Tibet Border & Everest: 7-Day Journey

Welcome to Lhasa, the City of Sunshine. Your local guide will greet you at the airport or train station with a traditional Tibetan Hada scarf and transfer you to your hotel. Take the rest of the day to rest and acclimatize to the high altitude.

Immerse yourself in the core cultural landmarks of Lhasa. Visit the magnificent Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then explore Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most sacred Buddhist shrine, and walk the ancient Barkhor Street circuit, where the devotion of Tibetan pilgrims meets the lively rhythm of local markets.

Visit Zaki Temple to pray for blessings on your journey ahead. At Sera Monastery, witness the famous Buddhist debates — a dynamic intellectual tradition unique to Tibetan Buddhism. In the afternoon, explore a heritage workshop to make Tibetan incense by hand and paint your own Thangka, connecting deeply with Tibet’s intangible cultural heritage.

Begin the westward journey to the sapphire waters of Yamdrok Lake, framed by snow peaks and high-altitude grasslands. Continue past Karola Glacier, where you can see the ancient ice tongue up close. Visit Palha Manor, a well-preserved aristocratic Tibetan estate, before arriving in Shigatse for the night.

Today, journey to the top of the world. Cross Gawula Pass, where on clear days you can see a breathtaking panorama of five 8,000-meter peaks including Everest. Arrive at Everest Base Camp, stand before the 8848-meter monument, and gaze up at the towering north face of Mount Everest — the highest point on Earth.

Continue through the Shishapangma Nature Reserve, where you can admire the majestic Shishapangma Peak and the serene Peikutso Lake. Descend into the lush Gyirong Valley — a dramatic transformation from the arid plateau to a green Himalayan gorge, often called the “Secret Garden of Tibet.” Arrive in Gyirong Town in the evening.