Small group departures
5 Days Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake Small Group Tour
5 Days $577 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Gampala Pass (4,794 m) — the classic aerial viewpoint looking down over Yamdrok Lake’s turquoise crescent Yamdrok Lake (Yamdroktso) — one of Tibet’s four sacred…
- 5 Days / 4 Nights
- Gampala Pass (4,794 m) — the classic aerial viewpoint looking down over Yamdrok Lake's turquoise crescent → Yamdrok Lake (Yamdroktso) — one of Tibet's four sacred lakes, believed by Tibetans to be the soul of the land → Karola Glacier — one of the largest roadside-accessible glaciers in Tibet, visible within metres of the highway → Complete 3-day Lhasa programme: Tibet Museum, Nanshan Park, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and a local family visit
- Easy pace
- Best: April 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
You leave Lhasa early and drive south through the broad Lhasa River valley. The road climbs steadily as the valley narrows — and then, at Gampala Pass (4,794 m), Tibet stops you. Yamdrok Lake appears below without preamble: a vast expanse of turquoise so vivid it seems unreal, enclosed on three sides by snow ridges and open to the south. Tibetans call it the soul lake of Tibet. They believe that if Yamdroktso ever dries, Tibet itself will end. Standing at the pass looking down at it, the belief needs no explanation.
The road winds down from the pass and runs along the northern shore through the small town of Nakartse. There is time to walk the shoreline, to sit with the colour and the silence, to understand why Tibetan pilgrims have been coming here for a thousand years.
On the return drive, the road passes within a hundred metres of the Karola Glacier — one of the largest accessible glaciers in Tibet. The ice face drops from the ridge above like a frozen waterfall, close enough to feel cold from the highway.
The road back follows the Lhasa River valley north and passes Gonggar Airport on the way. Travellers with an evening flight can step off at the terminal right there — the group says goodbye without anyone backtracking. Everyone else is back in Lhasa by mid-afternoon.
Day 5, you leave. If your train or flight is in the afternoon, Barkhor Street draws you back one last time.
- Tibet Museum · Nanshan Park · Jokhang Temple · Barkhor Street
- Potala Palace · Sera Monastery Monk Debate · Local Family Visit
- Gampala Pass · Yamdrok Lake · Karola Glacier · Return to Lhasa
Day by day
Gampala Pass (4,794 m) — the classic aerial viewpoint looking down over Yamdrok Lake's turquoise crescent → Yamdrok Lake (Yamdroktso) — one of Tibet's four sacred lakes, believed by Tibetans to be the soul of the land → Karola Glacier — one of the largest roadside-accessible glaciers in Tibet, visible within metres of the highway → Complete 3-day Lhasa programme: Tibet Museum, Nanshan Park, Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and a local family visit
Day1
Arrival in Lhasa — Transfer & Acclimatisation
Arrive at Lhasa Gonggar Airport or the train station. Your guide meets you and transfers you to the hotel. Rest, hydrate, and let the altitude settle. See the 4-Day Lhasa tour for the full day description.
Day2
Tibet Museum · Nanshan Park · Jokhang Temple · Barkhor Street
Tibet Museum in the morning, Nanshan Park panorama, then Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit in the afternoon. See the 4-Day Lhasa tour for the full day description.
Day3
Potala Palace · Sera Monastery Monk Debate · Local Family Visit
Potala Palace in the morning, Sera Monastery’s monk debate in the afternoon, and a local Tibetan family visit to close the day. See the 4-Day Lhasa tour for the full day description.
Day4
Gampala Pass · Yamdrok Lake · Karola Glacier · Return to Lhasa
Leave Lhasa early and drive south through the Lhasa River valley. The road climbs steadily towards the Gampala Pass (4,794 m) — and at the top, the view arrives without warning: Yamdrok Lake spread below in a crescent of impossible turquoise, enclosed by snow ridges on three sides, still and vast.
