Ultimate Tibet Itineraries: How Many Days to Spend

Tibet is on many travelers' bucket list and is one of those dreamed-of destinations. Regarded as "the roof of the world", Tibet has countless snow-capped peaks, topped by awesome Mt. Everest, and more than 1,000 lakes, which dot the vast highland plateau like blue or green jewels.

So where should you start your planning your Tibet trip? How many days are needed to explore Tibet's beauty? This article will help you plan a perfect trip to Tibet.

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• How Many Days to Spend in Tibet
• 4–5 Days Tibet Itinerary for First-Time Travelers
• 7–8 Days Tibet Itineraries for Scenic & Cultural Highlights
• 10–11 Days Tibet Itineraries for In-Depth Exploration

How Many Days to Spend in Tibet

Generally speaking, we recommend spending at least 1 week to explore Tibet for a better experience.

However, the number of days to spend in Tibet depends on places you want to see and experience.

If you have limited time, a 4–5 days trip to Lhasa would allow you to visit some of the major cultural and historical sites, such as the Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, and Yamdrok Lake.

If you want to go on a more adventurous trip such as trekking or mountain biking, consider spending 10–14 days in Tibet.

Many people combine Tibet with a trip to Nepal, which would take you 10–12 days. If you want to connect with more neighboring countries, like Bhutan or India, it would need 2 to 3 weeks. The following are some of the tour options from Tibet.

• Nepal: Spend 4 days to explore Kathmandu's historical and cultural sites. See more on How to Plan a Trip to China and Nepal
• Bhutan: Take 5 days to explore the top destinations in Bhutan, including Thimphu, Punakha, and Paro.
• India: Spend 7 days to visit top destinations, including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Varanasi.

4–5 Days Tibet Itinerary for First-Time Travelers

Tibet covers a vast area, and travel between destinations can be time-consuming, so 4–5 days is only enough for a basic trip within Lhasa. 

Fortunately, many of Tibet’s most iconic landmarks are located here, giving you a taste of the region’s spiritual heart and local culture with low physical demands and enough time to adapt to the high altitude. 

Potala Palace

Itinerary Overview

This itinerary is perfect for first-time travelers with limited time. You’ll stay in Lhasa (where medical care is accessible), and we pace activities for comfort. 

• Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m) - Acclimatization & Relaxing Walk
• Day 2: Monastic Life & Meditation - Norbulingka, Drepung & Sera Monasteries
• Day 3: Iconic Lhasa - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
• Day 4: Day Trip to Lake Yamdrok (4,718m) - Sacred Scenery & Picnic
• Day 5: Departure

If you only have 4 days:

You can skip Day 4 (Yamdrok Lake). Alternatively, if you’d still like to visit the lake, we suggest booking a departure flight after 7:00 pm on Day 4 (ideally to Chengdu, as it offers more late flight options). This allows for a short visit to Yamdrok before heading to the airport.

All our tours are customizable, so you can adjust based on your health, preferences, or pace. Check our 4-Day Lhasa Tour and 5-Day Tibet Highlight Tour.

Planning Tips：

1. Plan the first two days at a gentler pace to help your body adjust to Tibet’s high altitude. We arrange light, low-exertion activities such as monastery visits on Days 1 and 2, giving you time to acclimate and easing any discomfort commonly caused by the elevation.

2. Schedule the Potala Palace visit for Day 3, after you’ve had time to adapt to the altitude. Climbing its many steep steps will feel more manageable, allowing you to focus on appreciating the site’s spiritual depth and striking architecture.

3. Include a lakeside picnic as part of your Yamdrok Lake excursion if the weather is good. You can enjoy the peaceful scenery from a panoramic lookout. The drive from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake takes about 2 hours.

Yamdrok Lake

7–8 Days Tibet Itineraries for Scenic & Cultural Highlights

With 7–8 days, you can explore beyond Lhasa and enjoy a schedule that’s still relaxed but offers more variety. 

You might take the classic train into Tibet, venture to Everest Base Camp, head east to Nyingchi and Bome for a completely different side of Tibet’s landscapes, or explore mysterious Tibetan Buddhist temples. Here are four well-paced routes designed to match different interests and energy levels.

Option 1: 7-Day Scenic Train Journey into Tibet (Xining to Lhasa)

If you prefer a train travel experience, this itinerary must be your first choice.

Your sightseeing trip begins the moment you step onto the train. You will pass through one of the most beautiful railway, the Qinghai–Tibet Railway. It would be a big highlight in your itinerary.

