We've thoughtfully published three in-depth articles, each filled with heartfelt 5-star reviews from travelers around the globe. These articles include wonderful Tibet travel reviews from nearly 15 different traveler groups, detailed Tibet tour reviews from 3 groups, and inspiring Tibet tour testimonials from 4 groups.

This expedition combines extensive hiking, immersion in nature, and the opportunity to cultivate inner peace, making it an ideal choice for a spiritual meditation journey. Should you possess positive merit, you may encounter yogis during this experience, as such merit significantly influences the progression of a soul-seeking journey.

Since 2006, Tibet Travelers and its founder, Tenzin Dhondup, have been featured in the Lonely Planet Guidebook. Tibet Travelers is a locally owned, Tibetan-operated travel agency specializing in Tibet tours and Tibet travel adventures to Lhasa City Tours, Spiritual and Nature Tours, Namtso Lake Tour, Everest Base Camp, and Mount Kailash Tours.

Throughout your Tibet travel journey, our knowledgeable local Tibet Travel guides, fluent in English, will accompany you and provide valuable insights into sightseeing in Lhasa. Google Maps and TripAdvisor have awarded us 5-star ratings. Join us for an unforgettable Tibet Travel adventure today!

Our adventure in Tibet begins with a warm welcome from a friendly and knowledgeable local tour guide! Whether you arrive at Lhasa City Airport or the train station, your guide will greet you and ensure a smooth transfer to your comfortable hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Lhasa. Since the elevation is 3,600 meters, it's essential to take some time to acclimate and feel relaxed.

Once you're rested and ready, the enchanting Old Town of Lhasa eagerly awaits your exploration! This area is a delightful treasure trove of cultural experiences, inviting you to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Barkhor Square.

Here, you’ll discover bustling markets brimming with local crafts and unique souvenirs, offering an extraordinary glimpse into everyday life. It’s the perfect setting for Tibet's tour heritage and warm hospitality. Enjoy every moment of your incredible Tibet Travel journey!

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

The second day of our journey in Tibet begins with a warm reception from our Tibetan tour guide at the hotel. We shall proceed on foot to Barkhor Street, where we will visit the Jokhang Temple. Here, one can observe the profound devotion of thousands of pilgrims who traverse considerable distances—occasionally exceeding one thousand kilometers on foot—to pay their respects at this hallowed site.

The temple, with its illustrious history dating back 1,400 years to the 7th century, houses the revered statue of Buddha Shakyamuni at the age of twelve, thereby enhancing its spiritual and historical significance.

Upon immersing oneself in the spiritual ambiance of Jokhang and enjoying a midday repast, one will proceed to the magnificent monastery complex of Sera. Esteemed for its architectural grandeur, Sera has been in existence for six centuries and is particularly noted for the vibrant and intellectually stimulating philosophical debates conducted by the resident monks.

Observing these dialogues offers a dynamic insight into Buddhist teachings and practices, highlighting the monks’ profound understanding and lively intellect. Following our exploration of Sera, we shall return to the hotel for repose. Guests are encouraged to explore the streets and markets of Lhasa at their convenience. 

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

On Day 3 of our Tibet travel adventure, you’ll be warmly welcomed by our friendly Tibetan tour guide at the hotel! After that, we’ll set off to explore the magnificent Potala Palace. With over 1,000 rooms, this stunning tower boasts remarkable architecture and is proudly designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll appreciate the culture deeply as you climb the palace steps and discover its essential chambers.

Following a pleasant morning visit to the Potala Palace and subsequent lunch, we shall visit the Drepung Monastery in the afternoon. Drepung is recognized as one of the largest colleges in Tibetan Buddhism; during our visit, we will see the grand statue of the Future Buddha, the monastery's main shrine. After exploring Drepung, we will return to the hotel for respite. You are welcome to explore the streets and markets of Lhasa at your convenience. 

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Today, we embarked on our thrilling journey to Ganden Monastery, a site of great importance in the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. A major highlight is the 1- to 2-hour hike from the back of the mountain, offering stunning views of the entire Ganden Valley.

Unlike many other tours that focus mainly on vehicle travel, our unique hiking experience is one of Tibet Travelers' specialties, genuinely enhancing your adventure. This hiking route is also cherished by the local Tibetans as the pilgrim kora route, allowing us a fantastic chance to enjoy the scenic beauty with fewer travelers around, making it feel even more exclusive. 

During our visit, we'll explore the tomb of Tsongkapa, the Throne of Ganden, the Great Hall of Ganden Monastery, and Ganden Tsogchen, where you'll have the fantastic opportunity to witness monks conducting prayers. 

In the afternoon, we'll embark on a trip to the serene 7th-century meditation caves of the revered great master at Drak Yerpa. Here, we'll take some time for meditation in these tranquil caves, followed by a 1-2 hour hike to soak in the stunning beauty of Yerpa Valley. Finally, we’ll drive to Lhasa, passing through the scenic Nachen La Pass, which offers breathtaking views near Lhasa. 

