Mt Lhakpa Ri Expedition

Attractions: Explore Jokhang Temple and Sera Monastery.

In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel for an easy visit to Jokhang Temple. Considered the most sacred temple in Tibet, it is always bustling with devoted local pilgrims. Take some time to stroll along Bakhor Street, a devotional circuit and the bustling central market of Lhasa. In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery, founded in the fifteenth century by Jamchen Choji Sakya Yeshi, a disciple of Tsongka pa. Sera Monastery is home to several hundred monks from different parts of Tibet, and the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks take place every day in the afternoon, except on Sundays. Overnight stay in Lhasa.

Attractions: Discover the iconic Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery.

This morning, you will visit the renowned Potala Palace, a cardinal landmark of Tibet and a masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Originally built in the 7th century by the 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo and later reconstructed by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century, the Potala Palace served as the residence of the Dalai Lama. Conclude this remarkable day with a visit to Drepung Monastery, once the world’s largest monastery housing over 10,000 monks. It served as the residence of the Dalai Lama before the construction of the Potala Palace. Take the rest of the day to continue acclimatizing and rest from any jet lag. Overnight stay in Lhasa

Attractions: Marvel at Yamdrok Lake, the Glacier, Kumbum Monastery, and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.

In the morning, you will embark on a drive with your guide and driver to Shigatse. Along the way, you will visit the stunning Yamdrok Lake, situated at an altitude of 4,300m, and cross the scenic Khamba pass, offering breathtaking views of the bluish lake and the majestic snowy mountains. You will also have a lunch stop at Nakartse town (4,400m) and then drive through Karo pass (5,039m), where you can explore the mesmerizing Nyenchenkhangsar glacier (7,191m). Afterward, you will continue your journey for about an hour to Gyangtse (3,900m), known as the Hero’s Town, where you will visit Kumbum Monastery, affiliated with the yellow hat sect. You will also have the opportunity to admire the Palchoe stupa, erected in 1427 during the time of the 1st Panchen Lama. The stupa is a grand structure adorned with 100 thousand wall paintings, murals, and statues, standing at a height of 32.4m with five floors to climb up clockwise. After this enriching experience, you will travel the remaining 90km to Shigatse (3,900m), the second largest city in Tibet, renowned for Tibetan barley beer. Along the way, you may encounter locals enjoying the taste of barley beers while sitting along the roads. Overnight stay in Shigatse.

Attractions: Visit Sakya Monastery, Tso la (4,500m), and Gyatso pass (5,200m).

Today’s drive will take approximately 5 hours as you visit Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, an important site of the yellow hat sect. Erected by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1429, it serves as the seat and administration office for Pachen Lamas, including the 4th Panchen Lama. During your visit, you will explore the four highest chapels, housing the largest bronze and copper alloy statue of Buddha Jampa, representing the future Buddha, as well as the stupas of some Panchen Lamas. Later, you will drive through Tso la pass and arrive at Sakya Monastery (4,280m), belonging to one of the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery stands out with its ash grey walls adorned with white and red vertical stripes, reflecting the meaning of its name “Sakya” in Tibetan, which translates to grey color. The coloring symbolizes the Rigsum Gonpo (the trinity of bodhisattvas). Divided by the Zong Chu or Trum Chu river, the monastery is surrounded by grey houses, giving it a unique atmosphere. After exploring the religious wonders, you will continue driving via Gyatso la pass, surrounded by imposing mountains and abundant slates used for making house roofs and floors. Shegar town is located 117km away from the monastery. Overnight stay in Shegar.

Attractions: Phangla or Gyawu la (5250m), Rongbuk monastery, and Everest.

