Lhasa & Everest - Small Group Tour

Starting From Learning Outcomes

$2,080.00

Attention: by choosing this selection, you are paying to book a private room on top of what you have already purchased previously (i.e. paying to not share a bedroom with another tour guest).

If you have ever dreamed of setting your feet on the soil of Tibet; experiencing its people, food, and culture; feasting your senses on the historical and cultural landmarks of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Norbulingka; or standing in the presence of the tallest mountains on Earth, then this is an opportunity you will not want to pass up.

Everest is a household name in every region of the world and an icon to the belief that all things are possible. As one of Earth’s ultimate destinations, the highest frontier of human ability remains an awe-inspiring natural wonder that most appreciate only through Discovery Channel documentaries. Experience for yourself the imposing beauty of Everest while also discovering the ancient and mysterious land of Tibet.

Extravagant Yak has created the perfect tour for those who consider a sense of adventure and a dose of curiosity essential travel ingredients. There is no strenuous hiking. In eight days we will take you by air from Chengdu to Lhasa, and then to Rongbuk Monastery by car to watch the sunrise on Mount Everest, one of the most epic landscapes on Earth. You’ll return as a member of an exclusive group of travellers who have beheld the highest point on planet Earth.

Let the mountains move you.
Lhasa and Everest are closer than you think.

Looking for a custom tour? Either way, we are pleased to oblige. After all, if joining an upcoming tour does not appeal to you, we specialize in consulting with you to tailor-make a route for you.

*pricing based on a min. group size of 4.

8 Days

Upcoming Group Trip Dates:

October 1 - 8, 2020
Register by Aug 20, 2020

Want to learn more?
Download a sample itinerary.

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Looking for a private trip? Send us an email!

Key Destinations

Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake, Shigatse, Rongbuk Monastery, Mt. Everest National Park

Transport

Private vehicle with driving distance 1300KM (Return)

Starts / Ends

Starts and ends in Chengdu (for group orientation before flying to Lhasa)

Included

Chengdu to Lhasa return airfare
Tibet Travel Permit (TTP)
Private vehicle and driver
All Lhasa transport, including airport pick-up and drop-off
All accommodation based on double occupancy (7 nights)
Extravagant Yak English speaking Tibetan guide
All meals
All activities and entrance fees (per itinerary)

Not Included in Price

International airfare to Chengdu
Medical, travel, and trip interruption insurance
Passport and visa fees
Activities not included in the trip itinerary
Alcoholic beverages
Souvenirs, laundry, items of a personal nature

Map

DAY 1 - Chengdu to Lhasa (Flight)

Accommodation: House of Shambala, Lhasa

Your tour commences with pick up in the morning at your hotel for a shuttle to Chengdu Shuangliu airport. Today you are flying to the roof of the world (3700m). It is hard to find such a short flight anywhere else on the planet where the geography, climate, elevation, and culture change so dramatically. After a short rest at your hotel, it is off to the heart of this ancient city for a walk through the lively Barkhor Bazaar that surrounds the venerated Jokhang Temple. It is an exotic experience to mix with nomads and religious pilgrims who have converged from all over Tibet.

DAY 2 - Lhasa

Accommodation: House of Shambala, Lhasa

This morning will take you on a leisurely stroll through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Norbulingka , meaning "Treasure Park." The central feature of this 89-acre park and gardens is Norbulingka Palace - the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas. After lunch, it is a short drive to the foothills north of town where Sera Monastery sits. This includes the fascinating experience of seeing monks engage in their daily practice of religious debate. A full day already, an afternoon rest will precede a later dinner.

DAY 3 - Lhasa

Accommodation: House of Shambala, Lhasa

Following breakfast, this morning's cultural highlight is a tour of the 17th century Potala Palace, the former chief residence of the Dalai Lama. With walls as thick as 5 meters and containing over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and 200,000 statues, any length of time in this historic engineering wonder is considered an abbreviated tour. A well-deserved rest after lunch will be appreciated before a visit to one of Lhasa's Tibetan rug factories for an introduction to their trade and an opportunity to pick up a unique souvenir.

DAY 4 - Lhasa to Shigatse

Accommodation: Gesar Hotel, Shigatse

Today begins the overland trip by private vehicle to Mt. Everest National Park. The Friendship Highway will take you by the turquoise waters of mystical Yamdrok lake, akin to Canada's Lake Louise in Banff, but grander in scale. From there, you'll view Karola Glacier and then onto Gyantse - home of the largest stupa in Tibet - before reaching your destination for the day. Shigatse is home to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, the highest ranking Tibetan Buddhist Lama in the People's Republic of China. Distance: 340km.

DAY 5 - Shigatse to New Tingri

Accommodation: Everest Hotel, New Tingri (Shegar)

Today will be another breathtaking day on the Friendship Highway, winding through high-altitude valleys toward New Tingri (Shegar). This is a small and basic town that has grown up around a Tibetan village, with an interesting and ancient Tibetan fortress Dzong that sits atop a nearby ridge. This will be the most basic accommodation of the trip. The following day you will rise well before sunrise and journey to Rongbuk Monastery to the catch the sun's morning greeting of the highest point on earth (weather permitting). Distance: 290km.

DAY 6 - Rongbuk Monastery

Accommodation: Everest Hotel, New Tingri (Shegar)

Welcome to a new day on the Roof of the World! Dawn draws near as you head to Rongbuk Monastery, where you will enjoy the best views of Everest’s North Face. Other 8,000+ meter sentinels will be standing guard along the way, including Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu. Your camera will be busy as Everest awakens to the changing shades of sunlight. Heading inside, you will enjoy a simple breakfast and the warmth of Tibetan hospitality (and tea) in the highest monastery on the planet. After a relaxed morning enjoying the presence of Everest and your gracious hosts, you’ll journey back to New Tingri for lunch. Return Distance: 220km.

DAY 7 - New Tingri - Shigatse

Accommodation: Gesar Hotel, Shigatse

Having realized your dream of seeing Everest with your own eyes the previous day, the return journey is one of immense satisfaction. The Friendship Highway provides one last sweeping view of the Tibetan Plateau before arriving back in Shigatse for a relaxing lunch. The afternoon includes a visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the second most important spiritual leader in Tibet, the Panchen Lama. For those happy to continue to stretch their legs, joining the Tibetan pilgrims on their Kora circuit around the monastery is an option, as well as the opportunity to walk in the old quarter of town to enjoy scenes of an ancient way of life. Dinner and a comfortable night at the Gesar Hotel will precede heading to the airport early tomorrow morning for your return flight to Chengdu. Distance: 290km.

DAY 8 - Lhasa to Chengdu (Flight)

*Your tour concludes upon departure from Lhasa.

The morning drive to Lhasa Gonggar Airport follows the great Yarlung Tsampo River and offers beautiful views of idyllic Tibetan farming villages along the way. A late afternoon flight awaits to take you from Lhasa back to the lowlands of the Sichuan basin.