Kathmandu—Lhasa—Everest Base Camp
This Himalayan journey will begin in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, you will explore the main sites in this largely Hindu city, including Pashupatinath Temple, Boudha Stupa, Durbar Square and the well-preserved ancient city of Bhaktapur.
From Kathmandu, you will fly over the Himalayas to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. If the weather is clear, you will get stunning views of the mountains, including Everest, on the flight to Lhasa. For the Tibet portion of this adventure, you will start by exploring the holy city of Lhasa, where thousands of Buddhist pilgrims can be found each day. From there, you will travel through Central Tibet exploring the turquoise-colored lake of Yamdrok Tso, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Himalaya! You will then cross over the 5139 meter Karo La Pass where you can get clear views of the Karo La Glacier. From there, you will explore the small town of Gyantse and the ancient monastery located there.
Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city and home to the massive monastery complex of Tashi Lhunpo. You will explore this Buddhist holy place and walk the nice pilgrimage path around it, which offers panoramic views of the city and mountains. From Shigatse, you will then continue on to the North Face Base Camp of Mt. Everest at an elevation of nearly 5200 meters/17,000 feet! At Base camp, you will be up-close to the world's highest mountain.
From Everest Base Camp, you will continue on to the Tibet-Nepal border and then return to Kathmandu. Your journey will conclude upon arriving back to the Nepal capital. Altogether, you will spend 14 days exploring the amazing Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet! For more information, please send an email to: info@himalayajourney.com
Day 1: Arrive to Kathmand, Nepal Elevation: 1350 meters
This day you will arrive to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
Day 2: Pashupatinath Temple, Boudha Stupa and Durbar Square,
This day you will explore Pashupatinath, Nepal's most important Hindu Temple. It is located along the banks of the holy river of Bagmati and draws many Hindu pilgrims each day. Afterwards, you will explore the area in and around Boudha, home to the largest Buddhist Stupa in all of Asia. Boudha is located just outside of Kathmandu and is nearly 1400 years old. After lunch, you will wander around the ancient UNESCO World Heritage site of Durbar Square in Kathmandu. The square is full of traditional Newari architecture that is rare to find in modern times.
Day 3: Bhaktapur Distance: 30kms
After breakfast, you will make the short drive out of Kathmandu to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur, Nepal's best preserved ancient city. Bhaktapur lies just 15 kilometers outside of Kathmandu and is filled with old temples and palaces and amazing religious architecture. You will spend the day exploring the ancient city before returning to Kathmandu in the late afternoon.
Day 4: Fly Kathmandu to Lhasa, Tibet Elevation: 3600m
This day you will fly over the Himalaya Mountains to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. When you arrive to Lhasa, you will be met by your guide and transported to your hotel. You can spend the afternoon wandering around the Barkhor, Tibet’s ancient market area that surrounds Jokhang Temple. Each day thousands of Buddhist pilgrims make their way around this sacred temple.
Day 5: Lhasa
You will explore the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in the Himalaya’s. Founded nearly 1400 years ago, Jokhang Temple houses the most sacred statue of Buddha. You will work your way through this fascinating temple alongside Buddhist pilgrims from the faraway regions of Tibet. The sound of pilgrims chanting mantras fills the air as does the smell of yak butter candle offerings. In the afternoon, you will go to the 600 year old Sera, one of Tibet’s largest Buddhist monasteries. Each weekday afternoon starting at 3pm, monks engage in Buddhist philosophy debates, which are fun to photograph.
Day 6: Lhasa
You will start the day by exploring the Potala Palace, Tibet’s most iconic building. Towering above Lhasa with more than 1000 rooms, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama’s for hundreds of years. After lunch, you will go to Drepung, another of Tibet’s huge monastic complexes. The pilgrimage circuit around Drepung takes about an hour or so and offers spectacular views.
Day 7: Yamdrok Lake, Karo La Glacier and Gyantse Distance: 260 kms Elevation: 3980m
After breakfast, you will hit the road and begin the next part of your Tibet adventure. From Lhasa, you will drive along the scenic Kyi Chu River Valley and then ascend to the top of the 4794 meter Kamba La Pass, which has a breathtaking view of Yamdrok Lake and 7191 meter Mt. Nojin Kangtsang. You will then descend and drive along the lakeshore before making your way back up to the Karo La, a beautiful glacier that comes down almost to the roadside. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Gyantse.
Day 8: Pelkhor Monastery, Shigatse and Tashi Lhunpo Distance: 90kms Elevation: 3840m
You will begin by exploring Pelkhor Chode Monastery and the Kumbum Stupa, the largest Buddhist pagoda in Tibet. This beautiful monastery lies within a walled complex in the Gyantse Old Town. A short hike to the top of the wall offers an excellent panoramic view of the monastery, town and the snow-covered mountains in the distance. Afterwards, you will make the short drive to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city. Along the way from Gyantse to Shigatse, you can stop at a couple of interesting farming villages to experience traditional Tibetan culture.
Day 9: Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Shigatse Old Town
In Shigatse, you will visit the huge monastery of Tashi Lhunpo, one of the largest in Tibet. The excellent pilgrimage route around the monastery takes about an hour and has fantastic views. Afterwards, you will spend time exploring the Old Town that lies at the base of the rebuilt Shigatse Fortress.
