Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour via EBC

Your 7 days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour via Everest Base Camp starts with your arrival in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. You can get here either by flying from major cities in China or from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. You can also take a train ride from Xining, Chengdu, Xian, or other cities in China. No matter how you reach Tibet, share your travel details with us, so our team can pick you up at the airport or train station.

After meeting you, our team will escort you to your hotel in Lhasa. The drive from the Lhasa Gonggar Airport to the city takes about 1.5 hours, and from the train station, about 20 minutes. Once you reach your hotel, take it easy and rest for the day. Lhasa is located at a high altitude, so it’s important to relax and allow your body to adjust. Spend the night in your hotel.

Day 2 is all about the Lhasa tour. After breakfast, you will begin your first Lhasa sightseeing tour. Today, you will explore three of the city’s most famous places, which are Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market. First, you will visit the Potala Palace. It is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage site. It used to be the winter home of the Dalai Lama. Built on Red Hill, the palace offers a view of the entire Lhasa city. Inside the palace, there are many rooms, chapels, and halls, each representing Tibetan art and history. You will also see colorful murals, ancient sculptures, and golden statues.

Next up, you will head to Jokhang Temple. It is one of the oldest and most important temples in Tibet. It was built by King Sangtsen Gampo to keep the Buddhist statues brought by his queens, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of China. Inside, you can see the statue of holy Jowo Shakyamuni Buddha. Outside, you can see hundreds of pilgrims praying and prostrating with deep devotion.

Your third stop is the Barkhor Street. It is a lively market area that circles the Jokhang Temple. Here, you can watch locals performing the Kora (circumambulation), buy souvenirs, and enjoy the colorful atmosphere of Tibetan life. After exploring, you will return to your hotel for dinner and rest. Second night in Lhasa.

It is another Lhasa tour. Today you will visit three major places: Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka Palace, and Sera Monastery. These places offer a deep insight into Tibetan Buddhism, culture, and history. Your first stop is Drepung Monastery. It is located at the foot of Gambo Utse Mountain in the western part of Lhasa. It is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet and a key center of the Gelungpa (Yellow Hat) sect. In the past, it was also the official residence of the Dalai Lama before the Potala Palace was built. Inside the monastery, you can explore its courtyards, assembly halls, and ancient murals.

The second visit is at the Norbulingka Palace. It is also known as the “Jewel Park”. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama in the 18th century and served as the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. Surrounded by gardens and ponds, Norbulingka covers over 360,000 square meters, making it the largest man-made garden in Tibet. The palace buildings feature colorful Tibetan architecture and contain ceremonial halls, murals, and collections of religious art.

Later, in the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery, one of Tibet’s most famous monastic universities. The name “Sera” means “Wild Rose”. The monastery was named Sera because the hillside around it was once filled with these flowers when the construction work was started. The one thing you should not miss here is the Monk Debate sessions. In this debate, monks discuss Buddhist philosophy using expressive hand movements and chants. Watching this live debate is truly a golden chance to learn about the intellectual and spiritual side of Tibetan Buddhism. After exploring, you’ll return to your hotel in Lhasa for dinner and a good night’s sleep. Get ready for your journey to Shigatse the next day.

After three wonderful day tour in Lhasa, on day 4, your tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu via EBC itinerary takes you to Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. The drive from Lhasa to Shigatse is a scenic journey that offers stunning mountain scenery, lake views, and glimpses of Tibetan villages along the way. One of the most beautiful sights on this route is Yamdrok Lake. It is a turquoise one of Tibet’s four holy lakes surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Stop here for a brief to enjoy the lake view. Later, you will cross Kamba La Pass, from where you can enjoy a wide view of this sacred lake.

Continuing the drive journey, shortly you will reach the Karola Glacier, which sits between Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse. The glacier is easily visible from the road, with shining white ice cliffs and small stupas that make it a perfect spot for photos. Later on, once you reach Gyantse, you will visit the historic Pelkor Chode Monastery. The monastery is famous for the Gyantse Kumbum, which is a magnificent multi-tiered stupa decorated with thousands of Buddhist murals and statues.

From Gyantse, you will again continue your drive towards Shigatse. You will reach Shigatse by evening. As you reach Shigatse, you will find that the landscape has changed from high mountains to fertile valleys and farmlands. Overnight stay in Shigatse.

The most awaited day of the overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu is here. You will finally reach the base of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, today. But before you hop on the drive, in the morning, you will visit Tashilunpo Monastery. The Tashilunpo Monastery sits on the southern slope of Nyiseri Mountain in the west of the Shigatse city. It is the largest monastery in the Tsang Area, built by the first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa, in 1447. Meanwhile, it is also one of the Great Six Gelugpa Monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism (the other five are Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery, Kumbum Monastery, and Labrang Monastery). At Tashilunpo, you will explore historic sites like Coqen Hall, Chapel of Jampa, 4 Great Dratsangs, Sutra Halls, and Kamcuns (dormitories). You can also see pilgrims walking the scenic kora around Tashilhunpo.

Later, you will leave Shigatse for Everest Base Camp (EBC). Along the drive journey, you will cross two high mountain passes, Gyatso La and Pang La. From the highway, you can enjoy sublime views of Mount Everest. The road to the base camp of Mount Everest is mostly paved and well-developed. So, you won’t have a hard time driving. Once at base camp, you can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good. Overnight at the basic tent house in Everest Base Camp.

You should wake up early to witness the magical sunrise at Everest Base Camp. But the chance for a wonderful sunrise view depends on the weather conditions. Nonetheless, you will have time to visit the Rongbuk Monastery, one of the highest monasteries in the world. The monastery offers spiritual peace and incredible views of Everest. After spending some time in the serene surroundings, you will begin your drive from EBC to Gyirong at around 10:00 AM. The route descends through the Rongbuk Valley. Along the way, you will pass Old Tingri, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Mt. Shishapangma and other Himalayan peaks.

Afterwards, the drive continues through Ghungtang Lhamo and then descends gradually toward Gyirong. The route offers a combination of rugged mountain landscapes, snow-capped peaks, and Tibetan plateau scenery. You will reach Gyirong by late afternoon. EBC to Gyirong is a memorable part of your Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour. Overnight stay in Gyirong.

Today you will drive from Tibet to Nepal. You will leave Gyirong and start your journey towards the Nepalese border at Rasuwagadhi. As you descend, the air becomes fresher and the landscapes greener. At the border, you will complete the immigration formalities. From Rasuwagadi, you will drive along the Pasang Lhamu Highway. You will pass through rural towns like Dhunche and Syabrubesi, which are also gateways to the popular Langtang trekking region.

The drive to Kathmandu offers views of the Himalayan hills, rivers, and terraced farmland. Some sections of the road may be rough, but the scenery makes it worthwhile. After approximately seven to eight hours on the road, you will arrive in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Your guide will take you directly to your hotel in Thamel, where you can relax and enjoy a well-deserved rest after an exciting overland journey from Lhasa. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.