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Pioneer of Tibet Tourism for Overseas Travelers since 1984!
Planning a trip to Tibet initially felt a little overwhelming. There seemed to be many travel companies offering similar itineraries, making it difficult to know which one to trust.
Thankfully, my experience with Tibet Vista turned out to be very smooth and reliable from start to finish, which immediately put me at ease.
I would also like to mention our guide throughout the journey, Keldor, who was always friendly, professional, and remarkably patient with everyone in the group.
Arriving in Lhasa for the First Time
The visit to Tibet itself I remember very well. I was rather worried about getting in due to the strict Tibet Travel Permit requirements but to my surprise I ran into 0 issues getting there.
Once I actually landed into the tiny little airport of Lhasa I even managed to walk outside by accident, completely missing the guide before he found me. Once found, he fed me with copious amounts of little snacks and gave me a wreath around my neck like I was in Hawaii.
From there I was brought to the hotel, which was way fancier than I expected. As a cheap solo traveller I usually stay in small places, but my hotel in Lhasa felt like a luxury resort. The hotel food was even good!
Experience the legendary journey from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp with stunning landscapes, rich Tibetan culture, and memories that last a lifetime.
Exploring Monasteries and Temples in Lhasa
After a good night's sleep, the first real day was spent visiting a massive local monastery complex. A lot of climbing and a lot to see.
What you instantly notice is how many local pilgrims there are, something that is a constant throughout Tibet. Perhaps most impressive in that regard is the Jokhang Temple we visited later in the day, which was surrounded by people crawling towards it in prayer.
The day ended with a lovely hotpot meal with a view of the Potala Palace.
Local pilgrims were prostrating in the holy Jokhang Temple.Visiting the Potala Palace and Tibetan Cultural Experiences
The Potala Palace was the first destination the next day. It was a very impressive place to visit, although sadly enough, you can't take photos inside.
But perhaps even more interesting than the palace was Sera Monastery we visited next, filled with monks engaged in lively debate.
The day was not done yet, and we went into a local house where we had a workshop making various Tibetan items: a flag, incense, and more.
The day ended with another communal welcome dinner accompanied by local musicians.
You always fear these sorts of places are tourist traps, but considering actual local Tibetans were having a meal there, it thankfully did not appear to be so.
Witnessing the iconic Potala Palace in Lhasa.Scenic Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse
Then came the long journey from Lhasa to Shigatse. Along the way, we stopped at several beautiful places.
We visited a small palace, several scenic viewpoints with giant Tibetan dogs, and the very impressive Yamdrok Lake, shaped like a scorpion. Here we also had a meal in a local house.
A nice little bonus visit, too, was the Karola Glacier we stopped at, where Keldor regaled us with tales!
Passing by the turquoise Yamdrok Lake
Visiting the Karola Glacier on the way to Shigatse for an unforgettable experience.My Experience at Mount Everest Base Camp
Shigatse itself was just an evening stop for our journey into one of the big attractions of the trip: Mount Everest.
Now I wager most people who visit Tibet have the mountain as one of its primary targets. For me, I was mostly interested in the history. I'm of a one track mind while travelling and always travel for the history. So I doubted a lot, should I include Mt Everest?
In the end I thought to myself: This will be a once in a lifetime chance so I did. And I'm glad I did.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good the accommodations at Everest Base Camp were too. It's described as a tent but really its more of a little hut where our whole tour group had little rooms surrounding a comfy little living room.
We had a very fun evening there having an impromptu homemade dinner.
But, the hut also came with the greatest challenge of the vacation: The communal toilets outside of it were absolutely disgusting.
However, it was worth it for the fact that all the tour groups left in the evening, and there were scarcely more than a dozen people on the whole mountain left.
Keldor even kept an eye out for us if there were any pretty stars (sadly, not) and then just sent us photos of them when there were. Not like the homefront knows!
So glad that I didn’t miss the chance to visit Everest Base Camp in Tibet!
Seeing Everest up close was an awesome sight and we spend quite some hours gazing at it.Returning to Shigatse and Lhasa
The next day, we toured the tiny Rongbuk Monastery on the mountain before starting the long drive back to Shigatse.
This time we spent more time there, visiting another nice monastery and enjoying a communal dinner with music. It was a pleasant and less intensive day before the final drive back to Lhasa.
Back in Lhasa, we had about half a free day left over, which I used to visit the museum we had skipped during the tour, which was not very good, I thought.
Since we had already wandered through the old streets earlier in the trip, I concluded the company had already shown us all the prime spots in town and headed back to the fancy hotel.
Visiting Tashilhunpo Monastery, a key religious site in Shigatse.Final Thoughts on Traveling to Tibet
During the trip, it was clear that Tibet is continuing to develop and welcome more travelers from around the world. If you are planning your trip to Tibet, this is a wonderful time to visit and experience its traditional atmosphere firsthand.
The whole trip to Everest Base Camp in Tibet was easier than expected and definitely worth it as a unique experience.
Really, the only challenge not mentioned yet was the rather confusing Lhasa airport, where I was lucky to be leaving with several of my compatriots from the tour who knew Chinese.
Next stop? Chengdu! With a special bonus of the airplane having some cute Panda themed lunchboxes.
I truly enjoyed experiencing the unique culture and religion in Tibet.
Experience the best of Tibet on the unforgettable journey from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp.
"My Journey to Everest Base Camp with Tibet Vista: Joining a Small Group Tour as a Solo Traveler"