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My husband and I had wanted to travel to Tibet for some time, and we used a Google search to look for an agency/tour operator to find the right tour for us.
We emailed a few agencies, but Tibet Vista were the most helpful and informative agency to respond and Holly was able to make suggestions and put together an itinerary that was exactly what we wanted.
Local Support in Kathmandu Before Traveling to Tibet
As we would be travelling to Tibet from Nepal, she also put us in contact with their agent in Kathmandu, who would help us obtain the required Group Visa for entering Tibet from Nepal, and again, they were incredibly helpful in assisting with the paperwork and dealing with the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. It was a seamless process.
Experience the legendary overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu with a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash!
Detailed Travel Experience of Our Tibet Nepal Overland Adventure with Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
We had opted for a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa and then a road trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu in 10 days.
At Lhasa Airport, representatives from Tibet Vista were waiting for us and transferred us to our hotel, where we met our guide, Lhakdon.
The altitude hit us as soon as we got off the plane. We knew it would be harsh flying into Lhasa at 3650 metres, so we chose to have an acclimatisation day before moving on, and we were glad we did. We took a short walk but didn’t want to over-exert ourselves at this altitude.
We spent our next two days visiting Lhasa, and there was so much to see! The Potala Palace was stunning, and Lhakdon managed to get us in as soon as the doors opened, so it wasn’t too busy. We had seen photos many times in books and magazines, but seeing it in the flesh was amazing. There was plenty of climbing involved, up paths and steps, to the twelfth floor, where we were afforded views across Lhasa and beyond.
Seeing the Potala Palace with our own eyes is truly incredible.
After a visit to Barkhor Street and Jokhang Temple (the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama) we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
The next day, we visited Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, the highlight of which was watching the Tibetan monks debate (Lhakdon had prepared us for what we would be seeing).
The following morning, we embarked on a lengthy drive to Shigatse via the Gampala Pass, Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, and an artificial lake providing hydroelectric power. We were lucky enough to witness some local traditional dancing at Yamdrok Lake. There was snow on the ground, which made the views even more impressive, and we had plenty of stops along the way to admire the scenery and take in the atmosphere.
It’s a special experience to take a photo with Tibetan Mastiffs by Yamdrok Lake.
Our driver, Namdol, spoke very good English and would stop each time there was something interesting to see along the way (mountain goats, donkeys, etc). He drove very carefully and considerately – not something we were expecting after travelling in Nepal!
Thanks to our driver for stopping to capture Tibetan wildlife.
The next day, we visited Tashilhumpo Monastery in Shigatse, which Lhakdon informed us was the spiritual home of the Tibetan people in Shigatse and houses the world’s largest statue of Maitreya Buddha.
Enjoyed a sunny day and visited Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse.
In the afternoon, we entered Everest National Park and drove the 108 switchbacks up to where we would board the Eco-bus to take us to Everest Base Camp. We were very lucky with the weather, as the beginning of May is one of the best time to visit Everest Base Camp in Tibet. The sky was clear, and the views of Everest were phenomenal.
We were lucky to get a clear view of the summit when we visited Everest Base Camp in Tibet.
We had wanted to see Mount Kailash and Lake Manosarovar, so our Tibet tour now involved a long drive to get to Darchen, the nearest town to both. It took two days to get there, but there was plenty to see along the way, including Pelku Tso Lake, before an overnight in Saga.
Seeing Mount Kailash was one of our highlights. We had already decided not to embark on the three-day Kailash kora as we didn’t think we’d be up to it, but we were able to go to Qugu Monastery and Lake Manosarovar, and while walking around Darchen, we were treated to views of Mount Kailash looming above us.
Even without doing the kora, we could see the sacred Mt. Kailash from Lake Manasarovar.
Our final day saw us travel down to Gyirong, the border town, before crossing into Nepal. Gyirong is at an altitude of 2700 metres, and we noticed how green the landscape was becoming after the stark vistas of the Tibetan plateau. It was also noticeably warmer!
Continued our journey to Gyirong, the border town between China and Nepal.
We arrived in Gyirong at lunchtime and had already checked into our hotel when Lhakdon discovered (from another tour guide) that the road between here and the border was closed most of the day for roadworks, and was only open from midday to 4 pm each day to allow traffic to pass.
This would have meant staying in Gyirong until midday the following day, so she gave us the option of either doing this or making the crossing into Nepal today rather than have a lot of hanging about, so we opted to do this.
Namdol, our driver, was happy to continue driving today, and we reached the border an hour later.
We said our fond farewells to Lhakdon and Namdol here. Once through immigration and customs, we were met by our Nepali driver, who would drive us down to Kathmandu on an unmade bumpy road for most of the long journey. Our Tibet Nepal tour had sadly come to an end.
We were so glad that we had chosen Tibet Vista. We felt looked after every step of the way thanks to their local knowledge and expertise.
Saying goodbye to our guide Lhakdon and driver Namdol at the Gyirong Border.
Experience the legendary overland route from Lhasa to Kathmandu with a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash!
Recommendations for Future Travellers to Tibet
Be prepared for the altitude in Tibet. Don’t rush your itinerary and try to rest as much as possible when you get the chance to allow your body to adjust. Drink plenty of water. There was a notice in our hotel in Lhasa that suggested not taking a shower on your arrival day, as it exerts more energy than you think! Most hotels had oxygen available, and our guide/driver had oxygen in the car just in case.
Be prepared for the climate in Tibet. We travelled in May, and there was plenty of snow about once we got out of Lhasa. During the day, it can be quite warm, so pack layers as it soon gets cold once the sun goes down. The hotels we stayed in all had heating of some kind, although not always very efficient, but it was better than we expected.
The snow we met in early May created a magical view of the turquoise Yamdrok Lake.
Embrace the Tibetan culture. The Tibetan people are very friendly, and even if they can’t speak English, they seem to welcome tourists and are very smiley.
Be respectful and take notice of the advice given to you by your guide, such as not taking photos inside temples (your guide will advise you when and where it’s allowable).
Take a large memory card for your camera because you will be taking hundreds of photos.
The Simila Mountain Pass with colorful prayer flags on the way to Everest Base Camp.
We finally visited the Potala Palace, which we had seen so many times in books.
The breathtaking clear view of Mt.Everest, the highest peak in the world!
"Amazing Trip to Tibet with Tibet Vista: Our Amazing Tibet Nepal Journey with Mount Kailash"