Old Thingri to Everest Base Camp is a challenging high-altitude trek allowing you to enjoy the stunning views of the Himalayan peaks, including Cho-Oyu and Everest. Test yourself on this 3 days and 60km long trek with altitude ranging from 4,345 meters to 5,250 meters, going between mountain ridges, crossing mountain streams, and hiking over high passes. Meet Tibetan nomads and wildlife along the way and visit the highest monastery in the world.
Our journey begins in Lhasa, where we spend the first 3 days of sightseeing and acclimatizing. In Lhasa, we will visit the main historical and religious sites before heading towards the Old Tingri. On the way, we will make several stops to visit monasteries and to enjoy the beautiful nature of Tibet. You will see some of the highest mountains, lakes, glaciers, valleys, and rivers. Once we get to Old Tingri, we continue our journey to the Everest Base Camp trekking through mountains and valleys. The trek is over 60km long and we will spend 4 days trekking.
Trek from Old Thingri to Everest
KEY FACTS
Main Attractions: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung and Sera Monasteries, Yamdrok Lake, Kumbum Stupa, Tashi Lumpo Monastery, Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk Monastery.
Duration: 11 days total / 3 days trekking
Maximum Elevation: 5,250 m/ 17,225 ft
Trekking Season: April/May – October
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrive in Lhasa by plane or by train
You arrive at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or the train station. The airport is 62 km/ 39 miles away from the city, and it takes approximately one hour to get to the hotel from there. On the way to Lhasa, you will enjoy beautiful views of the mountains. The train station is located in Lhasa, and you will only need a short transfer to the hotel.
Depending on the time of your arrival, you might have some free time to spend in Lhasa. Our guides will be happy to advise you on what you can do with your time in Lhasa. Remember, that Lhasa is located at 3,650 meters/ 12,000 ft above sea level and you will need some time to acclimatize.
After you check in the hotel, you are welcome to explore the city, visit nearby temples, do some shopping, try delicious Tibetan food in one of the local restaurants, or just take a rest.
Walking around Barkhor Street can be an excellent choice for your first day in Lhasa. You will join crowds of pilgrims, local Tibetans, and monks circumambulating the Jokhang Temple.
Most importantly, on your first day in Tibet, be sure to relax, enjoy your day and allow some time for acclimatizing. It is essential to acclimatize to the high altitude of Tibet to prepare for the upcoming trek.
Looking for some ideas on what to do in Lhasa? Our suggestions»
Day 2 Lhasa Sightseeing: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street (Walking Tour)
This tour visits the two most important religious sites in Tibet.
The Potala Palace was the seat of the Dalai Lamas since the 17th century. First, the guide will take you to the Chak Pori Hill to take photos of the majestic Palace. We will then go inside and spend approximately 1.5 – 2 hours there. While there, you will see many of its most famous artifacts.
There will be free time for lunch after visiting the Potala Palace.
Time permitting, you can walk around the Potala Palace and join many of the local Tibetans.
Next, we will walk towards the Jokhang Temple. It was built in the 7th century to display the Jowo Shakyamuni Statue – the statue of the 12-year-old Buddha before his enlightenment. The statue was created at the time when the historical Buddha lived. It is elaborately decorated with gold, jewels, and precious stones.
After visiting the temple, we recommend taking a walk around Barkhor Street.
More information about the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and other important places in Lhasa»
Day 3 – Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
We are visiting the two most important monasteries in the capital.
We will first visit Drepung Monastery, which once was the largest monastery in the world with over 10,000 monks living there. It was the residence of Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was built.
There will be free time for lunch after the Drepung Monastery.
In the afternoon we are visiting Sera Monastery. It was founded by Tsongkhapa’s disciple in the 15th century. Nowadays it is famous for monks debate that you can witness. Debates are a very important part of learning and understanding Buddhism. Monks gather in the courtyard in the shade of the trees to refine their knowledge.
In the evening you will have some time to pack for our trek and prepare everything you might need.
More information about the Drepung and Sera Monasteries and other important places in Lhasa»
Day 4 – Driving to Shigatse: Yamdrok Lake and Glaciers
Today we will travel on some of the most beautiful roads in Tibet on our drive to Shigatse.
