15-Day Lhasa EBC Kailash Guge Namtso Tour Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (Airport / Train Station Pick-up & Hotel Check-in)
Distance: 70 km (1 hr driving) from Lhasa Gonggar Airport; 20 km (30 min driving) from Lhasa Railway Station | Meals: Self-arranged | Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa (3,650m)
Tashi Delek! Welcome to Lhasa, the sacred capital of Tibet. Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your Tibetan guide and driver will greet you at the exit holding a sign with your name and present you with a traditional white Hada (ceremonial scarf). Enjoy a scenic transfer into downtown Lhasa along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. After check-in, rest and take time to acclimatize gently to the high altitude.
CHIBET Travel Advice:
- Complimentary Pick-up: Airport transfers (08:00–22:00); Train station transfers (24 hours).
- Acclimatization: Mild symptoms like mild headache or fatigue are normal. Rest well, drink plenty of water, and avoid strenuous exercise, smoking, alcohol, or hot showers during your first 2 days.
Day 2: Lhasa Cultural Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
Distance: 4 km | Meals: Breakfast, Tibetan Sweet Tea, Tibetan Welcome Dinner | Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa
Immerse yourself in the living spiritual history and cultural treasures of the holy city of Lhasa.
Morning: Potala Palace
Step into the magnificent Potala Palace, towering over Lhasa as an architectural marvel and symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. Tour the White Palace, former administrative center and residence of the Dalai Lamas, and the Red Palace, filled with gilded burial stupas, ancient sutras, and sacred Buddha chapels.
Afternoon: Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
Visit Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heartland of Tibet, housing the sacred life-sized statue of 12-year-old Jowo Shakyamuni Buddha. Step outside onto Barkhor Street to walk alongside pilgrims performing their daily devotional kora around the temple complex.
Authentic Local Experiences:
- Tibetan Sweet Tea Time: Relax at a traditional local teahouse, sipping sweet tea while experiencing daily local life in Lhasa.
- Traditional Costume Photoshoot: Wear authentic Tibetan attire with traditional hair styling, guided by a professional photographer through Barkhor’s historic alleys.
Evening: Welcome Dinner
Gather for an authentic Tibetan Welcome Feast, enjoying regional cuisine and local hospitality.
CHIBET Travel Notice: Potala Palace daily visitation is strictly controlled by daily time slots and government quotas.
Day 3: Lhasa to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake & Karola Glacier
Distance: 360 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Shigatse (3,840m)
Depart Lhasa and travel across scenic high-altitude passes toward Tibet’s second-largest city.
Morning: Gampala Pass & Yamdrok Lake
Ascend to Gampala Pass (4,900m) for a breathtaking panorama of Yamdrok Lake, whose turquoise waters twist through snow-capped mountain valleys.
Midday: Karola Glacier
Continue along the road to the spectacular Karola Glacier, where towering ice cliffs hang directly over the highway. Drive onward through Gyantse to Shigatse and check into your hotel.
CHIBET Travel Advice: Long driving day on high-altitude roads. Move slowly, stay hydrated, and follow your guide’s acclimatization guidelines.
Day 4: Shigatse to Everest Base Camp via Gyatso La & Gyawu La Pass
Distance: 340 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast, Tibetan Yak Hotpot | Accommodation: EBC Tent Guesthouse / Vienna International Hotel / Rongbuk Monastery Hotel (5,200m)
Drive into the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve for an unforgettable night at the foot of the world’s highest peak.
Morning: High Mountain Passes
Cross Gyatso La Pass (5,280m) for your first distant glimpse of Everest’s summit. Enter the reserve and ascend the winding roads to Gyawu La Pass (5,198m), enjoying a world-class panorama of five 8,000-meter Himalayan giants: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma.
Afternoon & Evening: EBC Sunset & Starlight
Drive along the zigzag mountain highway to Everest Base Camp (5,200m). Stand face-to-face with the immense North Face of Mount Everest, watching the setting sun paint the peak golden before admiring the star-filled Milky Way after nightfall.
Evening Dining: Tibetan Yak Hotpot
Enjoy a warm, steaming Tibetan Yak Meat Hotpot inside a communal heated tent room.
Accommodation Options at Everest:
- EBC Tent Guesthouse: Dormitory/twin-bed tent rooms with central heating stove (public toilets outside). Located directly at Base Camp for sunset and sunrise views.
- Vienna International Hotel (Tingri): Modern hotel amenities located in Tingri town (1.5–2 hours from EBC); requires departing Base Camp before nightfall.
- Rongbuk Monastery Hotel Upgrade: Private rooms beside historic Rongbuk Monastery directly facing Everest (seasonal price surcharges apply).
CHIBET Travel Notice: Mount Everest visibility is subject to mountain weather. Night temperatures drop well below freezing year-round—bring heavy winter clothing in your daypack.
Day 5: Everest Base Camp to Saga via Mt. Shishapangma & Pelkhu Tso Lake
Distance: 370 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Saga (4,500m)
Morning: Everest Sunrise
Wake up early at Everest Base Camp to watch the golden morning light touch the summit of Mount Everest before heading westward into remote landscapes.
