An overland odyssey across the Tibetan Plateau from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp — eight days of monastery courtyards, high-altitude passes draped in prayer flags, and the raw immensity of the world’s highest landscape, with acclimatization days woven into the rhythm.
The Route
Days 1–2: Lhasa (3,650 m). Arrive by air or rail and spend two acclimatization days in the Tibetan capital. Visit the Potala Palace — the soaring winter residence of the Dalai Lamas — and the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Walk the Barkhor kora alongside pilgrims prostrating on the flagstones, and browse the market stalls for turquoise jewelry, yak-butter candles, and hand-printed scriptures. Evenings at leisure in a traditional Tibetan guesthouse with rooftop views of the palace.
Day 3: Lhasa to Gyantse (4,040 m). Drive southwest over the Kamba La pass (4,790 m) with its heart-stopping first view of Yamdrok Lake — a turquoise crescent rimmed by snowcapped peaks. Continue to Gyantse and visit the Pelkor Chode Monastery and its unique Kumbum stupa, whose tiered chapels contain thousands of painted murals.
Day 4: Gyantse to Shigatse (3,840 m). A short drive through the fertile Nyang Chu valley brings you to Tibet’s second city. The Tashilhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, houses a twenty-six-meter gilded Maitreya Buddha — the largest copper statue in the world. Spend the afternoon in the monastery’s debate courtyard, watching monks sharpen their dialectical skills with theatrical claps and stamps.
Day 5: Acclimatization day in Shigatse. A rest day to let your body adjust before the highest sections of the route. Optional visit to the Shigatse old town market or a walk along the Tsangpo River.
Days 6–7: Shigatse to Everest Base Camp (5,200 m). Drive over three passes above 5,000 meters, each one revealing a wider sweep of the Himalayan crest. Arrive at Rongbuk Monastery — the highest monastery on earth — and continue to Everest Base Camp for the raw, unmediated encounter with Chomolungma. Watch the mountain’s north face turn from white to gold to pink as the sun sets. Overnight in a heated tent camp with views that no hotel can replicate.
Day 8: Return to Lhasa or onward. Begin the journey back, or connect to an overland extension toward the Nepal border at Zhangmu for a cross-border adventure into Kathmandu.
What’s Included
- Tibet Travel Permit, Alien Travel Permit, and military permit for Everest region
- Seven nights’ accommodation — Lhasa guesthouse, Gyantse hotel, Shigatse hotel, Rongbuk tent camp
- Private Land Cruiser with experienced Tibetan driver
- Licensed Tibetan guide (English-speaking) throughout
- All monastery and national park entrance fees
- Daily breakfast plus two traditional Tibetan dinners
- Portable oxygen supply and first-aid kit in vehicle
Altitude is not an obstacle — it is the price of admission to the most luminous landscape on earth.
This itinerary requires a reasonable level of fitness due to altitudes above 5,000 meters. We build in dedicated acclimatization days and carry supplemental oxygen, but travelers with serious cardiac or respiratory conditions should consult a physician before booking. Group departures run April through October; private departures are available with a minimum of four travelers. Tibet permits require at least twenty days’ advance booking — plan early.