7-Day Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa: Airport / Train Station Pick-up & Hotel Check-in
Distance: 70 km (1 hr driving) from 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. Upon your arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your CHIBET Travel Tibetan guide and driver will meet you with a welcome sign and present a traditional white Hada scarf. Drive into the city along the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley, check into your hotel, and spend the remainder of the day resting indoors to allow your body to adapt to the thin air.
Overnight in Lhasa.
CHIBET Travel Advice:
- Free Pickup Hours: Airport transfers run from 08:00 to 22:00; train station pick-ups operate 24 hours.
- Altitude Acclimatization: Mild symptoms like mild fatigue or light headaches are normal on Day 1. Avoid showers, baths, alcohol, and heavy walking during your first night to prevent colds and vessel dilation.
- Hydration: Drink 2–3 liters of warm water throughout the day and keep evening meals light.
- Local Support: Contact your guide anytime if you require bottled oxygen or assistance.
Day 2: Lhasa City Tour: Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery Debates
Distance: ~10 km city driving | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa (3,650m)
Spend your second day in Lhasa exploring two of the “Great Three” Gelugpa monastic universities of Tibet, taking advantage of moderate walking to continue acclimatizing.
Morning: Drepung Monastery
Founded in 1416, Drepung Monastery was once the world’s largest monastery, housing over 10,000 monks at its peak. It served as the political center of Tibet and the main seat of the Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was rebuilt in the 17th century. Walk through the white-washed stone alleyways, view the ancient Ganden Phodrang Palace, and visit the giant assembly hall.
Afternoon: Sera Monastery Monastic Debates
Drive across town to Sera Monastery, built in 1419 against the northern foothills of Lhasa. The absolute highlight of Sera is attending the famous Monk Debates held in the shaded courtyard garden (typically 15:00 to 17:00). Watch monks engage in dynamic philosophical discussions, using traditional hand-claps, foot-stomping, and arm-swings to challenge scriptural logic and bring Buddhist teachings to life.
Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 3: Lhasa City Tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Distance: ~4 km driving | Meals: Breakfast, Local Sweet Tea, Tibetan Welcome Dinner | Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa (3,650m)
Today is the cultural and spiritual highlight of your time in Lhasa, visiting Tibet’s most sacred landmarks.
Morning: Potala Palace
Potala Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Towering above the city on Red Mountain, this 13-story architectural miracle served as the winter residence of successive Dalai Lamas.
- Assembling & Viewpoint: Stop at the Yaowangshan viewing platform for the classic photograph featured on the 50 RMB banknote.
- White & Red Palaces: Ascend the stone steps into the White Palace living quarters, then explore the Red Palace containing golden stupa tombs, ancient murals, and jewel-adorned shrines.
Afternoon: Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
Jokhang Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site): The spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism, housing the revered Jowo Rinpoche (a 7th-century life-sized statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni).
- Main Hall Pilgrimage: Walk past burning butter lamps alongside devout pilgrims offering prayers.
- Barkhor Street Kora: Step out onto Barkhor Street to join locals walking clockwise along the pilgrimage circuit. Browse old town stalls for handicrafts, prayer wheels, and textiles.
Authentic Tibetan Cultural Experiences:
Local Teahouse Experience: Relax in a bustling local teahouse near Barkhor, sipping warm Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Lhasa residents.
Traditional Costume Photoshoot: Wear authentic Tibetan robes and hair styling for a professional photoshoot along the historic red-and-white alleyways of Old Lhasa.
Welcome Dinner: Celebrate your arrival with a group feast featuring local delicacies like yak momos, thukpa, and tsampa.
Overnight in Lhasa.
CHIBET Travel Notice:
Potala Palace enforces strict daily visitor quotas and timed entry tickets. The tour order today may be re-arranged by your guide to match our official entry time slot.