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Today, we shall journey to the Valley of Drigung, renowned for its sky burial practices and yogic culture. This sacred site serves as the principal monastery of the Drigung Kagyu School, which traces its origins to the 11th century and to the great Yogi Milarepa. The monastery's profound spiritual significance rendered our visit particularly impactful. The monastery's founder is Drigung Kyopa Jigten Gonpo.

From Drigung, our expedition progressed toward the Tidrum Nunnery Hot Spring, a hidden treasure within a breathtaking landscape. The fertile valleys surrounding Tidrum are visually enchanting, adorned with picturesque villages and neatly arranged fields that enhance the area's allure. Spending time rejuvenating in the mesmerizing Tidrum Nunnery hot spring provided a refreshing respite from our travels.

After this enriching experience in the hot spring, we began our return journey to Lhasa, where we would spend the night. This day is expected to be one of our tour's most extensive and exhilarating segments, as we cover an impressive 400 kilometers over eight hours at an altitude of 4,350 meters. The experiences and sights encountered along this route will undoubtedly remain with us, enriching our travel narrative.

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Today, we're setting off on an enthralling adventure to delve deep into the fascinating origins of 8th-century Buddhism in Tibet. Our Tibet travel journey will begin at the renowned Nyingma school monasteries in Lhoka, Tsetang, and Shannan, including the historically significant first monastery in Tibet, Samye Monastery.

This journey is approximately 250 km and is expected to take around 3 to 4 hours as we ascend to a breathtaking elevation of 4,300 meters.

During our adventure, we will be granted the unique opportunity to hike to the enchanting 8th-century meditation caves at Chimpuk. These sacred caves hold rich historical significance, as they were once the practice grounds for the 25 revered disciples of Guru Rinpoche, including the inspiring and enlightened Kandro Yeshe Tsogyal.

As part of our Tibet travel adventure, a vehicle will transport us up the majestic mountain. From this point, you can continue the hike on foot, allowing for a personal connection to the terrain and leading us to the revered meditation caves. Here, we might be fortunate enough to experience blissful blessings, especially when our hearts and minds are open and ready to receive the profound merit of tranquility surrounding us. 

To conclude this remarkable journey, we will have options to personalize our evening. We can either make our way back to Samye, where a cozy overnight stay awaits, allowing us to rest and recharge. For those adventurous spirits yearning for further exploration, we can continue to Lhasa, the spiritual heart of travel to Tibet, offering additional opportunities for discovery and learning!

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

Today marks the start of our Tibet travel adventure! We’ll set off early in the morning, driving through the breathtaking Yarlung River Valley towards the enchanting Yamdrok Lake. As one of Tibet’s four holy lakes, Yamdrok is celebrated for its stunning beauty, nestled among the majestic Himalayas. From the Kamba La Pass, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of this glorious lake framed by towering mountains.

Our journey continues along the lakeshore to Nankartse, where we’ll pause for a delicious lunch and visit the fascinating Samding Nunnery, home to the inspiring Samding Dorje Phakmo, a remarkable female practitioner. Legend has it that the very first Samding Dorje Phakmo never lay down in her life, even at night; her unwavering diligence led to her incredible spiritual achievements.

After a few hours of driving from Yamdrok Lake, we arrive near the stunning Karo La Glacier! Here, we’ll embark on a delightful hike that takes us to an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters, leading to a charming small lake and glacier. This adventure will be a true highlight of the day—let’s enjoy the picture below!

Next, you will embark on your exhilarating ascent to the breathtaking Karo La Glacier, a magnificent natural wonder that promises an unforgettable journey. As you make your way up, you'll be surrounded by stunning landscapes.

Once you reach the glacier, you will be rewarded with an up-close-and-personal perspective of the magnificent Mt. Nojin Kangtsang, standing proudly in the distance, flanked by its spectacular glaciers. The sight is truly awe-inspiring and perfect for capturing those unforgettable moments in photographs.

Then, we’ll visit Ralung Monastery, once the most renowned Buddhist yogi college a few centuries ago, and a cherished home to many great Tibetan Yogis. The Drukpa Kagyu sect includes Jetsun Ling Repa, Jetsun Tsangpa Gyare, Jetsun Tsang Nyon, Jetsun U Nyon, and Jetsun Drukpa Kunley.

This special place is often quiet and peaceful, making it a fantastic spot to take in the beauty of the landscape away from the hustle and bustle of tourists. After our time at Ralung, we’ll enjoy a leisurely drive through a picturesque valley, admiring charming villages as we make our way to Gyantse, one of the most beautiful towns in Tibet.

The journey from Lhasa to Gyantse covers 270 kilometers and takes approximately 6-7 hours by car, with plenty of time for stops along the way.

