Adventure Friendship

Welcome to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan!
Upon arrival, our local guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your downtown hotel. After checking in, enjoy leisure time or explore nearby attractions.

Optional Activities:

• Stroll through Chunxi Road and Tai Koo Li for shopping and dining.
• Visit Kuanzhai Alley to experience Chengdu’s blend of tradition and modern life.
• Relax in Renmin Park, a popular spot for locals, and enjoy traditional Chinese tea.

Stay overnight in Chengdu.

After breakfast, visit the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you’ll see both adult and baby pandas at their most active during feeding time.

Later, your guide will escort you to the railway station for the overnight train to Xining. Enjoy the comfortable sleeping compartments onboard.

Stay overnight on the train.

Upon arrival in Xining, your local guide will meet you and take you for breakfast at a local restaurant.

Visit the Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery) — one of the six major Gelug monasteries and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Marvel at the monastery’s rich murals, thangkas, and intricate architecture.

Next, explore the Dongguan Mosque and Muslim Quarter, where you can experience Xining’s cultural diversity and sample local delicacies.

In the evening, transfer to the station for the overnight train to Tibet. Present your passport and Tibet Travel Permit before boarding.

Tibet Permit Notes:

• We handle the Tibet Travel Permit for you once you book.
• Please send your required documents at least 20 days in advance.
• Keep your permit safe — you’ll need it for boarding.

Train Travel Tips:

• A soft sleeper train ticket from Xining to Lhasa is included.
• Dining cars offer simple Chinese meals; you may bring snacks or noodles.
• All trains are equipped with oxygen supply systems — no need to worry about altitude sickness.

Stay overnight on the train.

Enjoy the legendary Qinghai–Tibet Railway journey — crossing the vast Tibetan Plateau, passing snow-capped peaks, desert plains, shimmering lakes, and grasslands.

Upon arrival in Lhasa (3,650 m), meet your Tibetan guide and drive to your hotel. Along the way, enjoy views of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River and Lhasa River.

Take the rest of the day to relax and acclimatize to the altitude. In the evening, your guide will brief you on your upcoming itinerary and provide useful travel tips.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

This day is dedicated to exploring Tibet’s great monastic heritage.

• Visit Drepung Monastery, once home to over 10,000 monks, and learn about the core philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Tour the Loseling College, where monks study Buddhist scriptures and debate religious philosophy.
• In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery, famous for its lively monk debates held in the courtyard (Monday–Saturday, 3–5 PM).

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, visit Potala Palace, the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Explore its grand halls, sacred chapels, and golden stupas of past Dalai Lamas.

Visit Longwangtan Park at the foot of Potala for stunning photos of the palace.

Continue to the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred shrine in Tibet, housing the revered statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni. Outside, observe pilgrims prostrating and circling the temple along Barkhor Street — the bustling old market of Lhasa.

Enjoy traditional Tibetan sweet tea in a local tea house to experience Tibetan daily life.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Begin your overland journey to Shigatse with incredible scenic stops:

• Drive over Gampala Pass (4,790m) to view Yamdrok Lake (4,400m) and distant Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191m).
• Visit a local village for lunch by the lakeside.
• Continue to Karola Glacier, Tibet’s largest glacier.
• Stop at Simila Pass to hang prayer flags for good fortune.

Arrive in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

Today’s highlight is your journey to the Everest Base Camp.

• Pass Gyatsola Pass (5,280m) and Gawula Pass (5,198m) for breathtaking views of the Himalayas, including Everest.
• Drive along the zigzag mountain road to EBC, where Mount Everest gradually reveals itself in its full glory.

At sunset, witness the golden glow over Everest’s north face, followed by a dazzling night sky filled with stars.

Overnight: EBC tent camp or nearby Rongbuk village (depending on season).

Note: Visibility of Everest depends on weather conditions. EBC tents close during winter (Nov–Mar).

Before leaving EBC, visit Rongbuk Monastery (5,154m) — the world’s highest monastery.

Then drive via Dinggye Xilin Viewpoint, where you’ll see both Everest and Lhotse and the vast Himalayan wetlands.
Stop in Sakya Ancient Town, known for its medieval-style monastery and stone architecture.

In the evening, enjoy a Tibetan song-and-dance show at Langma Hall in Shigatse to celebrate your Everest adventure.

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

After breakfast, visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama and home to the world’s largest Maitreya Buddha statue.

Drive back to Lhasa along the scenic Yarlung Tsangpo River. In the evening, explore Barkhor Street one last time for souvenirs.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Chengdu, enjoying views of the Brahmaputra River along the way.

Your unforgettable Tibet Everest Base Camp adventure comes to an end.

Thank you for choosing Adventure Friendship — we look forward to welcoming you again on another Himalayan journey!