After passing the checkpoint, depart from the Friendship Highway and head south through the valley, crossing the Gawu la Pass [5250m]. From the pass, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the Himalayan Ranges and its majestic peaks over 8000m, including Mt. Makalu (8463m), Mt. Lotse (8516m), Mt. Everest (8844m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m), and Mt. Shishapama (8020m), stretching from left to right. Descending through a series of switchback bends, you will reach the dry valley of Tashi Zom, a small village. Passing through various villages, you will eventually arrive at Rongbuk Monastery, situated along the Rongbuk River, which originates from the Rongbuk Glacier. Only 2km further lies Everest Base Camp, the highest monastery in Tibet and the world. This monastery is home to both monks and nuns. Upon reaching the Tent guesthouse community, you can rest and spend the night. From the guesthouse, you can enjoy a view of Mt. Everest on the south side. Your guide will also make arrangements for porters and yaks for your trekking adventure. You can take some time to immerse yourself in the new surroundings. Overnight at the guesthouse

Today, you will spend another day at Everest Base Camp to acclimatize. You can engage in hiking activities, including a 4km trek to EBC and a visit to the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche. The cave is currently maintained by a local monk who has faithfully served there for 20 years. As you hike, you will be surrounded by rocky terrain and striped mountains on your left side. Walking along the unpaved road, you may be lucky enough to spot some deer. If you have an affinity for rocks, you can explore various stones of different shapes, sizes, and colors. The hike to EBC takes approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by prayer flags fluttering in different directions, guided by the wind. Mt. Everest will stand before you like a mythical giant, adorned in half-white and half-grey garments. Overnight at the guesthouse.

In the morning, your luggage will be loaded onto yaks and carried by porters. After preparing for the day’s journey, you will hike to the first camp, a 9-10 hour trek. The camp serves as an acclimatization stop for expedition groups near EBC. If you prefer not to hike, you can take a mini-bus for 4km. From the left side of the valley, you will gradually ascend towards the first camp, passing shifts and crossing a pass (5400m) near the camp. From the top, you will witness the stunning sight of glacier formations resembling clones near Everest. The campsite is located near the Rongbuk River, with numerous pools nearby. Overnight at the camp.

Today’s hike from the first camp to the Interim camp covers a distance of 8km and takes approximately 6 hours. As you ascend, you will encounter numerous glaciers on the left side of the route. The steep terrain presents a challenging hike to the Interim camp, but the rocky path is intriguing to walk along. As you continue uphill, you will catch glimpses of the Rongbuk glacier’s glistening peak, assuring you that your journey to Lhakpari is even more rewarding than expected. Overnight at the camp.

Hiking for approximately 1.5 hours, you will cover a distance of 4km to reach the second camp. This camp is located near the previous camp, just beyond a small hill. A tent in the center serves as a checkpoint by the Mountaineering Association of Tibet. Set up camp and soak in the magnificent views of the snow-covered landscape, fostering a deeper appreciation for Mother Nature. The area is also home to small marmots. Overnight at the camp

Hiking for 3 hours over a distance of 4km, you will reach the third camp, which is relatively easy compared to the previous leg. Now that you have conquered the more challenging part, you will hike up to the 6340m high spot, where you can witness the Lhakpa Ri peak on one side and engage in additional hikes near Lhakpa Ri. On the left side, you can admire the dramatic views of mountains exceeding 7000m and glaciers. The third camp is sometimes referred to as the Advance Base Camp (ABC) by expedition groups. After some short-distance hikes, you will return to the second camp. Overnight at the camp

The total hiking distance on the return journey is 24km. However, you can hike for 20km and then take a minibus from EBC to the tent guesthouse. The 20km hike will take you all the way back to the tent guesthouse. Overnight at the tent guesthouse.

Today’s drive is relatively short, allowing you to have a free day in Shigatse for shopping and exploring the old town. The old Tibetan Market, also known as the Tibetan Market, offers various attractions worth exploring. Overnight in Shigatse.

Return to Lhasa by driving through the same scenic route. You can request stops for photo opportunities along the way. Enjoy a lunch break at Nagartse and continue straight to Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa.

As you bid farewell to Tibet, our staff will accompany you to the train station or Lhasa Airport for your departure.