/p
Based on 3-star hotels for 2 people in low seasons. Price varies according to travel season, number of people and level of accommodation.
INCLUSIONS
- Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance ticket fees for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
- Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
- Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as needed by the itinerary including gas and parking fees;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision to choose the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economical 3-star hotel, or guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
- Breakfasts provided by hotels & a welcome dinner;
- Pick-up & Drop-off service from the airport/railway station;
- Travel Agency Liability Insurance;
- Government tax;
- Express delivery fee of the Permit (eg. SF Express);
- Food & lodging for guide & driver;
- Oxygen tank for emergency use;
- Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
EXCLUSIONS
- International flights to and from China;
- Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
- Domestic flights/trains to and from Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
- Meals are not included but we will recommend some good options for you according to your requirements. Usually, it costs 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 or Bank, and government when making a payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone calls, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
- Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.
Dear! Sorry for my late response. We arrived on Sunday at midnight and the last two days I had so much to do. My body is at home, but with my thinking, I am still in Tibet. There were so many impressions. It was the greatest journey we ever made. Everything was great, amazing – I am missing the rig ....
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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients
Tere***
Hello! We will arrive to Lhasa on 17th May.
I would like to know for the 7 days tour: (i) can we drive ourselves? what type of car for self driving and for the group option (if self driving is not an option) and the price for both options. Can we drive with our European driving license?, (ii) the difference in price if we choose 4 star or 5 star hotel instead of 3 star.
We have Spanish and Belgium passports, therefore we don't need Chinese visa in 2026. Could you confirm please that this is OK for you and that we will get out Tibet permit with no issues?
Thanks for the info
Dear Teresa****,
We can arrange the Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour for you in May. Self-driving is allowed in Tibet; however, for two people, the cost is quite high, and it usually takes around two months to complete all the necessary procedures. Therefore, we would recommend joining our group tour instead.
Currently, we have a group departure on May 18th. You could arrive in Lhasa on May 17th, enjoy a private day to rest and explore, and then join our 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu overland group tour. Does this work for you?
For group tours, we use a 9 to 29-seat tour vehicle depending on the group size.
The European driving license is not valid in Tibet—you would need to apply for a Chinese driving license if you wish to drive.
You may also choose to upgrade your accommodation to 4-star or 5-star hotels instead of the standard 3-star option.
As a Spanish and Belgian citizen, you do not need a Chinese visa in 2026. We will assist you in applying for the Tibet Travel Permit using your passport scans, and no Chinese visa is required.
Lind***
Good morning,
I hope you are well.
We are two people interested in arranging a tour in Tibet starting around mid-September, ideally around the 17th. We are looking for an itinerary similar to your 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu group tour, but with some flexibility. We would be open to a combination of group and private arrangements, depending on what works best logistically and cost-wise.
For Days 1–3 in Lhasa, we are happy to follow the same program as your group tour and join a group if this helps reduce the overall cost.
We may also be open to joining a group for all or part of the transfer to Gyirong if available.
For the remaining days, we would prefer a private tour, as we would like a more relaxed pace — ideally driving no more than 4-5 hours per day and avoiding very early starts. Below is a draft outline of what we have in mind, but we would very much welcome your suggestions:
Day 4: Lhasa to Gyantse, visiting Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse
Day 5: Gyantse to Shigatse, then continuing to Tingri
Day 6: continue to Everest Base Camp, overnight at Rongbuk Guesthouse
Day 7: Travel to Gyirong,
Day 8: transfer to Kathmandu
We would appreciate your advice on the feasibility of this itinerary, any recommendations you may have, and a quotation for both a mixed group/private option and a fully private option.
A couple of other questions.
1/ Could you please clarify whether the transfer to Kathmandu is by public bus or private vehicle?
2/ Are you able to book trains from Xinning to Lhassa in advance for us?
Dear Lind***,
We can arrange a Semi-group tour or a private tour for you.
For a semi-group tour, we currently have a 4-day group tour departing on 21 September. Is the date available for you? If so, you can join Day 1 to Day 3. Alternatively, it needs further confirmation.
For a private tour, we can open it on your preferred travel date.
The transfer from the border to Kathmandu is by private jeep.
We can help you book trains from Xining to Lhasa in advance. The train tickets are usually issued 15 days before departure. In peak season, like September, we may obtain it 3-5 days in advance.
Mrs ***
Hello, we are interested in this private tour for our family of 4 (2 adutls + 2 daughters 20 & 18 years old). If we would extend with one day (to do it at slower pace), what would be your suggestion ?
Dear Mrs An****,
We can arrange the Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Private Tour on 15 July 2025 for you. If you would like to slow down, you can stay one night in Gyantse and Lhatse.
Yvon***
Goodevening, My wish would be to travel nu train from Beijing to Lhasa. From there 2 days Lhasa and then travel down to the border off Nepal, in around 7 days. What are the possibilities and the cost?
Dear Yvon***,
If you take a train from Beijing to Lhasa, it takes 40hrs. From Lhasa to Gyirong Port, which is the border between Tibet and Nepal, it takes 7 days. In total, it takes 9 days. Here's the itinerary for you.
I'm wondering if you want us to book the train tickets for you or reserve on your own? I will only quote you the tour fee in my next email.
Tjit***
7 days Tibet Everest Nepal looks like a great trip for us. One of our favorites is to go to the Everest Base Camp. That's only possible from may-october? And the trip ends in Kathmandu, when we would like to stay there 2 more nights than we have to arrange that ourselves?
We travel with 4 sisters, is it possible to tell us something about the price? We would lik to go in april but if that is to soon for visiting the Everest Base Camp we can also go in may.
It is okay to have this tour from April to November. We can also book the hotel in Kathmandu for you.
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