Highlights of Himalayan Frontiers

Below are some of the major travel highlights for Himalayan Frontiers. For more in-depth attractions of each country on this route, click on the country names below or select a route to see the highlights on this section of the journey. Click on the icons below to focus on specific types of features (click again to return to all).

In-depth highlights: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal


Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Natural attractions of Beijing - Kathmandu

Namtso Lake
Located north of Lhasa, Namtso Lake is the largest and one of the holiest in Tibet, attracting pilgrims who spend weeks circumnavigating it (80km long by 30km wide). The lake is located at 4,718 metres and is towered over by the Nyenchen Tanglha mountain range, with several peaks over 7,000 metres. There are numerous Buddhist temples around the lake, including some remarkable rock shrines.

Everest Base Camp (North Face)
Everest Base Camp (North Face) A drive and trek to Everest Base Camp in Tibet provides spectacular views of the north face of Everest and the neighbouring Himalayan peaks. From the Friendship Highway just after Shegar, a dirt road takes you 85km to Rongphu, over the Pang La pass at 5,120 metres which offers a superb panoramic view of the peaks of Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Gyachung Kang and Makalu. The monastery at Rongphu (4900m) provides a stunning view of the north face of Everest as its colour changes with sunset. From here you can trek or take a pony cart to base camp, where there are great close up views of the Everest, a small hill decorated with hundreds of colourful prayer flags and a memorial to Mallory and Irvine's climb in 1924.

Everest Base Camp (North Face)

Everest Base Camp (North Face)

A drive and trek to Everest Base Camp in Tibet provides spectacular views of the north face of Everest and the neighbouring Himalayan peaks. From the Friendship Highway just after Shegar, a dirt road takes you 85km to Rongphu, over the Pang La pass at 5,120 metres which offers a superb panoramic view of the peaks of Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Gyachung Kang and Makalu. The monastery at Rongphu (4900m) provides a stunning view of the north face of Everest as its colour changes with sunset. From here you can trek or take a pony cart to base camp, where there are great close up views of the Everest, a small hill decorated with hundreds of colourful prayer flags and a memorial to Mallory and Irvine's climb in 1924.

Friendship Highway
The Friendship Highway links Lhasa in Tibet with Kathmandu in Nepal across the spectacular mountain scenery of the Himalayas. Driving south from Lhasa, you cross the Kamba La (4794m) mountain pass, with superb views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River behind and the scorpion-shaped turquoise lake of Yamdrok Tso ahead. After following the lake shoreline, you pass Karo La (5010m), close to a hanging glacier near the summit, and then Simi La before reaching the town of Gyantse, home to the Pelke Chode Monastery and the Kumbum Stupa. The route continues through high altitude plateaus and mountain passes past Shigatse and Shegar and through Gyatso La (5220m) to Tingre. Reaching the Nepal border, the views of the Himalayan peaks are magnificent at Lalung La (5000m) and Tong La (5100m) including Shishapangma, the only mountain in Tibet over 8,000 metres. Descending to Zhangmu, the border is crossed at the Friendship Bridge, followed by a short journey to Kathmandu.

Friendship Highway

The Friendship Highway links Lhasa in Tibet with Kathmandu in Nepal across the spectacular mountain scenery of the Himalayas. Driving south from Lhasa, you cross the Kamba La (4794m) mountain pass, with superb views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River behind and the scorpion-shaped turquoise lake of Yamdrok Tso ahead. After following the lake shoreline, you pass Karo La (5010m), close to a hanging glacier near the summit, and then Simi La before reaching the town of Gyantse, home to the Pelke Chode Monastery and the Kumbum Stupa. The route continues through high altitude plateaus and mountain passes past Shigatse and Shegar and through Gyatso La (5220m) to Tingre. Reaching the Nepal border, the views of the Himalayan peaks are magnificent at Lalung La (5000m) and Tong La (5100m) including Shishapangma, the only mountain in Tibet over 8,000 metres. Descending to Zhangmu, the border is crossed at the Friendship Bridge, followed by a short journey to Kathmandu.