Lhasa to Kathmandu Fly-in/Drive-Out Tour-8 Days

Trip Facts

  • Duration 7 Days
  • Difficulty Level Easy
  • Destination Tibet
  • Transportation Flight/Car/Jeep/Van/Bus
  • Activity Cultural and Historical Tours
  • Best Season March - May and Sept -November
  • Group Size Mini 2, Max 12 People
  • Trip Start/End Lhasa, Tibet
  • Max Altitude 3,650m/11,976ft

Lhasa to Kathmandu Trip Highlights:

  • Flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa with views of Mount Everest
  • Visit Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace
  • Visit two of three great Gelug University Gompas of Tibet
  • Jokhang Temple, the most important and sacred temple in Tibet
  • Khumbum Stupa, a three dimensional mandala
  • View of the Yamdrok Lake and Kharola Glacier
  • Trip to Shigatse, the second-largest city
  • Explore the Tashilhunpo Monastery

Lhasa to Kathmandu Fly-in/Drive Out Tibet Tour Overview

The 8-day Lhasa to Kathmandu Fly-in and Drive-out Tour takes you to the highest regions on Earth, offering a unique opportunity to experience Tibet’s rich culture and traditions. This adventure showcases the stunning high-altitude desert landscapes, panoramic views of the Himalayas, and breathtaking Tibetan scenery. You’ll explore ancient Tibetan culture by visiting monasteries, vibrant markets, museums, and libraries.

The tour begins with a scenic drive through Kerung and Lhatse, where you’ll encounter dramatic landscapes featuring deep river gorges, snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls, and diverse flora and fauna. The journey offers incredible views of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201 m), and Mt. Xishapagma (8,212 m). The adventure continues toward Zhangmu, Xegar, and Xigatse, where you’ll explore significant landmarks that reflect Tibet’s rich history and heritage.

This Tibet Overland Tour follows the iconic Friendship Highway, a 920-km route between Kathmandu and Lhasa. The journey offers insights into the life and culture of the Tibetan people, from ancient monasteries with chanting monks to the tranquil shores of Turquoise Lake Yamdrok Tso and the architectural marvel of Kumbum (literally meaning “100,000 images”). The tour concludes with a mesmerizing Trans-Himalayan flight from Lhasa back to Kathmandu, offering spectacular aerial views.

Adventure Club Trek has carefully designed this exceptional overland tour to help you explore Tibet, the Roof of the World. During this tour, you’ll witness the grandeur and peaceful beauty of Tibet’s landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and cultural landmarks, which set it apart from other destinations. We provide the best itinerary for this journey, balancing cost-efficiency and quality, to meet your expectations for an unforgettable adventure.  Adventure Club Trek has some Tibet trekking packages including the Tibet to Kathmandu Tour 6 Days and Lhasa and Everest Base Camp Tour- 8 Days among others.

Join us on this incredible Tibet Overland Tour and create memories of a lifetime!

The tour is available upon request. Please Contact us for information regarding dates and prices.

Food During Lhasa to EBC Tour 

On this trip, only breakfasts are provided. You'll need to pay for your lunches and dinners. Breakfast will be served where we stay overnight, and dinner arrangements can be similar. Lunch will be eaten while we're traveling to the next place. We suggest budgeting around Yuan 60 to Yuan 100 (US$10 to US$16) per day for lunch and dinner. Our meals will include Tibetan bread, dal (lentil soup), bhat (rice), tsampa porridge, and other basic local dishes.

Travel Documents Required for Entry to Tibet

Passport

All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months.

Chinese Visa: This can be obtained from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights if entering Tibet from China.

Group Visa: Required for travelers entering Tibet from Nepal. After the Tibet tour, travelers can continue to mainland China with a valid group visa.

Note: An individual Chinese visa in your passport will be canceled if a group visa is issued.

Tibet Entry Permit

Issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, this is a mandatory document for all foreigners entering Tibet.

Additional Permits for Specific Areas

Travel Permit: Required for access to restricted areas within Tibet. This permit is issued after your arrival in Tibet.

Military Permit: Necessary for visiting certain militarily sensitive regions in Tibet. Ensure all required documents are in order before your trip to enjoy a smooth and hassle-free journey to Tibet.

