8 Days Everest Base Camp Group Tour is one of the most popular selling tours in Tibet. Unfortunately, the Everest base camp (5200m) was closed in mid-2018 for environmental protection purposes. But it’s still open to visit till the Rongbuk Monastery (4980m), from where we have the stunning north-face view of Mt. Everest. The Mt. Everest Base Camp tour is famous for both tourists and mountaineering.
Rongbuk monastery is the highest monastery globally, with an elevation of 4,980 metres (16,340 ft) above sea level. The monastery was built in 1902 by the Nyingmapa Lama Ngawang Tenzin Norbu in an area of meditation huts and caves that had been in use by communities of nuns and monks since the 18th century. The Rongbuk monastery is only the Nyingmapa monastery in the Everest region.
Today, the monastery is accessible by road after an hour’s drive from the Friendship Highway from either Shelkar (New Tingri) or Old Tingri. From Rongbuk Monastery, there are dramatic views of the north face of Mount Everest.
If you like to do this tour without going back to Lhasa after Everest Base Camp, you can drive to the Kyirong border and exit to Nepal.
Check the other recommended tours here:
Lhasa Gongkar Airport (Google Map)
Your 8 Days Everest Base Camp Group Tour starting from today and driving for about an hour from the airport to Lhasa. If you enter Lhasa by train, it’s only 2o minutes to the hotel.
Upon arrival at the Lhasa Gongkar airport / Lhasa train station, our client warmly welcomes our Tibetan local tour guide and the traditional Tibetan white scarf.
After check-in at the hotel, the guide will be briefing the tour itineraries for the next few days. We recommend you relax in the hotel to acclimatise to the high altitude for the rest of the day.
We will begin our visit from Jokhang Temple, one of the most sacred temples in Tibet built in the 7th century by the 33rd king of Tibet – Songtsen Gampo.
“Jokhang” means the temple of the Buddha builds for the enshrinement of the Shakyamuni image, which is believed to be inexistent before the lifetime of Shakyamuni. After visiting the temple, you can explore the surrounding Barkhor street and spend time walking around the Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Sera Monastery, one of three great monasteries of Gelugpa school will attend the monks’ debating session, which is quite popular in Sera.
Today we visit the stunning Potala Palace – the landmark of Lhasa and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala is the winter palace that was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. Provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Norbulingka Palace, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama.
Today is the scenic drive with breathtaking high passes and the holy lake. Driving along the Lhasa river till the Lhasa Airport and we cross Kampa-la Pass [4797m] and then Karo-la Pass [5050m], where Mt. Nyanchen Khangsar [7206m] glacier lies near the road.
In the middle, we enjoy the unreal turquoise waters of holy lake Yamdrok-Yumtso. Also, we admire the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) overlooking the valley. Finally, we arrive at Gyantse town to visit the considered best Tibetan art paintings in Kumbum Stupa inside Pelkor Chode Monastery.
Then we drive North-West to reach the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region – Shigatse. At there, we visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama.
Nowadays is the spiritual seat for the successive Panchen Lamas. We recommend doing Kora around Tashilhunpo Monastery if times allow having an incredible panorama view of the valley and impressive Dzong (fortress).
The journey to Rongbuk Monastery / Everest Base Camp involves crossing Tso La (4700m) pass, Gyatso La (5220m) pass and Pang La (5150m) pass.
Driving 330km from Shigatse to Rongbuk Monastery takes about 6hrs. It can enjoy the fantastic views of several peaks like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Shishabangma, and Mt. Everest from the top of the Pang-la pass (5150m).
Some groups that like to do trekking are also doing trekking from Tingri to Everest Base Camp.
It’s worth taking some pictures of the sunrise on Mt. Everest early morning. After breakfast, we visit Rongbuk Monastery and then drive back to Shigatse.
Today, we drive back to Lhasa through the G318 Friendship Highway along the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) for 6hrs.
After arrival in Lhasa, you will have half-day free time for shopping and exploring around.
Our 8 Days Everest Base Camp Group Tour officially ends today.
Have a safe journey after that
We travel to Tibet after an extended plan with Tibet Focus Travel & Tours. First, we look for a good Tibetan travel agency in Tibet through google, youtube, etc. Finally, we choose them because they are the local Tibetan tour operator who takes care of the travellers.
I contacted Mr, Tennor in July, and finally, we booked the tour with his agency for eight days Everest Base Camp tour in Tibet.
The owner, Mr Tennor, coordinated with me for quite a long time before confirming our tour. He was exceptionally instant in answer to all our questions. All plans were settled by Tennor even before we arrived at Lhasa Airport.
From the first day we arrived at Lhasa, our guide Mr Tenzin took good care of us for our first time at such altitude. Without them, we will not have had a wonderful trip to Tibet.
Thank you very much for the whole team.