Day 10: Gyatso La Pass, Farming Villages and Shelkar Distance: 240kms Elevation: 4315m
Today’s destination is the small town of Shelkar, located in the Everest Region. Along the way to Shelkar, you will see more farming villages and beautiful landscapes. You will cross over the 5248 meter Gyatso La Pass, which has great views of the Himalaya Mountains. That afternoon you will arrive in the small town of Shelkar to stay the night.
Day 11: Rongphu Monastery and Everest Base Camp Distance: 185kms Elevation: 5150m
In the morning you will begin driving up the 5100 meter Geu La Pass. On clear days, this pass offers a stunning panoramic view of the Himalaya’s. You can see four 8000 meter peaks from this pass including Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse and Everest. You will continue on to Rongphu, the highest monastery in the world at just under 5000 meters. Rongphu has an unbelievable view of Everest! From Rongphu, you will then go to Everest Base Camp at nearly 5200 meters.
Day 12: Thong La Pass, Mt. Shisha Pangma, Nepal border Distance: 190kms Elevation: 2300m
After watching the sunrise over Everest, you will continue your journey back to Nepal. From the town of Old Tingri, you will start ascending the Thong La Pass, which rises to 5130 meters and has a great view of Mt. Shisha Pangma, the 14th highest peak on the planet at 8012 meters. From the Thong La Pass, you will begin the long descent to Kathmandu. For the night, you will stay at the Tibet-Nepal border.
Day 13: Nepal border—Barabise-Kathmandu Distance: 115kms Elevation: 1350m
In the morning you will say goodbye to your Tibetan guide and driver and cross over into Nepal where you will be greeted by your Nepali guide and driver. You will follow the scenic Bhote Koshi River and stop in the town of Barabise, Nepal for lunch before continuing on to the Nepali capital of Kathmandu. Your journey will conclude once you arrive in Kathmandu.
Day 14: Depart Nepal
You will be transferred to the Kathmandu Airport.
Kathmandu—Lhasa—Mt. Everest—Kathmandu
The journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa and Everest can be done anytime from April through December. The months that offer the best views are April, May and October through December.
We can arrange this journey for groups between 2 and 12 people. Price is discounted for groups of 3 people or more. Contact us for the price for this journey at info@himalayajourney.com
Included in the price:
- All accommodations (based on double occupancy)
- Breakfast each morning in Tibet and Nepal
- Bottled drinking water
- All ground transportation in Tibet and Nepal
- All entrance fees for the itinerary listed
- All Tibet travel permits
- Local Tibetan and Nepali guide fees
- All meals and accommodations for your Tibetan driver and guide
- Lhasa Airport or train station pick up and transfer to Kathmandu Airport
Not included in the price:
- Passport, Chinese Visa or Nepal Visa fees
- International airfare to/from Nepal
- International airfare from Kathmandu to Lhasa
- Lunch and dinner
- Travel vaccinations
- Insurance (travel, medical, etc)
- Souvenirs or personal items such as laundry, snacks, alcohol drinks, etc
- Photography fees inside temples and monasteries
- Gratuities to the Tibetan and Nepali guide and driver
Travel Gear: Upon joining, each participant will be sent a list of required and recommended gear for this journey that they will be responsible for.
Accommodations: In Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse, you will be staying in comfortable and pleasant boutique or 3 Star Tibetan-owned hotels. Hotels in other areas of Tibet will be the best available. At Everest Base Camp, accommodation will be either simple tent hotels or a simple guesthouse. These guesthouses at Everest have no heating, but have plenty of blankets. The shared toilet are often dirty and are located outside. All hotels, except for those in the Everest Region, should have internet access. In Nepal, you will stay in a nice boutique style hotel. Hotel upgrades are available for Kathmandu and Lhasa.
Meals: Breakfast is included in the price for each morning you are in Tibet and Nepal. Lunch and dinner are not included in the price.
Eligibility: Participants must be in good health and be able to spend each day walking around towns, villages and monasteries. Though you will be doing a lot of walking each day, no trekking is required. Most of this tour will take place in mountainous terrain between 3600 meters and 5200 meters (11,800 feet to 17,000 feet) above sea level. You will spend 3 nights in Lhasa for altitude acclimatization before going above 3600 meters. Ascent will be slow and gradual along the way from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp.
Responsible Tourism: Himalaya Journey is a joint American, Nepali and Tibetan owned company. All of our guides, porters and drivers are local people who have been working in tourism for many years. The preservation of the culture of the Himalaya, as well as the protection of the environment, are extremely important to us. In fact, when we are not out leading journeys and treks across the Himalaya, we are working with local people in numerous eco-tourism and conservation projects.
Why travel with us: Unlike other travel companies who have sales managers who have likely never seen Everest base camp and have spent little time (if any!) exploring Nepal, we have decades worth of experience in the Himalaya Mountains. We have trekked, climbed and explored all areas of Nepal and know the area better than anyone! Go to the following link to read more about why you should travel with experts who specialize in Nepal journeys: Why travel with us
Send us an email at info@himalayajourney.com to apply for this trek or for any questions you may have.
