14 Days Mt. Kailash Trek & Pilgrimage Group Tour

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

Tips: 

The altitude in Lhasa is about 3,650 m above sea level.  Take time to relax and acclimate to the high altitude after your arrival at the hotel.  We recommend that you avoid any strenuous activities 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: 3,500 m 

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

Potala Palace: Known as the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the residence of the Dalai Lama lineages. Stands 13 stories high and has over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues.  The Potala Palace is a small world in itself. 

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.   This is a perfect site for photographers.

Barkhor Street: As the oldest street in Lhasa, Barkhor Street is considered as the center of the old city, and a perfect place to learn about 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 may feel a bit out of breath when climbing the Potala Palace, so please climb slowly. 

2) Some places do not allow photos, so please kindly check with your guide for details. 

3) When shopping around Barkor Street, you can compare prices 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: 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: 350 km    Drive: 12 hrs    Elevation: 4,441 m 

Highlights: This morning you will be driven 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 a great highland lake view and in the distance a view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7,191 m.)  Next is a 1.5 hour drive to visit the Karo-la Glacier (5,050 m).  Then you will get to Gyangtze and visit the famous Palkor Monastery.  Finally in the late afternoon you will reach Tibet's 2nd largest city, Shigatse.

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

Karola Glacier: At 5,560 m 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 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 the British army.  Although most of the damage was later restored, bullet holes from this attack still remain in the monastery.

Tips: 

The altitude is over 4,000 m 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: 350 km    Drive: 12 hrs    Elevation: 5,154 m   

Highlights: Today we will drive from Gyangtse to Lhatse, Tingri, and finally reach Rongbuk Monastery, which is only 10 km away from the Everest Base Camp.  You will witness spectacular high plateau views such as a clear blue sky, floating white clouds, snow covered mountains, and 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 have 500 monks, but now there are only 30 monks.  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: 450 km    Drive: 12 hrs    Elevation: 5,200 m   

Highlights: Get up early, so that 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 an overnight stay.

Mt. Everest: Located in the Himalayas and at the border between Tibet and Nepal, Mt. Everest is also called Qomolangma or Chomolungma.  It rises 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) above sea level, is the main peak of Himalayas, and the world's highest mountain.  Mt. Everest is covered by snow all year round,  When sun shines on the mountain, the summit of the mountain appears like a pyramid covered by the sunlights, offering a spectacular view.

Tips:  

Please note that due to political and enviromental reasons, it is now not possible to get to the Everest monument site.  Visitors can only view Everest from the tent site. 

Distance: 450 km    Drive: 12 hrs    Elevation: 4,750 m   

Highlights: Drive from Saga/ Dongpa to Manasarover (4,558 m): The longest driving day starts with excitement!  Jeeps and trucks drive over the wide valley following rivers and grazing land of yaks and sheep.  Far south you can see snow covered peaks.  Nearby you can see lots of rocky peaks and sand dunes creating a spectacular view.  Depends on season, nomads and other mobile shopkeepers are attired in beautiful traditional costumes, waiting for your arrival with hot tea and other supplies along with big smiles.  By the late afternoon you will have the first sight of Holy Kailash Parbat and Manasarovara.  We will spend the night in a small village near Lake Manasarover.

Lake Manasarovar: With altitude of 4588 m, 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 surrounded by a beautiful landscape and the most sacred of all of Tibet's lakes.  It is  revered by Buddhists, Bon religion followers, and Hindu as the most sacred place and the center of the world.  Hindus have been walking around it for over 2,000 years.  Buddhists associate the lake with Maya, Buddha's mother.

Trek Distance: 20 km    Trek Time: 7 hrs    Elevation: 4,560 m   

Highlights: Traditionally pilgrims undertake the 52 km trekking circuit around Mount Kailash, commencing at Darchen (4,574 m) and crossing the Dolma-la pass on the second day of the three day walk.  Eight kilometers after leaving Darchen, on an environmentally friendly bus (40 minutes), we get to a village called Sarshung, where porters are waiting for their clients.  After two hours, we come upon a grassy plain populated by nomads.  For this turn in the valley it is another two hours at least before reaching Drirapuk (4,920 m.)  You may camp or can rest in a monastery's guest house made from cement with better facilities compared to other places in Drirapuk.  At the opposite side of Drirapuk, you can see a small monastery with a guest house cleaner than others.

Mt. Kailash: Neighboring Lake Manasarovar, Mount Kailash is a sacred mountain for 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 sins.  The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km long.  Hindus and Buddhists walk clockwise around the Mt .Kalaish, while followers of Jain and Bon religions walk counter-clockwise.

Hightlights: The second day is the hardest and toughest circuit with the Dolma-la pass lying 6.4 km ahead but 762 m above Drirapuk. The peak of Dolma-la pass is about 5,630 m above sea level, so it is better to set off early in the morning as the sun rays break over the ridges above.  After taking a rest at the peak of Dolma-la pass, you will descend a staircase bringing you to the Lhachu valley floor, taking about one hour from the pass.  From here it is still four hours of trekking to the today's final destination.  There are no shelters along the way.  It is better to walk on the right side of the river to see the Miracle Cave of Milarepa and finally get to Dzultripuk (with miracle cave of milarepa.)  It is advisable to get there before other groups because limited numbers of rooms are available there in Dzultripuk.  Take a good rest in the guest room and prepare for next morning's departure.

Trek Time: 4 hrs    Distance: 14 km    

Highlights: Today we will go through Milarepa's cave, where the temple and shrines have been built around.  Then we walk back to Darchen, which is easy, and the exit from the valley can be reached within three hours.  At the exit of the valley, the driver will come to pick you up and take you back to Darchen. 

Distance: 490 km     Drive: 12 hrs    Elevation: 4,500 m

Highlights: Drive back along the main road to Saga for overnight stay.

Distance: 510 km    Drive: 12 hrs    Elevation: 4,000 m   

Highlights: Today we will drive from Saga to Shigatse via ancient Sakya town and explore the twisting alleys with the pilgrims.  Also and you can tour Sakya monastery with amazing murals and a huge collection of scriptures and statues. In the afternoon, we will drive back 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 the 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. 

Highlights: Today our guide will send you to train station or airport for your next destination.  Your lifetime Tibet tour is completed now.