Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse Tibet Tour (Drive In Fly Out Tour)

Start your journey with a scenic drive through the beautiful Nepalese countryside toward the Nepal–Tibet border at Kerung. After completing border formalities at Nepalese immigration, continue with an adventurous uphill journey to Chinese immigration—either by local jeep/bus (usually 1 hour) or on foot (about 2 hours in case of a landslide). After crossing into Tibet, transfer to Kerung town and check in at a local guest house. Overnight: Hotel in Kerung.

After breakfast in Kerung, begin your journey into the heart of the Tibetan plateau. The drive takes you through dramatic landscapes of high Himalayan terrain, winding mountain roads, and barren but beautiful valleys. As you ascend, you’ll pass through several scenic spots and cross high passes, including the Lalung La Pass (5050 m) and Tong La Pass (5150 m)—both offering stunning panoramic views of the Himalayan giants, including Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m), the only 8,000-meter peak located entirely in Tibet.

You'll gradually reach Tingri, a windswept plateau town that once served as a trading post between Nepal and Tibet. From Tingri, on clear days, you can also spot majestic peaks like Cho Oyu and even Mount Everest in the distance.

Today’s journey takes you deeper into the Tibetan plateau through expansive valleys, high mountain passes, and traditional Tibetan settlements. From Tingri, drive eastward along the Friendship Highway, following scenic routes that pass isolated villages and farmlands.

Along the way, you’ll pass Lhatse, a small town located on the banks of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. If time permits, you can stop here for tea or lunch. Lhatse is also home to the Lhatse Chöde Monastery, a lesser-known but historically significant site.

Continue the drive to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism. Once in Shigatse, you’ll visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, a grand complex founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama. It houses a 26-meter-high Maitreya Buddha statue and serves as an active monastery with hundreds of monks.

After breakfast in Shigatse, begin a scenic drive toward the historical town of Gyantse, located in the Nyang Chu Valley. This relatively short drive takes you through fertile farmlands and traditional Tibetan villages, giving you a glimpse into rural life on the plateau.

Upon arrival in Gyantse, explore some of Tibet’s most culturally rich sites:

• Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode) – A unique fusion of Tibetan, Chinese, and Nepali architecture that houses multiple Buddhist sects under one roof.
• Kumbum Stupa (Gyantse Stupa) – The largest stupa in Tibet, rising 35 meters high with 108 chapels spread over nine levels, richly decorated with murals and statues.
• Gyantse Dzong – A historic fortress perched on a hilltop with panoramic views of the town and surrounding valley. Though partially ruined, it symbolizes Gyantse’s resistance to British invasion in 1904.

Gyantse maintains a charming, old-world Tibetan character and is less modernized than other Tibetan cities, offering an authentic atmosphere.

Today’s journey is one of the most scenic drives in Tibet, as you travel from the historical town of Gyantse to the spiritual capital, Lhasa. The route winds through majestic Himalayan landscapes, sacred lakes, and high mountain passes.

Key highlights along the way include:

• Yamdrok Tso (Lake Yamdrok) – One of Tibet’s four holiest lakes, known for its deep turquoise color and mystical aura. You’ll stop to enjoy the views and take photos along the lake's edge.
• Karo La Pass (5045m) – Beneath the towering Nojin Kangtsang Glacier, this pass offers incredible views of snow-draped peaks.
• Kamba La Pass (4794 m) – From here, you’ll enjoy a final sweeping view of Yamdrok Lake before descending into the Lhasa Valley.

As you approach Lhasa, the landscape transitions from wild, high-altitude scenery to urban development, yet the presence of ancient monasteries, stupas, and prayer flags remains constant.

After having breakfast in hotel, we will begin the tour from UNESCO World Heritage site:Potala Palace. which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.

After visiting Potala Palace, we will visit Longwangtan Park which is located at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, we will be able to appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities as well.

Then after we will continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Inside we can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Next to the temple there is Barkhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry. Here, we can do Kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

In the end, we can follow our guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. We can sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

After having breakfast in hotel, we will get ready for Lhasa Tour.

At first, we will go to visit Drepung monastery which used to be home of over 10,000 monks once upon a time and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace. We can meditate in this monastery for maximum 1 hour, if any rituals is not being performed during our visit.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three greats” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa. Guide will help you understand on how Tibetan monks participate in these discussions in order to learn new things and improve their academic standing. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

On final day of your Tibet journey, you will be transferred from your hotel in Lhasa to Gonggar Airport for your return flight to Kathmandu. Enjoy a spectacular Trans-Himalayan flight offering breathtaking aerial views of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu, if the weather permits. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel, carrying unforgettable memories of Tibet’s spiritual and cultural treasures.