8 Tours From Kathmandu To Tibet

Celeste
Celeste 
Updated
| 6 min read

Tibet has some of the world’s tallest mountains, including Mount Everest. Several major rivers have their source in Tibet, including the Yangtze, Yellow River, Indus River, Mekong, and the Ganges River. For adventure seekers, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is among the deepest and longest canyons on Earth.

Tibet has over 800 small villages along with its capital city, Lhasa, to explore. Lhasa is home to two Unesco World Heritage sites, the Potala Palace and the Dalai Lama’s Norbulingka Palace. Tourists can visit Jokhang and Ramoche Temple or Tibet’s rural areas where they will find locals raising sheep, cattle, goats, camels, and yaks supporting the agriculture industry. Whichever you choose to visit during your stay, please check out these tours from Kathmandu to Tibet.

1. Tibet Lhasa Tour (from USD 1500.0)

This eight-day tour encompasses both Tibet’s natural areas and its capital, Lhasa. After reaching Nyalam on the first day, you will travel through the river valley of Bhote Koshi with its many waterfalls. You will experience spectacular views of Mount Langtang and Mount Everest, a couple of the seven majestic mountains along this route. Road conditions permitting, you will visit Sakya Monastery on day three and finish at Hotel Samdruse.

On the fourth day, you will spend your morning at Tashilunpo Monastery and the Xigatse Bazaar and afterward, drive to Gyantse. The fifth day will be spent driving through the Karola and Kambala passes en route to the hotel where the guide will provide your airline ticket to Lhasa. You will experience Lhasa’s Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Market, Drepung Monastery, and Sera monastery during your sixth and seventh days, and retire at the Hotel Himalaya. For your eighth and final day, you leave for the airport to return to Kathmandu.

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Tibet Lhasa Tour

2. Kharta Valley trek, Tibet; 23-day trek (from USD 2502.0)

The first few days are spent discovering Kathmandu. Then you will head to Lhasa to explore the Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace, and the Dalai Lama’s Norbulingka Palace for a couple more days. On day six, you head for Gyantse to visit the Gyantse Dzong fort and Gyantse Kumbum Buddhist temple. On day eight, you travel along the plains taking in monasteries and nomad camps en route to Kharta to enjoy beautiful views of Mount Everest, Shisapangma, and the Phung Chu valley before starting your adventure camping along the banks of the Kharta Tsangpo River.

You should be in good physical shape to participate in this tour which includes hiking down steep valleys and barren rock slopes to forests towards the Kama River and its pastureland. For days 10 - 19, you will be camping and hiking through many different environments as you get to experience the Khangshung Valley, with views of Everest, Chomolonzo, and Makalu. On days 20 and 21, en route to civilization, you will visit the Rongbuk Monastery and surrounding Everest base camp and experience magnificent views of Shishapangma and Menglungste en route to returning to Kathmandu on day 23.

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Kharta Valley Trek Tibet - 23 Day Trek

3. Day Tibet Trekking Expedition with Mt. Kailash Pilgrim (from USD 6007.0)

Day one is spent in Kathmandu meeting up with the travel representative, checking in to the hotel, and then with free time to explore the city on your own. Day two and three are spent traveling to Lhasa to visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market. Day four includes driving through numerous passes and beautiful valleys while enjoying the amazing views of the majestic Himalayan mountain range en route to Shigatse to visit the Tashilumpo Monastery. You will depart on the fifth day for Shegar and visit Sakya Monastery.

Day six is spent driving cautiously through the winding mountain roads en route to Mount Everest base camp where you will experience the natural wonder that is Earth’s highest mountain. On days 7-11, you will visit Peikutso Lake, Lake Mansarovar, the Chiu Monastery, the Zada Stone forest where you will get out and visit the Guge Kingdom Ruins, and the Tholing Monastery. On days 12-14, you will start trekking through Lha Chu Valley’s beautiful green meadows and narrow canyon while taking in its beautiful waterfalls and awe-inspiring views of Mount Kailash and the Drolma Chu Valley en route to Thukpe Dzingbu Lake and the Bharka desert plain towards Darchen. Days 15-18 are spent heading back to Lhasa along small dusty roads prior to boarding your flight for Kathmandu.

