Small group departures
12 Days Lhasa-Nyingchi-Yamdroktso-Shigatse-Mt. Everest-Namtso Lake Tour
12 Days $1,141 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Enjoy the stunning scenery of Nyingchi — mountains, lakes, forest and waterfalls Admire the Potala Palace — the pearl on the roof of the world Visit two of Tibet’s…
- 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Enjoy the stunning scenery of Nyingchi — mountains, lakes, forest and waterfalls → Admire the Potala Palace — the pearl on the roof of the world → Visit two of Tibet's three holy lakes: Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake → The altitude increases gradually from Lhasa to Nyingchi to Shigatse — perfect for acclimatization
- Moderate pace
- Best: March to April and September to October
- 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
- Lhasa → Kadinggou → Nyingchi
- Nyingchi → Segrila Pass → Lulang Forest → Basumtso Lake
- Basumtso → Cuozong Temple → Jieba Village → Lhasa
- Lhasa Culture Tour → Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Center, Sera Monastery
- Lhasa City Tour → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan-style Featured Dinner
- Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse
Day by day
Enjoy the stunning scenery of Nyingchi — mountains, lakes, forest and waterfalls → Admire the Potala Palace — the pearl on the roof of the world → Visit two of Tibet's three holy lakes: Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake → The altitude increases gradually from Lhasa to Nyingchi to Shigatse — perfect for acclimatization
Day1
Arrival in Lhasa — Airport Pick-up
Upon arrival at Lhasa airport your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Rest and acclimatize for the day.
Day2
Lhasa → Kadinggou → Nyingchi
Drive east along the Lalin Expressway towards Nyingchi. En route visit Kadinggou — the scenic gorge known as ‘Heaven on Earth’ with its towering old-growth trees, bamboo and cascading water. Continue to Nyingchi.
Day3
Nyingchi → Segrila Pass → Lulang Forest → Basumtso Lake
Drive over the Segrila Pass for views of Namjagbarwa. Walk through the magnificent Lulang Forest and enjoy a special Stone Pot Chicken lunch. Continue to Basumtso Lake for an overnight stay in this extraordinary 5A scenic area.
Day4
Basumtso → Cuozong Temple → Jieba Village → Lhasa
Explore Basumtso Lake, its ancient Cuozong Temple and the scenic Jieba Village — the best viewpoint for the lake and surrounding twin snow mountains. Return to Lhasa in the afternoon.
Day5
Lhasa Culture Tour — Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Center, Sera Monastery
Morning at the Lhasa Traditional Handicraft Art Center experiencing Tibetan incense-making, calligraphy and block printing. Afternoon at Sera Monastery watching the Monks’ Debating session (15:00–17:00, except Sundays).
Day6
Lhasa City Tour — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Tibetan-style Featured Dinner
Visit the iconic Potala Palace, the sacred Jokhang Temple and the vibrant Barkhor Street. In the evening enjoy a Tibetan-style group dinner.
Day7
Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse
Drive over the Kampala Pass for stunning views of turquoise Yamdrok Lake, then visit the Karola Glacier before arriving in Shigatse.
Day8
Shigatse → Gawula Pass → Rongbuk Monastery → Everest Base Camp
Set out for Everest via the Gawula Pass. Stop at Rongbuk Monastery before spending the night at Everest Base Camp (5,200 m).
Day9
EBC → Gyatso La Pass → Shigatse
Enjoy the Everest sunrise then drive back over the Gyatso La Pass to Shigatse.
Day10
Shigatse → Tashilunpo Monastery → Lhasa
Morning visit to Tashilunpo Monastery — the seat of the Panchen Lama. Explore its ancient halls before returning to Lhasa by tourist bus or train.
Day11
Lhasa → Namtso Lake → Lhasa
Day trip to the sacred Namtso Lake (4,718 m) — one of Tibet’s three holy lakes. Marvel at the extraordinary sight of the turquoise water framed by the snow-capped Nyenchen Tanglha mountains before returning to Lhasa.
Day12
Lhasa Departure
Free time until your guide escorts you to Lhasa train station or airport 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.
What is included
Included
- Tourist bus (7–17 seats) for all ground transportation
- Twin-sharing accommodation with daily breakfast
- Featured meals as listed in itinerary (Tibetan welcome banquet + specialty dinners)
- Professional English/Chinese-speaking tour guide
- Entrance tickets to all scenic spots listed in the itinerary
- Tibet Entry Permit, Alien’s Travel Permit and Border Pass
- Travel Accident Insurance, Vehicle Seat Insurance and Agency Liability Insurance
- Airport/station pick-up and drop-off service (7:00 am–10:00 pm)
- Emergency oxygen canister per person; 2 × 300 ml drinking water per day; 4 L medical oxygen in vehicle
- All taxes, handling charges and Potala Palace reservation fee
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Room fees for any itinerary changes due to personal reasons
- Personal expenses (laundry, drinks, telephone, optional activities)
- Force majeure costs (natural disasters, flight delays, political events, etc.)
- Guide and driver tips (suggested 30 CNY per person per day each)
- International or domestic flight/train tickets to/from Tibet
Photos from this route
Questions travellers ask
How large will my group be?
Join-in departures run with a minimum of 3 travellers — usually 3–8 pax, and never more than 16. You choose the departure date, the starting point and the itinerary length that suits you; guests on different day counts travel together on the shared legs, and each group leaves when their own itinerary ends. If you prefer, this route can also run as a private tour for your own party only. A 3–8 group costs a little more per person and is quieter, with more freedom to change the day on the road; a 3–16 group costs less per person and gives you more people to travel with.
Which permits does this tour need?
We arrange all required Tibet permits for you as part of the booking — you only need a valid passport. Depending on the areas visited this can include the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), the Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB), the Frontier Pass and, for sensitive areas, a Military Permit.
How do I get to the starting point of the tour?
The tour starts in Lhasa. You can reach it by flight or by the Qinghai–Tibet railway — either way we meet you on arrival. Many travellers fly in and take the train out (or the other way round) to see both faces of the plateau. We are happy to advise on flights and train tickets as part of your booking.
Can this tour be customized?
Yes — every tour on this site can also run as a private departure with your own dates and pace, arranged by our own office in Lhasa. Send us your dates, group size and interests and we will adapt the itinerary around you.
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.
