Situated on the roof of the world, Tibet is a trekking paradise like no other! With its lofty Himalayan peaks, serene valleys, and sacred pilgrimage routes, Tibet offers you endless opportunities for a lifetime adventure on foot.

Meanwhile, due to Tibet’s high altitude and rugged terrain on the towering plateau, trekking here is physically challenging and requires careful preparation. So, in this travel guide, we share 9 Tibet trekking tips to help you fully prepare for a seamless Tibet trekking tour.

Advice #1: Trekking in Tibet Is Physically Challenging, Requiring Proper Preparation

While Tibet’s amazing Himalayan landscape offers an unparalleled trekking paradise for travelers, you need to be well-prepared for acclimatization to the high altitude in Tibet.

It is advisable to stop strenuous activities or intense workouts for about a week before heading to Tibet because your body needs to be well-rested to adjust to the high altitude. Besides, try not to catch a cold before coming to Tibet, which makes it much harder for your body to adapt to the high altitude in Tibet.

In addition, for your first 24 hours in Lhasa, having a good rest at your hotels and staying hydrated will help you acclimatize to Tibet’s thin air. Normally, most travelers will adapt to Tibet’s high altitude in 2 or 3 days in Lhasa. Then, you will be ready to embrace enchanting Tibet treks.

Our guests stay in Lhasa for acclimatization days.

Advice #2: For the Best Experience, Plan your Trek in Tibet Between April and October

Tibet has an extreme highland climate, with dramatic temperature shifts between day and night. April to October is the best time for all Tibet treks. You can enjoy relatively warmer temperatures in the daytime with crisp air and clear mountain trails.

For Tibet trekking to see Mt. Everest and worshiping holy Mt. Kailash, April to early June and September to October are the perfect times with crystal-clear skies.

Besides, July to August brings precious rain to the barren Tibetan Plateau and overlaps the vibrant Tibetan festivals like Saga Dawa and Shoton Festival. You can enjoy a richer trekking experience, esp. trekking to sacred Mt. Kailash during the joyous Saga Dawa Festival. In most cases, the nighttime rain rarely affects trekking in central and western Tibet. Our local experts will closely follow the weather forecast and make flexible changes for the day’s trek.

16 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: Touching Mount Kailash with Spiritual Saga Dawa Festival Experience

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2219 p.p

Enjoy the Mt.Kailash trek during auspicious Saga Dawa Festival in Tibet.

Advice #3: Tibet is Home to Two of the Best Everest Base Camp Treks in the Himalayas

Nestled at the heart of the majestic Himalayas, Tibet boasts two renowned Everest Base Camp treks, with far more stunning Everest views than those in Nepal.

The first one is the Old Tingri to Everest Base Camp trek. The 70km trek takes four days from Tingri Plain through pristine valleys and high passes to Everest Base Camp (5,010m) facing the north face of Mt. Everest in Qomolangma (Everest in Tibetan) National Nature Preserve.

To enjoy this EBC trek in Tibet, the most classic tour is the 10-day trek from Tingri to EBC via Ra-chu Valley. You will spend three days acclimatization in Lhasa and covering Tibet’s most landmark attractions. Later, journey from Lhasa to Old Tringri for adventurous treks with our local experts, and after the trek, you can enjoy a smooth transfer back to Lhasa.

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

Embark on the thrilling trek from Old Tingri to Tibet Everest Base Camp in four days.

If you are an ultimate adventure seeker, the off-the-beaten Gama Valley Trek to the Eastern Slope of Everest Base Camp will be your dream trek to fulfill your wanderlust to explore the heart of the Himalayas.

The thrilling 8-day trek spans 111km and takes you to traverse bio-rich Gama Valley, credited as “one of the top ten classic trekking routes in the world” by American and British explorers in the last century. Along the way, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of Mt. Everest and its surrounding peaks from the eastern slope. Our 15-day Gama Valley Trekking in the Eastern Slope of Mt. Everest is your best bet.

15 Days Gama Valley Trekking in the Eastern Slope of Mt. Everest

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Gama Valley Trek - Shigatse - Lhasa

Price from USD2890 p.p

Go for the world-class Gama Valley trek into eastern slope of Everest Base Camp.

Advice #4: We Tibetans also Call Trekking "Kora", the Most Sacred One is Mt. Kailash Kora

Beyond the jaw-dropping Himalayan treks, Tibet features countless holy pilgrimage routes. Local Tibetans affectionately refer to the act of trekking or circling holy Buddhist sites as “Kora”.

Of all the sacred pilgrimage treks to sacred Buddhist sites, none is more famous than the 3-day Mt Kailash Kora in remote western Tibet. The challenging 52 km trek starts from Darchen, a small town at the foot of sacred Mt. Kailash. You will join prostrating Tibetan pilgrims to circumambulate the majestic pyramid-shaped Mt. Kailash in three days, together with incredible mountain scenery and a palpable sense of holiness along this trek. It’s a unique Tibet trek that not only tests your spirit but also purifies your soul.

Our most classic 15-day Lhasa to Mt. Kailash small group tour with fixed departures offers you the best option to split hefty transportation, accommodation, and guided services fees with global like-minded travelers.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: A pilgrim’s final fantasy and the greatest overland trip in Tibet.

