Road Reconstruction at Gyatso La Pass Added 2 More Driving Hours to The Tibet EBC Tours.

Google Map of the detour from Sakya to Shegar/New Tingri

According to Tibet travel information provided by  Explore Tibet guides and drivers, a section of the road at Gyatsa la pass (5250m) was under reconstruction from early this month (July), the road workers said this 30km long reconstruction would take about 2 months and they are planning to finish the work by end of Aug, currently this section of the road is closed during the day time and all the cars going to Everest Base Camp, have to take a Tibet EBC tour through Sakya and there are about 96km bumpy road with speed control, usually the distance from Shigatse to Shegar is about 250km and it takes around 3 hours, but now it is about 297km by the detour and would take around 5 hours.

If you drive early in the morning or later in the afternoon, then the road opening hour for the reconstructing section is before 7:30 am or after 9:30pm.

Detour from the Friendship Highway to Sakya

Crossing the village near Sakya

Climbing the pass (4910m) just after Sakya

Bumpy road during the detour which last for around 96km.

Crossing the Cholu Village from which it is only about 20km to Shegar/New Tingri