Classic Tibet 8 Days: Lhasa, Gyangtse, Shigatse, Sakya, Everest Base Camp

Welcome to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your Lhasa hotel. You can take a rest for the rest of today for acclimatization the high altitude 3600 meter in Lhasa.

Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. Potala Palace was first built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king—Songtsen Gampo. The current one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. The Potala is divided into Red Palace and White Palace. The red palace was for religious use and the white one for political use. It takes the whole morning to visit Potala Palace.

Then you will have lunch at the local restaurant.

Afterwards you will walk to visit Jokhang Monastery that is situated in the old section of Lhasa, which was built in the 7th century AD by king Songtsen Gampo. It is the most sacred place in Tibet as it houses the sculpture of 12-year-old Sakyamuni that was brought by Wencheng Princess in the7th century.

Barkhor street is a big free market around Jokhang Monastery where you can purchase all sorts of Tibetan souvenirs. Barkhor Streets is also an essential pilgrim route.

Today you will drive to Gyangtse via Gampa La pass(4980m) which offers spectacular views for the Nojin Kangsang snow ranges, the turquoise lake  (4400m) Yamdrok-tso,  the glacial mountain peak Nojin Kangsang (7200m) , and Gyangtse township(4000m). 

This afternoon, you will visit Gyangtse township, Pelkor Monastery and the old part of town in Gyangtse. 

Continue driving in the Nyang-chu valley about 90 km to north via Padnam township to Shigatse city (3900m) where we will visit Pachen Lama's seat place, the great Tashilumpo monastery, a very big and complex monastery in Tibet. Afterwards continue driving to Sakya, a seat monastery for Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

This morning you will visit the imposing Sakya Monastery. It has a history of more than 900 years, and is the leading monastery for the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. A number of cultural relics and artifacts in the Sakya Monastery ensure that it is a historical and cultural museum, presenting its glittering past to all visitors. 

Afterwards you will drive about 4 hours through the high pass over 5200m to Shegar town.

Today we will get away from the Friendship Highway and travel towards Rongbuk Monastery near the Mount Everest Base Camp. Rongbuk Monastery is the highest monastery in the world and has been rebuilt considerably in the past decade. From Everest base camp, you can see stunning views of Everest and the surrounding Rongbuk Valley. Spend the rest of the day on exploring the Everest Base Camp. 

This morning you still can explore the Everest base camp area, afterwards you will take the same way back to Shigatse. Please note the Everest view might be covered by clouds depending on the weather.

Today you will be transferred to Shigatse Airport to catch your flight to next destination, where the wonderful Tibet tour concludes. Note: There are daily flights from Shigatse to Chengdu.