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Visiting Tibet and Everest Base Camp was on my dream bucket list for as long as I’ve started traveling. Honestly, I didn’t think it’s gonna become a reality anytime soon for many reasons. Misguided information on the Internet like "Tibetan land is closed for foreigners", "it is almost impossible to get a permit", "super expensive" and the one I was mostly concerned about "because of the high attitude I need to start getting ready and train my body a few years in advance and at least run a half marathon every day".

Thanks to Tibet Travel Vista, who completely shattered all those myths, I celebrated my most memorable New Year, the beginning of 2019, among the highest peaks in the world in the sacred Tibetan Autonomous Region at the age of 22.

Sweet moments in Tibet

It’s Vital to Choose a Reliable Travel Agency

Before getting into all the details you need to know about Traveling to Tibet and Everest Base Camp, I want to emphasize that this trip is definitely a lifetime experience, and if you were dreaming about it for a long time, just do it. It's your responsibility to fill your life with beautiful memories. It’s easier than it seems, trust me if you choose a reliable agency, which arranges all papers, permits and necessary documents, helps you find good plane tickets, you will get the most out of his experience and will fully emerge into Tibetan sacred and rich culture.

Benefits for Joining a Group Tour

To start with, let’s talk about all these myths and actual truth about traveling to Tibet. Probably the most significant thing you need to face is that "Yes, you can’t enter Tibet just by yourself", you can only go as a part of a travel group. And believe me, as much as I am myself an independent traveler, I felt only benefits from going there with a tour. - Check the popular small group tours in Tibet.

Firstly, in terms of safety (there were many military check-points on our way and our group leader made it through them as smooth as possible). Secondly, considering a good company. Our group leader was very knowledgeable local Tibetan guy with an excellent sense of humor, and our a small international group consisted of 9 people including guide - us, Ukrainians, a couple from Thai, Singaporean, German and Japanese girl.

We are truly an international travel group.

Besides a truly unique Tibetan trip, I also got a priceless international cultural exchange and new friends from different parts of the world. The last but not least reason is, of course, an undoubtful advantage of traveling with a travel agency - excellent itinerary, meaning seeing the maximum amount of national treasures in a limited period of time (I chose 8 days tour "Lhasa to Everest Base Camp" and during those 8 days, I had time to acclimatize to the high altitude, cross almost 600 km around Tibetan Autonomous Region, celebrated New Year at the attitude of 3,565 m (11, 995 ft) and even had free time to wander around local bazaars, take awesome photos and tried local food, pretty cool, huh?

Had a great time in Tibet

How I Spend the Days in Tibet?

This trip was incredible, from the Day 1, when we got out of the plane in Lhasa and saw this mesmerizing landscape (also, got a traditional hospitality wreath, what a nice touch!). The first thing you notice after those incredible mountains around is extremely intense sunlight, a high-quality pair of sunglasses with high UV is a must!

Later, we were comfortably transferred to the hotel where we started to acclimatize to the dry air and high altitude. I knew a trip to Tibet is going to be a challenge considering physical challenges and not so well-developed conditions in some regions of Tibet (according to my chosen tour we'll be at 3-star hotels in Lhasa and Shigatse and obviously conditions in the Everest Base Camp will be far from luxury).

It was winter, extremely cold season itself plus super dry air, high altitude...basically, I was ready for everything even to live 8 days without a shower if needed. Imagine my surprise when we arrived at the Tibet Gang-Gyan Lhasa Hotel and I've seen this beautiful, spacious room decorated in traditional local style with all amenities, hot shower and even air moisturizer (which was a lifesaver for me at the first night).

Clean and comfy Gang-Gyan Lhasa hotel

Advice for the Newly-arrived Tourists in Lhasa

Tip: the first day you arrive at Lhasa can be challenging so just try to rest, drink tons of water and you will be fine! Despite the obvious new climate adjustments of my body (tiredness, dehydration, little dizziness), I felt so excited the first day that even took a little exploration walk outside and bought a bowl of vegetarian noodles called Tukpa and local sweets made of yak milk. The hotel has a great location in the heart of Lhasa, it's a few minutes walking to the big market, cafes, and even some popular landmarks, such as Canggu Temple and Xiamiyuan Temple. - Learn from experts about how to avoid altitude sickness in Tibet.

What also surprised me a lot is very cheap prices for everything comparing to Mainland of China where I've been living for the last couple of years. Luckily for me, I had local currency "RMB" but be sure you exchange enough cash for the whole period of your stay as ATM and banks were available only in Lhasa and I haven't seen them on our way later.

Lhasa is a Fascinating City to Explore

Day 2. After having a good rest we had Chinese-Western breakfast buffet and were off to see the most famous place in Tibet - Potala Palace, which is printed on 20rmb.

