Tibet is a popular travel destination full of both cultural and natural attractions. However, Tibet is very vast and spans over 1.2 million square kilometers with many beautiful landscapes scattered across the plateau. So, when planning your Tibet travel adventure, one of the key factors to think about is the length of your visit, which actually depends on various considerations such as itinerary, budget and interests. In this article, we’ll provide some guidelines to help you determine how many days are needed for a Tibet trip.
Tibet Tours Based on How Many Days You'll Need
There are really a lot to see in Tibet, and we can't simply decide the number of days you need when visiting this wonderland, as it depends on the attractions you wish to visit and the experiences you want to have. But for your reference, here is a breakdown based on different duration:
Classic Tibet Tours:
4-5 Days for Lhasa City TourIf you have limited time to visit Tibet, a Lhasa city tour could be the ideal solution. These tours usually last three or four days and include visits to some of Lhasa's iconic landmarks such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka Summer Palace, and some of the most famous monasteries - Drepung & Sera Monastery.
Recommended Tour:
4 Days Lhasa Highlights Tour5-6 Days for Lhasa and Surrounding AreasIf you have a little more time to spend in Tibet, it would be great for you to also explore some of the surrounding areas outside of Lhasa city, such as Namtso Lake, Yamdrok Lake, Ganden Monastery and Drak Yerpa Hermitage. This tour usually adds 1-2 days to the 4-day Lhasa tour, for a total of 5-6 days.
One of three holy lakes in Tibet - Namtso Lake
6-7 Days for Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse TourThe most common duration for the Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse tour takes 6 to 7 days depending on your preferred pace. The itinerary includes Lhasa sightseeing and the holy Yamdrok Lake along the way before traveling southwest to Tibet’s second largest city Shigatse, where you’ll visit Tashilhunpo Monastery - the seat of Panchen Lama.
7-8 Days for Lhasa to Everest Base Camp TourThe most classic Everest Base Camp tour in Tibet takes 8 days. The itinerary usually includes 2-3 days exploring Lhasa (altitude 3650 meters) before moving on to higher altitudes like Shigatse (3800 meters) and finally Everest Base Camp (5200 meters). Some itineraries shorten to 7 days or extend to 9 days depending on your preferences and how much time you want to allow for adjusting to the high altitude.
Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side
7-8 Days for Overland Tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu The total distance covered is about 1100-1300 km (685-810 miles) from Lhasa to Kathmandu. And this overland tour is an excellent way to experience its natural splendor, taking you along some of its most picturesque routes such as Everest Base Camp at the highest point. These tours typically take 7-10 days and include the major attractions of Lhasa and Shigatse.
11-15 Days Mount Kailash & Manasarovar Pilgrimage TourFor an immersive spiritual experience, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrimage may be just what you are looking for. This pilgrimage to Mount Kailash - one of the holiest sites for Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism often takes an average of 2 weeks. But if you go to Nepal after Tibet, the itinerary can be shortened to 11-12 days.
Mount Kailash in Western Tibet
Adventurous Tibet Tours:
9-15 Days for Trekking Tour in TibetIf you want to experience the some wild landscapes on foot in your Tibet itinerary, plan to add 2-4 extra days for short treks. Usually, a Tibet tour including the trekking part can last from 9-15 Days depending on its route and difficulty level. Some popular Tibet trekking tours are:
9 Days Shalu to Nartang Trek (3 days trekking)
10 Days Ganden to Samye Trek (5 days trekking)
11 Days Trek from Tingri to Everest Base Camp (4 days trekking)
5-22 Days for Cycling Tour in TibetA day trip to Ganden Monastery near Lhasa by bike can be arranged for some cycling beginners. Or if you are a more serious cycling lover, you can choose to cycle further to the Yamdork Lake. For the bravest cyclists, a bike tour to the Everest Base Camp or the epic cycling route along the China-Nepal Friendship Highway can take up to 2-3 weeks.
Essential Tips for Planning How Many Days to Spend in Tibet
By following the tips below and planning your itinerary based on your interests and time availability, you can have a safe and memorable experience in the mystical land of Tibet.
Permit and Regulations: Besides the Chinese visa, all foreign tourists need to obtain a
Tibet Travel Permit to travel to Tibet according to the regulations of the authorities. The application process usually takes about 10-15 days. So when planning your travel days in Tibet, please take this time into account.
Qinghai-Tibet Train Ride: If you're interested in taking the train to Tibet, you'll need to add 1-3 days to your trip. The train from Xining to Lhasa takes about 21 hours, and the other Tibet trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi'an take 30 to 40 hours, with 2 nights on the train.
Beautiful scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Altitude acclimatization: Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world, with an average altitude of 3,650 meters. Therefore, your first day of arrival is usually for rest only. We don't arrange any sightseeing to the scenic spots. And if you'll visit higher places like Everest Base Camp or Mount Kailash, 2-3 days of acclimatization in Lhasa would be appropriate. At this stage, when you're calculating the number of days to stay in Tibet, you need to take into account your first day without sightseeing.
Seasonal Considerations: The weather also affects the duration of the trip. Lhasa can be visited all year round, but the
best time to visit Mount Everest Base Camp is between April and October. And Mount Kailash will even be closed to tourists from November to next March. In addition, it's not proper to camp due to the low temperature at night, so the long trekking or cycling tour is also not feasible in winter. So, basically, winter season is more suitable for a short trip in Tibet.
Conclusion:
Overall, how many days to spend in Tibet depends on where you want to visit, how much time you have, and the budget you plan for the trip. Meanwhile, keep in mind that Tibet lies on the plateau at high altitude, so it’s necessary to have one day for acclimatization before the sightseeing activities. But generally speaking, 4 days is the minimum for a Lhasa tour, and a 7-10 day tour is good to experience most of Tibet's highlights. Also, you can choose different itinerary options according to your interests and preferences.
If you already have a rough idea of your trip, but are still not sure how long to travel in Tibet is suitable, just feel free to contact us for expert’s suggestions. We will be happy to help you with any question may have.
