Special Tibet Encounter Tour (9 DAY)
One of our most popular trips is the Tibet Encounter Tour where you make a journey overland taking the road from Lhasa to Kathmandu (or vice versa) passing the major cities in Tibet. On the way we go through high mountain passes, visit many interesting places and experience the local inhabitants and their culture.
Country
Tibet
Duration
9 Days
Difficulty
Moderate
Trip Type
Tour
Max Altitude
5200m/17060ft
Best Season
Mar-Dec
Accomodation
Hotel, Lodge and Camping twin sharing bed basis during the trip
Meals
Full board Meals ( Lunch , Dinner and Breakfast) with cup of hot drinks during the trip.
Start/End Point
Kathmandu
Highlights & Overview
Scenic Himalayan flight from Kathmandu to LhasaExplore UNESCO World Heritage Sites in LhasaVisit turquoise Yamdrok LakeDiscover Gyantse’s Kumbum StupaVisit Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in ShigatseJourney across the Tibetan PlateauExcursion to Everest Base Camp (North Side)Overland return from Tibet to Nepal
The 9-day Lhasa–Everest Base Camp–Kathmandu Overland Tour offers an extraordinary blend of Tibetan culture, spirituality, and high Himalayan adventure. Starting with a scenic flight to Lhasa, the journey explores Tibet’s most sacred landmarks including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, and Drepung monasteries. Traveling westward, the route passes the stunning Yamdrok Lake, historic Gyantse, and religious city of Shigatse before reaching the remote Everest region. A highlight of the trip is the visit to Everest Base Camp from the Tibetan side, offering close-up views of the world’s highest peak. The journey concludes with a scenic overland drive back to Kathmandu, making this tour ideal for travelers seeking culture, scenery, and adventure in one unforgettable experience.
Short Itinerary
- Day 1: Fly Kathmandu 1300m/4264ft to Lhasa 3600m/11811ft and Hotel Transfer
- Day 2: Lhasa Sightseeing – Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka Palace 3750m/12303ft
- Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing – Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar 3600m/11811ft
- Day 4: Drive Lhasa 3600m/11811ft to Gyantse 3950m/12959ft via Yamdrok Lake 4441m/14570ft
- Day 5: Drive Gyantse 3950m/12959ft to Shigatse 3840m/12598ft – Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
- Day 6: Drive Shigatse 3840m/12598ft to Shegar 4300m/14107ft
- Day 7: Drive Shegar 4300m/14107ft to Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp 5200m/17060ft
- Day 8: Drive Rongbuk 5200m/17060ft to Nyalam 3750m/12303ft
- Day 9: Drive Nyalam 3750m/12303ft to Friendship Bridge 1800m/5906ft and Kathmandu 1300m/4264ft
Price Includes
Tour/trekking GuideTibet PermitsRoad permitsAccommodation on Bed and Breakfast BasisTransportation during the tripPrice Doesn't Include
FlightsGuide TipsDriver and helpersChina VisaAdditional Services if requirePersonal EquipmentsOther services if requireSpecial Tibet Encounter Tour (9 DAY) Itinerary
Day 1: Fly Kathmandu 1300m/4264ft to Lhasa 3600m/11811ft and Hotel Transfer
You will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your spectacular Himalayan flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. After landing at Gonggar Airport, meet our Tibetan representative and enjoy a scenic drive to Lhasa city along the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley. The rest of the day is reserved for rest and acclimatization, allowing your body to adjust to the altitude. Overnight stay at a hotel in Lhasa.
Max Altitude
3600m/11811ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 2: Lhasa Sightseeing – Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka Palace 3750m/12303ft
Today you explore the cultural and political heart of Tibet. Visit the iconic Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Continue to Sera Monastery, famous for its lively monk debate sessions. In the afternoon, visit Norbulingka Palace, the Dalai Lama’s former summer residence set in beautiful gardens. Overnight stay in Lhasa.
Max Altitude
3750m/12303ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing – Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar 3600m/11811ft
Begin the day at Drepung Monastery, once the largest monastery in the world and an important center of Gelugpa Buddhism. Later, visit the sacred Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet and a major pilgrimage destination. End the day with a walk around Barkhor Bazaar, where pilgrims and traders circle the temple in a vibrant display of Tibetan culture. Overnight stay in Lhasa.
Max Altitude
3600m/11811ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 4: Drive Lhasa 3600m/11811ft to Gyantse 3950m/12959ft via Yamdrok Lake 4441m/14570ft
Depart Lhasa and drive westward across the Tibetan Plateau. En route, stop at the breathtaking Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three most sacred lakes, known for its striking turquoise color. Continue to Gyantse and visit Palchor Chode Monastery and the famous Kumbum Stupa, an architectural masterpiece with multiple chapels and murals. Overnight stay at a hotel in Gyantse.
Max Altitude
4441m/14570ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 5: Drive Gyantse 3950m/12959ft to Shigatse 3840m/12598ft – Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
After breakfast, drive to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. Visit Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama and one of Tibet’s most important religious centers. Later, explore the local market to experience daily Tibetan life. Overnight stay at a hotel in Shigatse.
Max Altitude
3950m/12959ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 6: Drive Shigatse 3840m/12598ft to Shegar 4300m/14107ft
Today’s drive takes you deeper into the vast Tibetan Plateau toward Shegar (Xegar). Enjoy wide open landscapes, nomadic settlements, and distant Himalayan peaks along the route. Shegar serves as a gateway to the Everest region. Overnight stay at hotel in Shegar or Lhatse.
Max Altitude
4300m/14107ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 7: Drive Shegar 4300m/14107ft to Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp 5200m/17060ft
Drive to Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world, located near the north face of Mount Everest. Visit the monastery and continue for an excursion to Everest Base Camp (North Side), offering spectacular views of Mount Everest (8848.86m). Enjoy the dramatic Himalayan scenery and the unforgettable presence of the world’s highest mountain. Overnight stay at a guesthouse or lodge in Rongbuk.
Max Altitude
5200m/17060ft
Accomodation
Lodge / Guesthouse
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 8: Drive Rongbuk 5200m/17060ft to Nyalam 3750m/12303ft
After breakfast, begin the scenic descent from the Everest region to Nyalam. The drive offers changing landscapes, from high-altitude plains to forested valleys closer to the Nepal border. Overnight stay at a hotel or guesthouse in Nyalam.
Max Altitude
3750m/12303ft
Accomodation
Hotel / Guesthouse
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 9: Drive Nyalam 3750m/12303ft to Friendship Bridge 1800m/5906ft and Kathmandu 1300m/4264ft
Drive to the Friendship Bridge, marking the border between Tibet and Nepal. After completing immigration and customs formalities, continue driving through the scenic hills of Nepal back to Kathmandu. Arrival in Kathmandu marks the end of your unforgettable Tibet and Everest journey.
Max Altitude
1800m/5906ft
Accomodation
Hotel
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Packing Lists
Cloathing
Heavy down jacket for extreme coldInsulated mid-layer and fleeceWaterproof shell jacket and pantsThermal base layersTrekking pants and shirtsWarm hat, sun hat, neck gaiterInsulated gloves and liner glovesWool trekking socksGears
High-quality trekking bootsCamp shoes or sandalsTrekking polesDaypack with rain coverCold-rated sleeping bagPersonal Items
Sunglasses with high UV protectionSunscreen SPF 50+ and lip balmPersonal medications and altitude medicineToiletries and quick-dry towelOther Items You Can Bring
Passport and Tibet permitsHeadlamp with spare batteriesCamera and power bankRefillable water bottles or purifierEnergy snacks and electrolytes