Be prepared to take photos of the breathtaking views as we go up to the highest point of the day – Kamba La Pass (almost 4,800 meters / 15,750 ft).
Our next stop will be at Yamdrok Lake. It is one of the holy lakes in Tibet, and it is famous for its turquoise colored water.
After that, we will head towards Gyantse. On the way there, we will make a stop to see the spectacular glaciers.
In Gyantse, we will visit the monastery and the biggest stupa.
Finally, we will reach Shigatse late in the evening and stay there overnight.
Day 5 – Driving towards Old Thingri (4390m) (300km)
In the morning we will visit Tashilumpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lamas. This monastery was founded by the first Dalai Lama, and it is one of the most important monasteries in Tibet. You can take photos in some of the chapels for an additional fee.
After lunch we will drive to Old Tingri, going over a pass over 5250 meters high.
Day 6 – Trek from old Thingri to Lungchung (12km)
We will start early in the morning in the town of Thingri (4,345 meters / 14,250 ft). Trek runs through several villages in the valley. We will be following the old trade route running between mountain ridges. As we start, we will cross the Rachu River to the village in the beautiful valley. Enjoy the view on Cho-Oyu, the 6th highest mountain on the planet straight ahead of us. First, we will pass a small village Ra Chu (4,400 meters / 14, 425 ft). The next village on our way is Nelung (4,570 meters / 15,000 ft), followed by Cholung.
We will set up our camp near Lungchung village (4,510 meters / 14,800 ft).
Day 7 – Trek from Lungchung to Nam-la pass (21km)
In the morning we will continue trekking further South. Today we will be trekking through the rocky mountains. If the sky is clear, we will see Mountain Cho Oyu. We will see several streams, swampy valleys, a few villages, and nomad area. Today we might see some wild animals in a distance. Tibetan Kiangs and Tibetan gazelles sometimes come to graze on the shrub and short plants growing in this alpine conditions.
We will pass Churak campsite, and as we cross a metal bridge (4,815 meters / 15,800 ft), we will see another herders camp in the distance. The first high pass on our way is Lamna-La pass (5,100 meters / 16,725 ft). As we descend from the pass, we will cross the stream and shortly after that, start going up the gravel ridge.
The next high pass and also the highest pass on our route is Nam La (5,250 meters / 17,225 ft). Once we go up to the Nam-la pass we can see the road leading to the Everest Base Camp. As we descent from the high pass, we will set up our camp in the grassy area near the Dzachu river (approximately 5,075 meters / 16,650 ft).
Day 8 – Trek over Nam-la pass to Rongpuk monastery (17km)(+10km eco bus)
In the morning we will head towards the Rongbuk monastery (4,980 meters / 16,335 ft), the highest monastery in the world. We continue our descent reaching the creek (4,740 meters / 15,550 ft). We will follow a zig-zag road near the small river and walking mostly easy 17 km to the main road. You will be seeing glaciers and many large Himalayan peaks, but Everest will still remain out of sight until we reach Rongpuk monastery area.
As we reach the main road, we will take the eco bus to the Rongpuk monastery (around 10 km ride) and stay overnight in the tent guesthouse. From monastery grounds, we can get a magnificent view of the Everest. This is our final destination on the trekking route. We can relax and enjoy the view. We will stay overnight at the tent guesthouse.
Day 9 Everest base camp to Shigatse (340km)
After breakfast, we are driving back to Shigatse. On the way back we will drive through Pang-la pass. When the weather is clear, we can see four mountains which are above 8000m (Maka-lu, lo-tse, Everest and Cho-Oyu). Continue to drive to Shigatse.
Day 10 – Shigatse back to Lhasa (280km)
On the way back to Lhasa we will take the Friendship highway. It is the direct route and usually takes approximately 6 hours to reach the capital. We will make several stops on the way to enjoy the views of the Brahmaputra river. In the afternoon, you might have some free time and prepare for departure the next day.
Day 11 – Departure from Lhasa.