Overnight at the 4-star Nyangchu Manor Hotel in Gyantse town. (B)=breakfast

Following breakfast at the Gyantse Nangchu Hotel, we shall embark on our journey to Shigatse, which is estimated to take about one hour and twenty minutes and cover a distance of about ninety kilometers. Upon our arrival, we will have the opportunity to visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery.

One of the monastery's notable features is the statue of the future Buddha, recognized as one of the largest of its kind. Moreover, Tashilhunpo proudly serves as the principal monastery of the Panchen Lama. After partaking in lunch, we shall proceed to Damxung Town.

Today is a special highlight of our Tibet travel journey as we embark on a picturesque drive through the stunning Shug La Pass, reaching a remarkable elevation of 5,411 meters—the pinnacle of our Tibet adventure! Shug La Pass offers a unique and genuine experience of breathtaking high-altitude landscapes.

It showcases beautiful white snow-capped mountains, lush rivers, and the peaceful lives of farmers and nomads amidst expansive grasslands. As we travel, we’ll be surrounded by breathtaking views of Mount Jomo Gangkar, standing tall at 7,048 meters in this beautiful region celebrated for its magnificent landscapes.

You can genuinely feel the vibrant presence of the nomadic communities and devoted farmers who have lived in harmony with nature for generations.

Approximately a 20-minute drive from Yangpachen, a beautiful indoor and outdoor hot spring pool awaits our valued travelers. Visitors will enjoy relaxing in the hot spring. It is about 50 km to Damxung town, a drive of roughly 1 hour. We are pleased to recommend that travelers unwind in Tibet's cherished hot spring pools after a long trip to the EBC; it’s a perfect time to rest and refresh. The outdoor hot springs operate only during summer, as the weather gets colder from mid-October to mid-April.

Following this, we'll head to Damxung town for an overnight stay. The driving distance today is around 300 kilometers, which will take us about six hours. We aim to leave Shigatse between 9:00 and 10:00 am and expect to reach our hotel in Damxung between 3:00 and 4:00 pm.

Overnight at the Holy Goat Manor Hotel in Damxung town. (B)=breakfast

Today is a long day as we try to appreciate the hidden beauty of Namtso Lake, and we must return to Lhasa for better accommodation at a lower altitude to rest. We recommend leaving the hotel early, around 6-7 a.m., with coffee and bringing our lunch box, since dining options near Namtso Lake at Elephant Holy Gate are limited. It’s going to be quite the adventure, and we'll also go over some bumpy roads!

The typical tourist visits the eastern side of Namtso Lake at Tashidor, whereas we journey to the northern side. Although this route is lengthy, it is worthwhile as fewer travelers visit this area, allowing us to enjoy a more exclusive and scenic view of Namtso Lake. After spending a memorable time at the lake and capturing photographs, we proceed to Damxung to enjoy lunch or dinner. Subsequently, we return to Lhasa for the night.

We will embark on a 60km scenic drive from Damxung town through expansive, breathtaking grasslands toward Namtso Lake, often called the “Heavenly Lake” for its stunning beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

Before we arrive at the lake, our journey will take us through the majestic Largen La Pass, which stands at an impressive altitude of 5,200 meters. This pass offers breathtaking panoramic views of Namtso Lake from a distance, allowing us to appreciate its vastness and ethereal charm before we get closer. Along the way, we will also pass wild animals called Na, or blue sheep.

From the hill near the Elephant Holy Gate, we can see a different view of Namtso Lake. The name comes from a stone that resembles an elephant, and there's a small square gate or hole called the gateway to heaven, which is considered sacred. This spot is perfect for connecting with nature and feeling part of everything around us, a reminder that we all originated from the stars. Let's embrace the natural world, become part of its beauty, and cherish the moment!

This day will be lengthy. We will travel 200 km from Damxung to the northern edge of Namtso Lake, then continue to Lhasa, for a total of 562km at an altitude of approximately 4,700 meters above sea level.

In Lhasa City, travelers can choose from three hotel options: the Gold Star Shambhala Palace, known for its Tibetan home ambiance; the 3-star Kyichu Hotel, featuring a garden restaurant; and the 4-star Shambhala Hotel, which offers an oxygen room. All accommodations include breakfast.

As your beautiful Tibet travel journey comes to an end, it’s a bittersweet moment to say goodbye. We suggest booking your late-afternoon flights or train tickets from Lhasa to exciting destinations such as other parts of China or the enchanting city of Kathmandu, Nepal.

This way, you can savor a relaxed morning in Lhasa, exploring the lively local market or enjoying a scenic stroll along historic Baker Street. Taking the time to soak in the city’s vibrant culture will enrich your travel experience. 

Image: Our Tibet Travel clients, Mr. V and Mr. A, rated this Tibet tour five stars.

As you prepare for your journey home, we recommend arriving at the airport or train station at least two hours before your scheduled departure time. This allows you a little extra time for check-in and to handle any unexpected delays. Thank you for choosing to travel with us! We genuinely hope your time in Tibet has been beautiful, and we wish you a safe and joyful trip back home!