Kailash Overland Tour

Our airport representative will pick you up from Tribhuvan International Airport and departs at your pre-booked hotel. We will organize a welcome dinner with a Nepali cultural dance.

Meals: Not Included

After breakfast at the hotel, your private vehicle is ready for sightseeing at your hotel. You will visit Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Swyambhunath, and Kathmandu Durbar square on this day.

Meals: Breakfast

On this day, you will depart to Lhasa, and our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport to transfer you to the hotel. It usually takes about one and a half hours from Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa. After transfer to the hotel, the rest of the day, you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself.

This day in your rest is essential to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not shower if you can help. For our free Lhasa Airport transfer, please check the Inclusions for information on our free Lhasa Airport transfers.

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Today you will visit two attractions in the Lhasa suburb. In the morning, we will arrange for you to see Drepung Monastery. In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery. You will spend a long hour sightseeing today under the fierce sun of Tibet, do arm yourself with sunglasses/a hat/ sunscreen.

Also, a welcome dinner will be held tonight to introduce you to the whole gang you will travel to. We have customers from all over the world. Meeting people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds will be fun.

Located about eight km west of central Lhasa, Drepung Monastery was once one of the world’s largest monasteries. The word Drepung translates as ‘rice heap,’ a reference to the vast numbers of white monastic buildings that once piled up on the hillside. Sera Monastery is situated in the northern town 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 Monday to Friday, you will be able to see monks debating at Sera Monastery every afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

It is an important and central day of the Lhasa tour. This morning, you will depart to visit Potala Palace. It is around 3,700 meters above sea level and the highest palace in the world!

At the top of the palace, called the golden Roof, you can have a bird-eye view of the whole of Lhasa. In the distance are rolling mountain ranges, the beautiful Lhasa River, tracts of fields, tree-shaded villages, and the glistening Jokhang Temple.

This afternoon, you will visit Jokhang Temple, the first built during Songs a Gambo in the 7th century and features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers.

You will find many pilgrims pray earlier than in the monastery. The circuit around it is called Barkhor Street, a famous local handmade crafts market, an excellent place to purchase souvenirs.

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Karola Glacier, Yamdrok Lake, Pelkor Chöde Monastery

Yamamoto Lake: dazzling Yamdrotso (elevation 4441m) is usually first seen from the summit of the Kamba-la (4700m). This lake is situated a hundred meters below the road and, in clear weather, is a beautiful shade of deep turquoise. You can see the fantastic view of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang(7191m).

Karola Glacier: Mt Nojin Kangsang stands tall with an elevation of 7,191m between Gyantse County and Nagarzê County, with several snow-capped mountains of over 6,000m surrounding it. Mount Nojin Kangsang is the most accessible glacier site on the Tibetan Plateau. The famous Kharola Glacier (elevation 5,560m) is below the south ridge of Nojin Kangsang.

Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum: the sprawling compound in the far north of townhouses Pelkor Chöde Monastery and the monumental Gyantse Kumbum, a chörten filled with beautiful paintings and statues. Palkhor lies at the foot of Dzong Hill. It is renowned for its Kumbum, 108 chapels on its four floors. The multi-storied Kumbum Stupa was crowned with a golden-haired ground and umbrella, bounded by more chapels filled with unique religious statues and murals.

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Tashilump Monastery

Upon entrance to Shigatse, we will apply for the Alien’s Travel Permit (PSB) with your original passport. It usually takes about 30 minutes before sightseeing.

Tashilunpo Monastery is one of the Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet. Somebody describes the Heap of Glory; the monastery is at the foot of Drolmari (Tara’s Mountain), Shigatse. Established by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas expanded the monastery’s structure.

It covers an area of nearly 300,000 square meters. The main construction establishes in the monastery are Maitreya Chapel, Panchen Lama’s Palace, and Kelsang Temple. Tashilhunpo has been the place of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and right now, there are around 800 lamas.

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Rongbuk Monastery, Sunset of golden Everest peak

In the morning, you will leave Shigatse for Lhatse, a small town 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in a local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass Tsola Pass (4600M) and Gyatsola Pass (5248M). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt.

Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5198m). Then we drive along the New zigzag road to Rongbuk or the Tent Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of golden Everest peak.
Stay overnight in Nomad Tent (Dorm Bed) or Rongbuk guesthouse

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Sunrise of Everest Peak, Everest Base Camp, Far view of Mt. Shishapangma, Peikutso Lake

We didn’t include breakfast this morning. You will understand why when you’re on the spot. Tibetan breakfast, such as noodles, Zumba, etc., about CNY 30, is available here. You are highly recommended to bring some cookies, instant noodles, coffee, etc.

