9-Day Kathmandu to Lhasa Shoton Festival Tour: Himalayas, Everest & Tibetan Traditions

In the morning, we will pick you up at your hotel in Kathmandu and drive to the Sino-Nepal border. After about 7 hours of driving (130km), you will reach the border town - Rasuwa Gadi.

The scenery along the way from Kathmandu to the border will make you almost forget the bumpy road. Along the way, you will see many magnificent snow-capped mountains at the southern foot of the Himalayas, covered by vast forests, towering into the clouds.

When passing through Langtang National Park, you will go through a very bumpy road section, with the vehicle swinging on the muddy road. But the exciting thing is that you may encounter some interesting wild animals on the way. Upon arrival in Rasuwa Gadi, check in at your hotel and have a good rest.

Stay overnight in Rasuwa Gadi.

Insider Tips: Please ensure you have obtained a Chinese visa before your departure.

• Passing through the Langtang National Park while overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa
• Admire magnificent snow-capped mountains at the southern foot of the Himalayas

After breakfast, you’ll take a 15-km drive to the border and enter China via the Gyirong border. Our Tibetan guide will meet you at the Gyirong side and take you to Gyirong town within a 1-hour drive.

Upon arrival, you will explore Gyirong Valley described by British explorer Howard-Bury as the most beautiful valley in the world in his book 'Mount Everest: The Reconnaissance'.

Here, you can visit the Sherpa villages and admire dense forests, serene villages, and beautiful snow peaks above the woods.

Stay overnight in Gyirong.

• A glimpse of snow mountains along the way.
• The picturesque scenery of Gyirong Town

After breakfast, you will leave Gyirong, which is densely covered with forests and snow-capped mountains, and officially head to the Mount Everest region with an altitude of more than 4500 meters. On this 380-kilometer journey, you will see the scenery along the road changing as the altitude increases.

First, you will be attracted by the forests, waterfalls, and bottomless canyons at an altitude of 2800 meters. Then cross the Kong Tang Lamu Pass at an altitude of 5236 meters and enter the plateau. When passing by Mt. Shishabangma (8027m) and Pelku Tso Lake at its foot, you will be shocked by the tranquil and peaceful beauty.

After that, you will enter the Mount Everest area. When passing through the world's most beautiful Everest viewing platform - Gawula Pass (5198m), you will see five peaks above 8000 meters in the Himalayas lined up. The world-famous Mount Everest stands among them, and beneath the peaks is the churning sea of clouds.

Later, you will arrive at Everest Base Camp (5200m), which is the second observation deck of Mount Everest. Here, you'll admire the world's highest peak from the foot of Mount Everest's North Slope and visit the world's highest temple, Rongbuk Monastery (5154m).

After visiting Everest Base Camp, we will continue our journey to Tingri (4300m).

Stay overnight in Tingri

• Drive along the zigzag road to Everest Base Camp
• Enjoy your group tour to Everest Base Camp

Start the journey to Shigatse in the morning, you will first visit the 5000m G318 National Highway milestone in Lhatse on the way.

After your arrival in Shigatse in the early afternoon, you will visit the seat of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the most important monasteries in Tibet. The grand and magnificent halls of the largest local monastery occupy the entire hillside. This is the spiritual home of the Tibetan people in Shigatse, housing the world's largest statue of Maitreya Buddha.

Stay overnight in Shigatse (3900m)

• Have a rest at 5000m G318 National Highway Milestone
• Stroll through peaceful Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse.

In the morning, start the overland journey from Shigatse to Lhasa, which includes visits to Tibet's most beautiful lake, glacier, and a charming Tibetan village. After arriving in Gyantse, you can spend some time taking photos of the ancient city of Gyantse and visit the Perklor Monastery and Kumbum stupa.

Next, you will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is the largest glacier in Tibet. As you see the ice tongue of the glacier climb the entire hillside, you will feel the magical power of nature.

After that, drive to Yamdrok Lake, one of the “top three holy lakes” in Tibet. The Yamdrok Lake, at 4400 meters above sea level, is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. In the distance, you can have spectacular views of holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa. You can also visit a local family in the nearby village.

After a leisurely visit to Yamdrok Lake, continue your journey to Lhasa. Finally, you will arrive in Lhasa. After check in at your hotel, allow yourself a well-deserved rest following today’s lengthy journey.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

• Yamdrok Lake at Gampala Pass, where you can get a marvelous bird's-eye view of the lake.
• Marvel at the stunning Karola Glacier on the way to Gyantse.

In the morning your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby and drive you to the Potala palace, this majestic palace, the land mark of Tibet, the first construction ever built in Lhasa by the most well known and outstanding Tibetan king Tsongtsen Gambo in seventh century as his residence and central government official.

And in seventeenth century the fifth Dalailama began to extend it into current style. It is listed into the UNESCO’s World Heritage in December 1994. More than three hours visiting outside and inside the palace, you will learn all detail history about the palace by your guide.

After marvelous visiting and climbing hundreds of stairs there, your driver will pick you up at the exit of Potala and transfer you to local restaurant near by Jokhang, you will feel bit exhausted and tired but no matter you can have good relax during the lunch time and ask for your guide to order a glass of Ginger Lemon Tea+honey that will give you more energy and feel fresh again.

After lunch break, your guide will lead you to Jokhang Temple and Barkor street by walking to explore the culture center of Tibet, the heart of Tibetan Buddhism and the main destination of the pilgrims coming from all over the Tibetan territories and the Barkor Ancient Street with local bazaar and art workshops.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Potala Palace is always the No.1 attraction for travelers visiting Tibet.
• Holy Jokhang Temple

Today you have a great opportunity to visit the beginning ceremony of the most important annual festival in Lhasa called “Shoton” means Yogurt Banquet. The opening ceremony begins from Drepung and Sera the two largest monasteries in Lhasa.

In the very early morning your guide and driver will pick you up and drive to Drepung Monastery to attend the ceremony. With thousands of local pilgrims and tourists, you will luckily see one of the largest embroidered Thangka/scroll painting of Buddha in Tibet.

Hundreds of monks and volunteers transfer it to a hillside not far from the monastery and display on a huge wall then the monks perform a special religious ritual to open the ceremony, the pilgrims from nomadic area offer fresh Yak Yogurt to the monks and everyone receives blessings from main master of monastery.

In the afternoon you will be driven to Sera monastery, the second largest monastery to visit another beautiful Grand Thangka and religious ceremony. It’s a very busy day but very worth.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Drepung Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelug monasteries of Tibet
• Monk debate in Sera monastery

Today you will spend whole day in Norbulingka to see how people enjoy their festival, you will have a great chance to watch the performance of traditional Tibetan opera, join with friendly local people, their hospitality towards you makes you feel like very close friends, they will serve you free cookies, Yak meat or yogurt sometimes and plenty of their homemade barley beer.

You will also visit the main residence of the successive Dalailamas’ personal residences, guest interview room, meeting rooms, the wall of paintings that tells the general history of Tibet and ancient civilization as well as its unique architectural design and wooden carves.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Norbulingka - the Summer Palace of Dalai Lama
• Enjoy Traditional Tibetan Opera in Norbulingka during Shoton Festival

Today marks the end of your Tibet tour in Shoton Festival. Please make sure to verify your departure flight/train details with our guide in advance. And your guide will take you to the airport or train station.

Thank you for choosing Tibet Vista, and we extend a warm welcome for your return to Tibet in the future.