A tested day-by-day route from Lhasa to the north face of Everest, with realistic driving times, altitude gains and where to sleep.
This is the classic Tibet route, and the one most people mean when they say they want to see Everest. Eight days is the realistic minimum: enough time to acclimatise in Lhasa, cross the high passes without rushing, and spend a night at Base Camp without wrecking yourself.
The route at a glance
| Day | Route | Drive | Sleep at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Lhasa (3,650 m) | — | Lhasa |
| 2 | Lhasa: Potala, Jokhang, Barkhor | — | Lhasa |
| 3 | Lhasa → Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake | 6–7 h | Shigatse (3,840 m) |
| 4 | Shigatse → Shegar / New Tingri | 5–6 h | Shegar (4,300 m) |
| 5 | Shegar → Everest Base Camp | 4–5 h | EBC tent camp (5,150 m) |
| 6 | EBC → Shigatse | 7–8 h | Shigatse |
| 7 | Shigatse → Lhasa | 5–6 h | Lhasa |
| 8 | Fly or train out | — | — |
Day by day
Days 1–2: Lhasa, and nothing ambitious
Arrive, check in, and do very little. The first day is for drinking water and sleeping. On day two, Potala Palace in the morning (timed entry, lots of steps) and the Jokhang and Barkhor in the afternoon. Resist the urge to add more.
Day 3: Over the Kamba La to Yamdrok
The road climbs out of Lhasa to the Kamba La pass at 4,794 m, then drops to the turquoise water of Yamdrok Lake. Lunch at Nagartse, then over the Karo La glacier pass and down to Shigatse. Long day, big scenery, first real taste of altitude.
Day 4: Shigatse to Shegar
Short drive, high ground. You cross the Gyatso La at 5,240 m — the first time the Himalaya appears as a wall on the horizon. Sleep at Shegar to start the Everest day from a sensible base.
Day 5: The Everest day
Through the checkpoint at Shegar, then the long climb to the Rongbuk valley. The road ends at the tent camp below Base Camp; a shuttle bus covers the last stretch. Sunset on the north face is the moment people remember. It is cold, the toilets are basic, and the altitude is genuinely felt.
Days 6–8: back down
The return is mostly driving. Shigatse's Tashilhunpo Monastery is worth an hour before the road back to Lhasa. Day 8 is your flight or train out.
What it costs
For a private trip with guide and driver, most travellers should budget for the permit, the vehicle, hotels, meals and park fees. Group departures reduce the per-person cost significantly. Prices vary with season and hotel class, so treat any single figure you see online with suspicion.
Practical notes
- You need the Tibet Travel Permit plus an Alien's Travel Permit for the Everest region.
- Cash matters: ATMs thin out quickly west of Shigatse.
- Pack for four seasons. The Rongbuk valley can freeze at night in May.
- Ten days is better than eight. Twelve is better still.