Private tour — on your dates
15 Days Mt. Kailash + Everest Base Camp & Namtso Lake Grand Tour
15 Days $1,400 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Lhasa Namtso Lake Potala Palace Tashilunpo Monastery Everest Base Camp Lake Manasarovar Mt. Kailash Kora Tibet holds three of Asia’s most celebrated natural wonders —…
- 15 Days / 14 Nights
- Lhasa → Namtso Lake → Potala Palace → Tashilunpo Monastery → Everest Base Camp → Lake Manasarovar → Mt. Kailash Kora
- Challenging pace
- Best: May to mid-October (the Kora is snowed in through winter)
- No Deposit — Ever
- Cancel Free Before Permit Issued
- Full Refund except $100 Permit Fee
- Bring 7, Your Spot Is Free
- Our Own Office in Lhasa, Since 1999
The trip at a glance
Namtso Lake sits at 4,718 metres, 230 kilometres north of Lhasa across the Nyenchen Tanglha mountain range. Its name means ‘Heavenly Lake’ in Tibetan — and when you see the vast, impossibly turquoise water framed by snow peaks on every horizon, you understand immediately why it is one of Tibet’s three holy lakes. The day trip from Lhasa over the high pass and down to the lake shore is one of the most visually dramatic day drives in all of Tibet. Namtso is quieter, wilder and far less visited than Yamdrok Lake further south — it feels genuinely remote even from the road.
From Lhasa the journey turns west along the Friendship Highway, passing Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse before stopping for a night at Everest Base Camp on the north face of the world’s highest mountain at 5,200 metres. Waking to Everest at sunrise — the pyramid of the summit lit orange and pink against a deep blue sky — is one of those experiences that stays with a traveller permanently. From EBC the route continues west to Lake Manasarovar and then to Darchen, where the three-day, 52-kilometre Kailash Kora begins.
For travellers who want to see as much of Tibet as possible in a single journey without sacrificing depth at any destination, this is the itinerary we recommend. The best seasons are from May through at most end of September. All travel permits concerning this kind of tour are arranged by our team — all you need is a valid Chinese visa if you are not from China visa exempt countries.
- Lhasa → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
- Lhasa → Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
- Lhasa → Namtso Lake → Lhasa
- Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse
- Shigatse → Everest Base Camp
- EBC Sunrise → Saga
Day by day
Lhasa → Namtso Lake → Potala Palace → Tashilunpo Monastery → Everest Base Camp → Lake Manasarovar → Mt. Kailash Kora
Day1
Arrive Lhasa
Airport pick-up and hotel check-in. Rest and acclimatize.
Day2
Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Full day exploring Lhasa’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day3
Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
Visit Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Watch the afternoon monk debates at Sera.
Day4
Lhasa — Namtso Lake — Lhasa
The road north from Lhasa climbs over the Nyenchen Tanglha range via the Lhachen La pass, then descends to the shore of Namtso — Tibet’s second-largest lake and one of its three holy lakes, at 4,718m. Its name means ‘Heavenly Lake’: a vast, deep turquoise framed by snow peaks to the south and open plateau to the north, so large it seems more like a sea than a lake.
Namtso is quieter and wilder than Yamdrok Lake to the south — fewer visitors, no roadside infrastructure, a stronger sense of genuine remoteness. Nomadic families graze their yak herds on the lakeshore in summer. Prayer flags mark Tashi Dor peninsula, where a small monastery sits directly above the waterline. Most travellers arrive and fall quiet. Return to Lhasa in the evening over the same high pass.
Day5
Lhasa — Yamdrok Lake — Gyantse — Shigatse
Drive west over Kampala Pass for views of Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier. Visit Gyantse Kumbum and Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse.
Day6
Shigatse — Everest Base Camp
From Shigatse the road continues west through Lhatse and Tingri before the route turns south toward Everest. The road climbs through checkpoints to Rongbuk Monastery at 4,980m — the highest monastery in the world — its courtyard facing directly onto the north face of Everest in a view that photographs consistently understate.
Everest Base Camp at 5,200m is reached by electric shuttle bus from the gate. The north face rises more than 3,000 vertical metres above the valley floor in one unbroken sweep. Spend the night here — quieter and more powerful than most travellers expect.
Day7
EBC Sunrise — Saga
Early wake for the pre-dawn alpenglow — the summit turns orange and pink before the sky brightens. After a full morning at 5,200m, drive west past Mt. Shishapangma to Saga.
Day8
Saga — Lake Manasarovar — Darchen
Drive to the sacred Lake Manasarovar and circle to Darchen at the base of Mt. Kailash.
Day9
Kailash Kora Day 1 — Darchen to Driapuk (4,920m)
Begin the 52km sacred Kailash circumambulation trek to Driapuk Monastery.
Day10
Kailash Kora Day 2 — Dolma La Pass (5,630m) to Dzultripuk
Cross the highest point of the Kora — the Dolma La pass — and descend to Dzultripuk.
Day11
Kailash Kora Day 3 — Complete and Drive East
Complete the Kailash Kora and drive east towards Lhatse.
Day12
Lhatse — Shigatse
Drive back to Shigatse along the Friendship Highway.
Day13
Shigatse — Lhasa
Return to Lhasa along the Friendship Highway via Gyantse.