Visa Process for Tibet Overland Tour from Nepal

According to the latest regulations from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, a minimum of four people is required to apply for a Tibet group visa. The application process in Kathmandu involves submitting the original passport and typically takes 3–4 official working days to complete.

Please note that visa requirements and regulations are subject to frequent changes. We recommend confirming the latest requirements with Adventure Club Trek before booking your Tibet tour to ensure a smooth process.

The Chinese government frequently updates its visa regulations. If any new rules are introduced in the future, we will promptly provide updated information

Itinerary

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Today, you fly to Lhasa via China Air. A representative from Adventure Club Trek will drop you off at Tribhuvan International Airport with your visit and Tibet permit. The one-and-a-half-hour-long flight takes you over to the world's tallest mountain, Everest, with views of other snow-capped mountains in the Himalayas. Upon your arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA), you will be welcomed by our representative who will take you to your confirmed accommodation where you can rest and acclimatize.

  • AccommodationHotel
  • MealsNo Meals
  • Max. Altitude3,650m/11,976ft

Today you will explore the landmarks of the city of Lhasa and our guide will accompany you. First, we visit the Potala Palace. It was where the Dalai Lama used to stay before the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. The 5th Dalai Lama started building the palace in 1645 over the remains of the White Palace built by Tibetan King SongtsenGampo in 637. As of now, it is a museum and also a World Heritage Site. Next, we visit the Norbulingka which translates to ‘The Jewelled Park’’- a palace popular as the summer home for Dalai Lamas from the 1780s till the 14 Dalai Lama's exile in 1959. Built by the 7th Dalai Lama, it is considered the largest garden made by man in Tibet. Our final stop for the day is the Tibetan Museum which was established on October 5, 1999. It is the first large, modern museum in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

  • AccommodationHotel
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude3,650m/11,976ft

On the second day in Lhasa, we start our day by visiting the Drepung Monastery, one of three great Gelug university Gompas of Tibet, the other two are Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery. We will then go to Sera Monastery popular as ‘’Wild Roses Monastery.’’ Our next destination is the Jokhang Temple located in Barkhor, Lhasa. It is a Buddhist temple and is regarded as the most important and sacred temple in Tibet. It's a mixture of Indian Vihara, Tibetan, and Nepalese architectural styles. From the temple, we make our way to Barkhor Bazaar where you can indulge in shopping artifacts, handicrafts, and traditional Tibetan gifts.

  • AccommodationHotel
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude3,650m/11,976ft

Full day picturesque drive along the turquoise lake of Yamdrok, crossing over Kampala Pass (4794M) and the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo). Today is a full day a picturesque drive crossing over the colorful Yamdrok Lake and Kambala Pass at 4,794m and Karola Pass at 5,010m. In Gyantse, you spend time visiting the Pelke Chode Monastery and the 35m high famous Khumbum Stupa Gyantse packed with exquisite Tibetan sculpture and paintings, a stunning architectural wonder in Tibet.

  • AccommodationGuesthouse
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude3950m)

We drive from Gyantse to Shigatse (3,900m.). You stay overnight at a hotel in Shigatse. When Gyantse just fades away from your sight, Shigatse becomes clearer because it’s just about 02 hours driving (98 kilometers).

Shigatse is situated near the junction of the Ngang and the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) rivers, with many traditional low ceilings, flat-roofed, mud brick Tibetan houses, but quite a lot of ugly modern Chinese buildings as well. It is home to the Tashilunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, and one of the great centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Shigatse has an interesting bazaar, where various traditional items can often be found at more or less reasonable prices. Shigatse has always been an important trade and administration center and also has political and religious significance, once being the seat of the Panchen Lama. The town is essentially divided into two parts: the old Tibetan-style area in the city and the concrete, the modern Chinese part of the town. The older streets and alleys here are very pleasant to wander around and there are a few sights of interest to guarantee a stay of a day or two.

Hereabouts, you go to Tashilunpo Monastery and you stroll around the Tibetan market. Tashilunpo (Heap of Glory) Monastery is the seat of the Panchen Lamas. Built in 1447, it is the head monastery of the Yellow Hat sect (Gelukgompa). It is today one of Tibet’s most active monasteries. Overnight in hotel Shigatse.

  • AccommodationHotel
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude3900m

Our scenic drive through the highest point of Gyatchu La pass at (5,220m) brings us en-route to Lhasa via Shegar. Overnight at a hotel with twin sharing rooms on a BB basis.