Everest Tent Camp is the furthest point vehicles can drive. You must take the shuttle bus from here for the last glorious 4 Km, which is incredibly scenic. High grey ridges weigh you to the east and west, and as you look to the south, Everest’s north face dominates the skyline.

Gifted with springs, Everest Base Camp (elevation 5150m) has a couple of enduring structures and a small army base. Clamber up the small hill festooned with prayer flags for great views of Mt. Everest’s star attraction, then have your snapshot taken at the base camp marker, interpret ‘Mt. Qomolangma Base Camp’.

Peikutso Lake: the beautiful turquoise Peiku-Tso (4590m) is one of Tibet’s magical spots, with stunning views of the snowcapped Shishapangma (8012m) and the Langtang range bordering Nepal to the south.

Overnight in Saga, Guesthouse

Meals: Not Included

Highlights: dunes, beautiful grassland, local’s villages, far view the Mt. Naimonanyi

The extensive town of the saga is the last of any size on the route and your last chance to eat a plentiful meal. A photogenic section of dunes, lakes, and mountains kicks 60km from Zhongba. About 23 km before Paryang, you create a pass and drop past more dunes to Paryang. Photos taken along this route can often get stepped, streams, desert dunes, and snow-capped mountains in the same shot.

Meals: Not Included

Highlights: Mt. Kailash Kora

The Kora path starts in the western parts of Darchen. Quickly leaving all traces of the village behind, you head westward across the Barkha plain, a sandy expanse dotted with greenery like a heavy camouflage jacket.

To the north, the east-west ridge blocks your view of Mt Kailash, but there are unobstructed views of the vast Gurla Mandata(7728m) to the southeast. Api Himal and other peaks in Nepal are visible to the south while looking to the southwest for the twin, sharp humps of Kamet (7756m) in India.

Only 4 km from Darchen, the trail climbs up over the southwest end of the ridge to reach a cairn at 4790 Meters. The cairn is decorated with prayer flags and symbols, the first views of Mt Kailash’s southern face, and the opening of the kora’s four prostration points.

The trail quickly bends to the north and enters the barren Lha-Chu Valley. The valley is so open that you can see ahead to the tall Tarboche flagpole (4750) in the distance, one of the most important sites for the Saga Dawa Festival.

Just west of Tarboche is the ‘two-legged’ Chorten Kangnyi. It’s a promising act for pilgrims to walk through the small Chorten’s archway. A short hike above Tarchorten to the east is the sky-burial site of the 84 Mahasiddhas (Tantric practitioners who achieved a high level of awareness). The first of the kora’s three Buddha paths is here but hard to find. You can see a superb view of the valley.

Beyond Tarboche, the valley narrows dramatically in an area called Sershong. You can now get clear pictures of Mt Kailash, standing to the concentration above the eastern ridge.

Chuku Monastery (4820m), founded in the 13th century by Gotsangpa Gompo Pel, a Kagyupa-order master, is perched high above the valley floor on the hillside to the west. It curves so mysteriously into its rocky backdrop you may not be able to notice it’s there.

From the Chuku, it’s about 3 hours to Dir-Puk Monastery. Take your time among these enlarges, for it has some of the best scenery of the intact Kora. High sedimentary faces, wonderfully puckered, dented, and chiseled into shapes that seem alive, hem you in on both sides.

When the weather is warmer, even the infrequent ribbon of water reduces down the slopes from hundreds of meters high. Along the route, you will find the second prostration point, with its prayer flags and unobstructed view of the east side of Mt Kailash. 30mins later, just past a tea tent selling the usual drinks and snakes, look for the second Buddha footprint and a carving of the god Tamdrin, a wrathful horse-headed deity, on a black stone smeared with eons of yak butter. The trail starts to climb from the rock and heads northeast toward Dira-Puk Monastery.

Dira-Puk(Lhalung Dira) Monastery(5080m) sits in a superb location on the hillside north of the Lha-Chu. It faces the surprising north side of Mt Kailash, a massive, jet-black granite slab decorated with alabaster-white snow strips. Three lesser mountains are in front of Mt Kailash: Chana Dorie to the west, Jampelyang to the east, and Chenrezig in the center.

Overnight in Dirapuk, Camp/Guesthouse (Dorm Bed)

Meals: Breakfast

Highlights: Mt. Kailash Kora

You want to revel in the glorious environment when you wake up and go outside. Mt Kailash’s dramatic black face dominates the skyline, while the middle slopes boom with the moans of yaks.
The main Kora path heads off to the east, crossing the Lha-Chu by the bridge, and then climbs on a moraine to meet the trail on the east bank. The long climb up the Drolma-Chu Valley will ultimately guide us to the Drolma-la.