Qinghai–Tibet Railway

On the 22-hour ride from Xining to Lhasa, you’ll see China's most pristine and breathtaking natural landscapes, including grasslands, sky-blue rivers and lakes, snow-covered mountain, Kekexili Nature Reserve,etc.

You may even have the chance to watch the sunrise over the Tanggula Mountains through your window. It must be your unforgettable train journey of your life.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1–2: Overnight train from Xining to Lhasa
• Day 3: Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m) - Acclimatization & Relaxing Walk
• Day 4: Monastic Life & Meditation - Norbulingka, Drepung & Sera Monasteries
• Day 5: Iconic Lhasa - Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
• Day 6: Day Trip to Lake Yamdrok (4,718m) - Sacred Scenery & Picnic
• Day 7: Departure

For more details, you can check our 7-Day Tibet Train Tour.

Planning Tips

1. Book your train tickets early, as they go on sale 15 days in advance and are in high demand. We can help secure them for you. All trains from different cities to Lhasa pass through Xining and switch to oxygen-supplied carriages there.

2. We suggest taking the train Z8991 (depart Xining 21:50 → arrive Lhasa 17:39). This late-night departure ensures you reach Golmud in the early morning, giving you a full 14 hours of daylight for the spectacular Golmud–Lhasa section—the most scenic part of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway.

Plus, if you’re connecting from another city to Xining, the later departure time gives you plenty of buffer to change trains without rushing.

3. Choose a soft-sleeper cabin for comfort, with four berths per compartment. If your group has fewer than four travelers and you prefer privacy, you could choose to reserve the remaining ones together.

4. Bring some candies and medication for altitude sickness though the train is equipped with a diffuse oxygen supply system. Be aware that taking the train to passing gradual ascent does not eliminate the risk of altitude sickness.

Option 2: 7-Day Lhasa + Nyingchi + Bomi Culture & Nature Combination

If you want to minimize the risk of altitude sickness while enjoying Tibet’s seasonal beauty, this itinerary is perfect for you. 

Beyond the cultural treasures of Lhasa, such as the iconic Potala Palace, you’ll travel east to Nyingchi and Bomi, Tibet’s two lowest-altitude cities. The journey is more friendly for those concerned about high-altitude sickness.

Known as the “Switzerland of Tibet”, these regions offer lush forests, winding river valleys, and snow-capped peaks, with some seasonal highlights: peach blossoms in April, stunning glaciers from late December to early February.

Peach blossoms and snow mountains in Nyingchi

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650m) — Acclimatization
• Day 2: Lhasa — Norbulingka, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
• Day 3: Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
• Day 4: Drive from Lhasa to Nyingchi (3,100m) — Basumtso Lake
• Day 5: Drive from Nyingchi to Bomi (3,300m) — Lulang Forest 
• Day 6: Return to Nyingchi — Mt. Namcha Barwa
• Day 7: Depart from Nyingchi Mainling Airport

For more details, check our 7-Day Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Bome Tour.

Planning Tips：

1. Choose the best time for blossoms or glaciers.

• In spring (April), vibrant peach blossoms blanket the valleys, creating dreamlike scenes against the backdrop of Mt. Namcha Barwa. It’s a paradise for photographers. 
• In winter (late December to early February), Bomi’s ancient glaciers offer a different kind of raw beauty, with far fewer tourists.

Laigu Glacier

2. Even outside the blossom and glacier seasons, you’ll still enjoy highlights like the turquoise Basumtso Lake, the lush Lulang Forest, and sweeping views of Mt. Namcha Barwa, it often called the most beautiful snow mountain in China. If the weather is clear, you may even spot the golden glow of sunset on the snowy peak around 6–7 pm.

Mt. Namcha Barwa

3. You can travel comfortably between low-altitude towns. Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Bomi all have relatively low elevations, so they are ideal for travelers concerned about altitude sickness. 

4. The destinations are only connected by road, with about 5.5 hours’ drive from Lhasa to Nyingchi and 4.5 hours from Nyingchi to Bomi. When booking with us, we’ll arrange a comfortable private car for the entire journey.

Option 3: 8-Day Lhasa + Shigatse + Everest Base Camp

If standing at the foot of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, is on your bucket list, this itinerary is perfect for you. 

