Located on the northern side of Mount Everest, Everest Base Camp in Tibet is the top destination for most tourists visiting Tibet. From Lhasa, the fine road conditions make it easy to get to Everest Base Camp directly by overland, bike, or motorbike. You can also trek to the base camp after driving from Lhasa to Tingri.

How to find the best way to get to Everest Base Camp in Tibet? Here, we’ll share all the details about 5 different options and help you arrange the most smooth journey to witness the world’s highest peak from Lhasa.

Overland to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa (2 Days / 697 km): The Easiest Way

The most popular way to get to Everest Base Camp in Tibet is by overland travel via the famous Friendship Highway, which is also part of the G318 National Highway. A distance of 697 kilometers by road, the scenic route to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa takes you to explore some of the most stunning landscapes in Tibet.

Starting from Lhasa, you will first visit the Yamdrok Lake, one of the greatest three holy lakes of Tibet, to appreciate the turquoise water and have lunch with a local Tibetan family to experience the village life of the locals.

Then, you will pass by the old town of Gyantse and reach Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. It is the home of the amazing Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama.

From Shigatse, you’ll take another day’s drive to Everest Base Camp via Tingri. Because of the well-conditioned road to Mount Everest in Tibet, the journey from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp is suitable for tourists of all ages, even for kids and senior travelers as you can get to the base camp directly by car without any trekking or climbing.

One of the most amazing sights of the entire trip is the panoramic view of the highest Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest, from the Gawula Pass at 5,198 meters above sea level. This is the only place on the Earth where the world’s five highest peaks can be seen together, creating an awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience.

Insider Tips for the Overland journey from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp

Though the overland journey of over 600 kilometers can be done in two days, it is not recommended to travel directly to Everest Base Camp upon arriving in Lhasa. To better acclimate to the high altitude and avoid altitude sickness, the Lhasa to Everest Base Camp overland tour is typically arranged in 8 days, including the time for early adaptation in Lhasa and the return journey.

The Lhasa to Everest Base Camp overland tour is the easier and most enjoyable journey.

8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour: Marvel at Mt.Everest Real Close from 4 Different Viewing Platforms

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD949 p.p

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Trek to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa via Old Tingri (4 Days / 70 km): The Classic Himalayan Trek

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is also a popular way to go, giving you an amazing experience of the northern side of Mount Everest in Tibet. You will pass through several small villages and visit some of the nomadic herders of the region in the right season.

The popular Tingri to Everest Base Camp trek is actually not start from Lhasa. You’ll first take a land journey from Lhasa to Tingri, and then start trekking from there. The whole trekking distance from Tingri to Everest Base Camp in Tibet is about 70 kilometers, which takes about 4 days to complete.

Insider Tips for Tingri to Everest Base Camp Trekking Tours

The best time for the Everest Base Camp trek in Tibet is from April to May and September to October for pleasant weather and more clear views of mountain peaks. The summer months (June, July, and August) are not good months to trek for abundant rain. You may get less chance to witness the mountain peaks as the clouds and frogs cover the mountain peaks.

During the trekking, you need to camp in the wild. You can bring your own sleeping bags and tent or rent from us.

10 Days Best Everest Trekking Small Group Tour from Tingri to Everest Base Camp

Tour Route: Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Shigatse - Old Tingri - Lungjiang - Lamna-la - Chaya Pass - Everest Base Camp - Tingri - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD1780 p.p

Take the popular trekking to Everest Base Camp in Tibet with like-minded tourists around the world!

Cycle to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa (9 Days / 734 km): The Greatest Challenge

Following the same roads as the drive to Everest Base Camp, the Lhasa to Everest Base Camp cycling tour takes a lot longer, lasting around 15 days in total. It is a challenging journey, offering an amazing experience. While the rides over the various 5,000+ meters 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.

Insider Tips for Cycling from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp

Try to avoid the rainy season from June to August as the rainfall brings frog and clouds, which covers the mountain peaks and make the riding unpleasant.

Surprisingly, cycling to Everest Base Camp in Tibet is not a budget way to travel, as you need to be accompanied by a local tour guide all the way. To cut down the tour cost, it is recommended to travel with a group. The more members in your group, the cheaper the price for everyone.

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

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Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyangtse - Shigatse - Lhatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD2680USD p.p

The best cycling tour to the top of the world!

Ride a Motorcycle to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa (3 Days / 697 km ): The Most Adventurous Journey

The most adventurous way to travel from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp is riding a motorbike along the well-paved road to Mount Everest. The riding route is the same as the overland trip, which takes 3 days from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp.