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

Enjoy the most classic Mt. Kailash trek from Lhasa in an exhilarating 15-day Tibet adventure.

Advice #5: For a Leisurely Day Trek, Opt for Easy Trails Near Lhasa

To most ordinary travelers on a family trip to Tibet, there are plenty of leisurely day treks to stretch your legs without leaving you breathless.

After you get used to the thin air in Lhasa, you can focus on easy Tibet treks around Lhasa. One tourist-friendly trek is the Pabonka to Pubjoi Monastery Trek, which only spans 11km. From Pabonka Monastery, you will follow well-trodden pilgrim routes to explore hidden nunneries and monasteries, burn juniper branches as offerings to Buddhist deities, and enjoy a sweeping view of Lhasa Valley before reaching Pubjoi Monastery.

5 Days Lhasa Outskirts Trekking Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Follow the old pilgrimage route for the leisurely trek from Pabonka to Pubjoi Monastery in Lhasa.

Another great recommendation is to enjoy the Ganden Kora/Trek on Wangbur Mountain, 50km to the east of downtown Lhasa. Ganden kora encircles the prestigious Ganden Monastery, the first Gelugpa Monastery founded by Tibetan master Tsongkhapa. The Ganden trek takes around 40 minutes with a panoramic view of the enchanting Lhasa Valley. Along the way, you may also meet prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and monks making offerings. Our 5-day Lhasa small group tour to the top 3 Gelugpa monasteries in Lhasa allows you to enjoy Ganden Kora with easy transfer.

5 Days Lhasa Small Group Tour with Three Major Monasteries

Tour Route: Lhasa - Drak Yerpa - Ganden - Lhasa

Price from USD599 p.p

The scenic and easy trek around Ganden Monastery is tourist-friendly for all travelers.

Advice #6: Don’t Trek Without a Seasoned Local Guide, Porters, and Yaks

Tibetan landscapes are vast and rugged, with high-altitude trails that can be hard to follow for overseas travelers, plus a language barrier with local Tibetans and diverse wildlife presence in the wilderness. Even if, you are an experienced trekker, you still need a seasoned local guide to help you navigate and ensure your trekking safety on Tibetan Plateau.

Besides, at high altitudes, even walking can be exhausting. Porters and yaks are indispensable to help you carry camping gear, food, and supplies. So you can focus on trekking instead of struggling with heavy backpacks, which is also the very reason why trekking in Tibet costs more than a normal guided Tibet tour.

Our guests and local experts trek in Tibet with porters and yaks carrying supplies.

Advice #7: Expect Only Local Guesthouses or Camping for Tibet Trekking

Since most famous Tibet trekking routes pass through isolated villages, high mountain passes, and remote valleys, simple accommodations like humble local guesthouses and camping in the wilderness are the only options.

These local guesthouses often offer simple dorm beds, bedding, and warm blankets. Besides, no showing facilities are available and do expect filthy and stinky public pit toilets. However, local Tibetans are exceedingly welcoming and helpful to overseas guests.

While camping in the wilderness, our local experts will cook tasty Chinese, and Tibetan food for you in the tent and you can enjoy a cozy chat with trekking mates plus stunning night skies filled with stars, making it a memorable adventure in Tibet.

BTW, trekking in Tibet is about embracing the pristine Himalayan landscapes and authentic Tibetan culture up close. If you come with the right mindset and be flexible with your travel, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable Tibet trekking experience.

Our guests enjoy dinner and chats with our local experts in the tent during trekking.

Advice #8: Smart, Light Packing is Key for a Successful Trek

With thin air and tough mountain trails, trekking in Tibet is challenging. And the last thing you want is to be weighed down by a heavy backpack at a high altitude. Smart, light packing makes your trek easier and more enjoyable.

The key is to keep your body warm and dry for Tibet trekking. Quick-drying clothes, lightweight down jackets, and rain & wind-proof fleece jackets should be dressed in layers. So you can change according to the temperature change.

Besides, sturdy and comfy trekking boots, trekking poles, and sun protection gear are essential for trekking on the Tibetan Plateau. Other than that, don’t forget to bring your insulated water bottle, energy snacks, toiletries, cash, and personal medications.

Our guests travel light during the Gama Valley trek.

Advice #9: You Need the Best Local Travel Service for a Hassle-Free Trekking Tour in Tibet

For overseas travelers who plan to trek in Tibet, you can only join a pre-booked guided Tibet trekking tour with a local Tibet travel agency like us, as mandated by the Tibet Tourism Bureau.

As a well-established and award-winning local Tibet travel agency, recommended by Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor, we can provide you with a one-stop service to enjoy a seamless Tibet trekking experience.

We can help you arrange leading local experts, and secure a Tibet Travel Permit, and handle local and border transfer, airport & train pickup, transportation to the trekking trailhead, cooking, oxygen supplies, porters, yaks & horses, and camping tent and trekking gear rental and more, allowing you to immerse yourself in exploring Tibet landscapes and rich Buddhist culture, completely worry-free!

Conclusion

With amazing Himalayan landscapes and rich Tibetan Buddhist culture, trekking in Tibet offers you a once-in-a-lifetime adventure on the roof of the world. If you have more questions concerning trekking in Tibet, please don’t hesitate to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Looking forward to trekking with you in holy Tibet, Tashi Delek!