This is our Lhasa to Lhasa option for a tour to the Everest Base Camp with you walking from Rongbuk Gompa and back, hence a 12 km hike to the Everest Base Camp and back is required!

The itinerary packs in all the highlights of Tibet, including the grand panorama of the principal chain of the Himalayas, with the north face of Everest as its focal point, the summit almost ready to touch. We begin with a side-trip to Tsedang and the Yarlung Tsangpo valley, the cradle of the Tibetan civilization. On the way we ferry across the Tsangpo River to visit Samye, the oldest monastery to the Red Hat School. Then we continue on to Yongbulakhang Fortress of Tibetan kings, overlooking a fertile agricultural valley, and visit the royal tombs from the 7th century. From here we continue to Lhasa for two days of sightseeing, and then we  proceed on the southern route past Yamdroktso, the turquoise lake, to Gyantse, Shigatse on to Everest and eventually to the Tibet-Nepal border and Kathmandu. This is the one of the most popular Tibet-traverse tours for the past 20 years.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Gonggar airport, transfer to Lhasa; rest; Hotel Shangbala or similar 3*

Day2 Potala Palace, visit home of a Tibetan family; around Barkhor Barzaar; Hotel Shangbala or similar 3*

Day 3 Norbulinka, Tibet Museum, Hotel Shangbala or similar 3*

Day 4 Lhasa-Shigatse-Tashilhumpo; hike around Tashilhumpo, the Outer Circuit. Shengkang H 3* or similar.

Day 5 Shigatse-Rongbuk, full day drive; rest when you arrive, just stroll around the gompa, you will hike to the Everest Base Camp the next day; Gompa Guesthouse;

Day6 After breakfast, hike to the Everest Base Camp, about 12 km one way; look around, rest a bit and then hike back to Rongbuk; then, drive to Tingri; Tingri Everest Hotel

Day 7, Tingri-Sakya-Shigatse, another full day; hike around Sakya! Shengkang H or similar.

Day 8, Shigatse-Gyangtse-Palkhor, Kunbum Pagoda; hike around Palkhor etc. with great views of Gyantse from above! Jianzhang Hotel.

Day 9 Gyangtse-Langgartse - Lake Yamdrok - the Turquoise Lake - hike around Khamba La, great views of the lake; arrive in Lhasa, Shangbala H or similar.

Day 10 Lhasa-Samye-Tsedang, Snow-Pegeon H or similar.

Day 11 Yumbulukhang Palace, Trandrak Monastery; Tombs of Tibetan Kings, little hiking all throughout the day; Snow-Pegeon H or similar.

Day 12 Departure