12 Days Lhasa · Nyingchi · Everest · Namtso Small Group Tour
Fixed dates, guaranteed to run
The group meets in Lhasa on the date you choose below and travels with one Tibetan guide and one vehicle, never more than 8 people. Holding a seat is free; you pay the US$100 permit fee only when you confirm, 30 days before departure. The same tour also runs as a private trip on your own dates.
Hold a seat — no deposit →2027 departure dates
Each date is Day 1, the day the group meets. Fly in from Chengdu that day, or board the train in Xining the day before. Click a date to hold a seat on it.
farewell 22 April 2027 15 May 2027Mid-May Departure
farewell 27 May 2027 3 Jul 2027July Departure
farewell 15 July 2027 25 Sep 2027Late September Departure
farewell 7 October 2027
Overview
Our longest classic tour: the forests and lakes of Nyingchi, the Potala, the Jokhang and the Sera debate in Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier, a night at Everest Base Camp, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse — and then one more day, north to Namtso, the heavenly lake under the Nyenchen Tanglha range.
With Yamdrok and Namtso you see two of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the altitude rises gradually all the way, from Nyingchi up to Everest and finally Namtso at 4,718 m, by which time you are well acclimatised.
Tour highlights
- ✓Two of Tibet's three holy lakes: Yamdrok and Namtso
- ✓A night at Everest Base Camp (5,200 m) and sunrise on the north face
- ✓Nyingchi: Kadinggou gorge, the Sejila Pass, Lulang forest and Basumtso Lake
- ✓Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, the Sera monk debate and a Tibetan dinner in Lhasa
- ✓Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse
- ✓Altitude that rises step by step over twelve days
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Lhasa — airport pick-up
Your guide meets you at the airport or railway station and drives you to the hotel. The rest of the day is for rest. Lhasa hotel.
Meals: none
Day 2Lhasa → Kadinggou → Nyingchi
East on the expressway towards Nyingchi, stopping at the Kadinggou gorge, deep and green with old trees, bamboo and falling water. On to Nyingchi for the night.
Meals: breakfast
Day 3Nyingchi → Sejila Pass → Lulang Forest → Basumtso Lake
Over the Sejila Pass, with a view of Namcha Barwa if the weather allows, a walk in the Lulang forest and the local stone-pot chicken for lunch, then on to Basumtso Lake for the night.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 4Basumtso → Tsodzong Temple → Jieba village → Lhasa
The morning at Basumtso: the old Tsodzong temple on its island and the village of Jieba, the best viewpoint over the lake and the twin snow peaks behind. Back to Lhasa in the afternoon. Lhasa hotel.
Meals: breakfast
Day 5Lhasa culture day — traditional handicraft centre, Sera Monastery
A morning at the Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Centre, trying incense-making, calligraphy and block printing. After lunch, the monks' debate at Sera Monastery (3–5 pm, not on Sundays). Lhasa hotel.
Meals: breakfast
Day 6Lhasa city day — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan dinner
The Potala Palace on a timed ticket, the Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit. A Tibetan-style dinner with the group in the evening. Lhasa hotel.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 7Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse
Over the Gampala Pass for the view of turquoise Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, the Karola Glacier beside the road, and on to Shigatse for the night.
Meals: breakfast
Day 8Shigatse → Gyawula Pass → Rongbuk Monastery → Everest Base Camp
West over the Gyawula Pass and its five-peak view to Rongbuk Monastery, then Everest Base Camp (5,200 m) for the night, the north face above you.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Day 9Everest → Gyatso La Pass → Shigatse
Sunrise on Everest, then the drive back over the Gyatso La Pass to Shigatse for the night.
Meals: breakfast
Day 10Shigatse → Tashilhunpo Monastery → Lhasa
The morning at Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama and the seat of the Panchen Lamas since, with the 26-metre gilded statue of the future Buddha, the tombs of past Panchen Lamas and the courtyards where the monks live and study. Then back to Lhasa by tourist bus or train. Lhasa hotel.
Meals: breakfast
Day 11Lhasa → Namtso Lake → Lhasa
A day trip north to Namtso (4,718 m), one of the three holy lakes of Tibet: turquoise water to the horizon with the snow peaks of the Nyenchen Tanglha range rising straight from the far shore. Back to Lhasa in the evening by the expressway. Lhasa hotel.
Meals: breakfast
Day 12Lhasa departure
Free time until your guide takes you to the airport or railway station.
Meals: breakfast
What's included
✓ Tibet Travel Permit and all other permits for the route
✓ English-speaking Tibetan guide
✓ Tourist vehicle with driver for the whole tour
✓ 11 nights: Lhasa 6, Nyingchi 1, Basumtso 1, Shigatse 2, Everest 1, twin share, with breakfast
✓ Entrance fees for every sight in the itinerary
✓ Lhasa airport or railway station pick-up and see-off
✓ Oxygen in the vehicle and an oxygen canister per person; travel accident insurance
✓ Tibetan dinner on Day 6 and dinner at Everest; drinking water daily
✗ Flights or trains to and from Lhasa
✗ Lunches and dinners not listed
✗ Single room supplement (free for 5 rooms or 10+ travellers)
✗ Tips for the guide and driver
✗ Personal expenses and anything not listed
Questions travellers ask
How many people are in the group, and who are they?
Between 3 and 8 travellers, usually from several countries, with one Tibetan guide and driver for the whole tour. The same dates and prices are offered on our sister site tibettravel.com, run by the same office in Lhasa, so guests from both sites travel together in one group.
Which permits do I need, and are they included?
Three, all included and all arranged by us: the Tibet Travel Permit that every foreign visitor needs, the Alien's Travel Permit for the places outside Lhasa, and the Border Defence Permit for the Everest area. You only send us your passport and China visa details; allow at least 15 days, more in high season.
Is this a climb? How fit do I need to be?
It is not a climb. Everest Base Camp is reached by vehicle, with a short flat walk of about 20 minutes at the end, so no trekking fitness or equipment is needed. What you need is a normal tolerance of altitude: Lhasa is at 3,650 m and the Everest days go above 5,000 m. Three nights in Lhasa first give your body time to adjust. Anyone with a heart or lung condition, or a history of serious altitude sickness, should check with a doctor before booking.
When is the best time to see Everest?
Mid-May to the end of June and the autumn are the clearest: the summit is visible from base camp on most days. July and August are the rainy months and Everest is often in cloud. In winter the days are bright but the tent camp is closed and the road can be blocked by snow in some years, so winter Everest is only for guests who accept a change of plan.
Is Namtso open all year?
No. Snow closes the Namtso road in winter, which is why this tour runs from April to early October. On the dates listed here the lake is open; in winter we suggest the 11-day tour without Namtso instead.
How do I get to Lhasa for Day 1?
Most guests fly in from Chengdu, which has more flights to Lhasa than any other city; we book that flight for you together with the permit, because the airline needs the permit to issue the ticket. If you prefer the train, board in Xining the day before — the journey takes about 20–21 hours — and we meet you at Lhasa Railway Station. Your guide meets you at arrivals with a name board.
What if my dates do not match a departure exactly?
If you are a day or two early or late, you can join the group for the days that overlap and we arrange a guide and vehicle privately for the days you miss, so you still see everything. If no date fits, the whole tour runs as a private trip on your own dates; ask us for a quote.
Do I pay a deposit to hold a seat?
No. Holding a seat is free. To confirm it, you pay the US$100 permit fee at least 30 days before departure, which starts your Tibet Travel Permit; the permit is included in the price. The rest is paid later, as explained on our how-to-book page.