Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour

While reaching Everest Base Camp and Lhasa are the major highlights of the Lhasa to EBC tour. There are several other landmarks you will reach and pass by. Some of them are described below:

Potala Palace

One of the must-visit places when at Lhasa is the Potala Palace. It is over 1,300 years old and has been rebuilt many times. It was first built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo. After many wars, the palace was damaged, then in the 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama rebuilt it and made it the main center of Tibetan religion and government. Later, Dalai Lamas made small repairs, and the palace still looks much the same today.

The name “Potala Palace” comes from the Sanskrit word Potalaka, believed to be the home of Chenresig, the Buddha of Compassion. Tibetans think that King Songtsen Gampo and the Dalai Lamas are the human form of Chenresig. This is why the Potala Palace is not only a royal palace but also a holy place full of blessings. The palace is 13 stories high and built with stone and wood. It has two main parts: the White Palace, where the Dalai Lama lived and worked, and the Red Palace, which has temples, chapels, and libraries. Inside, you can see beautiful 698 murals, Thangkas (religious paintings), statues of Buddha and past Dalai Lamas, and many other treasures that show the history and culture of Tibet.

Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple is the holiest temple in Tibet. Its history dates back about 1,300 years, and features a special life-size statue of Buddha Jowo Shakyamuni, which shows Buddha when he was 12 years old. The temple was built by King Songtsen Gampo. Many Buddhist teachers like Atisha and Tsongkhapa taught here, so it is very holy for all Tibetan Buddhists. Its design mixes Tibetan, Chinese, Nepalese, and Indian architecture and is designed like a mandala.

Jokhang Temple has a main hall, many chapels, and a golden roof. Inside, there are murals, statues, and religious treasures, including Buddha statues, chapels for famous masters, and a small white pagoda. The Temple is at the center of Barkhor Street in old Lhasa, and is very close to the Potala Palace and Ramoche Temple. Every year, thousands of pilgrims come here to pray and honor Buddha.

Barkhor Street

Barkhor Street is the oldest street in Lhasa and was once a holy path for Tibetan pilgrims. Today, it is also a busy market with many shops and traditional Tibetan houses. The street is paved with stones and keeps its old, colorful look.

You can find all kinds of Tibetan items here, like thangkas, prayer wheels, butter lamps, prayer flags, beads, traditional clothes, shoes, and local food like butter tea and dried meat. Pilgrims still walk the street, some doing full-body kowtows, and you will also see monks and people from different parts of Tibet. Barkhor Street is a great place to see Tibetan life, culture, and traditions up close.

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet. It was built in 1416 by Jamyang Chojey, a student of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa School. Long ago, it housed 10,000 monks and was called the “Nalanda of Tibet” because of its high-quality Buddhist education. Today, only a few hundred monks live there, but it still teaches many students in its colleges, including one for Tantric Buddhism.

Inside the monastery, there are many treasures like statues of Manjushri, Amitayus, and Tsongkhapa, as well as ancient murals and rare sutras. Drepung is also famous for the Shoton Festival, also known as the Yogurt Festival, which takes place in August. During this festival, monks display a giant thangka (Buddhist painting), and pilgrims come to pray and celebrate. It is a lively and exciting event. Visitors can also see the monk’s daily life, the large monastery kitchens, and special hidden areas if they know where to look.

Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery was built in 1419 by Shakya Yeshe. It is one of the six main Gelugpa monasteries in Tibet. It is famous for its stunning layout, featuring cobbled paths, temples, and colleges. Long ago, it had over 5,000 monks. The most exciting part of visiting Sera is watching the monks debate in the courtyard. The debates are loud, energetic, and sometimes funny, with monks clapping, snapping fingers, and joking as they discuss Buddhist teachings.

Sera Monastery also holds many precious Buddhist relics, scriptures, and sand mandalas, which are colorful designs made from sand. These mandalas are carefully created and then destroyed to show that life is temporary. Visiting Sera gives you a great look into Tibetan Buddhist life and traditions.

