17 Days Mt. Kailash & Guge Kingdom (Return to Lhasa)

Highlights: Welcome to Lhasa! Today upon your Lhasa arrival, you will be greeted by your Tibetan guide and escorted to hotel. Rest of the day you will have a good rest to acclimatize the high altitude. 

Tips: 

The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650m above sea level. Take time out to relax and acclimate to the high altitude after arrival at your hotel. We recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for the first few days. It is advisable that you not take showers. For first time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom. Drink more water, have fresh fruit and plenty of rest will help to prevent the sickness. Have a good rest tonight, and get ready for tomorrow's journey. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street 

Potala Palace: Which is known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and owes over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues, the Potala Palace formed a small world in it. 

Jokhang Temple: Listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims. The temple is a four-storey timber complex with a golden top, with the combination of  Tang Dynasty, Tibetan and Nepal architectural styles. Every day, pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet worship here, make it a perfect site for photograpers.

Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to lear Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts. The street is full of handicarfts, such as ornaments, knives, tangka,  religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and a lot more. If you intend to buy some souvenirs for friends or famiy, Barkhor Street will be an ideal place.

Tips: 

1) Some visitors might feel a bit hard to breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly. 

2) Some places are not allowed to take photos, please kindly inquire your guide for details. 

3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare and bargain for the unique souvenirs 

4) During the summer time, the musical fountain show at the Potala Plalace Square is 19:30—22:00PM. 

5) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Elevation: 3500m 

Highlights: Today you will visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and enjoy the debate. 

Drepung Monastery: Located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. It is considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' (the other two are the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. As such, it was given the name 'Drepung‘, which, in the Tibetan language, means 'Collecting Rice.. 

Sera Monastery: Which is located in the northern suburb of Lhasa City. The monastery was named Sera which means wild rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. From of Mon ~ Fri, every afternoon, you ll be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery.

Tips: 

1) Today's road condition is good. The tour involves some easy walking and climbing

2) Please bring water, a hat, sun cream, and sun glasses for today’s tour as you will be at outside for a long day. 

Distance: 350km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4441m 

Highlights: This morning you will be drive to Gyangtse and finally reach Shigatse for hotel check-in. After passing the Kamba-La Pass (4794m), you’ll get to the beautiful Yamdrok Lake for great highland lake view and the distant view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang(7191m). Continued is a 1.5 hour’s drive to visit the Karo-la Glacier (5050m). Then you will get to Gyangtze and visit the famous Palkor Monastery. Finally in the later afternoon you will reach Tibet’s 2nd largest city---Shigatse.

Yamdrok Lake: Which is one of the 3 most sacred lakes in Tibet. It is a lake of 72km long, fed by numerous small streams and sourrounded by snow covered mountains. The two long arms of water, makeing it look like a scorpion from the sky. According to legend, Yamdok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.

Karola Glacier: At 5,560m above sea level, and with an area of 9.4 sq km, this imposing glacier is visible from the highway which links Lhasa and Shigatse. The glacier has been divided into black and white layers due to smoke pollution from motor vehicles, which gives a distinctive colors to this great glacier. 

Pelkor Chode Monastery: Founded in 1418, Pelkor Chode Monastery is the main monastery in Gyantse of Tibet. The highlight inside is the Kumbum, which has 108 chapels in its four stories. As an important center of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism,  In 1904, the Gyangtse town and the Pelkor Chode Monastery were attacked by British army, although most of the damage was later restored, bullet holes from this attack still remain in the monastery.

Tips: 

1) The road condition from Lhasa to Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake is rough road around mountains. 

2) The altitude is over 4,000m in some places and it is long drive, so if necessary, you may ask the guide to stop somewhere for a break and stretch your body.

Distance: 350km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 5154m   

Highlights: Today we will drive from Gyangtse to Lhatse, Tingri, and finally reach Rongbuk Monastery, which is only 10km away from the Everest Base Camp. you will witness spectacular high plateau views such as blue sky, float light clouds, stretching snow mountains, endless grasslands.

Rongbuk Monastery: Located at the northern foot of Mt. Everest, the Rongbuk Monastery is only 10 KM away from the Everest Base Camp. It was originally built in 1902 by a Nyingmapa Lama, and considered as the highest monastery in the world. The monastery belongs to the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism, it used to hold 500 monks, but has only 30 monks now. The monastery is a perfect place to view Everest, on sunny days, a pile of thick clouds, just like a white flag floats lightly above the peak, which is known to be the miracle of 'The Highest Flag Cloud in the World'.

Tips: 

1) It is very cold and requires some warm clothing. 

