Lhasa-Kathmandu Road Trip
Lhasa-Kathmandu Road Trip – 10 days
A journey of charm and mystery, our ultimate cultural tour winds from Lhasa (Tibet) to Kathmandu (Nepal), via Everest Base Camp. Enjoy comfortable travel in a Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD, covering vast tracts of unpopulated terrain. You’ll cross spectacular mountain passes and striking landscapes, pausing regularly to appreciate the astounding natural and cultural treasures:
- Ancient temples and monasteries
- Potala Palace, the 8th wonder of the world
- Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer palace
- Remote villages untouched by modern civilisation
- Everest Base Camp, where the mighty grandeur of Everest’s north face has to be seen to be believed
This 10-day road trip is designed for travellers who love adventure, but have limited time or lower fitness levels. For another Light-Adventure try our Everest Base Camp Light-Adventure, or get more active with our 16-day Annapurna Sanctuary Adventure.
Lhasa – Kathmandu Road Trip – 10 days
DAY 01 Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m/11,972ft)
Your tour starts with your arrival in Lhasa today. There are two ways to arrive in Lhasa – via Nepal or via mainland China. If you choose to fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa you will have a 1 hour 10 minute trans-Himalayan flight, which is considered one of the most beautiful air routes in the world. It takes you over Everest (8,848m/29,021ft), Kanchenjunga (8,536m/27,998ft) and other Himalayan peaks.
If you are coming via mainland China, you might fly from any major city or take the world’s highest train route to reach Lhasa. You will be met by our Tibetan guide at the airport/railway station. From here to Lhasa is a 93-km drive, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. It’s advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day, due to Lhasa’s altitude.
Overnight in Lhasa
Includes lunch (L) & dinner (D)
DAY 02 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Our tour begins with a visit to Sera Monastery, accompanied by an experienced guide who also acts as interpreter. This is a well-preserved monastery of whitewashed walls and golden roofs. Equally stimulating is the tour of Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama.
Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site, which reveals more deep mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. A visit to Barkhor market offers quite a contrast as you roam around the city, examining all the different produce on the stalls and perhaps purchasing some traditional Tibetan goods. Overnight in Lhasa.
(B)
DAY 03 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Today, visits to the Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery will give you further invaluable insights. From the Mar Po Ri Hill, where the monumental 17th-century Potala Palace stands, the view of the entire city is truly awesome. The Potala Palace is an immense structure, its interior space being in excess of 130,000 square metres. It contains the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, together with numerous grand staterooms and chapels. Next we will visit Drepung Monastery, a residence of the Dalai Lama before the Potala Palace. It was built in the 14th century and used to house around 10,000 monks. Tibetans have immense respect for this monastery. Overnight in Lhasa.
(B)
DAY 04 Sightseeing in Lhasa
In the morning we will visit the Tibet Museum. Officially opened in October 1999, the museum houses a rich collection of prehistoric cultural relics, including statues of the Buddha in different postures, imperial jade seals, gold albums, gifts given by emperors, colourful thankas, and various printed Sanskrit and Tibetan scriptures. You can also see a variety of folk art such as unique Tibetan handicrafts, costumes, jewellery and ornaments made of gold, silver, and jade, as well as fine Chinese pottery. Quite apart from the collections it houses, the museum complex with its ornamented beams, pillars, lintels, banners and wall hangings displays traditional Tibetan architectural styles. In the afternoon, we are free to go shopping. Overnight in Lhasa.
(B)
DAY 05 Drive to Gyantse (3,950m/12,956ft) – 265 km
Driving along Friendship Highway, past Khamba La (4,794 m/15724ft)), we will have a break to appreciate majestic views of Yamdrok Tso, a lake notable for its deep blue colour, and the Nazin Kang Sang glacier, standing proud at 7,252m/23,787ft. Further west, we will cross the Karo La pass at 5,045m/16,548ft. A glance ahead shows huge glaciers extending right down to the road. After several hours’ drive, we enter the town of Gyantse, where we will see beautifully landscaped Tibetan villages. Overnight in Gyantse.
(B)
DAY 06 Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3,900m/12,792ft) – 92km
Gyantse prides itself on the Gyantse Dzong and Kumbum. The Gyantse Dzong is a historic 14th-century fort with a mesmerising view of the whole of Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu valley. The Kumbum has a large gold domed chorten (stupa) 35m/115ft high and contains many chapels with Tibetan Buddhist murals. Kumbum means ‘100,000 images’ in Tibetan. After enjoying and exploring Gyantse, we will take a 90km drive to Shigatse. After driving for about 1.5 hours, we come to the Shalu Monastery, whose architecture reflects Han, Tibetan and Indian styles. After a brief stop at the monastery, we continue our journey to Shigatse, the second-largest city of Tibet. The major attraction of Shigatse is Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet. Overnight in Shigatse.
(B)
DAY 07 Drive to Shegar (4,150m/13,612ft) visiting Natang and Sakya Monastery en route – 274km
Today we will drive along the Friendship Highway through picturesque scenery, passing the small town of Lhatse and the Gyamtso La pass at 5,220m/17,122ft. We will visit Natang Monastery, 12km from Shigatse, before driving on to Sakya Monastery. Here, in the great library, you can see the largest book in the world, written in gold. As we continue our journey, our route now takes us across plains, where many monasteries and camps of nomadic herders become visible. In the evening we reach Shegar. Overnight in Shegar.
(B)
DAY 08 Drive to Rongbuk (5,050m/16,564ft), Explore Everest Base Camp (5,250m/17,220ft) – 85km
Leaving Shegar, we drive south, crossing the Pang La pass at 5,150m/16,890ft. On the way, we revel in the splendid views of majestic, snow-capped peaks such as Makalu and Shishapangma. After driving for 85km, we eventually reach Rongbuk, where we get a spectacular view of Mt. Everest. The programme today is to explore Everest Base Camp (EBC). Only expeditions are allowed to drive to EBC, so you will need to walk 8km each way or take a horse or local bus.