Afternoon: Mt. Shishapangma & Pelkhu Tso Lake
Drive past Mount Shishapangma (8,027m), the only 8,000m peak located entirely within Tibet. Stop at Pelkhu Tso Lake (4,591m) to admire its turquoise waters reflecting the surrounding glaciers. Arrive in Saga by evening.
CHIBET Travel Notice: Everest sunrise is weather-dependent and accessible only from EBC Tent Guesthouse or Rongbuk Hotel.
Day 6: Saga to Darchen: G219 Highway, Maquan River Wetland & Lake Rakshastal
Distance: 490 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Darchen (4,575m)
Morning: Cruising National Highway G219
Drive along the high-altitude G219 Highway through Zhongba County, crossing the sprawling Maquan River Wetland, the pristine headwater region of the Yarlung Tsangpo River.
Afternoon: Lake Rakshastal (Ghost Lake)
Approach the sacred domain of Mount Kailash and stop at Lake Rakshastal (“Ghost Lake”). Its dark blue waters and stark, barren backdrop offer a dramatic contrast to neighboring Lake Mansarovar.
Evening: Base of Mount Kailash
Arrive in Darchen, the town located at the foot of Mount Kailash and the starting point for the 3-day trek.
CHIBET Travel Notice: Inform your guide today if you require a porter or pack animal for the Mount Kailash trek (available at additional cost).
Day 7: Mount Kailash Trek Day 1: Darchen to Dirapuk Monastery
Distance: 6 km eco-bus; 13 km trekking | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Dirapuk Monastery Guesthouse (Shared Dormitory, 5,080m)
Begin the sacred 52 km Mount Kailash Kora alongside local pilgrims and international trekkers.
Sacred Trail Stops:
- Eco-bus to Sarshung Valley: Ride to the official trailhead in Lha Chu Valley.
- Tarboche & Yam Dwar: Pass Tarboche Prayer Flag Square and walk through Yam Dwar (Two-Legged Stupa), the symbolic entrance pass to the sacred path.
- Choku Monastery: View the ancient cliffside monastery across the river.
Arrive at Dirapuk Monastery by late afternoon, positioned directly across from the sheer North Face of Mount Kailash. Enjoy views of the sunset over the icy peak.
Day 8: Mount Kailash Trek Day 2: Dirapuk Monastery to Zutulpuk Monastery via Dolma La Pass
Distance: 22 km trekking | Meals: Self-arranged | Accommodation: Zutulpuk Monastery Guesthouse (Shared Dormitory, 4,820m)
The most demanding and spiritually revered day of the Kailash circumambulation.
Morning: Ascent to Dolma La Pass
Climb steadily upward to cross Dolma La Pass (5,630m), the highest elevation of the entire journey, draped in thousands of colorful fluttering prayer flags.
Descent: Gauri Kund & Glaciers
Descend carefully past the emerald waters of Gauri Kund (Lake of Compassion) and glacier fields into the eastern valley.
Afternoon: Zutulpuk Monastery
Follow the valley floor down to Zutulpuk Monastery, site of saint Milarepa’s famous meditation cave.
Day 9: Mount Kailash Trek Day 3: Zutulpuk Trek to Darchen, Drive to Zanda
Distance: 6.5 km trekking; 4.5 km eco-bus to Darchen; 227 km (4 hrs driving) to Zanda | Meals: Self-arranged | Accommodation: Hotel in Zanda (3,700m)
Trek the final gentle 6.5 km from Zutulpuk to Zongto, then ride the eco-bus back to Darchen to complete your 52 km Kailash Kora.
Rejoin your vehicle in Darchen and drive westward through high passes toward Zanda County, descending into the canyon country of Ngari.
Day 10: Zanda to Darchen: Zanda Earth Forest & Guge Kingdom Ruins
Distance: 270 km (5 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Darchen
Morning: Zanda Earth Forest
Explore the vast Zanda Earth Forest, an otherworldly geological landscape created by millions of years of wind and water erosion across ancient lake beds.
Afternoon: Guge Kingdom Ruins
Visit the magnificent Guge Kingdom Ruins at Tsaparang. Founded in the 10th century, this hill citadel once ruled western Tibet for 700 years. Climb through rock-cut tunnels, ancient chapels, and royal chambers to admire well-preserved Buddhist murals, statues, and historical artifacts.
Evening: Return to Darchen
Drive back to Darchen in the evening to rest and prepare for the return journey east.
Day 11: Darchen to Saga via Lake Mansarovar & Gongzhucuo Lake
Distance: 490 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Saga
Depart Darchen and stop at holy Lake Mansarovar (4,588m) to appreciate its crystal waters against the background of Mount Kailash and Mt. Gurla Mandhata. Drive eastward across Ngari Plateau, making a scenic pause at Gongzhucuo Lake before arriving in Saga.
Day 12: Saga to Shigatse via Pelkhu Tso Lake
Distance: 580 km (9 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Shigatse
Drive along the southern highway through the Mount Everest Nature Reserve. Enjoy a second look at Pelkhu Tso Lake and the reflection of Mt. Shishapangma across its quiet waters. Continue driving through rolling plateau landscapes back to Shigatse.
