Day 2: Lhasa City Tour – Tibetan Culture Experience & Sera Monastery (No Scripture Debate on Sundays)

Tibetan Culture Experience
In Lhasa, immerse yourself in traditional Tibetan handcrafts. Our guide will take you to a cultural center where you’ll learn how the soothing Tibetan incense is made. You’ll get a chance to make your own incense—completely different from store-bought—and learn to write your name in Tibetan script and do woodblock printing. Your handcrafted incense and prints can be taken home as keepsakes from your journey.

Sera Monastery
One of the six main Gelugpa monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism, along with Drepung and Ganden monasteries, it forms the “Three Great Monasteries” of Lhasa. The monastery houses thousands of Buddha statues. The most famous, the “Hayagriva” statue, is housed in the protector deity hall of the Jikzha Assembly Hall. Locals often touch their heads to the base of the statue inside a small shrine for blessings.

A highlight is the monks’ scripture debate sessions—a unique and vigorous practice of Buddhist learning. Taking place around 3:00 PM daily (except Sundays and special occasions), monks engage in animated scripture debates using handclaps and rosary beads to challenge and respond to each other. Even if you can’t understand the content, the energy and faith are palpable.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Accommodation: Lhasa

Day 3: Lhasa City Tour – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street

Potala Palace (Tour limited to 1 hour)
Built by Songtsen Gampo, who dedicated half his life to unifying Tibet and the other half to building this glorious palace. As you wander through the golden halls, spiritual towers, and quiet corridors, the aroma of butter lamps fills the air—like stepping into a sacred dream filled with scriptures, statues, murals, and legends.

Potala Palace Ticketing Notice:

1. Tickets are booked using real-name reservations with a valid ID (ID card, household register, or passport). Once reserved, repeat bookings are not allowed for 7 days. Incorrect info may result in denied entry, and the travel agency holds no responsibility in such cases. Bring your original ID to enter.
2. Entry times are randomly assigned by the palace’s ticketing system. Please understand that your visit time cannot be chosen and tour order may change accordingly.
3. In peak seasons, access is limited. Agencies secure tickets through various channels, which may require:
• Splitting groups into smaller teams, possibly combined with strangers.
• Different groups visit at different times or days.
• Groups led by different guides into the palace.

Jokhang Temple (Tour approx. 1 hour)
Blending Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian styles, this temple is a masterpiece of Tibetan religious architecture. Pilgrims prostrate before its gates day and night, leaving body-length marks on the stone. Thousands of butter lamps illuminate the sacred space, a testament to time and faith.

Jokhang Temple Ticketing Notice:

1. Tickets require real-name reservation via the “Jokhang Temple Appointment” mini-app on WeChat from 7:00 to 23:59 the day before. Please follow our guide’s instructions to book.
2. As a religious site, access may be limited or closed during religious events. Thank you for your understanding.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Accommodation: Lhasa

Day 4: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Tso) → Karola Glacier → Shigatse

After departure, you will travel along the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley with a panoramic view of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. On Provincial Road 101, the Yarlung Tsangpo near Lhasa is the widest stretch of the river. Continuing along the Yarlung Tsangpo valley onto Provincial Road 307, you’ll reach a mid-mountain viewpoint overlooking the river, offering vast and magnificent scenery.

Gongbala Mountain
This is the best viewpoint to see the most beautiful side of Yamdrok Lake — the bluest sky and the bluest lake. Here, you’ll understand the saying, “Angel’s tears in the sky, Yamdrok’s blue on earth.” Many photographers say, “No matter how many times you photograph Yamdrok Lake, you can never fully capture its beauty.” Local Tibetans on Gongbala Mountain often offer yak photo sessions; please agree on the price beforehand to avoid any misunderstandings.

Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Tso)
One of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, Yamdrok is a freshwater lake with crystal-clear, sweet, and drinkable water resembling yak butter. The deep blue lake merges with distant snow-capped mountains, surrounded by colorful mountain ranges, distinctive Tibetan villages, and grazing cattle and sheep, creating a truly refreshing experience. Yamdrok Lake covers 638 square kilometers, sits at an elevation of 4,441 meters, and has a shoreline of 250 kilometers. It is also considered a turquoise necklace lost by a goddess. From the 4,950-meter summit of Gongbala Mountain, Yamdrok Lake looks like a sapphire embedded among the peaks, with its smooth, mirror-like surface reflecting the bright blue sky.

Karola Glacier
One of Tibet’s three major continental glaciers, Karola Glacier lies beneath one of Tibet’s four great peaks, Nyainqentanglha Mountain. The vast glacier extends from the misty mountaintop down to just a few hundred meters from the roadside. Although dust from the highway has caused the glacier to appear in black-and-white layered patterns, the upper part shines like a giant thangka (Tibetan Buddhist painting) on the mountain wall in sunlight. The glacier is well known as a filming location for movies such as Red River Valley, The Battle of Gyantse, and Cloud Water Ballad.

That night, you will stay overnight in Shigatse. In Tibetan, Shigatse means “Best Manor” and is known as one of “Tibet’s granaries.” It has historically been the political, religious, and cultural center of Central Tibet (Ü region) and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Shigatse has over 500 years of history and is currently Tibet’s second-largest city.

