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Everest & Namtso · 10 Days.

Extend the Everest loop with a separate journey to the northern plateau and Namtso.

Photo: Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Tibet travel documents

International visitors should arrange travel documents before booking transport into Tibet. Requirements depend on nationality, entry status, route and travel dates.

Passport and China entry status. Have a valid passport and the Chinese visa or visa-free entry eligibility that applies to you. Share copies only through the appointed travel operator's secure process.
Tibet Travel Permit. Foreign tourists need Tibet-specific travel approval. A qualified local travel operator will check your itinerary, travel dates, arrival and departure points and arrange the approved services. Travelers using a Taiwan compatriot travel permit should ask the operator about their separate document process.
Extra permissions for some routes. Everest, border areas and other restricted places may require additional travel or border permissions. The operator must confirm what applies to your exact route before accepting a booking.
Plan ahead. Do not book non-refundable travel until the operator has confirmed entry, permits, route access and timing. Carry the approved documents and follow the approved itinerary.

Official guidance: travel permits for foreign nationals and electronic border-area permits. Please ask us to verify the current rules for your trip.

AT A GLANCE

Lhasa · Shigatse · Rongbuk area · Damxung

Extend the Everest loop with a separate journey to the northern plateau and Namtso.

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THE ITINERARY

Day by day.

DAY 01

Arrive in Lhasa

Transfer to your hotel and take the rest of the day slowly. No scheduled sightseeing or strenuous walking is planned on arrival.

Overnight · Lhasa

**Potala Palace**
Photo credit
Photo: Ondřej Žváček · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

DAY 02

Potala, Jokhang and Barkhor

Visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple according to reserved entry times, with a gentle walk around Barkhor. The order may change around tickets and your energy.

Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor

Overnight · Lhasa

**Jokhang Temple**
Photo credit
Photo: Rene Heise · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

**Barkhor**
Photo credit
Photo: Taken by Fanghong · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

DAY 03

Lhasa’s monasteries

Explore Drepung and Sera monasteries with regular breaks. Activities inside the monasteries depend on their daily schedules.

Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery

Overnight · Lhasa

**Sera Monastery**
Photo credit
Photo: Antoine Taveneaux · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

DAY 04

Lhasa to Shigatse

Drive via Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier corridor, with short stops near Gyantse. Continue to Shigatse for the night.

Yamdrok Lake Karola Glacier Gyantse Kumbum

Overnight · Shigatse

**Karola Glacier**
Photo credit
Photo: Hiroki Ogawa · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

**Gyantse Kumbum**
Photo credit
Photo: Andrew and Annemarie · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

DAY 05

Towards Everest

Travel through the high plateau to the Rongbuk area for views of Everest’s north face. Mountain visibility and access are weather dependent.

Everest North Face Rongbuk Monastery

Overnight · Rongbuk area

**Rongbuk Monastery**
Photo credit
Photo: Antoine Taveneaux · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit

DAY 06

Rongbuk to Shigatse

Enjoy a morning mountain view if conditions allow, then return to Shigatse. Today is largely a road-travel day.

Rongbuk Monastery Everest North Face

Overnight · Shigatse

DAY 07

Tashilhunpo and Lhasa

Visit Tashilhunpo Monastery before returning to Lhasa, leaving an overnight buffer before departure.

Tashilhunpo Monastery

Overnight · Lhasa

DAY 08

Lhasa to Damxung

Travel north to Damxung and take a relaxed evening before the lake excursion. This overnight approach spreads the road travel over two days.

Namtso Lake

Overnight · Damxung

DAY 09

Namtso to Lhasa

Visit Namtso when weather and access allow, then return to Lhasa for the final night. Keep the lakeside visit flexible.

Namtso Lake

Overnight · Lhasa

DAY 10

Depart Lhasa

Allow time for the transfer to the airport or railway station. There is no fixed sightseeing on departure day.

Overnight · Lhasa

Travel arrangements, permits and current access for international visitors must be confirmed with a licensed Tibet operator before booking. Keep arrival day for rest; mountain and lake excursions depend on weather and individual response to altitude. The lake extension is seasonal; the Damxung-day image previews Namtso.

IMAGES FROM THE ROUTE

The places behind the journey.

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