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7 Days Join-in Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour
7 Days Private Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Tour via Mount Everest
7 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa Private Tour via Mount Everest
8 Days Kathmandu to Lhasa with Mount Everest Adventure by Flight
Top Shigatse Attractions
Shigatse has the richest travel resources in Tibet – influential Tibetan monasteries, magnificent snow mountains, stunning lakes, unique culture… There are nearly 100 different kinds of attraction located in different parts of Shigatse Prefecture. The most famous one of course is Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. The second highlight of Shigatse is the spectacular monasteries of different sects of Tibetan Buddhism – Sakya Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Palcho Monastery, Rongbuk Monastery, etc. Check following top recommended attractions in Shagatse:
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Mt. Everest
Type: Camping & Hiking & Photograph
Altitude: 8,848 meters
Best time to visit: Summer & Autumn
Mt. Everest, the top of the World, is the must-go destination of your life journey. As the goal achievement of many mountaineers, it shows the most beautiful natural beauty in the world, including perennial snow, amazing sunrise and sunset, dazzling starry sky etc.
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Everest Base Camp
Type: Camping & Hiking & Photograph
Altitude: 5,200 meters
Best time to visit: Summer & Autumn
Everest Base Camp is the most desirable and reachable place for tourists to take a panoramic view of Mount Everest – the highest peak in the world. Besides, it acts as an important scientific observation base and Mt. Everest mountaineering headquarters.
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Tashilumpo Monastery
Type: Architecture & Culture
Altitude: 3,880 meters
Best time to visit: Summer & Autumn
Tashilhunpo Monastery is the seat of successive Panchen Lamas. Founded by the First Dalai Lama, it is an important monastery in Tibetan history. It keeps many treasures, including the priceless Future Buddha Statue, precious Buddha Stupas, and more manuscript Buddhist texts and numerous murals.
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Palcho Monastery
Type: Architecture & Culture
Altitude: 3,900 meters
Best time to visit: Summer & Autumn
Palcho Monastery is a typical combined building with stupa and temple, and quite different from other Tibetan monasteries in more aspects. By housing three sects of Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelugpa together, it has a hard-won lenient tolerance among the Tibetan sects to balance them well.
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Sakya Monastery
Type: Architecture & Culture
Altitude: 4,300 meters
Best time to visit: Summer & Autumn
Sakya Monastery is the principal monastery of the Sakyapa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, located in Sakya County, about 160km southwest of Shigatse, on the road to Tingri in Tibet. Built in 1073 by Khon Khonchong Gyalpo, on the hill side with gray earth surrounded, it means the “Grey Soil” in Tibetan.
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Rongbuk Monastery
Type: Religious Sites, Historical building
Altitude: 4,980 meters
Best time to visit: Summer & Autumn
Rongbuk Monastery, with ancient buildings and peaceful environment, is the world's highest monastery above sea level. Reaching to its perfect desk to appreciate the breathtaking view of Mt.Everest. Prepare to climb higher and higher!
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Pala Manor
Type: Historical Architecture
Altitude: 4029 meters
Best time to visit: Four Seasons
Interested about the old Tibet? Want to explore the Tibetan slavery system and curious about the landlord’s lifestyle? Here in Pala Manor, a well-preserved serf manor located in Gyantse as the epitome of Tibet’s past, you witness the old Tibetan society of privilege and slavery, which is a good place to know the Tibet history.
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How to Get to Shigatse
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It’s quite easy for travelers to transfer to Shigatse no matter you prefer a flight journey, a driving adventure or a train ride. Most travelers have chosen to go to Shigatse from Lhasa because Lhasa is usually the starting destination of a Tibet tour. From Lhasa, travelers can have a train ride to Shigatse which takes only about 3 hours. Currently driving is the most popular with travelers because there are many wonderful places to visit on the full-day driving, such as Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Palcho Monastery, etc. If you have visited Lhasa, or just want to cut Lhasa out from your itinerary, you can directly fly to Shigatse from Chengdu. There is a daily flight you can take.
How to get to Mount Everest - Travelers usually travel to Mount Everest from Lhasa, and make a midway stop at Shigatse City. It is a driving distance around 600km which needs about 2 or 3 days on the road at a slow pace to visit sites. Learn more about get to and around Shigatse >
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Best Time to Visit Shigatse
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Most parts of Shigatse have a pleasant weather because there are two big rivers flowing through the prefectures - Yarlung Zangbo River and Nianqu River, which makes Shigatse not only a fertile land for cereal plantation, but also a relatively comfortable place to enjoy a travel. It’s usually warm and sunny. The average temperature is around 6.3°C. But Mount Everest area of Shigatse has the harshest weather in Tibet because of its high altitude. The weather changes without regular pattern.
