13 Days Nyingchi Everest Base Camp Namtso Tour

B-- Breakfast    L-- Lunch    D-- Dinner

• Day 1 Arrive in Chengdu/Chongqing

     

  Upon your arrival at Chengdu or Chongqing, the driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel.
  Travel Tip:
  We recommend that you get plenty of sleep the night before traveling on to Tibet and stay fully hydrated in order to minimize the symptoms of high altitude sickness.

  Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu or Chongqing

• Day 2 Flight from Chengdu/Chongqing to Nyingtri - Drive to Pomi

     

  Today we will take an early 7:30 a.m. flight from Chengdu, arriving in Nyingtri around 9:15 a.m. After we have arranged the proper credentials, we’ll proceed to the 2,600-year old Nyingtri Cypress Forest, pass through the Sela area and then move on to the aboriginal Lulang Forests. Beneath perennially snow-capped mountains, the Lulang Forest bursts with verdant new life in spring and blazes with vibrant red colors in autumn, providing incredible scenery no matter what season it is.

  Accommodation: Stay overnight at Pomi

• Day 3 Pomi to Rawok Lake (163 kilometers, 2-hour drive on asphalt roads)

     

  This morning we will journey on to Rawok Lake, located in southwestern Basu County. Rawok Lake is the main headstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, fed by the famous Laigu Glacier that extends down all the way to the side of the lake. This beautiful lake is bounded on both sides by grassy lands filled with unique plant life, which makes for fantastic photos with the colorful plants contrasting with the snow-covered mountains in the background. After our visit to the lake, we will drive on to Bomi to stay overnight.

  Accommodation: Stay overnight at Pom

• Day 4 Bomi – Lulang Forest – Mt. Sekyimla – Great Cypress Nature Reserve

     

  A scenic drive from Bayi Town to Bomi today will take us through the Lulang Forest, a high altitude (3700 meters) forest that features dense bushes along with spruce and pine trees on both sides of Castle Peak. The clouds in the distance hover over the snow-capped mountains with the endless green of the pine trees creating a beautiful pastoral landscape. From there we will drive on to Sekyim-la Pass (elevation 4720 meters) and enjoy the great Mt. Namjia Bawa (elevation 7700 meters) in the distance. To cap off this day, we will visit the Great Cypress Nature Reserve area, located 15 kilometers southeast of the Bayi Town. The most impressive tree in the reserve is an ancient king cypress, about 50 meters tall and estimated to be 2,500 years old.

  Accommodation: Overnight at 3-star hotel at Bayi Town

• Day 5 Bayi Town to Darksum-tso - Lhasa (470 kilometers)

     

  Today’s schedule will take us on a drive to Lhasa from Nyingchi. Along the way we will visit the “Switzerland of Tibet” - Darksum-tso, a beautiful lake, which lies in the valley in a massive crescent shape. 12 kilometers long and hundreds of meters wide, the lake spans a total area of 6000 mu. Abundant wildlife complements the natural beauty of the lake, with yellow duck, white crane and countless fish living in the picture-perfect lake area. Once we have had plenty of time to explore and take photos of the mountain as it is magically reflected in a mirror image on the lake, we’ll drive on to Lhasa to spend the night.

  Accommodation: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa

• Day 6 Lhasa City Sightseeing - Potala Palace - Jokhang Temple - Barkhor Street

     

  After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the incredible Potala Palace – the highest palace in the world. As we climb to the entrance gate, you will have a spectacular view over all of Lhasa. After exploring the numerous interesting chapels and learning about the traditional culture and history of the palace and the city, we will move on to the spiritually significant Jokhang Temple, one of the most important temples in Tibetan Buddhism. To see the “real” Lhasa, we’ll stroll through Barkhor Street with its thriving local market where you can pick up some local Tibetan, Nepalese and Indian handicrafts and souvenirs.
  Tips for Visiting Potala Palace
  1. The number of visitors to the palace is strictly limited to 2,300 per day. Visitors can only visit during the time specified on the admission ticket.
  2. Admission tickets to visit the Potala Palace are sold out almost every day, so it is strongly recommended to book your tickets several days in advance. 
  3. There are many steps at the Potala Palace, so it’s best to take it slowly to avoid possible altitude discomfort.
  4. Visitors should respect the rules while visiting. Do not wear hats, wear revealing clothes or step on thresholds as these actions violate local customs.
  5. Photography and the taking of videos are forbidden inside the Potala Palace.
  6. A security search will take place at the entrance to the palace. Explosives, flammables, knives, lighters and even water bottles are not allowed inside the Potala Palace.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

