8 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Driving Himalaya Overland Adventure Tour
- Duration: 8 days (published programme)
- Collection: Tibet Group Tours
- LuangTang National Park
- Today's highlight: Kyirong
- Peikutso lake, Everest Base Camp
- Review the programme below for included and optional arrangements.
Planning 8 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Driving Himalaya Overland Adventure Tour
The published idea runs for 8 days. Consider whether that timing fits your arrival, departure and preferred sightseeing pace.
The published material highlights LuangTang National Park; Today's highlight: Kyirong; Peikutso lake, Everest Base Camp. Use these details to decide which parts of the journey matter most to your group.
- For this group-tour idea, ask about scheduled departures, group arrangements and which variations are possible.
- Check the daily programme, transfer days, optional activities and exclusions before confirming.
- Share your group size and any practical preferences when requesting a proposal.
Ask about this travel idea. The full original programme remains below for reference.
Day 1 Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (137km, 7 hrs)
Highlights: LuangTang National Park
Our driver will pick you up in your hotel from 9:00-9:30 am. Then we will drive to the Sino-Nepal border area, close to Tibet. While driving near Mt.Himalayas, you can see the deep gorges, snow-capped mountains on the way. We will also drive across the LuangTang National Park .
Stay overnight in village guest house in Syabrubesi
Day 2 Syabrubesi to Kyirong (40km, 4-5hrs) (B)
Highlights: Today's highlight: Kyirong
After breakfast, we will drive 15km to the border to enter China. You will meet our guide in China side. Then we will drive 1 hour to Kyirong (2800m) where is surrounded by lofty snow-capped mountains and dense forests. In the afternoon, you take a stroll to visit Paba Temple (2850m), a Gelugpa temple built by Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo at the proposal of his wife Nepali princess Bhrikuti. The Nepali style temple with delicate murals is only within minutes’ walk from your hotel.
Stay overnight in Kyirong Hotel
Day 3 Kyirong to EBC to Tingri (480km, 11 hrs) (B)
Highlights: Peikutso lake, Everest Base Camp
From Gyirong, your guide will take you to Old Tingri. You will first drive to pass through Peikutso Lake and grassland. Then we continue to drive to Everest Base Camp and visit the world’s highest Rongbuk Monastery . The route from Gyirong passes along the beautiful border country of Tibet, with its spectacular evergreen forests and stunning snow-covered mountains. The views of the awe-inspiring mountains along the road to Tingri are some of the most beautiful in the world, and well worth the long drive.
Stay overnight in Tingri Hotel
Day 4 Tingri to Shigatse (280km, 7 hrs) (B)
Highlights: Tashilunpo Monastery
Today, we will drive from Tingri to Shigatse. On the way, you will visit the 5000m G318 National Highway milestone in Lhatse. After your arrival in Shigatse in the early afternoon, you will visit the seat of Panchen Lama – Tashilunpo Monastery , one of the most important monasteries in Tibet.
Stay overnight in Shigatse hotel
Day 5 Shigatse to Lhasa via Gyantse (375km) (B)
Highlights: Perklor Monastery, Korola Glacier, Yamdrok Lake
Today, we will drive to Lhasa via Gyantse. On the way you can see many Tibetan farmer villages . After arriving in Gyantse, you will visit Heritage town Gyantse old street and Perklor Monastery , Kumbum stupa. Then you will also visit Manak Dam Lake , Korola Glacier and Yamdrok Lake on the way to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 6 Lhasa Tour(B)
Highlights: Potala Palace, Johkang Temple, and Barkhor Street
Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street , where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.
Accommodate in Lhasa.
Day 7 Lhasa Sightseeing (B)
Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery.
Today features visits to 2 of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism – the Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Drepung Monastery is located on the hillside west of Lhasa – at one time the world’s largest monastery with about 10,000 monks living there. A pleasant walk up the hill leads to the solemn ambience inside the monastery’s many halls and chapels.
After Drepung, we will move on to the Sera Monastery . The main highlight of the Sera Monastery is watching the crowd of monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day except Sunday, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills – a very impressive sight to behold, as the monks are very animated in their debates about the various attributes of Buddhist scriptures.
Meals: Breakfast Provided by the hotel
Accommodation: Lhasa Economic/Comfortable Standard Hotel (Twin sharing)
Day 8 Depart from Lhasa(B)
Highlights: Lhasa airport/train station drop off
The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.
What’s Included
- Tibet Travel Permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Local tour Transfers, 5-29 seats comfortable Tourist Vehicle according to Group Size.
- Knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide shared in your group
- Comfortable Hotel Accommodations
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
- The above tour price does not include single room supplement. If you are a solo traveler, you need to share one room with another tourist (same sex in most cases); if you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement. And the exact price depends on market fluctuation in high and off season of Tibet tour. For the exact price, please refer to your travel consultant.
- Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges.
- Welcome Dinner in local restaurant when group members meet in Lhasa
Not Included
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.
- Travel Tips for 8-day Kathmandu to Lhasa Tour
- To get China Group Visa, you have to arrive at Kathmandu at least 3 days before you head to Tibet. And give your original passport and personal photo and visa fee to our staff in Kathmandu and fill out the application form. (Tibet Vista Kathmandu address: Shiviji Niwash Kusumbiyalachi Marg Thaihiti Kathmandu 44600 · Nepal)
- The processing of China Group Visa takes at least 3 business days. Then our staff will bring the issued visa to your hotel.
- Our one-stop border transfer service involves the pick-up service from your hotel and transfer service all the way your hotel in Kathmandu to the hotel in Kyirong border, on Tibet’s side. So, you won’t bother to hire a tour vehicle yourself at the border region.
- At 9:00-9:30 am, our Nepali driver will pick you up at your hotel in Kathmandu and later head to Syabrubesi, 40km close to Kyirong border. You will enjoy the changing landscape and experience the obvious altitude ascent. Part of the zigzagged mountain road is extremely treacherous. However, our experienced Nepali driver will guarantee your travel safety.
- You will spend one night at Syabrubesi (2380m) and get ready to cross the Kyirong border the next day. Our Tibetan guide and driver will be expecting you with auspicious white Hada on the Tibetan side of the border.
- On day 3, you are expected to travel from Kyirong to EBC and Tingri. A substantial altitude ascent is expected, approximately 2400m. To minimize the chance for acute altitude sickness, instead of arranging you to stay at EBC(5200), you will spend the night at Tingri(4,348m) for safer accommodation.
- All we do is to maximize your travel safety and comfort, we extended the original 7-day overland tour to the current 8-day tour. By doing so, you may spend one day in Gyirong Town (2700m), which drastically minimizes the chance of acute mountain sickness for traveling from Kathmandu (1400m) to old Tingri(4300m).
- Meanwhile, you can start your journey in the late morning and drivers won’t have to drive at night on the treacherous mountain roads near Sino-Nepal border, which further enhances the overall tour experience and travel safety.
Pricing Note
Final pricing is tailored to your travel dates, party size, hotel preferences and confirmed services. Your proposal will clearly list every included and excluded item.
Travel Tips
Pack comfortable walking shoes and clothing suited to the season. Keep your passport available on travel days, and tell your planner about mobility or dietary needs before departure.