The entire journey, from your arrival in Lhasa to your return, takes 9 days. If you want to continue to Nepal, you can travel westward to Kathmandu via the Gyirong border after visiting Everest Base Camp. Check more details on a Lhasa to Kathmandu motorcycle tour with Everest Base Camp.

9 Days Lhasa to EBC Motorcycle Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Ride through the best sights on your motorbike from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp!

Self-drive to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa (4 Days / 745 km): The Most Flexible Way

Now, it is also possible to take a self-drive journey to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa. You’ll journey through scenic landscapes, winding roads, and local villages, and experience the majestic Himalayan mountains up close. You can drive your own car or rent one in Lhasa. Please make sure to get a Chinese Temporary Driver's License in advance.

Based in Lhasa, we at Tibet Vista, offer hassle-free self-drive tours in Tibet, guarantee the Tibet Travel Permit, and assist you in applying for a temporary Driver’s License and a Chinese Visa. Also, we provide experienced local tour guides who will be with you to provide co-pilot service throughout your self-drive trip in Tibet.

10 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Self Drive Road Trip

Tour Route: Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Gyantse - Shigatse - Tingri - Everest Base Camp - Sakya - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD1,660 p.p

Enjoy the breathtaking drive from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp!

Can I get to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa by flight/train? (Possible but Not Recommended)

Recently, there is no direct flight or train to Everest Base Camp in Tibet. But the nearby Shigatse Tingri Airport, Shigatse Peace Airport, and Shigatse Railway Station make it possible to take a faster way to reach to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa.

Shigatse Tingri Airport, located about 33 kilometers east of Tingri Town, is the closest airport to Mount Everest in Tibet. Upon arrival at the Tingri Airport, a drive of approximately 180 kilometers will take you to the base camp. However, there are only a limited number of flights to Tingri Airport, with just a few flights from Lhasa, Chengdu, or Chongqing.

The Shigatse Peace Airport, also known as Shigatse Heping Airport, is one of the major airports in Tibet. It is 41.5 kilometers away from downtown Shigatse and takes about 7 hours to drive to the base camp. The direct flights to Shigatse Peace Airport are mostly from Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, and Lhasa.

The Shigatse Railway Station is the closest railway station to Everest Base Camp in Tibet. There are three pairs of trains running between Lhasa and Shigatse daily, taking 2.5 to 3 hours. You still need to take another 7-hour drive from Shigatse to Everest Base Camp.

Though the flights and trains to Shigatse can shorten the four-day overland trip to Everest Base Camp to two days, the rapid ascent from Lhasa at 3,650 meters above sea level to the Everest Base Camp at nearly 5,200 meters can easily cause altitude sickness. So, it is not recommended for you to reach the base camp in these ways.

Insider Tips for Getting to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa Smoothly

The necessary travel permits for visiting Mount Everest in Tibet include a Chinese Visa, the Tibet Travel Permit, an Alien’s Travel Permit. To ensure a worry-free travel, we ensure your Tibet Travel Permit and the Alien’s Travel Permit once you book a tour with us. Additionally, we will assist you in applying for your Chinese Visa.

The best time to visit Everest Base Camp in Tibet is from April to May and September to October, during which you can enjoy the most clear views of Mount Everest, as well as other Himalayan peaks with less rainfall and fine temperature.

It is not recommended to travel to Everest Base Camp rapidly upon your arrival in Lhasa. It is better to spend few days in Lhasa to adapt to the altitude, and then travel to Shigatse for another break before heading to the base camp. A tight schedule may cause heavy altitude sickness.

Visit Everest Base Camp with us for a hassle-free journey.

Join Our Lhasa Everest Base Camp Tour for Smooth Travel

As the leading local travel agency in Tibet, we at Tibet Vista carefully designed a collection of Tibet Everest Base Camp tours, with carefully designed itineraries, so that you can gradually adapt to the altitude changes while enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way, making your journey to Everest Base Camp in Tibet safer and more comfortable.

No matter whether you are looking for a small group to join or prefer to customize a private tour, we will help you arrange the best way for your needs and provide one-package services with high-quality local tour services and guaranteed permit application.

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Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD949 p.p

Join our top-rated small group tour from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp – the easiest way to witness the summit!

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 an overland journey, ride a bike, or 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 questions about getting to Everest Base Camp from Lhasa, please feel free to contact us or leave your comments below.