Except for the iconic buildings, monasteries and natural landscapes, you will spend a night at Everest Base Camp, where you can witness both sunset and sunrise over Mount Everest if the weather is good.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650m)
• Day 2: Lhasa — Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery
• Day 3: Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
• Day 4: Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse (3,800m) via Gyantse — Karola Glacier & Pelkor Monastery
• Day 5: Shigatse to Everest Base Camp (5,200m) — Tashilhunpo Monastery (Shigatse)
• Day 6: EBC return to Shigatse — Rongbuk Monastery (EBC)
• Day 7: Return to Lhasa
• Day 8: Depart from Lhasa

For more details, check our 8-Day Tibet Classic Tour.

Travel Tips

1. You’ll stay one night near EBC on Day 5 to witness both the sunset and sunrise over the peak, but be prepared for very simple and basic facilities. Inside EBC, the only lodging option is Rongbuk Tent Guesthouse (5,200m), it’s similar to a 3-star hotel in other big cities, with a private toilet but no shower.

Sunrise on Mount. Everest

If you prefer better facilities or couldn’t sleep at high altitude, the Pingcuo Kangsang Everest Base Camp Oxygen Rich Hotel is a good choice. It’s located in a small town at the foot of Everest (altitude 4,100 m, 49 km from EBC, about a 40-minute drive). If staying here, note that you’ll need to wake up very early to drive to EBC for the sunrise.

2. We suggest taking a car from Lhasa to Shigatse and then taking the high-speed train back to Lhasa. This way, you can enjoy all the scenic highlights along the way without spending too much time on the return trip.

The drive to Shigatse takes about 6 hours with sightseeing stops, while the train ride back is only 2.5 hours, giving you more time to rest or explore Lhasa in the afternoon.

Our tours are fully customizable based on your preferences, time constraints, and physical condition. Let us help you tailor the perfect experience for your journey.

3. Book a guided tour for safety and better acclimatization. At over 5,000 m (16,400 ft), EBC poses a high risk of altitude-related discomfort. A guide can help you adapt, and provide emergency support. 

4. Pack warm cloths. Even in summer, nights at EBC can be freezing. 

Option 4: 8-Day Tsedang + Shigatse + Lhasa Cultural Discovery

If you are curious about Tibetan beliefs, culture, history, and Tibetan Buddhism, this itinerary will take you to some of the most spiritually and culturally rich places in Tibet. 

You will visit the birthplaces of Tibetan culture, explore the origins and development of Tibetan Buddhism, and see several important monasteries and historical sites. Along the way, you can join meditation sessions, try Tibetan incense making, and visit a local family to experience daily life. 

Yongbulakang Palace

You'll also enjoy stunning natural scenery, including Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier, as well as Lhasa's classic landmarks and religious sites.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Arrive in Tsedang (3,100m)
• Day 2: Tsedang — Yongbulakang Palace, Samye Monastery, Chimpu Meditation Center
• Day 3: Drive from Tsedang to Shigatse(3,800m) — Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, and a Tibetan family visit
• Day 4: Shigatse — Sakya Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery
• Day 5: Drive from Shigatse to Lhasa (3,650m) — stop for Tibetan incense-making workshop
• Day 6: Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street
• Day 7: Lhasa — Tsurphu Monastery, Drak Yerpa Monastery Optional alternative: replace with Sera Monastery (monk debates) and Ganden Monastery (mountain-top complex)
• Day 8: Depart from Lhasa

For more details, check our 8-Day Tibet Tour including Tsedang, Shigatse, and Lhasa.

Planning Tips

1. After visiting Samye Monastery on Day 2, you can go to Chimpu Meditation Center, a revered retreat site in Tibetan Buddhism, to experience the peaceful atmosphere or even try a meditation like the Buddhist masters.

2. Tsurphu and Drak Yerpa represent two of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and are ideal for travelers seeking a deeper understanding of Tibetan Buddhism. 

If you're not particularly interested in these monasteries on Day 7, you can swap them for larger and more well-known ones like Sera Monastery (known for its lively monk debates) or Ganden Monastery, set dramatically on a mountainside.

3. Be prepared for several long drives, especially from Tsedang to Shigatse and Shigatse to Lhasa.  You can take high-speed trains from Shigatse to Lhasa, but you’ll have to skip the scenery and incense making experience on the way.