Day14
Lhasa — Free Day
Free day in Lhasa for rest, revisiting favourite sites or shopping.
Day15
Lhasa Departure
Transfer to airport or train station for your departure.
Meals: Breakfast Tibet Permit — Required for All Visitors Every visitor to Tibet must hold a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. It is mandatory, cannot be obtained on arrival, and differs by nationality. We handle the full application once you book — please allow at least 15 days before your departure date.
Common Questions What makes Namtso Lake different from Yamdrok Lake, which is already on the route? Is the Namtso day trip tiring — does it add significantly to the physical demand? This tour has Namtso, EBC and the full Kailash Kora — is 15 days enough? Why does this tour not include the Guge Kingdom? Can I stay overnight at Namtso instead of returning to Lhasa the same day? Overnight stays at Namtso are possible in summer (June to September) when basic guesthouses on the Tashi Dor peninsula are open. Staying overnight allows a far more relaxed experience at the lake and a sunrise the following morning. It adds one day to the tour. The downside is very basic facilities — standard guesthouses at Namtso have limited heating and simple shared facilities. If you prefer this option, let us know when booking and we will adjust the itinerary accordingly.
What is included
Included
- Tibet Entry Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit
- Special Restricted Area Permit for the Mt. Kailash region
- All entrance fees for tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking local tour guide
- Private vehicle with experienced driver
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Shared oxygen tank in the vehicle
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance and first aid kit
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Flights or trains to/from Tibet
- Meals not specified in the itinerary (approximately USD 3–15 per meal)
- Yak/porter hire during the Kailash Kora (optional, arranged locally)
- Tips for tour guide and driver
- Personal expenses (laundry, snacks, optional activities)
Photos from this route
Questions travellers ask
What makes Namtso Lake different from Yamdrok Lake, which is already on the route?
Yamdrok and Namtso are two of Tibet’s three holy lakes but very different in character. Yamdrok (4,441m) is seen from the Khamba La pass above on the standard drive west — a beautiful view as you pass through. Namtso (4,718m) requires a dedicated day trip 230km north of Lhasa over a separate mountain range. It is larger, higher, wilder and far less visited — fewer facilities, fewer tourists, a stronger sense of genuine remoteness.
If Yamdrok is a beautiful view on the way to somewhere, Namtso is a destination in itself. The two lakes together give a much more complete picture of Tibet’s holy lake landscape than either alone.
Is the Namtso day trip tiring — does it add significantly to the physical demand?
The Namtso day trip is long (approximately 5 hours of driving each way from Lhasa, plus time at the lake) but not physically demanding. There is no trekking — the lake is visited on foot at the shore level. The altitude at Namtso (4,718m) is higher than Lhasa, and some travellers feel mild altitude symptoms on the day. However, by Day 4 of this tour — after three nights already spent in Lhasa — your body will have adapted significantly, and most travellers find the day comfortable. It is a long day in the vehicle; the main tiredness is from the drive.
This tour has Namtso, EBC and the full Kailash Kora — is 15 days enough?
Yes — and the itinerary is structured so that neither is rushed. Namtso is a full day trip from Lhasa with real time at the lake shore. EBC is an overnight stay with the following morning’s sunrise included. The core Kailash experience — Manasarovar and the full three-day Kora — is fully preserved and not compressed. The four additional days compared to the standard 11-day Kailash tour are distributed sensibly across the itinerary rather than concentrated into a single rushed section.
Why does this tour not include the Guge Kingdom?
This tour prioritises breadth of natural landscapes — Namtso, Yamdrok, EBC, Manasarovar and Kailash — rather than the historical detour to Guge Kingdom. Adding Guge after the Kailash Kora would require an additional two days minimum, making the tour 17 days. If the Guge Kingdom is specifically important to you, our mkt-03 tour (Kailash + Guge, 13 days) or mkt-05 (EBC + Kailash + Guge, 15 days, without Namtso) may be a better fit. We can also customise this itinerary to add Guge — contact us to discuss.
Can I stay overnight at Namtso instead of returning to Lhasa the same day?
Overnight stays at Namtso are possible in summer (June to September) when basic guesthouses on the Tashi Dor peninsula are open. Staying overnight allows a far more relaxed experience at the lake and a sunrise the following morning. It adds one day to the tour. The downside is very basic facilities — standard guesthouses at Namtso have limited heating and simple shared facilities. If you prefer this option, let us know when booking and we will adjust the itinerary accordingly.
Before you send your inquiry
- No deposit — ever. Your dates are held with a free inquiry, and nothing is due until we confirm. On fixed group departures, book early to secure your seats.
- Cancel free before your Tibet Travel Permit is issued — full refund, every dollar.
- After the permit is issued: the USD $100 permit fee is non-refundable, everything else is refunded. Refunds within 7 business days.
- Bring a group of 7 and your spot is free (7+1).
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Tell us your dates and route on the form below — you will have a written itinerary and an item-by-item quote within 12 hours, with no obligation to book.
- Prices depend on group size, hotel standard, season and how you travel into Tibet, so we quote each trip individually rather than from a price list.
- Hotel details — the exact hotels we use — come with your quote. Ask below for the standard you would like and we will match it.
- A Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator since 1999 — our own guides, vehicles and office in Lhasa, 7,200+ travellers from 40+ countries, 4.9★ on TripAdvisor.