Friendly Reminders:

1. In addition to the Tibet Travel Permit, foreign travelers going to Everest together must apply for a travel certificate in Shigatse. The guide will adjust the itinerary accordingly; please cooperate with the guide’s arrangements.
2. Please understand if there are delays in processing travel certificates due to system issues or peak-season crowding.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Accommodation: Shigatse

Day 5: Shigatse → Tashilhunpo Monastery → Gyawu La Pass → Rongbuk Monastery → Mount Everest

Tashilhunpo Monastery
Also known as the “Auspicious Sumeru Monastery,” Tashilhunpo is the largest monastery in the Shigatse region. It ranks among the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, alongside Drepung, Sera, and Ganden in Lhasa, as well as Kumbum in Qinghai and Labrang in Gansu. It was founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, a disciple of Tsongkhapa and the First Dalai Lama. At its peak, Tashilhunpo Monastery housed over 3,000 rooms, more than 5,000 monks, over 50 affiliated temples, and 30 estates and pastures. Since the Fourth Panchen Lama, all successive Panchen Lamas have resided here. Today, the monastery includes 4 Buddhist colleges (Zhacang), 56 chapels, over 3,600 rooms, and about 800 monks, covering a total area of 300,000 square meters.

Mount Everest (Qomolangma)
Travel along the most scenic border highway, with views of majestic snow-capped mountain ranges. On the way, you’ll see distant views of the world’s third-highest peak, Kangchenjunga; the fourth-highest, Lhotse; and the snowy peak of Gyachung Kang. At 8,848 meters, Mount Everest is the highest peak on Earth and straddles the border between China and Nepal in the central Himalayas. Its summit is snow-covered year-round, with glaciers hanging like silver curtains—an awe-inspiring and extraordinary sight.

Everest Viewing Platform

Located at kilometer 22 on Everest Road in Tingri County, Shigatse, this viewing platform is a must-stop on the way to Everest Base Camp. Sitting at 5,200 meters above sea level, it offers a spectacular southward view of Everest and the surrounding 8,000-meter peaks.

Rongbuk Monastery
At an altitude of around 5,100 meters, Rongbuk Monastery is set in a cold and high-altitude region but offers stunning vistas. The new Everest Base Camp is located nearby. With a bit of luck, you might witness the rare “Everest banner cloud,” which drifts over the summit like a flame of life.

Friendly Reminder:

1. Accommodation is provided in shared tent dormitories at Everest Base Camp (8–15 people per tent, communal restrooms, basic conditions): the tents are generally clean and tidy but vastly different from urban hotels—please be understanding. From October to April, due to cold weather, the tents are removed from base camp, and travelers stay in local village guesthouses instead.
2. Food and lodging are basic on this day. The altitude is high and temperatures are low—please dress warmly and take precautions against altitude sickness. Summer night temperatures range between 0–8°C. It is advisable to bring thermal clothing or rent a down jacket at the base camp for warmth.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Accommodation: Everest Base Camp

Day 6: Mount Everest → Shishapangma Nature Reserve → Peiku Tso Lake → Gyirong Valley → Gyirong

Sunrise Over Mount Everest
In the early morning, be fully prepared with warm clothing—the temperature before sunrise at the mountain pass can drop below 0°C, with strong winds. Gaze upon Mount Everest as the first rays of dawn illuminate its snow-capped peak. The glaciers hang like icy curtains, and the silver summit stands tall in sacred silence.

Photographing the sunrise over Everest is a breathtaking experience (weather permitting).

As you journey across the grand, winding expanse of the Himalayas, you’ll cross Gyawu La Pass at 5,200 meters, leaving behind the grandeur of Everest.

Surrounding you are some of the highest peaks in the world:

• Mount Everest (8,848 m)
• Lhotse (8,516 m)
• Makalu (8,463 m)
• Cho Oyu (8,201 m)
• Labuche Kang (7,367 m)
• Shishapangma (8,012 m), the only 8,000-meter peak entirely within China’s borders

Peiku Tso Lake
En route, you’ll pass by Peiku Tso, a beautiful high-altitude lake encircled by mountains. While you may not get close to its shores, you can admire its distant blue beauty amidst the wild Himalayan landscape.

Gyirong Valley
Gyirong Valley stuns with its dramatic shift from snowy mountains to lush greenery in a narrow gorge. Here, different seasons seem to coexist—towering spruces and pines mingle with blooming wildflowers and dense forests.

Villages lie nestled among trees, and snow peaks peek through drifting clouds. This tranquil oasis is often hailed as a Shangri-La or paradise on Earth—no wonder Gyirong is known as the “back garden of Mount Everest.”

Friendly Reminder:
Viewing the Everest sunrise depends on weather and group schedule; thank you for your understanding.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Accommodation: Gyirong

Day 7: Gyirong → Gyirong Border Port – End of Tour

After breakfast, you will be driven from Gyirong Town to the Gyirong border port. The tour guide will accompany the group to the border, where your tour officially ends.

Please Note:
The tour guide is not permitted to cross the border. Travelers must pass through immigration and enter Nepal independently.

Friendly Reminder
Once you cross the border, transportation options such as Nepali buses and local 4×4 vehicles are available at the exit to take you to Kathmandu (at your own expense).

If needed, our agency can help with advance booking. Vehicles are chartered for groups of at least four people. Please consult the travel agency for exact pricing.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Accommodation: Not included