Day 13: Shigatse to Baingoin: Entering Northern Tibet (Changtang) & Serling Tso
Distance: 490 km (7 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Baingoin (4,700m)
Turn northward off the main highway to enter the vast, wilderness grasslands of Northern Tibet (Changtang Plateau).
Morning: Jiegangri Sacred Mountain
Pass Jiegangri Sacred Mountain, a revered peak rising above the high pastoral plains.
Afternoon: Serling Tso (Selin Co)
Reach Serling Tso (4,530m), the largest saltwater lake in Tibet (spanning over 2,300 sq km). Drive along its blue shores while looking for high-altitude wildlife, including Tibetan antelopes, kiangs (wild asses), and black-necked cranes. Arrive in Baingoin by evening.
Day 14: Baingoin to Lhasa via Namtso Lake & Nagenla Pass
Distance: 435 km (6 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa
Morning: Namtso Lake & Tashi Peninsula
Visit Namtso Lake (4,718m), one of Tibet’s Three Sacred Lakes. Explore the rock formations and prayer flag trails of Tashi Peninsula while gazing across blue waters toward the snow-draped Nyenchen Tanglha mountain range.
Afternoon: Nagenla Pass & Return to Lhasa
Drive across Nagenla Pass (5,190m) for a grand panoramic view of Namtso Lake from above. Continue south down the Lhasa River Valley back to the capital city for your final evening in Tibet.
Day 15: Lhasa Departure (Transfer to Airport or Train Station)
Distance: 70 km to Airport (1 hr) / 20 km to Train Station (30 min) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Self-arranged
After breakfast, your guide and driver will transfer you to Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station for your onward departure flight or train, concluding your 15-day Tibet Grand Loop expedition.
CHIBET Travel Notice: Complimentary departure transfers: Airport drop-off (08:30–22:30); Train station drop-off (24 hours).
15-Day Lhasa EBC Kailash Guge Namtso Tour Date and Package Price
Lhasa EBC Kailash Guge Namtso Tour Cost (Based on Travel Time)
| Travel Time / Tour Price | Apr.，May. | Jun., Oct. | Jul., Aug., Sept. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pax | $2064 | $2210 | $2360 |
Note: A single room supplement applies to solo travelers who request a private room.
2026 Lhasa EBC Kailash Guge Namtso Tour Departures and Bookings
| Arrival Date | Booked | Book Now |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 2026 | ||
| 2026-08-10 | $2360 | Book |
| 2026-08-20 | $2360 | Book |
| Sept. 2026 | ||
| 2026-09-10 | $2360 | Book |
| 2026-09-20 | $2360 | Book |
| Oct. 2026 | ||
| 2026-10-10 | $2210 | Book |
| 2026-10-20 | $2210 | Book |
Lhasa EBC Kailash Guge Namtso Tour Inclusions:
- 1. Tibet Permits: Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens’ Travel Permit, Military Area Entry Permit, etc.
- 2. Transportation: 9-17 seat tourist vehicle.
- 3. Accommodation:
11 nights in twin-sharing rooms (4-star standard in Lhasa and Shigatse, 3-star standard in other places);
1 night in EBC Tent Guesthouse (multi-bed sharing) or Vienna International Hotel (4-diamond standard);
1 night in Dirapuk Monastery Guesthouse (multi-bed sharing);
1 night in Zutulpuk Monastery Guesthouse (multi-bed sharing);
Note: All domestic hotel star and diamond ratings listed follow Ctrip’s standard classification. - 4. Meals: Breakfasts in hotel, Tibetan Sweet Tea, Tibetan Welcome Dinner, Tibetan Yak Hotpot at EBC
- 5. Guide: Professional English-speaking local Tibetan guide
- 6. Entrance Tickets: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Everest Base Camp + Eco-bus, Lake Mansarovar, Mount Kailash + Eco-bus, Zanda Earth Forest, Guge Kingdom, Namtso Lake
- 7. Oxygen and Water: 1 bottle of portable oxygen for emergencies; 4L medical oxygen cylinder in the car; 1 bottle of 300ml drinking water per person per day
- 8. Travel Insurance: Travel agency liability insurance, vehicle Seat Insurance
- 9. Service Fees: All taxes, fees, and handling charges; reservation fee for visiting Potala Palace; lodging and dining subsidies for guide and driver
- 10. Pick-Up and Drop-Off: Free pick-up at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (8:00 am to 10:00 pm); Free drop-off at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (8:30 am to 10:30 pm); Free pick-up and drop-off at Lhasa Train Station (24 hours)
Lhasa EBC Kailash Guge Namtso Tour Exclusions:
- 1. Personal Expenses: Laundry, drinks, phone calls, optional activities
- 2. Single Room Supplement (if requested)
- 3. Meals: Lunch and dinner not mentioned in the itinerary
- 4. Tickets: International and domestic flight/train tickets
- 5. Tipping: Tips for guides and drivers
- 6. China Visa: Chinese Tourist Visa (L Visa) application fees
- 7. Exceptional Events: Extra charges due to irresistible reasons (e.g., weather, road closures)
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.