Less than an hour along is the meadow at Jarok Donkhang (5210m). Near Jarok Donkhang, track twigs off to the southeast, leading over the snowy Khando Sanglam-la. Also, Polung Glacier descends from the East Ridge off the north face of Mt Kailash, down through the Polung Valley among Chenresig and Jampelyang.
A short distance above Jarok Donkhang is the rocky area of Shiva-tall (5330m). Pilgrims are believed to undergo a symbolic death at this point, entering the kingdom of the Lord of the Deas, until they reach the top of the Drolma-la and are reborn for the second time.
After Shiva-that, the trail mercifully flattens for a time and proceeds along a glacial ridge. There are many exciting things to see, such as the sin-testing stone of Bardo Trang (a flat boulder that pilgrims are believed to squeeze under to measure their wickedness).

About 30mins from Shiva-TSAL, the trail turns eastward for the final ascent. Allow around an hour for the 200m climb to the top of the Drolma-La(5640m). After the high point, you will reach the rocky pass. The high cubic Drolma Do (Drolma’s Rock) that marks the top is barely visible behind many prayer flags.

When the weather is good, most pilgrims and hikers break at the pass for rest and refreshment before starting the steep descent. Gauri Kund (5608m) almost instantly, the Lake of sympathy.

It takes about an hour to make the long and steep 400 m fall to the grassy banks of the Lham-chu Khir. En route, there is a much-revered path of Milarepa. When the valley arrives, you can get nomad tents and a teahouse selling drinks and noodles — a large rock topped by Kora’s third Buddha footprint.

Around 30 minutes south, a valley comes down from the Khando Sanglam-la to join the western trail. This valley provides the only glimpse of Mt Kailash’s eastern or crystal face.

You can see grassy fields along the river. A side valley comes from the left after a few hours from the third Buddha’s footprint. From this point, the river changed to Dzong-chu, interpreted as the ‘Fortress River.’

Soon you will see Zutul-Puk Monastery (4820m). The wonder cave that provides the monastery’s name is at the back of the main hall. Today also, you can see Milarepa’s footprint and handprint.

Overnight in Zutulpuk, Camp/Guesthouse (Dorm Bed)

Meals: Not Included

Highlights: Mt. Kailash Kora, Lake Manasarovar

From Zutulpuk Monastery, the trail follows the river closely for an hour, climbs above the river, and enters the lovely Gold & Red Cliffs, a narrow canyon whose stained purple walls are cobalt and rust.

When the canyon looks like they gouged into the precipice walls, these are artificial but made by pilgrims looking for holy stones. Also, look for prayer flags decorated crossways, the river, and the blue waters of Lake Rakshas Tal in the long distance.

When the trail appears on the Barkha plain, close to the fourth prostration spot, Gurla Mandata is again visible in the long distance. It takes one hour hike back to Darchen along a muddy road.

Meet your driver at Darchen. Drive to Lake Manasarovar, the most revered of Tibet’s many sacred lakes. It is especially sacred to Hindus, who have been walking around it for 2,000 years. Buddhists associate the lake with Maya, Buddha’s mother. Hindu and Buddhist cosmology believe that nearby Mount Kailash is the holy mountain and Manasarovar is the source of the Indus. Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali are the most significant rivers in Asia. Overnight in Manasarovar, Guesthouse (dorm bed)

Meals: Not Included

Enjoy the ride back leisurely. Our vehicle will stop along the trip for you to take photos.

Overnight in Saga, Guesthouse

Meals: Guesthouse

Enjoy the ride back leisurely. Our vehicle will stop along the trip for you to take photos.

Overnight in Shigatse (Meals: Breakfast Included)

Highlights: The Yarlung Tsangpo, Tibetan Incense Workshop in Nyemo

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive back to Lhasa along the friendship way, the northern route to Lhasa. Yarlung Tsangpo valley lies along the way. In Nyemo, you’ll have a chance to visit the Tibetan Incense Workshop. Nyemo County has a history of more than 1,000 years. This fragrant incense, except for sacrificial ceremonies, can prevent infectious diseases like flu and influenza. Its ingredients contain herbal medicines such as saffron, Sandalwood, Chinese Usnea, and borneol. Overnight in Lhasa

Meals: Breakfast

Your Mt Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour ends today. After breakfast, you will be free for the morning, at this time you will buy gifts for your family and friends. A private vehicle is a standby at your hotel to drop you at the airport.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

You will be departed after breakfast at the hotel. If you have a delayed flight, you can wander around the hotel and buy gifts for your relatives and friends. We will provide a private vehicle 3 hours earlier than your scheduled flight.

Meals: Breakfast