How to Get to Mount Everest Base Camp from Lhasa

Located in the southwest of Tibet, Everest Base Camp, also known as EBC, is the first base camp of Mount Everest, opened in the 1920s. Travelers swarm to Tibet in their thousands every year just to catch a glimpse of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain.

The base camp is actually located around 620 kilometers from Lhasa, by road, or just 450 kilometers as the crow flies. So, how do you get to the Everest Base Camp (EBC) from Lhasa?

Well, there are several options for traveling this long way to the base camp of the world’s highest mountain, including by car, by bicycle, or even by trekking. Read to find the most suitable way for yourself.

Get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa by Overland - The Most Popular & Quickest Way

The most popular way to get to Tibet’s Mount Everest Base Camp is by car or tour vehicle, traveling the distance between Lhasa and EBC along the modern highways of the region.

One of the main advantages of this method of travel, aside from being faster and a little more luxurious, is the ability to stop and visit the various attractions along the way, with more time to spend on each than if you are trekking or cycling.

How to Drive from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp?

The overland route from Lhasa to EBC is done on paved roads for almost the whole distance. The route follows the Friendship Highway for most of the trip to EBC only turning off at Old Tingri, where the road heads south to reach Rongbuk Monastery and the base camp itself.

Step 1: Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse (268km or 358km)
When departing from Lhasa, the first major stop is in Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet. There are actually two routes to get here, and the choice of route depends on what you are visiting along the way. The north route, along the G318 Friendship Highway, is the direct route, and takes you straight to Shigatse with no stops. The distance is around 268 kilometers.

However, the alternate south route is the better one, as it takes you past some of the region’s most stunning attractions. This route is around 358 kilometers in length, and makes a diversion to pass by Lake Yamdrok and Gyantse along the route to Shigatse. The drive takes all day, stopping at the attractions, and you reach Shigatse in the late afternoon.

Enjoy breathtaking scenery of the holy Yamdrok Lake while drive from Lhasa to EBC.

Step 2: Drive from Shigatse to Tingri (243km)
While it is not a long distance to Tingri from Shigatse, only around 243 kilometers, it can take a while to get there, as the roads in Tibet are not as fast-running as western roads. On average, it can take around three hours to make the journey, with no stops, and you may want to stop and get out for photos along the way, as well as stopping for lunch. The road conditions on this stretch of the Friendship Highway are good for Tibetan roads, and you can make good travel time along with them.

Step 3: Drive from Tingri to Everest Base Camp (100km)
The final stretch of the route from Lhasa to EBC takes you from Old Tingri to the base camp itself, a distance of just 100 kilometers. On normal roads, this would take just 70 minutes. However, the road to EBC from Tingri is not as good as the Friendship Highway, and there are still a few sections that are mere gravel roads.

On average, it can take around two hours to make this trip. However, the views that you get as you cross the main passes into the Qomolangma National Park are amazing, and well worth the trip.

> Check our most classic 8-day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp overland tour.

What to See along the Way from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp?

There are many sights and experiences along the route to EBC from Lhasa. A distance of 618 kilometers by road, the scenic route to EBC takes you past first the Yamdrok Lake, one of the great three sacred lakes of Tibet. Not far from the lake lies one of the most pristine glaciers in the world, the Karola Glacier. Its tongue reaching down almost to the road, this amazing sight is well worth stopping for a few photos and selfies.

Then, it is on to Gyantse, the home to the Pelkor Chode Monastery, which houses the amazing Kumbum, a stupa that stands 32 meters tall and is the only one of its kind in Tibet. After Gyantse, you will head for Shigatse, and the amazing Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s second highest incarnation after the Dalai Lama.

The Giant Kumbum of Pelkor Chode Monastery is a great sight for Lhasa to EBC trip.

One of the most amazing sights of the entire trip is the view from the top of the Gawu La Pass, which sits at an altitude of 5,198 meters above sea level. The view from the crest of this high pass gives you an awesome panorama of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest and several of the other highest mountains in the world.

Get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa by Flight

Recently completed in 2023, the Shigatse Tingri Airport serves as the closest airport to Mount Everest. Located at an impressive elevation of 4300 meters above sea level, the Shigatse Tingri Airport is situated approximately 33 kilometers east of Tingri Town.

The inauguration of Tingri Airport has made it possible to fly directly from Lhasa to Everest, significantly reducing the duration of the overland journey. What used to take four days by road from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp can now be accomplished in just two days. Upon arrival at Tingri Airport, a drive of approximately 180 kilometers will take you to the base camp, where the awe-inspiring Mount Everest looms majestically before you.

If you wish to visit Everest Base Camp in a limited time, traveling by air from Lhasa is undoubtedly the optimal choice.

Get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa by Trekking

Another option for getting to Everest Base Camp is to take a trek across the plateau. However, the trek does not start in Lhasa, and you will be driven from Lhasa to the start of the trek at Old Tingri. From there, you will trek the 70 kilometers to the base camp, hiking overland through valleys and over passes, which takes around four days.

