Tibet Lhasa Tour with Everest Basecamp (EBC) 7 Nights 8 Days

Best Time to visit Tibet – Everest Basecamp (EBC)

To make the most out of your 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour, take this tour in the time frame between September and early October of autumn.

The 20-degree heat, dry and constant weather with the exceptional visibility of Everest make this the ideal time for our tour.

The 25-degree heat and sporadic rain with the bright green landscape and active wildlife in the time frame between March and June of spring is the second ideal time for the tour.

7 nights 8 days Tibet Tour Difficulty

With no long treks involved, transportation provided in a comfortably sized private vehicle, a gradual acclimatization and rest day in Lhasa, and cozy accommodations that include all essential amenities, our 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour is therefore a very manageable and easy tour in Tibet.

However, the severe weather and high altitude above 5,000 meters mean that travelers should be in good physical condition and free from serious medical issues.

Altitude Sickness and Acclimatization

As we will be rapidly traveling from the flat lands of Kathmandu to Lhasa, above 3000 m, within an hour or two, we request all our participants to rest throughout the day in their hotel accommodations.

It is because the air in Lhasa has less amount of oxygen and is much drier than that found in Kathmandu. As we progress, we will ultimately reach the 5000 m above elevation at EBC.

If you are not adequately acclimatized, you may be at a high risk of altitude sickness. Symptoms can include headaches, vomiting, sleep disturbances, and a lack of appetite.

If you notice any of these symptoms, please notify our guide, who will take the necessary measures, which may include descending, pausing your tour for a day or two, or providing Diamox.

 Physical Fitness and Health

The key factor for the safe and enjoyable experience in our 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour lies in your health. Anyone with respiratory, kidney, or heart conditions should abstain from our tour as the high altitude of Lhasa and EBC could pose serious risks.

If you are currently suffering from respiratory infections, recover first then only join our tour. For those who have the best health and maintain an active lifestyle, no rigorous preparation is necessary.

However, if you are less active, integrate some jogging, running, or cycling into your routine. And, remember, your mental readiness is just as important as your physical fitness.

We encourage our participants to bring humor, friendliness, and a spirit of teamwork, as this is a group travel experience.

Accommodation, Food and Drink

Throughout our 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour, your evening will be warmly welcomed by the double occupancy room with hot showers and private bathrooms in a three or four-star hotel in Lhasa and Shigatse.

At Rongbuk Monastery/EBC, you will experience the unique atmosphere of a rustic guesthouse with a room shared with 4 to 5 travelers, featuring a communal bathroom.

Breakfast is included daily, while you can select your own lunches and diners. The daily food and drink expenses can cost you between 25 to 30 US Dollars each day.

In Lhasa and Shigatse, a rich variety of national and international cuisines will delight your senses, while at Everest Base Camp, traditional Tibetan food will be the offering.

Transportation, Communication, and Internet

For starting our 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour, a Kathmandu to Lhasa flight and to end the tour, Lhasa to Kathmandu air flight will be provided. All the other ground transfers including airport transfers, and sightseeing excursions will be in private transport provided with a driver, guide, and needed fuel.

Our local Tibetan guide will help you obtain Chinese SIM cards from providers such as China Unicom, China Mobile, or China Telecom for your communication needs. These providers support coverage, including 5G service, even at the Everest Base Camp (EBC).

You can use Wi-Fi in Lhasa and Shigatse, although it may not be available at EBC and Rongbuk however mobile internet will still be functional. To use Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and other Western sites, please install a VPN.

7 nights 8 days Tibet Tour Travel Insurance

Securing travel insurance for our 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour is essential. While the tour is not extreme or adventurous, it does carry certain risks, such as the chance of falling ill, experiencing altitude sickness, or requiring immediate medical attention.

The medical facilities in Tibet, particularly in the Everest Base Camp area, are limited and not advanced, and they can be quite costly. Managing these expenses without insurance can be a significant financial burden on you.

Additionally, if an emergency helicopter rescue is needed at EBC, the costs could easily reach several thousand dollars. Therefore, we encourage you to obtain travel insurance to protect yourself from these unexpected situations.

Rules, Regulations, Visa and permits for 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour

To visit Tibet and explore the region in depth including to EBC, you must join a guided tour arranged by a registered travel agency in Nepal and Tibet. It is also mandatory to travel in a private vehicle accompanied by a driver and a Tibetan guide.

You will also need specific permits and visa, which can only be processed through authorized tour agencies. Individual applications for these documents are not allowed.

For our 7 nights 8 days Lhasa – EBC – Lhasa fly in fly out tour, in addition to the Chinese Visa and Tibet Permit, you will require the Alien’s Travel Permit, Chinese Military Permit, and Foreign Affairs Permit, as we will be visiting the sensitive region of Shigatse County.

Permit processing requires at least 15 business days, so please confirm your tour at least one month in advance. Additionally, you will need to send us a color scanned copy of your passport and passport-sized photos (51 mm by 51 mm) without makeup or glasses, with a white background.

 Tibet Permit/Tibet Travel Permit

After we collect the documents from all our participating members, we will relay them to our Tibetan partner who will take care of submitting them to the Tibet Tourism Office to obtain the Tibet Permit. Our Tibetan guide will acquire the permit for our group and present it on our arrival at Lhasa airport.

 Chinese Group Visa

When traveling to Tibet from Kathmandu, a Chinese visa will be issued as a single document for all group members. This is referred to as a Chinese Group Visa, which requires all members to enter and leave Tibet together.

We will obtain an invitation letter from our Tibetan partner, which must be presented at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. All participating members are required to visit the embassy personally to submit their fingerprints and original passports, which will be returned along with the visa.

You will have the option to choose between the regular Visa application taking 4 working days or an Express Application which takes 3 office days. Please remember the Chinese embassy will remain closed on weekends. The Chinese Group visa fees are as follows:

 US Citizens will have to pay USD 175 for a regular Visa Application and USD 185 for an Express Application.

 For other nationalities, the Visa cost varies between USD 70 and USD 170 for regular Visa Application and between USD 90 and USD 180 for Express Application.

A copy of our Chinese group visa will be forwarded to our Tibetan partner or guide for the processing of additional permits.

 Foreign Affairs Permit and Military Permit

After obtaining a copy of our Chinese Visa and the necessary documents, our Tibetan partner will deliver them to the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office and the military office located in Lhasa. The permits will be issued after a processing period of 15 days.

 Aline’s Travel Permit

Within a few hours, the office of the Tibetan Local Public Security Bureau will issue this permit.

Currency and Money Exchange

The currency used in Tibet is the Chinese Renminbi Yuan (RMB). Currency exchange services are available at Lhasa Airport, national banks, and hotels in Lhasa, and Shigatse.

Please remember the banks will be closed on weekends and that hotels will charge an extra commission fee for the currency exchange. In Lhasa and Shigatse, ATMs accept international credit cards, and the use of credit cards is also becoming more common.

You can pay with credit cards in hotels, restaurants, and shops in Lhasa and Shigatse, but cash is required at EBC. In addition, mobile payment applications such as Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, and Alipay are also emerging as safe online payment methods in Lhasa and Shigatse.