10 Days in Shigatse

In by train from Lhasa (about 253 km, 2.5-3 hours, a line opened in 2014) or at Peace Airport, 43 km out at about 3,782 m. Nothing strenuous on day one at 3,836 m — a riverfront walk, an early dinner, an early night.

1. shigatse nyang riverfront

Morning in the monastery founded in 1447 — halls usually open 9:00-17:00, the circuit about 2-3 hours — then the clockwise kora path (about an hour). Watch the walking pace at 3,836 m.

1. shigatse tashilhunpo monastery
2. shigatse tashilhunpo kora

About 20 minutes of steps to the dzong ruins laid out around 1360 for the city view, then market streets for tsampa, cheese and kitchenware. A low-key buffer day before the road legs.

1. shigatse dzong ruins
2. shigatse city markets

90 km south on the Nyang Chu to Gyantse at about 4,040 m. Climb to the rock-top fort damaged in the 1904 fighting, then slow through the old town. Overnight in Gyantse for an unhurried next morning.

1. shigatse gyantse dzong
2. shigatse gyantse old town

The nine-storey Kumbum at Palcho — begun in 1418, finished in 1436, 108 doors and 76 chapels — is best in morning light. After lunch, the Pala manor buildings a short drive out of town, then back to Shigatse by evening.

1. shigatse palcho kumbum
2. shigatse pala manor

Honestly labelled — the lake lies in Nagarze County in the Shannan direction, not in Shigatse. About 380 km round trip via Gyantse and the Manla reservoir, 7-8 hours of driving; the lake surface sits at about 4,441 m. Leave early, watch the passes, and return to sleep at 3,836 m.

1. shigatse yamdrok lake

About 150 km west and three hours, at about 4,280 m — founded in 1073, great hall from 1268, a scripture wall about 10 metres high. Quiet pace, warm layers, back by dinner.

1. shigatse sakya monastery

About 235 km on the G318; near Lhatse the newer G219 forks toward Saga and Ngari while the G318 runs on toward Tingri and the Zhangmu border. Overnight at about 4,300 m. The county is a border-administration area — domestic visitors carry a border pass (from a household-registration public-security office or in Lhasa or Shigatse); foreign visitors come with permits arranged by licensed agencies. Originals for the checkpoints.

1. shigatse lhatse road junction
2. shigatse tingri gateway

About 100 km of mountain road. From the Gyawu La (about 5,200 m) a clear morning lines up Makalu, Lhotse, Everest (8,848.86 m) and Cho Oyu; the tent camp sits at about 5,200 m with Rongbuk at about 4,980 m in front of it. Tents run roughly April to October, entry is by real-name ticket with shuttle buses, rubbish travels back down, and since 2019 the visit ends at the camp in front of Rongbuk. Sleep again at about 4,300 m.

1. shigatse gyawu la pass
2. shigatse everest base camp
3. shigatse rongbuk monastery

Labelled straight — this last day is the connection, and Lhasa is a destination of its own with its own itinerary pages on this site. The G318 and expressway cover the roughly 270 km east in about 4 hours; if flying out instead, Peace Airport is 43 km from town.

1. potala palace
2. jokhang temple