2) Visitors can get up at night to take photos of Mt. Everest surrounded by the moon and stars. 

3) You may get up early next morning to see the sunrise over Mt. Everest. 

4) April, May, September, October, November are good  to visit Everest, Late June to August is rainy season in Tibet.

Distance:400km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 5200m   

Highlights: Get up early, you can enjoy the stunning sunrise at the top of the world. Then drive to Mt. Everest Base Camp [5200m] and touch the roof of the world. Drive to Saga for overnight

Tips:  

1) It takes about a 2 hour trek from the monastery to the first base camp. 

2) It is very cold and requires some warm clothing. 

3) The shuttle bus from Rongphu monastery to the Everest base camp is 8KM and takes 15mins. 

4) Visitors can get up at night to take photos of Mt. Everest surrounded by the moon and stars. 

5) You may get up early next morning to see the sunrise over Mt. Everest. 

6) April, May, September, October, November are good  to visit Everest, Late June to August is rainy season in Tibet. 

Distance:500km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4750m   

Highlights: Drive Saga/ Dongpa to Manasarover (4558m): The longest driving day starts with full of excitement, Jeeps and trucks roll on the wide valley following rivers and grazing land of yaks and sheep. Far south you can see snow covered peaks near by you, lots of rocky peaks and sand duns give you an ideal world. Depends on season, nomads and other mobile shopkeepers are attired by beautiful traditional costume, waiting your arrival with hot tea and other supplies along with big smile. by the late afternoon you can have the first sight of Holy Kailash Parbat and Manasarovara. Hore, a small village near by Lake Manasarover, we will spend a night there.

Distance:30km    Drive: 1hr    Elevation: 4560m   

Highlights: Today you will have some leisure time nearby the holy Lake Manasarovar, then be driven to Darchen

Lake Manasarovar: With altitude of 4588m, Lake Manasarovar is one of the Top 4 Holy Lakes and the most transparent fresh water lake in China, the name means “invincible lake” in Tibetan language, it is the most sacred of all Tibet's lakes, it is surrounded by beautiful landscape and adorned by Buddhists, Bon religion followers and Hindu as the most sacred place and the center of the world. Hindus have been walking round it for over 2,000 years. Buddhists associate the lake with Maya, Buddha's mother.

Trek Time: 6hrs   Distance:22km

Hightlights: Today we will trek from Darchen to Dirapuk. This Kailash circuit covers 53km and can be done in 3 days, this is the first day trek. We head west in clockwise direction and after a few kilometers the trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from where the southern face of Mt. Kailash comes to view. En route we will visit Tarboche where annual flagpole raising ceremony takes place during Saga Dawa.

Mt. Kailash: Neighboring Lake Manasarovar, Mount Kailash is a sacred mountain by four religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Bon. Pilgrims believe that circumambulating Mt. Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. and wash away their sin.  The path around Mount Kailash is 52km long, Hindus and Buddhists walk clockwisely around the Mt.Kalaish, while followers of Jain and Bonpo religions walk counter-clockwisely.

Trek Time: 6hrs   Distance: 22km

Highlights: Today we cross Drolma la pass (5630m) and Gauri Kund Lake (5608m) where Hindus worship and immerse themselves in the icy waters of the lake. 

Trek Time: 3hrs   Distance: 9km

Highlights: The final end of the Parikrama is an easy 2-3 hrs walk down to where the river emerges on to the Barga plain. We complete the 3 day circuit trek of Mt. Kailash and we will drive back to Manasarovar Lake where you may take some water from the sacred Lake.

Distance:530km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4560m   

Highlights: Today we will visit Tirthapuri monastery;Tsaparang; Tholing monastery, Guge kingdom, Dungkar cave city.

Highlights: Today we will visit Chewu cave near the holy lake Manasarovar.

Distance: 530km    Drive: 12hrs    Elevation: 4560m   

Highlights: Today we will have a long drive from Lake Manasarovar to Saga. 

Highlights: Today we will drive from Saga to Shigatse

Highlights:  This morning you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery and then drive back to Lhasa.

Tashilunpo Monastery: As one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa sec, Tashilunpo Monastery is the manjor attraction in Shigatse and regarded as the Tibetan Buddhist centre of Rear Tibet. Founded by the First Dailai Lama in 1447, the monastery was expanded by successive Panchen Lamas. Covering an area of nearly 300,000 square meters and accommodating 800 lamas,  Tashilhunpo monastery is a must-see spot for travelers and buddhist followers and plays a very important role for Tibetan Tourism. 

Hlights: Today you will be escorted to airport for the flight to next place. Your lifetime Tibet tour ends.