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When I look back on my trip to Tibet in January 2026, it still feels a bit surreal. Together with three of my best friends, I traveled from Norway to Tibet for an eight-day trip through Lhasa and all the way to Everest Base Camp.
Before going, I honestly did not know that much about Tibet. Like many people, the movie Seven Years in Tibet was probably my main reference point, but apart from that I mostly just knew it was somewhere very remote and completely different from anything I had experienced before.
Join our 8 days Lhasa to Everest base camp tour to uncover the essence of Tibet.
Shanghai to Lhasa Train Journey: First Impressions of Tibet and High-Altitude Arrival
We boarded the train to Lhasa from Shanghai. Tibet Vista had arranged everything for us beforehand, including the permits and train tickets in the same cabin, and everything worked perfectly from start to finish. Watching the landscape slowly change over almost two days was incredible.
At one point, the Qinghai-Tibet railway is the highest railway in the world, and already there we started feeling the altitude properly. Even lying in bed felt strange because of the thinner air, so by the time we arrived in Lhasa we had already spent one night adjusting to the height.
When we arrived at the station in Lhasa, a driver from Tibet Vista picked us up and drove us to the hotel. Everything felt very organized from the beginning, which honestly made the whole experience much more relaxing. We spent the first evening taking it easy because the altitude hit harder than expected. Walking up stairs suddenly felt like exercise, and all four of us noticed it immediately.
Perched on the red hill, Potala palace is the most iconic landmark of Tibet.Meeting Our Tibetan Guide Pemba: Humor and Unforgettable Local Encounters
The next morning we met our Tibetan guide, Pemba, and he became a huge part of why the trip was so memorable. He spoke excellent English, had a very good sense of humor, and somehow always knew when to explain history seriously and when to just joke around to keep the mood light during long drives.
He knew an unbelievable amount about Tibetan culture, Buddhism, and local history, but he also told us random funny stories and local myths while we were driving through the mountains. It never felt like one of those stiff “tour guide” experiences. After a couple of days it honestly felt more like traveling with someone who genuinely enjoyed showing us his home.
One thing we quickly realized was that four 25-year-old Norwegians apparently attracted quite a bit of attention in Tibet. We got the impression that many locals had never seen Scandinavians before, especially not in wintertime. Throughout the trip people constantly asked to take photos with us.
Families, older people, groups of friends, sometimes it happened several times within a few minutes. At first it felt a bit random, but after a while it became one of the funniest parts of the trip. We probably ended up in hundreds of local camera rolls by the end of the week.
Exploring the ancient valleys in Lhasa near Barkhor streetExploring Lhasa’s Sacred Sites: Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and Potala Palace
The first days of Lhasa tour were honestly fascinating. Visiting places like Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple, and Potala Palace was something completely different from normal tourism.
What stayed with me the most was not necessarily the buildings themselves, but seeing how religion and spirituality are still such a huge part of everyday life there. Watching pilgrims spend hours praying outside Jokhang Temple in freezing temperatures was powerful to witness. It did not feel staged for tourists at all!
Potala Palace was another moment I will never forget. I had obviously seen photos beforehand, but standing there in person was something else entirely. The scale of it is difficult to explain, especially with the mountains and the clear winter sky surrounding it.
Pemba explained so much history while we walked through the palace, and it gave the whole place a much deeper meaning than just being another famous landmark.
Monks in red robes at Drepung monastery, the largest monastery in Lhasa.Lhasa to EBC Road Trip: Frozen Lakes, Snow Mountains, and Altitude Experience
After a few days in Lhasa, we started driving toward Everest Base Camp, and that part of the trip almost felt unreal at times. The landscapes in western Tibet are some of the wildest I have ever seen. One hour we were driving past frozen lakes, and the next we were surrounded by huge snow-covered mountains and completely open plains with barely another car in sight.
At the same time, the altitude sickness in Tibet definitely became one of the biggest challenges of the trip. Spending many days above 3,500 meters is exhausting in ways that are hard to understand beforehand. We were also there during winter, so the temperatures were properly cold.
Thankfully, Pemba took the altitude seriously the entire time and constantly checked how everyone was feeling. The hotels also helped a lot more than I expected. We stayed two and two in comfortable rooms throughout the trip, and every hotel actually had a system where you could adjust the “felt altitude” in the room to help recovery and sleep better.
Pemba told us they usually booked better hotels during Tibet winter tour because of the cold weather.
Take pictures with decorated Tibetan yaks on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse.
Karola glacier between near Gyantse, the most accessible glacier in Tibet.
Clear view of Mount Everest from Gawula pass, one of the best viewpoints to admire the world’s highest peak.EBC Highlight: Sunset Over Mt. Everest and a Life-Changing Moment in Tibet
The absolute highlight of the entire trip happened during Everest Base Camp tour. On the drive there, we got bad news that heavy snowfall might stop us from reaching the base camp area. Apparently the group traveling the day before us had not been allowed through because of the weather. Naturally, we were pretty disappointed, but Pemba handled it professionally and kept us updated the whole time.
Then somehow the weather turned completely around.
When we finally arrived near Everest, the sky opened up and the mountain appeared in perfect conditions right in front of us. Watching the sunset over Mount Everest is honestly one of the craziest moments I have ever experienced.
None of us really talked much while standing there because we were all just trying to take it in. It is difficult to explain how small you feel standing there looking at something that massive. I genuinely think it will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Tibetan yaks near the Rongbuk monastery, the highest monastery location next to Mount Everest.
Sunset casts a golden glow over the summit of Mount Everest.Conclusion
Looking back now, the trip was so much more than just seeing famous places. It was the combination of the landscapes, the culture, the people, and the feeling of being somewhere completely different from home. Tibet challenged us physically because of the altitude and cold, but it also gave us memories I honestly do not think any of us will ever forget.
Join our 8 days Lhasa to Everest base camp tour to uncover the essence of Tibet.
"From Norway to Everest Base Camp: My 8-Day Tibet Travel Experience (2026)"