Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Everest Base Camp

6-Day Tibet Tour: Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Everest Base Camp

Tour Highlights

• Iconic Highland Landscapes & Sacred Lake Cross the famous Kamba La Pass to admire Yamdrok Yumtso, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes. Visit Karola Glacier, a massive continental glacier featured in the movie Red River Valley. Continue onward toward the Himalayas to reach Everest Base Camp.
• Everest Base Camp & 8,000m Peaks Viewpoint Stand at Gyatso La Pass (5,248 m), the gateway to Everest Reserve. At Gawu La Pass, witness four legendary 8,000-meter peaks lined up: Makalu, Lhotse, Mount Everest and Cho Oyu. Overnight at Everest Base Camp in an oxygen-supplied guesthouse.
• Tibetan Cultural Heritage in Lhasa Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple Square and Barkhor Street, the ancient pilgrimage circuit. Enjoy a complimentary Tibetan costume photoshoot with retouched photo included.
• Thoughtful Highland Travel Arrangements Pre-arranged Everest border permit, private transfers, included breakfast and group lunches. The first day is reserved for altitude acclimatization. Quick practical tips for overseas travelers are provided for your high-altitude adventure.

Pre-Trip Information

• Itinerary Confirmation: After booking, our customer service team will reconfirm your flight details and travel dates, and send you an official departure notice. Please make your own way to the airport on your scheduled travel date.
• Pre-Departure Contact: Your guide will contact you by 9:30 PM on Day 1 to confirm the next day’s itinerary.
• Airport Pickup: Private airport pickup service is available. Our driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
• Altitude Reminder: This tour reaches altitudes above 17,000 ft. Take sufficient rest, drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous exercise to adapt to the thin air.
• Border Permit: The required frontier permit for Everest Base Camp will be arranged by our driver before heading to Everest.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival in Lhasa

• Hotels: Minshan Shengruisi Hotel (Norbulingka / Tibet Museum Branch)
• Meals: Breakfast on your own · Lunch on your own · Dinner on your own
• 10:00 AM onwards: Free time & rest. As soon as you step off the plane, Lhasa greets you with stunning scenery. Distant mountains remain snow-capped under brilliant sunshine and deep blue sky. Winter chill fades away, and spring warmth wraps around you. After your driver picks you up and completes hotel check-in, take it easy and rest to acclimatize to the high altitude. Your guide will contact you by 9:30 PM to confirm the itinerary for Day 2.
• Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 2 | Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse

• Hotels: Vienna Hotel (Shigatse Zanglong Square Branch)
• Meals: Hotel breakfast · Group lunch · Dinner on your own
• 8:00 AM: Depart Lhasa and cross Kamba La Pass (Gangbala Mountain). The blue sky reflects on the lake surface; the holy lake displays shifting blue hues under sunlight.
• 11:00 AM: Visit Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Yumtso). One of Tibet’s three sacred lakes. Its branching shape resembles coral, giving it the Tibetan name “the Coral Lake Above”. The tranquil water glows in vivid turquoise, like a sapphire embedded on the southern plateau.Note: Complimentary lakeside afternoon tea; may be replaced with sweet tea and snacks subject to weather conditions.
• 2:00 PM: Explore Karola Glacier. One of Tibet’s three major continental glaciers and the eastern source of the Nyang Chu River. It was also a filming site for the movie Red River Valley. The huge glacier flows down from misty mountain summits to within hundreds of meters of the road, shimmering in deep blue.
• 3:00 PM: Continue driving to Shigatse and check into your hotel.
• Overnight in Shigatse.

Day 3 | Shigatse → Everest Base Camp

• Hotels: Shanye View Oxygen-Enriched Guesthouse
• Meals: Hotel breakfast · Group lunch · Everest hot pot dinner
• 8:00 AM: Set off. Before departure, our driver will help all guests apply for the required frontier permit, then continue toward Everest.
• 10:00 AM: Reach Gyatso La Pass (5,248 m / 17,218 ft). Known as the gateway to Tingri and the entrance to Everest National Nature Reserve. Countless colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind against sparse highland vegetation and rugged mountain ranges.
• 1:00 PM: Arrive at Everest Base Camp. One of the best viewpoints to photograph Mount Everest and the Chinese-side base camp for mountaineering expeditions. Stay overnight in an oxygen-supplied guesthouse with private bathroom to ease altitude discomfort.Note: Accommodation at Everest Base Camp is simple and basic; please adjust your expectations accordingly.
• Overnight at Everest Base Camp.

Day 4 | Everest Base Camp → Gawu La Pass → Shigatse → Lhasa

• Hotels: Nuoga View Grand Hotel (Zaki Temple Branch)
• Meals: Hotel breakfast · Group lunch · Dinner on your own
• 8:00 AM: Drive back toward Shigatse, then return to Lhasa.Note: Two return options (road or train) are available from Shigatse to Lhasa. Our driver will select the best option based on real-time conditions.
• 10:00 AM: Stop at Gawu La Pass. A scenic mountain pass and viewing platform where four 8,000-meter peaks line up from left to right: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, and Cho Oyu.
• Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 5 | Lhasa: Potala Palace → Jokhang Square → Barkhor Street

• Hotels: Nuoga View Grand Hotel (Zaki Temple Branch)
• Meals: Hotel breakfast · Lunch on your own · Dinner on your own
• 9:00 AM: Visit the Potala Palace. It houses golden stupas of successive Dalai Lamas, plus countless precious murals, thangka paintings and Buddha statues, representing the essence of Tibetan culture.Note: Includes complimentary Tibetan costume photoshoot: 1 retouched photo + 10 raw images with light makeup. This is a free included activity; no refund if unused.
• 1:00 PM: Explore Jokhang Temple Square (self-guided). The square is lined with shops, local stalls and restaurants. The aroma of sweet tea fills the air, creating a lively atmosphere all day long.
• 2:00 PM: Wander Barkhor Street (self-guided). Located in old Lhasa, this famous pilgrimage circuit and commercial district preserves the ancient city’s traditional architecture and lifestyle. Originally a kora (pilgrimage path) encircling Jokhang Temple, Tibetans call it the “Sacred Path”.
• 3:00 PM: Visit Yaowangshan (Medicine King Hill) Viewpoint (self-guided). Directly facing the Potala Palace, this is the classic photography spot, especially from the mid-slope. Photographers often gather here at dawn to capture the first sunlight hitting the palace.
• Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 6 | Departure from Lhasa

• Meals: Hotel breakfast · Lunch on your own · Dinner on your own
• 10:00 AM onwards: Free time at leisure. A dedicated transfer to the airport will be arranged according to your flight schedule. Board your flight home and conclude your Tibet journey.

Quick tips for American travelers: This tour reaches altitudes above 17,000 ft. Prioritize rest, drink plenty of water and keep a slow pace on Day 1. The frontier permit required for Everest will be arranged by our driver. “Meal on your own” means you select and pay for that meal independently.