Honestly, before going to Shigatse, I thought I was mentally prepared. But the moment the car crossed the Gyala Pass, five 8,000-meter snow peaks lined up right in front of me. I was stunned in the car for a full 10 seconds😶
Here’s how to get there 👇
There is now the Lhasa–Shigatse railway with two trains daily, departing at 8:30 AM and 3:20 PM. The trip takes about 3 hours, and a hard seat costs only 40 yuan. But! If you’re taking the Everest route, it’s best to rent a car or join a small off-road group because the train doesn’t stop at places like Yamdrok Lake or Karola Glacier. The road is the way to go. From Lhasa, take G318 then switch to S307. The total distance to Dingri is about 600 km, so plan a full day to travel and explore.
🚗 Day 1 Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse
Depart at 7 AM, arrive at Yamdrok Lake viewing platform in 2 hours. In July, the lake is a blue-green mirror, reflecting the distant Nyenchen Tanglha snow mountains. Every photo looks like a desktop wallpaper. Karola Glacier is right by the road, with its ice tongue reaching the roadside at 5,039 meters elevation. When you get off to take pictures, don’t get too excited—walk and shoot slowly. Altitude sickness can hit suddenly. Arrive in Shigatse city in the evening to rest.
🚗 Day 2 Shigatse → Lazi → Dingri → Everest base camp
The main event! Heading west from Shigatse, you start climbing mountains after Lazi. At Gyala Pass, 5,210 meters high, you reach the world’s most impressive snow mountain viewing platform—Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma, five 8,000+ meter peaks all visible at once. The overwhelming feeling can’t be captured in photos. In the afternoon, enter the Everest scenic area and transfer to an eco-friendly shuttle bus to the base camp area near Rongbuk Monastery at 5,200 meters.
Everest scenic area tickets cost 180 yuan per person. The eco shuttle bus is 120 yuan round trip. Don’t skip this—private cars aren’t allowed in the core area. July is early rainy season, so seeing the full view of Everest requires luck. It’s best to plan for at least two sunrise opportunities. Wake up at 5:30 AM to catch the golden sunlight on the peak. When the first light hits Everest’s summit, several guys nearby actually cried—it’s not an exaggeration.
⛰️ The guesthouse is just outside Dingri county, about a 10-minute drive from the Everest scenic area entrance. Surrounded by Tibetan homes, it’s very quiet at night
⛰️ The room faces the Himalayas with a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows plus a corner viewing balcony. Sitting on the balcony at dusk watching clouds roll in from Everest, the changing light and shadows are stunning
⛰️ The room has oxygen equipment and an electric blanket. July nights are around 7–8 degrees Celsius. Wrapped in the electric blanket and quilt, stargazing with the Milky Way visible to the naked eye—worth it for a lifetime✨
🚗 Day 3 Everest → Sakya Monastery → Shigatse
Return via a different route, detouring to the ancient town of Sakya. Sakya Monastery is the main temple of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism, with distinctive red, white, and black striped exterior walls. Inside, the scripture wall holds over 10,000 volumes, known as the "second Dunhuang." Photos are not allowed inside the halls, so just enjoy the view with your eyes.
🚗 Day 4 Shigatse → Tashilhunpo Monastery → return to Lhasa
The last day is for Tashilhunpo Monastery. Peak season tickets are 100 yuan per person. This is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas and one of the six major Gelug monasteries. The 26.2-meter-tall bronze Buddha statue in the Jampa Hall is truly awe-inspiring when you look up from its base. Morning visits are recommended when the sunlight from the east makes the golden roof shine especially bright. Take the train back to Lhasa in the afternoon, arriving in 3 hours.
📋 Essential tips:
✅ Border pass! Required for Everest. The easiest place to get it is your local police station, but you can also get it in Lhasa or Shigatse. Apply at least one week in advance
✅ Altitude sickness prevention: take Rhodiola a week before. Once there, avoid washing your hair or running. Take it easy the first two days
✅ July daytime temperatures are around 20°C, but nights can drop below 5°C. A windbreaker plus fleece is standard gear
✅ Sunscreen SPF 50+ and sunglasses are must-haves. The high-altitude UV is no joke
✅ Bring plenty of cash. Signal near Everest base camp is unstable, and mobile payments sometimes don’t go through
✅ Altitude ranges from 3,650 to 5,200 meters. If you’re sensitive to altitude sickness, assess your limits carefully
The biggest takeaway from this trip is that the roads in Tibet are the scenery themselves. Every turn could bring a surprise. July is when Shigatse has the highest oxygen levels all year, making it feel much better than winter. If you want to go, start planning now 🫶