Potala Palace—the most iconic building in Tibet

We all were still acclimatizing so walking took quite a lot of time but it was definitely worth it! Just don't forget your water bottle and stay hydrated. Our tour leader always offered us more water bottles and make sure we all doing well. Next stop was Jokhang Temple, where I saw so many pilgrims for the first time. We ended Day 2 in a local teahouse and after the whole day of exploring the capital of Tibet was nice to have a big, traditional welcoming dinner with our group! We were super tired and almost fall asleep immediately.

Animated monk debate in Sera Monastery

Day 3. We've visited another impressive monastery Drepung Monastery - the largest one in Tibet, saw monks debating in the courtyard of Sera Monastery. On the third day, I felt much better physically and was happy to explore more. Also, this was the day of the New Year Eve and guys from the group found a Western Restaurant/Bar called Ice Chili close to our hotel and invited us to celebrate New Year together. I was very surprised by this side of Lhasa as from what I knew about Tibet before I definitely didn't expect to find such a nice western place with many foreigners.

Travel from Lhasa to Shigatse

Days 4. Time to hit the road and went for the longest Gangbala Pass. I'll honest with you, I don't like long bus rides especially on a curvy serpentine road in winter. However, our driver was a real professional, he made many stops and the moment I got out of the bus and saw that beauty - I immediately forget about everything and just absorb the beauty around, like nothing I've seen before.

Few shots on the way to Shigatse

The cherry on the cake was definitely a beautiful emerald color Yamdok Lake, where we made sure to take many photos despite the incredibly strong and dry wind. Be sure to have a warm scarf or a mask to protect your face. When I thought it's just too much beauty for one day we've reached a viewpoint where I've seen an enormous Tibetan mastiff for the first time in my life. They are incredible, despite the big size they are sleepy and kind like huge teddy-bears. Tibetan Mastiffs can only be found in Tibet and it's very expensive to buy and raise one, therefore for a chance to take a photo with them I've paid 10 RMB, which is a fair price. I just can't imagine how much food is needed daily for the dog of these sizes!

Also, there were mountain goats if you don't want to take photos with mastiffs and we even saw a yak on our way. I remembered that day like from a different planet, so quiet and peaceful, filled with those breathtaking landscapes which will stay in my heart forever.

Lovely Tibetan mastiff and me

Make it to Everest Base Camp

Day 5. We continued our road to the most desired destination Everest Base Camp. On the way, we stopped to see a home of Panchan Lama Tashilunpo Monastery. A spiritually and culturally rich place where we learned a lot about local history and started to understand it better. This time of the year before Lunar Tibetan New Year there were many pilgrims in the temple, praying, walking around stupas and doing other traditional rituals.

Hiding from strong wind near EBC

Another thing worth mentioning is the clothes of local people, it's so well-preserved and unique. I've never seen people wearing those traditional costumes so organically in everyday life. It's simply a paradise for photographers! However, note that it's forbidden for foreigners to use a drone so better leave it at home and take some good wide and portrait lenses instead. - Find out the best time for EBC visit in Tibet.

Found a higher place for a panoramic shot of EBC

The next mesmerizing stop on our way was Tsola Pass, finally, we could see an Everest peak and we knew we are close.

Our Brief Stay at EBC

The last stop which totally blew my mind was a view panorama of all Himalaya at the Kuawula Pass (5180 m). No words can describe this view, it's better to see one time by yourself than read about it a thousand times! The weather was incredibly windy that day and we decided not to wait until the golden sunset but to come back here next morning for the sunrise over mount. Everest and all Himalayas. This was the day we all were looking forward to, in the evening we arrive at the guesthouse near Everest Base Camp, visited the highest monastery in the world - Rongbuk Monastery (which you may see in the movie "2012"), had dinner (note to take some snacks cause there's obviously no shops or cafe nearby) and prepare our oxygen tanks given to everyone by our group leader just in case.

Day 6. That was a tough night for me, I almost didn't sleep but I knew what to expect from it and I was prepared. I had one paracetamol pill because of the headache and used an oxygen tank once during the night. I went out at night to have a breath of fresh air and I've never seen so many stars on the sky in my entire life! Everybody woke up pretty early to be able to catch a sunrise from the beautiful Kuawula Pass viewpoint and our efforts paid off! It was an incredible morning which we all will remember forever. Happy and satisfied we hit the road back to Shigatse. Our Singaporean friend had a birthday that day so we went out to the local restaurant and had a well-deserved Chinese styled feast!

Fluttering Tibetan prayer flags in the wilderness

Travel back to Lhasa via Shigatse

Day 7. It was time to go back from Shigatse to Lhasa following Yalong valley which took about 280 km, but again we had many stops to enjoy the beauty of nature and magical atmosphere of praying flags on our way. Finally, we were dropped off at the same hotel in Lhasa and it was time to recharge and have a good sleep before going back.

The famous hair-pin bends

Day 8. Transfer to the airport. With the memories of a lifetime, gigabytes of photos and videos it was time to say "Goodbye, Tibet! Hope to see you again!"

Tibet, I will certainly come back in the future

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