North Everest Base Camp

The North Everest Base Camp (EBC) in Tibet is a popular destination for travelers who want to see the world’s tallest mountain from the north side. If you are unsure why you should visit EBC from Tibet side, then one reason is: unlike the south side in Nepal, the north base camp is reachable by vehicle, so you don’t need to trek long distances to get close to Everest. From here, you can see the huge north face of Everest and other tall mountains like Cho Oyu and Shishapangma.

The base camp is at 5,200M, so visitors need time to acclimatize to avoid altitude sickness. The area is full of snow, glaciers, and wide open land, making it feel like you are on top of the world. A little far North EBC is the small base camp area where climbers start their expeditions to the summit of Everest. You can see tents, climbers preparing for their ascent, and sometimes the famous icefall on the north side.

In Tibet, people lead a highly spiritual life that is deeply rooted in Buddhism. You will see stupas, monasteries, and gumbas everywhere. Every day, the daily life of Tibetan people starts with a prayer, meditation, or walking around the monasteries. Families often gather to pray together, burn incense, and hang colorful prayer flags for good luck. They wear traditional clothes during special days and festivals. Tibetans are also known for being kind and welcoming.

Likewise, the main language spoken in Tibet is Tibetan. But you may also find some people speaking Mandarin Chinese, especially in cities and tourist areas. Signs in Lhasa and other major towns are usually in both Tibetan and Mandarin. It’s a good idea to learn some basic Tibetan phrases before you go there. Nonetheless, the hotel staff can communicate in simple English, which is a plus point for you.

Now comes the currency part. The official currency used is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). ATMs are widely available in Lhasa and Shigatse. But international cards may not work reliably. Therefore, you should carry enough cash with you to cover the entire trip expenditure. You can change USD or Euros at banks or exchange counters if you fall short of money.

If you are driving to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa, it takes 14 hours to get there. The approximate distance from Lhasa to EBC is 665KM (412Miles). The most commonly used route is through the Friendship Highway, which passes through Shigatse and Tingri. The drive from Lhasa to Shigatse takes about 7 hours (323KM), and from Shigatse to EBC takes another 7 hours (342KM).

You won’t drive 14 hours on the same day due to the high altitude and significant elevation gain. Thus, you will stay overnight in Shigatse on the first day and then travel to EBC the next day. And because of strict speed limits (40, 60, or 80 km/hr) in Tibet, the drive can feel long. Still, the journey will be exciting and memorable as it passes through beautiful mountain views, high passes, and peaceful scenery.

Now, many of you may be wondering about the road conditions from Lhasa to Mt Everest Base Camp. Is it a rough mountain road or a smooth paved one?

The answer is that the road from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp is now smooth and well-built, making the journey much more comfortable than before. The Chinese government has spent years improving the route so travelers can reach the foot of Mount Everest without difficulty. The road improvement work was completed around 2015. Today, the highway is fully paved with asphalt and runs across the beautiful Tibetan Plateau. Various types of vehicles, including tourist buses, can travel along this route. But tourist buses usually stop about a mile before the actual base camp.

Travelers can enjoy a pleasant drive, especially during the spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons in Tibet, which are considered the best times to visit Everest Base Camp. However, in winter, snow and ice can make the roads slippery and challenging to drive on. At that time, it is recommended to use a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle for safety.

During the tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp, you will find a variety of places to stay. In Lhasa, the city has many luxury hotels with comfortable rooms, private bathrooms, 24-hour service, and even oxygen supply for high altitude. For travelers on a budget, there are also affordable hotels that offer clean and simple rooms. In Shigatse, you can also find good hotels with decent facilities for an overnight stay.

However, at Everest Base Camp (North), accommodation is very basic. You will stay in tent hotels, which provide simple services but are enough for resting after the long journey. Guides are usually available throughout the tour to help you understand the culture, history, and local life of Tibet. They can also assist with travel arrangements, safety, and make your trip easier and more enjoyable.