  • AccommodationGuesthouse
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude4350m

This is a day drive to the highest plateau in the world with typical rural landscapes offering the utter feeling of being on the roof of the world as we cross over the 5,050 meters LA LUNGA pass, from where you can view the breathtaking mountain range of Mt. Cho Oyu at (8,201m) Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m) dwarfed by the vastness of the Tibetan plateau (these views are only possible if weather permits). One can also get a magnificent view of Mt. Everest at (8,848m) from Shegar.

  • AccommodationGuesthoise
  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude2800m

Drive downhill to the Nepal-Tibet border that’s Khasa & Tatopani and after completing our immigration formalities; we drive 6-7 hours through beautiful Nepali countryside on the Arniko highway, making our way to Kathmandu. And this is where our Tibet holidays formally conclude. Overnight in Kathmandu, the valley of the gods.

  • MealsBreakfast
  • Max. Altitude1300m

NoteYour safety is of the utmost concern whilst you are traveling with Adventure Club Trek. We will make every effort possible to follow the original itinerary but we reserve the right to change that itinerary if a segment of it becomes a safety issue. Certain mountain regions are remote, natural disasters can happen, weather conditions can decline and there can be illness or an injury. To avoid dangerous situations we may occasionally have to make changes to the itinerary to ensure everyone’s safety. That having been said, Adventure Club Trek will strive to provide you with the best possible Tibet Tours and Trekking experience and to keep your safety our number one priority. We thank you for your understanding.

Cost Details

Price Includes

  • All airport/ hotel /airport transfers on a private tourist vehicle.
  • Transfer by Land Cruiser for up to 4 people and van for above 4 people in Tibet part
  • Transfer from the Tibet border to Kathmandu by a coaster/tourist bus.
  • Hotel accommodation in Tibet on a sharing basis with breakfast.
  • Assistance in acquiring a Chinese visa. 
  • All necessary Tibet travel permits.
  • English-speaking, trained, and experienced Tibetan guide.
  • All fees for sightseeing and visits to monasteries as outlined in the itinerary.
  • All applicable taxes and service charges.

Price Excludes

  • Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days and USD 50 for 30 days, and USD$125 for 90 days)
  • Accommodation in Nepal or mainland China
  • Lunch and dinner during the Tibet tour. 
  • Chinese visa fee
  • Accommodation and Tour in Kathmandu and Mainland China.
  • Airfare or Train tickets to any destination ( Flights and Train Tickets are arranged on Request)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips for guide(s) and driver(s)

Useful Info

Weather Information

The weather in Tibet is similar to that of Mainland China, though with lower temperatures due to higher altitudes. Summers have warm days with strong sunshine and cool nights, but summer days can even be chilly at higher elevations. Winters are cold but there isn't all that much snow. Lhasa enjoys a lot of sunshine even in winter. Most Tibet experiences frost at least 6 months of the year. Some high lakes are frozen from October to March. The weather varies a lot from region to region. Lhasa is an ideal destination because it is in a valley area of lower elevation.

Safety Guidelines

We recommend you go through our following safety guidelines and stay tuned with the latest happenings.

  • Have at least 2 copies of the Tibet Permit.
  • Keep your belongings properly.
  • When you feel uncomfortable due to altitude change or have any troubles, report to train staff promptly.
  • Never rush to visit attractions shortly after you arrive in Lhasa.
  • Shop around but avoid undue bargaining with street vendors and never buy wildlife and unknown Tibetan herbal medicine and fake products.
  • Take your money and important belongings with you all the time.
  • Spend a few days in Lhasa for acclimation and always follow a gradual ascent when traveling to higher places to avoid altitude sickness.
  • Refrain from heavy drinking and smoking.
  • Respect the religion, and customs and avoid taboos in Tibet.
  • Pay special attention to the unique alpine climates (such as sunburn, dramatic temperature change, etc.)
  • Keep the necessary medicines at the consultation of your doctor.
  • Never travel alone at night or venture into unknown places without informing your guide.
  • In most places, cash is only accepted. Do prepare enough and small changes.
  • If an emergency arises, report it to your guide promptly.
  • Don’t carry any documents or papers related to the Dalai Lama or feel Tibet.
  • We also recommend not carrying any guidebook to Tibet.

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