This tour runs privately, on your own dates, with your own guide and vehicle. You can change the pace or the stops as you like. Prices depend on how many of you travel, so ask us for a quote.
This journey joins two very different faces of Tibet. First the classic route: Lhasa's palaces and monasteries, turquoise Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse, Shigatse and the north face of Mount Everest at sunset and sunrise. Then, once you are well used to the altitude, you head north into Nagqu to a place very few foreign travellers ever see: Sepu Kangri (Sapu Sacred Mountain), the sacred pyramid-shaped mountain of Biru, with its glacier stretching into a quiet lake. The trip ends on the shore of Namtso, one of Tibet's three holy lakes.
Tour Highlights
✓Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Tibet Museum and the monk debates at Sera
✓Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Gyantse Kumbum and Tashilhunpo Monastery
✓Sunset and sunrise on the north face of Everest
✓The Gawu La pass panorama of five of the world's highest peaks
✓Sepu Kangri — the nearly 7,000 m pyramid peak, its glacier and sacred lake
✓Namtso Lake, one of Tibet's three holy lakes (optional)
Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650 m). Rest and acclimatise.
Day 2
Day 2: Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street.
Day 3
Day 3: Lhasa — Tibet Museum in the morning, for a full introduction to the land and the people of Tibet. Sera Monastery in the afternoon, to watch the monks debating.
Day 4
Day 4: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Gyantse (Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Stupa) → Shigatse. Overnight Shigatse.
Day 5
Day 5: Shigatse → Everest Base Camp area. Sunset on the north face of Everest. Overnight Everest area.
Day 6
Day 6: Sunrise over Everest. Drive back over the Gawu La pass, with a panorama of five of the world's highest peaks including Everest. Overnight Shigatse.
Day 7
Day 7: Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, then drive back to Lhasa.
Day 8
Day 8: Change to a 4WD vehicle. Lhasa → Nagqu → Biru County. Overnight Yangxiu town (simple guesthouse).
Day 9
Day 9: Sepu Kangri — the pyramid peak, the glacier and the sacred lake (about 4,700 m). Then drive south to Damxung. Overnight Damxung.
Day 10
Day 10: Namtso Lake (optional), then back to Lhasa.
Day 11
Day 11: Transfer to the airport or train station. Tour ends.
Want the full day-to-day detail — drive times, hotels and altitude for each stop? Contact us for a complete day-by-day explanation, built around your dates.
✓The Sepu Kangri lake is about 4,700 m and Everest Base Camp about 5,200 m. Please read our altitude sickness guide before you go.
✓Nagqu is colder than Lhasa, even in summer. Bring a warm down jacket, hat and gloves for the early mornings.
✓Day 8 is a long drive, and the road from Nagqu to Sepu Kangri is bumpy and dusty in places. Bring snacks, water, sunglasses and a scarf or mask against the dust.
✓Mobile signal is weak or missing in parts of Biru County. Tell your family you may be out of touch for a day.
✓We arrange every permit needed for this route — see our Tibet Permit Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour very difficult?
No trekking is needed — all sightseeing is by vehicle with short walks. The main challenge is altitude: Everest Base Camp is about 5,200 m and the Sepu Kangri lake about 4,700 m. That is why the tour starts with three days in Lhasa and reaches Sepu Kangri only near the end.
Why is the accommodation so simple at Biru?
Yangxiu town is far from the usual tourist routes, and only basic local guesthouses exist there. The tour is planned so that you spend just one night there. Everywhere else we use comfortable hotels.
Can I make the tour longer or shorter?
Yes. As a private tour, everything can be changed. For example, you can add an extra day near the lake, skip Namtso, or leave out Everest and visit only Sepu Kangri and Namtso. Tell us what you would like.
What are the roads like?
The road to Everest is fully paved. The last part of the route, from Nagqu city to Sepu Kangri, is different: some stretches are unpaved, bumpy and dusty. That is why we change to a 4WD vehicle for Days 8–9, with a driver who knows these roads well.
When is the best time for this tour?
May to June and September to October. July and August are the rainy months, when clouds often hide the peaks of Sepu Kangri.
Share this tour & find travel companions
Know someone who'd love this? Share it on social media to find group members — we'll coordinate the rest.
Book This Tour
Price on request
private tour · 11 days
✓ All permits included ✓ English-speaking guide ✓ Airport transfers ✓ All entrance fees ✓ Free planning help