Tibetans regard Yamdrok Lake (Yamdroktso) as one of the four sacred lakes of Tibet and believe it to be the soul of the land. The lake covers 678 square kilometres yet reaches no more than 60 metres in depth — luminous rather than dark, brilliant rather than brooding. Pilgrims have been circumambulating its shores for centuries.
The road descends from the pass and follows the northern shore through the small town of Nakartse. There is unhurried time beside the water — to walk, to photograph, to sit with the colour and the silence that surrounds it.
On the return drive towards Lhasa, the highway passes within metres of the Karola Glacier — one of the largest roadside-accessible glaciers in Tibet. The ice face descends from the mountain ridge above like a frozen waterfall, startling in its proximity. The glacier has been retreating in recent decades; seeing it up close is a reminder of how much is at stake.
Day5
Lhasa Departure — Transfer to Airport or Train Station
Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the airport or train station. Tour services end here.
If your flight or train departs in the afternoon, there is time for one last hour on Barkhor Street — souvenirs, sweet tea, and a proper farewell.
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
Am I qualified to join this group tour?
This tour is open to all travellers with a valid passport. No trekking fitness is required — the tour is rated Easy, with no strenuous hiking. Day 4 involves a mountain road reaching 4,794 m at the Gampala Pass; travellers with heart or serious respiratory conditions should consult a doctor before booking.
We clarify any nationality-specific permit requirements at booking and handle all paperwork on your behalf.
What Tibet permits do I need, and how soon must I apply?
This tour requires two permits, both of which we handle on your behalf once you confirm your booking:
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit — mandatory for all foreign visitors to Tibet, cannot be obtained on arrival. Allow at least 15 days before your departure date.
Alien’s Travel Permit (ATP) — required for travel to Nakartse County (Yamdrok Lake area), which lies outside the Lhasa city area. We apply for this simultaneously with the TTB permit at no extra cost — it is already included in the tour price.
See our Tibet Permit Guide for full details on timelines and documents required.
How many people will be in my group?
Our small-group tours are run with a group size of 3–8 pax. Most departures run with 4–8 people. You travel in a comfortable private minibus — not a large coach — with a dedicated Tibetan guide and driver throughout. Groups are typically international. 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.
When is the best time for this tour?
April–June and September–October are the ideal months for this tour: clear skies, pleasant daytime temperatures of 14–22°C in Lhasa, and Yamdrok Lake at its most vivid — the turquoise colour is intensified by strong spring and autumn light.
July and August are the monsoon months. Lhasa sees afternoon showers but remains accessible; the lake road is generally fine. Bring a warm layer regardless of season — altitude makes the air cool even in summer.
December through February is cold at night (around -5°C in Lhasa) but the days are often brilliantly sunny. Yamdrok Lake can partially freeze in January–February, which has its own austere beauty. However, if seeing the famous turquoise colour is important to you, plan for the warmer months.
The one consistent rule: the day-to-night temperature gap is large year-round. Pack layers.
How does the group tour run? Is there flexibility?
Each day has a set programme, but your guide builds in breathing room throughout. The one firm commitment is Potala Palace on Day 3 — entrance requires timed advance tickets and cannot be rescheduled. Everything else adapts to the group’s pace.
If your travel dates don’t exactly match the group departure: if you are one or two days early or late, you can join the group for the overlapping days and we arrange private transport with a guide for the days you miss — so you still see everything. The group portion is charged at the group rate; the catch-up days at the private rate.
If no group departure fits your dates, we check whether another group is available for you to hop on and/or off. If not, we arrange the full tour as a private programme. The goal is always to find the option that suits your schedule at the lowest cost.
How do airport and train station transfers work?
Your guide meets you at arrivals with a name board on Day 1 and transfers you to the hotel in a private vehicle. On Day 5, your guide takes you directly to the airport or train station timed to your departure.
Lhasa Gonggar Airport is approximately 60–70 minutes from the city centre; Lhasa train station is about 20 minutes. Please share your flight number or train details when booking so we can plan the transfer correctly.
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.
