Small group or private
7 Days Kathmandu Lhasa Highlights Tour by Flight
7 Days $880 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Kathmandu Boudhanath Stupa Fly to Lhasa Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Yamdrok Lake Shigatse Kathmandu and Lhasa are two of the greatest cities on the Himalayan range, connected…
- 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Kathmandu → Boudhanath Stupa → Fly to Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Yamdrok Lake → Shigatse
- Moderate 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
- Kathmandu → Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath
- Lhasa → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
- Lhasa → Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
- Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse
Day by day
Kathmandu → Boudhanath Stupa → Fly to Lhasa → Potala Palace → Jokhang Temple → Yamdrok Lake → Shigatse
Day1
Arrive Kathmandu — Explore Thamel
Arrive in Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel and explore the vibrant Thamel district.
Day2
Kathmandu — Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath
Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu: the giant Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River and Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) with its panoramic views.
Day3
Fly Kathmandu to Lhasa — Rest
Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa (spectacular Himalayan views from the plane). Check into hotel and rest to acclimatize to Lhasa’s altitude.
Day4
Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Explore Lhasa’s iconic cultural sites: the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street.
Day5
Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
Visit Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Watch the famous monk debates at Sera (15:00–17:00).
Day6
Yamdrok Lake — Gyantse — Shigatse — Return Lhasa
Day trip to Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse Kumbum, visiting Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse before returning to Lhasa.
Day7
Lhasa Departure
Transfer to Lhasa 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.
What is included
Included
- Tibet Entry Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit
- Nepal and/or Bhutan entry visa assistance
- All entrance fees for tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour guide throughout
- All ground transportation as listed
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- International flights
- Meals not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner unless specified)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses (laundry, snacks, optional activities)
- Visa fees for China, Nepal or Bhutan
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 Kathmandu. 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.