Shigatse city and its surrounding area, and Gyantse is suitable for travel all year around. But if you want to explore Mount Everest, you must avoid winter (November to January) and spring (February to March). Read more >
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Where to Stay - Shigatse Hotels
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The second largest Tibet city Shigatse offers travelers great accommodation experience. There are many great hotels which have not only great facilities, cozy rooms and beds, but also ensure pleasant guest service. The majority of Shigatse hotels are local Tibetan-style brands. Some of them are experience in offering service for foreign travelers, and has earned great reputation among travelers, such as Tashi Choten Hotel and Manasarovar Hotel.
If you want to spend a night in Gyantse Town, you will also find some great hotels to accommodate. They are usually local guest houses and economy class hotels. As for the accommodation on Mount Everest, it is quite basic. There are two guest houses, and some tents hotels. Electricity is supplied on the Mount Everest. Read more >
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Go to Mount Everest
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You can't never miss Mount Everest when you travel in Shigatse Prefecture. The world's highest peak is located on the border between Nepal and China, about 385km from Shigatse City and 605km from Lhasa. If you are an experienced hiker, you can enjoy a serious trek to EBC. If you prefer an energy-saving trip, you can directly drive to Rongbuk Monastery area where you can enjoy magnificent front views of Mount Everest. To take an adventure to Mount Everest, you must be aware that you will have to obtain several necessary permits, including Tibet Travel Permit, Alien Travel Permit and Tibet Border Pass. Otherwise, your Mount Everest dream couldn’t be accomplished. Learn more about Mount Everest Travel >
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Useful Shigatse Travel Notes
- 1. How to Plan Shigatse Travel
There are two classic travel itineraries to Shigatse Prefecture: 1) Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Gyantse – Shigatse; This itinerary aims to present you the landscape of Golden Triangle Cities of Tibet - Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse. You will arrive at and start your trip from Lhasa, the political and Buddhist center of Tibet. Then you will drive far away from Lhasa, via Gyantse, to Shigatse. There are too many things to do along the journey - visit holy lake Yamdrok, giant glaciers of Karola, unique Palcho Monastery, sacred Tashilunpo Monastery, the hometown of Tibet incense, etc. 2) Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse – Mount Everest. This itinerary offers you a complete Tibet tour and weaves together Tibet's most famous sites into a package. Apart from viewing the wonders in Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse, you will discover the alpine lakes, blue skies, snow-capped mountains, amazing sunrise and sacred sites, and deeply devoted pilgrims on your way to Mt. Everest. You must get an unforgettable experience. - 2. Necessary Permits for Visiting Shigatse Prefecture
When you travel in Shigatse Prefecture, you will need several specific permits. There are two situations: 1) If you just explore Shigatse City, Gyantse Town, Sakya Town, you only need two permits - Tibet Travel Permit and Alien Travel Permit; 2) If you travel beyond Lhatse to Mount Everest or Kathmandu, you will need three permits - Tibet Travel Permit and Alien Travel Permit. Besides these permits, you must have valid passport and Chinese visa. - 3. High Altitudes in Shigatse Prefecture
The attitudes differ by regions in Shigatse Prefecture – Gyantse (4050m), Shigatse City (3950m), Tingri (4300m), Sakya Monastery (4300m), Rongbuk Monastery (4980m), EBC (5200m), and Mount Everest (8848m). Generally speaking, the attractions in Shigatse will be higher than Lhasa. We suggest you spend some days in Lhasa first for acclimatization, then travel to Shigatse city, even Mount Everest. According to our years’ experience, most travelers had acclimatized themselves very well to the altitudes in Shigatse after the orientation in Lhasa. The biggest challenge occurs in Mount Everest where travelers usually spend a night. You may suffer slightly from high altitude sickness in the arrival night but most travelers can make it through. Your tour operator will also prepare oxygen supply for emergency use. - 4. Packing and Wearing Ideas for Shigatse Travel
Remember to pack and wear for high plateau travel. Keep warm and protect yourself from the harsh natural power is the biggest thing to concern. You are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). If you want to go to Mount Everest, down jacket is also recommended. A pair of gloves is also helpful for possible snow at Mount Everest. You should also bring rain gears if you travel in July and August. The ultraviolet light is quite strong, so you have to bring sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block to protect yourself from sunburn. If you want to have a trek on Mount Everest, you have to wear trekking shoes and clothing, and pack trekking and camping gears.
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