We will also visit Rongbuk Monastery, a Buddhist pilgrimage site founded in 1902 by a Nyingmapa lama in an area of meditation huts that had been in use by monks and hermits for over 400 years. Hermits’ meditation caves dot the cliff walls all around the monastery complex and up and down the valley. Walls and stones, carved with sacred syllables and prayers, line the paths. Overnight in Rongbuk.
(B)
DAY 09 Drive to Zhangmu (2,300m/7,544ft) – 245 km
In case bad weather or unforeseen circumstances prevent us from exploring Everest Base Camp on Day 8, first light today provides an opportunity to explore Everest Base Camp and to watch the sun rise on Mt. Everest. This is a truly awe-inspiring place, with the north face of the highest mountain in the world soaring above us.
We return to the Friendship Highway to continue the drive to Zhangmu. Passing Tingri, we will cross the Lalung La pass (5,124m/16,068ft), the Shung La pass (5,200m/17,056ft) and the Nalyam pass (3,800m/12,464 ft), which offer enchanting views of the surrounding peaks of Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Menlungtse and Gauri Shanker. Gradually, we descend from the dry Tibetan Plateau till we find ourselves amidst the verdant, lush vegetation of Zhangmu (2,300m/7,544ft) on the Nepalese border. Overnight in Zhangmu.
(B)
DAY 10 Drive to Kathmandu (1,350m/4,428ft) – 123km
A few kilometres’ drive from Zhangmu lie Friendship Bridge across the Bhote Koshi river and Immigration Control at Kodari. Here we say goodbye to our Tibetan guide and driver, and cross the river to meet our Nepalese guide to drive to Kathmandu. After 4 hours of driving through deep valleys, we finally arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu (hotel not included).
(B)
What we’ve included
- Hotel, arrival/departure transfer
- All necessary Tibet travel permits
- Everest National Park admission fee and Grass dame charge
- Getting Chinese visa and Tibet travel permit
- Tibet border (Zhangmu) to Kathmandu transfer by comfortable vehicle
- Lhasa to Everest Base Camp to Zhangmu transfer by non-air-conditioned Land Cruiser (4WD Toyota)
- 9 nights’ accommodation in Tibet on twin-sharing basis, with breakfast
- English-speaking Tibetan guide
- All fees for sightseeing and monasteries, as outlined in the itinerary
- All applicable taxes and service charges
What isn’t included
- Accommodation in Kathmandu
- Chinese visa fee (US$175 for US clients and US$85 for other nationals – visa fees are subject to change without prior notice)
- International flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa (US$400) and China to Lhasa
- Travel insurance
- Meals other than breakfast in Tibet
- Tips for guides and driver
- Nepal visa
- Train ticket from China to Lhasa
Fitness and experience
The Lhasa – Kathmandu Road Trip involves 5–6 hours’ driving per day, but comparatively little walking (indeed, walking is not obligatory). However, it is all at very high altitude, which will take a physical toll. There are no special physical requirements, but high altitude experience is a plus.
Accommodation
All accommodation is on a twin-share basis and has been chosen for its standard of hygiene, standard of service, location and food quality. During the tour we will use the Kyichu Hotel (or similar) in Lhasa, the Gyantse Hotel (or similar) in Gyangtse, the Mansarover Hotel or the Shengkang Hotel in Shigatse, the Qomolangama Hotel (or similar) in Shegar, the Everest View Hotel (or similar) in Rongbuk and the Zhangmu Hotel or the Caiyuan Hotel in Zhangmu.
Single accommodation will be provided on request for a single supplement fee of US$ 200. Please bear in mind that this is a standard overland package – contact us for a private or upgraded tour.
Meals
Breakfast each day is included in the package. This will be a dish of Tibetan or continental origin, cooked by the lodgings you stay at. Lunch, dinner and any extra food are up to you; as a rough guide, budget Yuan 60–100 (US$10–16) per day.
What to pack
For magnificent walks, rustic sightseeing and ancient sites situated thousands of metres high – check out our list of essential gear.
Acclimatisation and AMS
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a medical condition caused by going up to high altitudes too fast – and it can prove fatal. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. During this trip, you will travelling quickly at above 5,000m except at Lhasa (3,650m). In Tibet there is is 50% less oxygen than there is at sea level. So it is absolutely essential to allow sufficient time for acclimatisation because our bodies need a few days to adapt safely to this lower-oxygen environment.
Himalayan Adventures does it’s best to minimise the risk of AMS through an acclimatisation-focused itinerary. However, it is important to remember that some people can be more vulnerable to AMS than others, so we advise guests with known heart, lung or blood conditions to consult their doctor before travelling.
Mild headaches, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorders are symptoms of AMS. Read more about it in “Altitude Illness” by Dr Jim Duff.
Your guides
All our tour leaders speak fluent English and know all the complexities and history of the areas they travel in. All our Tibet trips are run jointly with our Tibetan counterpart, so you can be assured of that authentic local touch. We can run this tour for as few as 2 people and up to 8 people. However, if you’d like to make a group booking for more than 8 people it can easily be arranged and you can choose the dates that best suit you.
When to go
Autumn (August, Sept & Oct), spring (March & April) & summer (May, June & July) are the best seasons for attempting this wonderful trans-Himalayan overland journey. Irrespective of the group size, the Lhasa – Kathmandu Road Trip can be arranged for both individuals and small group travellers at any time on your request.