Day 4: Lhasa to Shigatse: Yamdrok Lake & Karola Glacier
Distance: 360 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Shigatse (3,840m)
Depart Lhasa early in the morning and travel west along the Southern Friendship Highway toward Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.
Morning: Yamdrok Lake & Gampala Pass
Climb mountain switchbacks up to Gampala Pass (4,900m) for a bird’s-eye view of Yamdrok Lake (4,441m). The turquoise, scorpion-shaped lake stretches across mountain valleys, backed by Mount Nojin Kangsang (7,191m). Drive down to the shoreline for a lakeside walk and optional photos with decorated Tibetan mastiffs or yaks.
Afternoon: Karola Glacier
Continue driving along the highway to view Karola Glacier (5,560m summit). The massive glacier hangs right beside the road, allowing you to observe ice crevasses up close from the wooden boardwalk. Continue driving across the fertile farming plains of the Nyang Chu valley to Shigatse.
Overnight in Shigatse.
CHIBET Travel Advice:
Weather at Gampala Pass (4,900m) can be windy and chilly. Keep a windproof jacket in your daypack. Motion sickness pills are recommended for the mountain pass bends.
Day 5: Shigatse to Everest Base Camp: Tashilhunpo, Passes & EBC Sunset
Distance: 340 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast, Tibetan Yak Hotpot | Accommodation: EBC Tent Guesthouse (5,200m) or Hotel in Dingri (4,300m)
Start your morning exploring Tashilhunpo Monastery before heading deep into the Himalayas toward Mount Everest.
Morning: Tashilhunpo Monastery
Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the First Dalai Lama and the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Marvel at the 26.2-meter-tall gilded bronze statue of Maitreya (Future Buddha) and visit the gold-plated stupa tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama.
Four Views of Mount Everest Today:
- Gyatso La Pass (5,280m): Your highest driving point so far. On clear days, catch your first distant view of Everest behind prayer-flag-covered mountain ridges.
- Gawula Pass (5,198m): Stand at one of the world’s grandest mountain lookouts, viewing five 8,000m peaks in a row: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma.
- 108 Switchbacks Road: Descend the winding highway into Tashi Zom Valley as Everest’s North Face grows larger on the horizon.
- Sunset at Everest Base Camp (5,200m): Arrive at Base Camp in the late afternoon. Take photos at the 5,200m marker as golden hour sunlight lights up Everest’s northern wall. At night, view the Milky Way above the snow summit.
Dinner & Overnight Options:
Dinner: Enjoy a steaming Tibetan yak hotpot cooked over stoves inside the camp tent.
Stay at EBC Tent Guesthouse: Shared nomad-style tents heated by central stoves. Basic pit/dry toilets; no showers. Unbeatable for sunset, stars, and sunrise.
Stay in Dingri Town (Vienna International Hotel): Private hotel room with heating and private bathroom at 4,300m (requires 2-hr drive back; skips morning EBC sunrise).
Upgrade to Rongbuk Monastery Hotel: Basic brick hotel room at 5,100m near EBC. Subject to seasonal availability and price differences.
Overnight at EBC Tent Camp or Dingri.
CHIBET Travel Notice:
Temperatures at EBC drop to -10°C to -15°C at night. Down jackets, heavy gloves, wool hats, and thermal underwear are mandatory.
Day 6: Everest Sunrise, Mt. Shishapangma, Lake Peiku Tso to Gyirong Town
Distance: 390 km (8 hrs driving) | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: Hotel in Gyirong Town (2,800m)
Wake early to catch dawn light hitting Everest’s North Face, turning the peak from grey to glowing gold. After breakfast, pack your gear and drive west toward the Nepal border region.
Himalayan Landscape Highlights Today:
- Mount Shishapangma (8,027m): Drive past Tibet’s 14th highest peak, the only 8,000-meter mountain located entirely within Tibetan territory.
- Pelkhu Tso Lake (4,591m): Admire the serene, turquoise alpine lake whose waters mirror the massive snow pyramid of Shishapangma.
