How to Plan a Tibet Tour of 8 Days?

One of the most important aspects of a tour of Tibet is the planning stage. Here, you decide on how long to stay, where to go, and when. The most popular tour length in Tibet is around 8 days, and there are several tours you can take to make your trip as wonderful as possible. So if you are thinking of planning an eight-day tour of the Tibetan plateau, we have some great ideas on how to plan this for you.

Most Classic Itineraries of 8 Days Tibet Tours

For those that are looking for a classic tour of Tibet, traveling across the plateau to the various amazing sites and attractions that this awesome high-altitude region has to offer, then we have some great tours lined up for you. Excellent for exploring the landscape, scenery, architecture, culture, and religion of the plateau, these amazing tours give you an unimaginable insight into the world’s highest plateau and its wonderful unique people.

8 days to explore Everest Base Camp from Lhasa

Possibly the most popular tour route in Tibet, an 8-day EBC tour of the region, from the stunning capital of Lhasa to the wonders of the famous Everest Base Camp (EBC), is the ultimate in adventurous holidays. The perfect chance to learn more about this amazing land and people in a short tour, this trip not only takes you inside some of the most sacred and revered temples and monasteries in Tibet, but also gives you the chance to explore some of the most beautiful landscapes and natural sites in the world. Taking you from the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple to the beautiful Lake Yamdrok and the awesomeness of EBC, in the shadow of the world’s highest mountain, there are few tours in the world that offer such a spectacular opportunity.

8 days to drive overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa

Another of the most popular tours in Tibet is the fantastic overland journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Not only do you get to explore the area around Kathmandu before you cross the border, but you will travel in Gyirong County, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled valleys in the world as you climb up to the plateau.

The tour across the plateau is an amazing experience of adventure and discovery, stopping to admire the beauty of Mount Everest, and passing through Shigatse, Gyantse, and alongside Lake Yamdrok as you head for the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. After several days of stunning landscapes, you get to spend the last few days in the capital, exploring its spectacular sights and attractions.

8 days to visit Lhasa and Namtso Lake

If you are looking for the most outstanding natural sites on your eight-day tour of Tibet, then our 8-day Central Tibet and lake Namtso tour is the ideal opportunity to visit two of the three Sacred Lakes of Tibet. Starting with a tour around Lhasa, visiting the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, you will head out across the plateau to visit Shigatse, Tibet’s second city.

The route takes you past the wonderful Lake Yamdrok, the life-blood of Tibet and one of the Great Three Sacred Lakes of Tibet. Then you return to Lhasa to head north to Damxung County, the location of another of the sacred lakes, Lake Namtso. Known as the Heavenly Lake, this high-altitude lake is the largest in Tibet and sits between the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains and the vast Changtang Grasslands.

Themed Itineraries of 8 Days Tibet Tours

There is more to do in Tibet than just wandering around the famous sites and admiring high mountains and lakes. You can opt to adapt your eight-day tour to include a variety of activities, from trekking and cycling to festivals and even photography, depending on your own personal preference.

Tibet Trekking Tours in 8 Days

If you are looking to do a little trekking on your visit to Tibet, then you have a couple of great options that can be done inside an eight-day trip. Two of the best short treks in Tibet are the Ganden to Samye Trek and the Shalu to Nartang trek. These two treks are included in tours that give you the chance to explore the capital and the surrounding area as well.

The Ganden to Samye trek begins at the famous Ganden Monastery, and takes you across the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains to the ancient Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. The Shalu to Nartang trek starts at the Shalu Monastery south of Shigatse, and takes you in a circuitous route through the Shigatse countryside to the fourth Great Monastery of Tsang, Nartang.

Tibet Biking Tours in 8 Days

Cycling is one of the most outstanding ways to explore Tibet, and for those that want to experience a short cycling trip, the eight-day Lhasa to Namtso Bike Tour is ideal. Starting with a tour of the ancient Tibetan capital of Lhasa, the tour then takes you out of the city, heading north along the famous Qinghai-Tibet Highway by bike.

The route takes you north through Lhasa Prefecture to Damxung County, where you will head up over the Nagenla Pass to drop down to the famous and beautiful Lake Namtso. After spending a night camping at the lakeside, and staring at the beauty of the starry night sky, you will head back over the mountains and cycle south to Yangpachen, the site of one of Tibet’s most astounding Hot Springs. After enjoying a relaxing bathe to ease away the aches of the road, you will head back to Lhasa

Tibet Festival Tours in 8 Days

Tibet is renowned for its festivals, and if you plan it well, there are several festivals you can see on a normal tour of Tibet. You just need to travel at the right time of the year. However, if you want to visit one of the greatest festivals of Tibet, then the Nagchu Horse Racing Festival is the pinnacle of Tibetan festive occasions.

Set on the Nagchu Grasslands north of Lhasa, in an area that few tourists venture to, the festival features horse and yak racing, demonstrations of the Tibetans’ unique horsemanship, archery contests, and fairs for you to buy locally-made goods. A unique chance to get out into the real Tibet and experience Tibetan culture at its finest, this is an awesome experience.

Tibet Photography Tours in 8 Days

Tibet is the ideal location for stunning photography, and you can take a tour of the plateau in several areas to get the best natural shots of the plateau’s stunning landscapes and amazing monasteries. One popular tour for photographers is to take a loop around central and eastern Tibet, starting in Lhasa and heading to Nyingchi and Shannan prefectures. This tour gives you some of the most outstanding opportunities for photography in Tibet, including the cradle of Tibetan civilization in Tsedang.

Or you could take an eight-day trip across the plateau to Mount Everest, which includes stops along the Kyichu River to see the giant Nietang Buddha, the amazing sight of the 32m-high Gyantse Kumbum Stupa, and the towering wonder of Mount Everest itself, seen from the tourist base camp.

Tibet Train Tours in 8 Days

An eight-day tour of Tibet can also include a train trip, taking the fantastic Tibet Trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Xining, and Chengdu. Starting in some of the most popular departure stations for Tibet trains, you can spend a day or two on the train, enjoying the wondrous sights outside the windows as you cross the northern plateau region. Once in Tibet, you can then spend time enjoying visiting Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse, and the amazing sights you can find in these stunning Tibetan cities. A train ride to Tibet is one of the most amazing experiences in the world, climbing thousands of meters up the plateau and crossing vast high mountain ranges on the world’s highest railway.

Permits to Obtain for Your Tibet Tours in 8 Days

The permits you will need to enter and travel in Tibet do depend on which direction you are coming from. For those entering from mainland China, you will need to have a Chinese Entry Visa first, before you can get your Tibet Travel Permit to enter the region. For those entering from Nepal, the visa is the Chinese Group Visa, which is issued once you arrive in Kathmandu. You will also need the Tibet Travel Permit, which is applied for by us on your behalf.

If you are traveling to EBC, you will need additional permits, including the Alien’s Travel Permit for travel outside Lhasa, and the Frontier Pass, for travel in the area of the Chinese borders with Nepal. India, and Bhutan. These are also required for those traveling from Nepal into Tibet, as you will visit EBC along the way.

All of the permits are obtained by us once you have booked your tour. You only need to apply for the Chinese Entry Visa for mainland China yourself.

Conclusion

Tibet is the ideal location for someone with around eight days to spare. Tibet does not need a long tour to allow you to see the amazing sights and attractions this awesome plateau has to offer. With just eight days to travel, you can experience a wealth of wondrous sights and locations across the plateau, and can even travel from one end to the other, across the vastness of the Roof of the World.