Please prepare in advance for departure. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport and 30 minutes to reach the train station. We will arrive at the airport 3 hours before your departure flight if you are traveling to Nepal, and 2 hours before any domestic flight takes off.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
INCLUDED
- All necessary Travel Permits to travel in Tibet
- All accommodations in hotels and guesthouses when staying in cities/towns/villages
- Breakfast when staying in hotels
- All meals during the trek
- Pack animals during the trek
- Cook during the trek
- Assistance with your Chinese visa application
- Airport pick up and drop off
- Tents during the trek
- Mattress
- Ground transportation in a clean and comfortable vehicle
- English speaking Tibetan guide
- All entrance fees, tickets to the attraction sites and monasteries outlined in the itinerary
- First Aid Kit
- Oxygen supply
- Camping equipment: stove, gasoline for the stove, cooking pots and utensils
EXCLUDED
- Passport and Chinese visa fees
- International airfare to and from China or Nepal
- Photography fees inside monasteries (where available)
- Flight or train tickets to Tibet
- Lunch and dinner in the cities and all meals outside of the cities when not trekking
- Travel insurance
- Medical expenses
- Tips for guides, drivers, cooks, and porters
- Sleeping bag
- Personal expenses: laundry, shopping, phone calls, etc.
WHAT TO PACK FOR EVEREST TREK IN TIBET
- Bring your tent only if you wish so, we provide our tents for your convenience at no extra charge (based on double occupancy)
- Sleeping bag
- Inner sheet for your sleeping bag (optional)
- Insulation pad/ mattress, such as Thermarest, only if you are more comfortable using your pad. We provide our own mattress pads at no extra charge
- Backpack and a day pack for short day trips and sightseeing in the cities
- Hiking boots, ideally waterproof. GoreTex could work great in a range of temperatures and even in snow.
- Sneakers or comfortable boots to wear in cities and around camp
- Rain gear, particularly for trekking in summer: can include a poncho, backpack covers, gaiters for boots, waterproof pants
- Water bottle or thermos
- Small first aid kit and medications
- Camera with spare memory card and battery
- Power bank
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Hat and/or baseball hat for sun protection
- Towel
- Gloves
- Personal toiletries, such as toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, wipes, hand sanitizer, shampoo, toilet paper, etc.
- Binoculars
- Money: Chinese Yuan is the only currency accepted in Tibet and there are virtually no ATMs when you leave the cities. Be prepared in advance and take the necessary amount for all the duration of your trip outside of Lhasa
- Personal Journal for making notes and writing the diary
- Umbrella (optional)
- flashlight or headlamp (can be more convenient in camps)
TOURS YOU MIGHT LIKE
10 DAYS GANDEN TO SAMYE TREKKING TOUR
This trek goes along the incredibly beautiful route in Tibet. We start in Lhasa, where we visit the most important historical places and acclimatize before the trek.
During our trek, we will walk through high mountain passes (up to 5,250 meters), rocky mountains, vast green valleys, cross mountain rivers, and finally reach dense forest area.
We complete our trek at the Samye monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.
For those who feel adventurous, there are some one-day trekking options available near Samye. They can be added to your tour.
9 DAYS TSURPU TO YANGPACHEN TREKKING TOUR
This four days trek is running through the Central Tibet. We start our adventure in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. We spend there two days to acclimatize and visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung, and Sera monasteries. After that, we will drive to Tsurpu, one of the most important monasteries in Tibet and the seat of Karmapa. Karmapa is the head of the black hat sect in Tibet.
We start trekking from Tsurpu, going along the mountain river, crossing high passes until we reach the Yangpachen monastery. At the end we will stay one night at the hotspring area, where we can unwind and rest, swimming in the hotspring swimming pools.
8 DAYS LHASA TO EVEREST TOUR
A beautiful and exciting journey, starting in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and going to the Everest Base Camp. The tour visits Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera, Drepung and Tashilhunpo monasteries, Kumbum Stupa, Yamdrok Lake and Karola glaciers.