- Descent to Gyirong Valley: Cross Gongtang La Pass (5,236m) and begin a dramatic drop of over 2,400 vertical meters into the Gyirong Valley (“Backyard Garden of the Himalayas”). Watch the arid plateau change into lush pine forests, cascading waterfalls, and deep river gorges.
Check into your hotel in Gyirong Town (2,800m). The lower altitude and oxygen-rich air offer a restful night’s sleep before border crossing.
Overnight in Gyirong Town.
CHIBET Travel Advice:
1. Dress warmly for the early morning EBC sunrise.
2. The rapid vertical drop into Gyirong Valley can cause ears to pop; chewing gum or swallowing helps equalize pressure.
3. Border crossing is weather-dependent. In rare emergency cases where Gyirong Port is closed, your route may divert to Zhangmu Port.
Day 7: Gyirong Town to Gyirong Border (Sino-Nepal Border Crossing)
Distance: 40 km (1 hr driving) to border | Meals: Breakfast | Accommodation: None
Enjoy breakfast before taking a short 40 km drive through the scenic Gyirong Valley toward Gyirong Port (Resuo Bridge) at the border.
Gyirong Valley Farewell: Pass through emerald pastures, traditional stone Tibetan villages, and deep river canyons, capturing final photos of Tibet’s natural beauty.
Border Crossing Procedure: Upon arrival at Gyirong Port, your CHIBET Travel guide and driver will assist you with luggage clearance and immigration formalities on the Chinese side. Walk across the friendship bridge spanning the gorge river separating China and Nepal, where you will clear Nepal entry immigration (Visa on Arrival available at the Rasuwagadhi border office).
Thank you for choosing CHIBET Travel! We hope your trans-Himalayan expedition leaves lasting memories, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Tibet in the future!
CHIBET Travel Notice:
Ground transport from the Nepal border (Rasuwagadhi) to Kathmandu (approx. 160 km / 7–9 hrs driving) is not included in the standard tour package. However, CHIBET Travel can pre-arrange private 4WD jeep or vehicle transfers for you upon request at an additional cost, with Nepalese staff greeting you directly at the border exit.
7-Day Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour Date and Package Price
Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour Cost (Based on Travel Time)
| Travel Time / Tour Price | Jan., Dec. | Feb., Mar.,Apr., May., Nov. | Jun., Jul., Aug., Sept., Oct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pax | $939 | $1026 | $1130 |
Note: A single room supplement applies to solo travelers who request a private room.
2026 Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour Departures and Bookings
| Arrival Date | Booked | Book Now |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 2026 | ||
| 2026-08-10 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-08-15 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-08-20 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-08-25 | $1130 | Book |
| Sept. 2026 | ||
| 2026-09-05 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-09-10 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-09-15 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-09-20 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-09-25 | $1130 | Book |
| Oct. 2026 | ||
| 2026-10-05 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-10-10 | $1130 | Book |
| 2026-10-15 | $1026 | Book |
| 2026-10-20 | $1026 | Book |
| 2026-10-25 | $1026 | Book |
| Nov. 2026 | ||
| 2026-11-05 | $1026 | Book |
| 2026-11-10 | $1026 | Book |
| 2026-11-15 | $1026 | Book |
| 2026-11-20 | $1026 | Book |
| 2026-11-25 | $1026 | Book |
| Dec. 2026 | ||
| 2026-12-05 | $939 | Book |
| 2026-12-10 | $939 | Book |
| 2026-12-15 | $939 | Book |
| 2026-12-20 | $939 | Book |
| 2026-12-25 | $939 | Book |
Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour Inclusions:
- 1. Tibet Permits: Tibet Travel Permit
- 2. Transportation: 9-17 seat tourist vehicle
- 3. Accommodation:
5 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)
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, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Everest Base Camp + Eco-bus
- 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 to Kathmandu Overland 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)
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