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19-Day Tibet Trekking Expedition with Mt. Kailash Pilgrim

4. From Kathmandu: 8-Day Everest View Trek (from USD 1101.0)

This tour has been created for those with an adventurous spirit with less physical endurance wanting to behold the spectacular natural wonder of Mount Everest over a shorter period of time than the other longer, more strenuous tours. The tour starts with a flight to Lukla where an acclimation rest and hiking of the Everest View Hotel will be practiced prior to the beginning of the journey. Prior to the trek, enjoy the views of the majestic Himalayan mountain range from the hotel’s balcony.

This less physically demanding trip will let guests experience trekking comfortably in Nepal over a shorter period of time, while experiencing Mount Everest in all its majesty along with spectacular views of the Himalayan mountain range. It finishes at the Tengboche Monastery surrounded by forests of pine, junipers, and rhododendron. Then returns to Lukla by means of the Namche Bazaar.

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From Kathmandu: 8-Day Everest View Trek

5. day Langtang Valley trek and tour (from USD 900.0)

Starting in Kathmandu, the tour heads towards Syrubesi where the trek will begin. Days four to eight are spent trekking the Langtang Valley which combines moderate and adventurous walks towards the high mountain valley with awe-inspiring mountain vistas in the background for visitors to enjoy. In the spring, the valley experiences its rebirth with fields of rhododendrons, magnolia trees, and other wildflowers. The tour explores the gorges, pristine forest, and villages surrounding the area.

During your visit, you encounter some of the native wildlife such as the endangered and elusive snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, deer, and red panda. During the visit to Kyanjin Gompa, try out the yak cheese at the local factory. Trekking finishes at Syrapru bensi on day eight before the bus ride back to Kathmandu the next day. Day 10 ends in returning to the airport.

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10 Days Langtang Valley Trek & Tour

6. Manaslu Circuit - Larke Pass trekking (from USD 1333.0)

manaslu circuit - larke pass trekking

This 15-day tour of the Larkya La Pass, which has just recently been opened to the public for trekking, offers unique Himalayan wilderness experiences. The first day is spent meeting the tour representative in Kathmandu. The second day is a full day exploring the Kathmandu Valley visiting temples, monasteries, and the vibrant city. Day three, drive to Arughat Bazaar before starting your trek the next day from Machhakhola to Jagat.

Days 4-15 are spent hiking through the Buri Gandaki river and its gorges along with steep trails through the Marsyangdi valley. After roughing it, you will be able to experience beautiful views of Mount Manaslu and the surrounding Himalayan mountain range. After taking a few photos, head down the steep descent into the Marsyangdi valley towards small villages lining the river en route to Besishar via the Crystal Rivers. You will leave Besisahar by bus to return to Kathmandu.

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Manaslu Circuit - Larke Pass Trekking

7. From Kathmandu: seven-day Lhasa exploration tour (from USD 1892.0)

This seven-day tour begins in Kathmandu meeting up with the tour representative and then spending the remainder of the day exploring the city. On the second day, you fly to Gonggar Airport and take in the views of Mount Everest from above, en route to Lhasa. On the third day, you will visit the Sera Monastery, Dalai Lama’s Norbulingka Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Market. Day four includes visits to the Potala Palace and Drepung Monastery.

Day five is spent visiting Ganden Monastery before finishing the day experiencing some of the thirty caves and valley views at Drayer Pa Cave. On day 6, you will depart for Kathmandu before flying home on day seven.

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From Kathmandu: 7-Day Lhasa Exploration Tour

8. Everest Base Camp helicopter tour in Nepal (from USD 3503.0)

This four-hour helicopter tour starts from Kathmandu airport and lands in Syanboche. Ideal for those with limited time and but still want to experience the magnificent Mount Everest and the Himalayas. The helicopter will land at Everest Base Camp depending on crowd size. If crowds affect the landing, the pilot will head towards Kala Patthar where travelers can snap a quick photo and then return to Shyangboche or Lukla en route to Kathmandu.

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Kathmandu: Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour in Nepal

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Exploring the majestic Himalayan region

For adventure seekers and nature lovers, the Himalayan region offers cultural experiences in Tibet’s capital of Lhasa and excursions that partake in the natural beauty of Tibet’s alpine valleys and small villages. Some tours only take half a day while others last over three weeks depending on each individual’s goal for visiting the region. Each of these tours from Kathmandu to Tibet has been adjusted to take into consideration the traveler, and they offer unique opportunities from visiting palaces, temples, and natural wonders, and the majesty of Mount Everest. Hopefully, this list has been of assistance to those planning a visit to the region.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Celeste is a writer based in British Columbia with a profound passion for travel and the exploration of new destinations. Her adventurous spirit leads her to engage in exciting activities during...Read more

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