Mountain Hikes in China

This 8-day route from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp includes visits to Drepung Monastery, once home to 10,000 monks, and the 14th-century Tashilhunpo complex in Shigatse. Drive 334 km along the Friendship Highway, crossing Gyamtso La at 5,220m with views of Mt. Cho Oyu at 8,201m and Mt. Xishapangma at 8,212m. Stay overnight at Rongbuk at 5,050m before trekking or riding 8 km to the world's highest base camp.

Trek to the base of Mount Everest at Rongbuk Monastery, sitting at 5,000 meters, with views of the world's highest peak right in front of you. Travel the Friendship Highway through the Himalayas, crossing passes above 4,000 meters and stopping at sacred Yamdrok Lake. Hike to Panbongka Monastery near Lhasa, a remote spot where you'll find ancient meditation caves carved into the mountainside. Spend time in villages near Shigatse at the foot of the Tibetan Plateau, seeing how local life unfolds in this high-altitude region.

Trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge with views of the 5,596m Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Mountain, walk around Lhasa's Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace, then head to Everest Base Camp at 5,000m for sunrise views of Qomolongma's North Face. Camp twice under the stars near Karo La glacier at 4,700m and beside sacred Qungmoganze (7,048m). Ages 9+ welcome on this 20-day moderate adventure.

Trek to Rongbuk Monastery at 5,000 meters, the world's highest monastery, positioned at the base camp of Mount Everest's north face with views of the 8,849-meter peak. Travel on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the highest railroad in the world, crossing 2,000 kilometers through passes exceeding 4,000 meters between Xining and Lhasa. Hike to Panbongka Monastery near Lhasa, where you'll check out ancient prayer halls and meditation caves carved into the mountainside, then take acclimatization walks through Tibetan villages near Shigatse.