14 Days in Shigatse

Train in from Lhasa (about 253 km, 2.5-3 hours) or land at Peace Airport, 43 km east at about 3,782 m. Day one at 3,836 m is for adjusting — a flat walk by the Nyang Chu and an early night.

1. shigatse nyang riverfront

The monastery founded in 1447, halls usually open 9:00-17:00 and about 2-3 hours for the circuit, then the clockwise kora path (about an hour). Keep the pace short at 3,836 m.

1. shigatse tashilhunpo monastery
2. shigatse tashilhunpo kora

Some 20 minutes of steps to the dzong ruins first laid out around 1360, city views from the top, then market streets. Another easy day — the plan spends acclimatization deliberately.

1. shigatse dzong ruins
2. shigatse city markets

Narthang, founded in 1153 and known for woodblock printing, 15 km west; Shalu, founded in 1087 and rebuilt in the 14th century with Han-style tiled roofs, 15 km southeast. Two short hops, back by mid-afternoon.

1. shigatse narthang monastery
2. shigatse shalu monastery

90 km south to Gyantse at about 4,040 m — the rock-top fort damaged in the 1904 fighting, later repaired, and the old-town lanes. Overnight here to break the next long day.

1. shigatse gyantse dzong
2. shigatse gyantse old town

Morning light on the nine-storey Kumbum, begun in 1418 and finished in 1436 with 108 doors and 76 chapels; after lunch the Pala manor buildings on the edge of town. A second night in Gyantse or an easy run back to Shigatse.

1. shigatse palcho kumbum
2. shigatse pala manor

Labelled honestly — the lake sits in Nagarze County in the Shannan direction. Via Gyantse and the Manla reservoir it is about 380 km round trip, 7-8 hours of driving, with the lake surface at about 4,441 m. Start early, take the passes slowly, sleep back at 3,836 m.

1. shigatse manla reservoir
2. shigatse yamdrok lake

A deliberate recovery day at 3,836 m after the long loop — riverfront, markets, laundry, and the laundry of a travel plan that still has a 5,200-m camp ahead.

1. shigatse nyang riverfront
2. shigatse city markets

About 150 km west and three hours, at about 4,280 m — founded in 1073, the south monastery's great hall from 1268, a scripture wall about 10 metres high. Also useful as a last acclimatization step before Tingri.

1. shigatse sakya monastery

About 235 km on the G318. Near Lhatse the newer G219 branches toward Saga and Ngari while the G318 continues to Tingri and the Zhangmu border. Overnight at about 4,300 m. Border-administration area — domestic visitors need a border pass, from a household-registration public-security office or in Lhasa or Shigatse; foreign visitors travel on permits arranged by licensed agencies. Carry originals for checkpoints.

1. shigatse lhatse road junction
2. shigatse tingri gateway

About 100 km of mountain road to the north face. The Gyawu La (about 5,200 m) lines up Makalu, Lhotse, Everest (8,848.86 m) and Cho Oyu on a clear morning; the tent camp sits at about 5,200 m, Rongbuk at about 4,980 m before it. Tents roughly April to October, real-name tickets, shuttle buses, rubbish carried out, and since 2019 the visit ends at the camp in front of Rongbuk. Most people sleep back down at about 4,300 m; staying in the camp tents is possible but thin on air and comfort.

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

The 235 km drive back fills the morning; the afternoon is for the riverfront and doing little. If day 11 was washed out by cloud, this return leg is where a second attempt gets discussed.

1. shigatse nyang riverfront

An honest spare window — the fallback day if the Everest leg shifted with weather or road works, otherwise a Gyantse return, market streets, or whatever deserved a second look.

1. shigatse gyantse old town
2. shigatse city markets

A last riverside walk, then out from Peace Airport (43 km) or the afternoon train toward Lhasa — about 253 km, 2.5-3 hours. For the continuation east, Lhasa keeps its own itinerary pages on this site, about 270 km away by the G318 and expressway.

1. shigatse nyang riverfront