Both group and private tours are available
TREKKING TOUR INQUIRY
TREKKING IN TIBET
ABOUT TIBET TOURS
PACK ANIMALS AND YAKS
For most of our trekking tours, we use yaks to carry heavy items that we don’t use during the day. Yaks are walking very fast. Usually, we will see them in the morning and in the evening when we reach our campsite. It allows hikers to carry only the day pack with small amounts of necessities and some snacks and water.
On some trekking tours, we can use horses. Horses can carry lighter loads, but a horse can walk alone with a horseman, while yaks only walk in groups.
CARS IN TIBET
For our group tours, we use a variety of cars depending on group size and weather conditions. On some of the days, we will be driving long hours and we are trying to arrange the most comfortable car for your journey.
Here you will find photos and descriptions of cars: Transportation in Tibet
OUR CLIENTS ABOUT US
A wonderful journey
Our trip was nothing short of magical — breathtaking landscapes, deeply spiritual monasteries, and the warmest, kindest people I’ve ever met. From the turquoise beauty of Yamdrok Lake to the sacred peaks and peaceful valleys, every day was filled with awe and meaning. A heartfelt thank you to Tashi, our outstanding guide. His deep knowledge… Read more “A wonderful journey”
Незабываемое путешествие по Тибету
Только вернулись из путешествия по Тибету, было невероятно! Огромная благодарность организатору поездки Гяльтсену, и нашему гиду Дорджи. Настолько внимательные к деталям и заботливые люди! В таком непростом путешествии, как Тибет и Эверест, очень важно быть именно с местной компанией, которые в момент решают все вопросы. Начиная от получения оригинала разрешения на посещение Тибета (получали в… Read more “Незабываемое путешествие по Тибету”
Excellent!
I would like to say thank you to the agency and our tour guide Dorrji. Everything was great from the beginning to the end. The agency went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable, helped us create good itinerary and provided with all the instructions during the trip. Agency also provided oxygen and local… Read more “Excellent!”
Excellent experience!
I would like to say thank you to the agency and our tour guide Dorrji. Everything was great from the beginning to the end. The agency went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable, helped us create good itinerary and provided with all the instructions during the trip. Agency also provided oxygen and local… Read more “Excellent experience!”
The best guide, we have ever met – thank you Gyaltsen very much!!!
August 2018 – It was wonderful trip to Tibet. Our friendly guide, Gyaltsen, has told us a lot about religion and culture of this amazing country! He has also made our journey very comfortable, since everything was very well planned. He told us about Tibetan traditional medicine preventing altitude sickness – we could sleep well… Read more “The best guide, we have ever met – thank you Gyaltsen very much!!!”
Private 16-Day Trip in Tibet
I had a fulfilling & satisfying 16-day trip in Tibet with my ever so attentive tour guide & driver. My fears and uncertainties were allayed as I began my travels with them. It had been such an enjoyable pilgrimage that I looked forward to travel with them soon; real soon. Terry Singapore
A perfect trip
Our trip to Tibet in April 2015 exceeded our expectations on every level, the whole experience was nothing short of magical. In April 2015 we joined a 7 day tour in Tibet. Far and away, the highlight of our trip was our local guide, Gyaltsen.So fantastic that we felt like he became part of our… Read more “A perfect trip”
An experience for life in Tibet thanks to guide Gyaltsen
It is my pleasure to write this review about our trip with guide Gyaltsen in Tibet. It was our second trip to this fascinating country and culture. We – my wife, daughter and me – were interested in the history, culture and religion of Tibet and in its amazing landscape and nature. During 10 days… Read more “An experience for life in Tibet thanks to guide Gyaltsen”
A must visit
It was with great experienced having the private tour with Mr.Gaps. Realizing the much differences between Tibetan and others. So much mysteries to know about. We were having a birthday party too! It is a peaceful and tranquil place everyone dreams of. Away from the hustle and bustle of cities, people go round chasing something… Read more “A must visit”
Rongbuk Temple Meditation Liberation
Gaps is very humble and helpful, thoughtful and insightful, and able to flavour a tour in quite a unique manner, catering even to spiritual desire. It was Gaps that introduced me to Lama Acu Sangye at the foot of Mount Everest. And I have him to thank for such an enlightening experience. The meeting of… Read more “Rongbuk Temple Meditation Liberation”