10–11 Days Tibet Itineraries for In-Depth Exploration

Option 1: 10-Day Across the Heart of Tibet

This trip takes you through some of the most important cultural sites and dramatic landscapes in Tibet, from where Tibetan civilization began to the foot of Mount Everest. We carefully design this itinerary to blend the experience of culture, nature and adventure in one trip.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650m) — rest and acclimatize
• Day 2: Lhasa — Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery
• Day 3: Lhasa — Explore Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street
• Day 4: Day trip to Yamdrok Lake (4,441m) — return to Lhasa
• Day 5: Lhasa to Tsedang (3,100 m) — Yongbulakang Palace and Samye Monastery
• Day 6: Tsedang to Shigatse (3,800 m) via Gyantse — Karola Glacier and Pelkor Monastery
• Day 7: Shigatse to Everest Base Camp (5,200 m)— Tashilhunpo Monastery 
• Day 8: Everest Base Camp to Shigatse — Rongbuk Monastery 
• Day 9: Return to Lhasa (by car or high-speed train)
• Day 10: Depart from Lhasa

You'll start in Lhasa with enough time to adjust to the altitude while visiting the capital's most iconic landmarks. This helps you better prepare for the more fast-paced days and higher elevations ahead.

Along the way from Tsedang to Shigatse, you can stop at Gyantse to visit the Karola Glacier and the Pelkor Monastery, known for its ancient murals and multi-tiered Kumbum stupa.

Pelkor Monastery

Because the drive from EBC back to Lhasa is very long, we recommend spending the night in Shigatse on Day 8 and returning to Lhasa the following day.

Option 2: 11-Day Overland Trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu

If you want to explore the unbelievable Himalayan Mountain Range, enjoy the amazing landscapes along the way and sense the differences and connections between Tibet and Nepal, this itinerary will be your best choice.

Himalaya Mountain

The "two worlds" created by Himalayas have different landscapes and climates on their two sides, but they have not blocked cultural and economic exchange.

During this 11-day overland trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu, you will start from the holy city of Tibet, drive by peaceful plateau lakes, cross vast grasslands, and stop at Everest Base Camp. Then you'll go through a forested Himalayan pass to the warm and wet southern slopes of the mountain range, and finish by exploring old and mysterious Kathmandu.

Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3,650m) and rest
• Day 2: Lhasa — Drepung Monastery & Sera Monastery (monk debate)
• Day 3: Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor Street
• Day 4: Drive from Lhasa to Shigatse (3,800m) — Yamdrok Lake & Karola Glacier
• Day 5: Drive from Shigatse to Tingri (4,300m) — Tashilhunpo Monastery
• Day 6: Tingri — Everest Base Camp (5,200m) & Rongbuk Monastery (stay near EBC)
• Day 7: Drive from Tingri to Gyirong (2,800m) — Shishapangma & Lake Peiku
• Day 8: Drive from Gyirong to Kathmandu (1,400m) — cross the border into Nepal 
• Day 9: Kathmandu — Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa
• Day 10: Kathmandu — Patan, Bhaktapur Durbar Square & Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
• Day 11: Depart from Kathmandu

For more details, see our 11-Day Overland Trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu.

Travel Tips

1. Expect multiple long drives throughout the journey. Due to the region's geography, most destinations are only reachable by road. We'll arrange a comfortable private vehicle for your entire trip to make the long distances as smooth and pleasant as possible.

2. For visa and permit reasons, as well as road conditions and altitude changes, we recommend traveling from Lhasa to Nepal rather than the other way around. 

Entering Tibet from Nepal requires applying for a group visa at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. This visa will automatically cancel any existing Chinese visa and must be used for both entry and exit as a group. 

Starting in Lhasa also means you'll ascend in altitude more gradually, avoiding the challenging combination of a rapid climb, long drives, and altitude sickness.

3. Adjust your route between July and October due to weather risks. The Gyirong border is often affected by mudslides during this season, so it's better to fly from Lhasa directly to Zhangmu Port for entry into Nepal. 

Outside this period, the original overland route through Gyirong is still the best choice.

4. Your Tibetan guide will accompany you to the border crossing point. You'll need to complete some paperwork and present the necessary documents for exiting China. After reaching Nepal, your Nepalese driver will be waiting with a sign bearing your name.

5. The distance from Gyirong to Kathmandu is around 120 km (72 miles), but due to poor road conditions, the drive takes about 8 hours and includes multiple checkpoints. You may be asked to open your luggage for inspection.

6. You can leave the paperwork to us. We'll assist you in preparing all required documents for entering and exiting Tibet and Nepal, so you can focus on enjoying your journey worry-free.

Tour China With Us

All our tours are customized to your needs, interests, travel length, and other requirements. Our private tours are designed to be the most convenient and fulfilling option for your trip to Tibet. We would create an itinerary according to your flight times, interests, and anything else you might need.

You can check our popular Tibet itineraries for inspiration.