4-day Trek from old Tingri to Everest Base Camp

The trek from Tingri to EBC is one of the best treks in Tibet, and gives you an amazing experience of the Tibetan plateau, including several small village communities and the opportunity of paying a visit to some of the nomadic herders of the region in the right season.

Day 1: Tingri (4390m) to Lungthang (4510m) (5 hours/12km/150m ascent)
The first day of the trek takes you from Tingri to Lungthang, a distance of around 12 kilometers that can take up to five hours to complete. The trek departs from the small town and heads due south, crossing the Tingri Plain and on into the Ra-Chu Valley.

There you will get the chance to explore the vast meadows of the area, filled with flocks of sheep and goats that graze on the lush grasses of the meadows. Along the route to Lungthang, you will also get to stop at the Choelun Monastery, a small monastery set far from civilization.

EBC trekking makes people who love the adventure excited.

Day 2: Lungthang to Lamna La (5150m) (8 hours/21km/200m ascent)
The second day is challenging, as you will be climbing up into the mountains to crest the Lamna La Pass, at 5,150 meters above sea level. The view is amazing, and you will camp for the night just below the crest of the pass in the Lamna Valley.

Day 3: Lamna La to Zommug (4790m) (8 hours/22km/360m descent)
The third day is an 8-hour trek along the valleys to Zommug, more than 22 kilometers, but most of this is downhill, as you are heading down to the lower valleys of the area, before reaching EBC. You will camp just outside the village for the night, and get to watch the amazing sunset.

Day 4: Zommug to Rongbuk (5100m) and EBC (5200m) (15km/6hours/290m ascent)
The final leg of this trek is the run to Rongbuk Monastery and EBC itself, which takes around 6 hours. The trek is a gradual increase in altitude, with Rongbuk sitting at 5,100 meters and EBC at 5,200 meters. You will also get to stop and visit the monastery, renowned as the world’s highest Buddhist monastery, before heading on to Mount Everest.

Insider tips:
1) Due to the high altitude, the big temperature difference between daytime and night can make people catch a cold quite easily, and increase the risk of altitude sickness. So it is extremely vital to prepare proper clothes. Although basking in the sunshine is so enjoyable, sunglasses, sunhat and sun cream are of essence for strong ultraviolet light from the sun.

2)The best time to visit Everest Base Camp is from April to October, but July and August are not good months to trek for abundant rain, if you want to know more detailed information, contact us for newly updated Tibet Everest weather and climate.

> Check our most classic Tibet trekking trip from Tingri to EBC.

Get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa by Cycling

Cycling from Lhasa to EBC is one of the most adventurous journeys in the world. The route follows the same roads as the drive to EBC, though it does take a lot longer, lasting around 19 days in total both ways. The tour is an amazing experience, and there is no better way to get to see and experience the unique Tibetan plateau and its delightful people than under your own steam.

Cycling to EBC is also an excellent option for tourists in good health.

While the rides over the various 5,000+ meter passes can be arduous and tough, there is no better feeling than when you reach the crest and look out over the landscape ahead of you. Biking tours are fast becoming more popular in Tibet, as the experience of riding across the plateau on a mountain bike is like no other in the world.

> Check the detailed route of Lhasa to Everest Base Camp biking trip.

Are There More Ways to Get to Everest Base Camp?

Unfortunately, there is currently no train that can take you to EBC in western Tibet. And while there is a railway being planned to travel into Nepal and beyond, this will not pass by Mount Everest.

However, you can get the train from Lhasa to Shigatse, a section of the Sino-Nepal Railway that has already been completed and is now open. This train ride takes just a couple of hours, and can reduce the travel time for those heading for EBC that have a limited time to travel in Tibet. It is also useful for those intending to trek from Tingri to EBC, as you can conserve your energy on the train ride.

Besides, there are regular buses running between different counties of Tibet. But currently foreigners are not allowed to take the regular buses alone and they can only travel in Tibet organized by qualified travel agencies.

Join in Our Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour for Smooth Travel

Since international tourists are not allowed to travel alone in Tibet, you need to contact a reliable local travel agency to organize your trip to Everest Base Camp. Travelling to Everest Base Camp needs Tibet Travel Permit and other related documents, such as Alien's Travel Permit. You need to obtain these permits by virtue of your agency.

Join in our Everest Base Camp trip for worry-free travel.

As the leading tour operator with years of experiences, we carefully designed a collection of Tibet Everest Base Camp tour packages, in both small group and private types. Join in us now to enjoy our one-package services with local Tibetan guide, guaranteed permits application, hotel and dinning arrangement etc.

Conclusion

Getting to Everest Base Camp is a major achievement for anyone not used to traveling at the high altitudes of the Tibetan plateau, and this amazing journey is one of the best in Tibet. Whether you take a bike, car, or take the train and trek, there is no feeling like arriving at the foot of the world’s highest mountain, after visiting the amazing sights and scenery on the roof of the world.

If you still have any question about getting to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa, please feel free to contact us or leave your comments below.