
moderate
7 days
Should have a moderate level of fitness: able to walk short distances at elevation and tolerate long vehicle transfers.
Move slowly and breathe deliberately on this seven-day loop from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp. Experience Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, turquoise Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, and a sunrise at Rongbuk looking up at Everest.
The airplane drops you into a thinner world and the city of Lhasa greets you like a slow inhale — prayer flags stiffen in the breeze and the Potala’s layered white-and-red mass watches over the valley. On day one you learn to move deliberately: shorter steps, deeper breaths, a rhythm that honors altitude as much as itinerary. The tour threads through high plains and knife-edge passes, each landscape asserting itself: lakes that hold the sky like a mirror and glaciers that groan and retreat.

Spend the first 48 hours in Lhasa at a relaxed pace to reduce altitude sickness risk; avoid heavy exertion and alcohol.
Drink regularly—aim for 3–4 liters daily at altitude—and carry electrolyte packets to prevent dehydration-related headaches.
Temperature swings are large: a lightweight base, insulating mid-layer and windproof shell handle daytime sun and frigid nights.
Bring passport, Tibet Travel Permit copies and recent passport photos; officials may check documents at transfers or checkpoints.
Lhasa has been a spiritual center for Tibetan Buddhism for centuries; Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama and a seat of governance.
Glacial retreat is visible at Karola and surrounding areas; travelers should minimize waste and use provided water rather than single-use plastics.
Critical for nights at Everest Base Camp where temperatures can drop below freezing.
winter specific
High plateau sun is intense; protect skin and eyes during daytime excursions.
summer specific
Useful for temple approaches, shoreline walks at Yamdrok, and rocky viewpoints near glaciers.
Clean drinking water is provided, but a filter or tablets give flexibility for day trips.