• Day 7 Lhasa City Sightseeing - Sera Monastery – Drepung Monastery

     

  Today features visits to 2 of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism – the Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Drepung Monastery is located on the hillside west of Lhasa – at one time the world’s largest monastery with about 10,000 monks living there. A pleasant walk up the hill leads to the solemn ambience inside the monastery’s many halls and chapels. After Drepung, we will move on to the Sera Monastery. The main highlight of the Sera Monastery is watching the crowd of monks debating inside the shady courtyard behind the main temple. Every day except Sunday, hundreds of red-robed monks assemble in small groups and practice their debating skills – a very impressive sight to behold, as the monks are very animated in their debates about the various attributes of Buddhist scriptures.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

• Day 8 Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake – Karola Glacier – Gyantse (Kumbum Monastery) – Shigatse

     

  This morning we’ll take a drive up to the Kampala Pass (elevation 4797 meters) where you’ll have a glimpse of Yamdrok Lake down below as well as spectacular views of the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance. You will want to have your camera at the ready for the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, which is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, and the beautiful Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier as seen from the Karola Pass. Later on we’ll be able to visit the Karola Glacier before continuing along the southern Friendship Highway to Gyantse, where you will be able to see the famous Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late in the afternoon we will continue on to Shigatse where we will spend the night.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Shigatse 3-Star hotel

• Day 9 Shigatse – Tingri – Rongphu Monastery – Everest Base Camp

     

  After breakfast we’ll set out towards the peak of the world – Mount Everest. Departing from Shigatse and traveling via Lhatse and Tingri, you will see some of the most beautiful and unique scenery in the world – incredibly blue skies, floating high clouds, endless grasslands and the highest mountain peaks in the world. We’ll also stop by the Rongbuk Monastery – the world’s highest altitude monastery before spending the night at the Everest Base Camp. 
  Travel Tip:
  Due to the high altitude, it is possible that you may have some symptoms of altitude sickness. We recommend that you stay well hydrated, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery to minimize your symptoms.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Guest house or Tent

• Day 10 Everest Base Camp – Shigatse

     

  Enjoy a breathtaking sunrise at the Everest Base Camp before we journey back through the spectacular scenery to spend the night again in Shigatse.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Shigatse 3-Star hotel

• Day 11 Shigatse - Tashilunpo Monastery – Namtso (550 kilometers, 8-hour drive time)

     

  We will get an early start today to visit the Tashilunpo Monastery, which was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama. After visiting this ancient monastery, one of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism, we will take the 80-kilometer drive back to Lhasa along the northern Friendship Highway. This route will take us through Daktuka across the bridge over the Bramaputra River and along the valley in the north to Namtso Lake. During today’s journey we will pass through many typical Tibetan villages with their traditional houses and peaceful environments. We will also cross the Shuege-la Pass (elevation 5300 meters), arriving at beautiful Namtso Lake in the afternoon with time to hike around the Tahi Do peninsula.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Namtso Lake Tent guest house

• Day 12 Namtso – Lhasa (250 kilometers, 5-hour drive time)

     

  We will arise early to view the magnificent sunrise over this holy sky lake before we begin the drive back to Lhasa. On our return journey we will pass the famous Yampanchen Hot Spring. If you are interested, we can make an optional stop here although the cost for visiting the hot spring is not included in the cost of the usual tour itinerary. You will have some free time this evening in Lhasa for your last night in Tibet.

  Accommodation: Overnight at Lhasa 3-Star hotel

• Day 13 Transfer to Lhasa Airport – Departure from Lhasa

     

  Your day will be free until we pick you up to take you on the 90-minute drive to the Lhasa airport for your departing flight.

  Accommodation: