The Kailash trip begins from Lhasa with two days in the city for acclimatising with sightseeing. The tour includes visits to cultural heritage sites such as the Potala Palace, Norbulingka Palace, and other monasteries.
The tour then travels southward to Mt. Everest Base Camp, where the highest monastery is situated, and further reaches the holy lake Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash. Finally, after three days of circumambulation, you will drive back to Lhasa and fly home.
This Kailash trip covers most parts of central and western Tibet. On this tour, you can appreciate the architectural art, the unique tradition of Tibet, the Buddhist culture, and the natural beauty.
Lhasa Gongkar Airport (Google Map)
Upon arrival at the Lhasa Gongkar airport / Lhasa train station, our client will be warmly welcome our Tibetan local tour guide and the traditional Tibetan white scarf. Our Kailash trip is starting from then.
We were driving for about an hour from the airport to Lhasa. If you take the train to Lhasa, just a half-hour ride from the train station to the hotel.
After check-in at the hotel, the guide will be briefing on the tour itinerary for the next day. Therefore, we highly recommend that all travellers relax in the hotel on their first day in Tibet.
We will begin our visit from Jokhang Temple, one of the most sacred temples in Tibet, built in the 7th century by the 33rd king of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo.
“Jokhang” means the temple of the Buddha. The Jokhang temple was built to house the Shakyamuni statue brought to Tibet by the princess Brikuti Devi from Nepal.
After visiting the temple, you can explore the surrounding Barkhor Street and spend time walking around the Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau.
In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery, one of the three great monasteries of the Gelugpa school and attend the debating session of the monks, which is quite popular in Sera.
Today, we visit the stunning Potala Palace – the landmark of Lhasa and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala is the winter palace that was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. Provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels.
Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama.
Today is the scenic drive with breathtaking high passes and the holy lake. Driving along the Lhasa River till the Lhasa Airport, and we cross Kampa-la Pass [4797m] and then Karo-la Pass [5050m], where Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar [7206m] glacier lies near the road.
In the middle, we enjoy the unreal turquoise waters of the holy lake Yamdrok-Yumtso. Finally, we arrive at Gyantse town to visit the considered best Tibetan art paintings in Kumbum Stupa inside Pelkor Chode Monastery. Also, we admire the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) overlooking the valley.
Then we drive northwest to reach the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region – Shigatse. There, we visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama. Nowadays is the spiritual seat for the successive Panchen Lamas.
We highly recommend doing Kora around Tashilhunpo Monastery if times allow, having an incredible panoramic view of the valley and impressive Dzong (fortress).
The journey to the Rongbuk monastery involves crossing the Tso La (4700m) pass, Gyatso La (5220m) pass and Pang La (5150m) pass. Thus, driving 330km from Shigatse to Rongbuk Monastery takes about 5 hours.
You can enjoy the fantastic views of several peaks like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, and Mt. Everest from the top of the Pang-la pass (5150m).
It’s worth taking some pictures of the sunrise on Mt. Everest early morning, but the temperature can get freezing, so wear enough clothes to protect yourself from the extreme cold.
After breakfast, your guide will take you to visit the Rongbuk monastery – the highest monastery in the world and then drive to go west to Saga. On the way, you will have a close view of Mt. Shishabangma and the holy lake, Pekutso Lake.
Driving along the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) and the Himalayan chain continues over the 5100m high pass Mayum La to the holy lake Mansarovar.
Manasarovar is one of the sacred lakes where the Hindu pilgrims usually take a dip in the water before the Kailash kora because it is said that it would purify the sins after immersing in the lake.
Crossing Mayum La pass, you will see for the first time the summit pyramid of Mt. Kailash after the long drive from Lhasa. The top highlight of our Tibet trip.
Today we have almost half a day of free time at Lake Mansarovar for Poja, and are enjoying the view of Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.
Then, just 30 30-minute hike up to the Chiu monastery. The master Padmasambhava meditated for 7 days and 7nights in the 8th century, which is impossible to miss because this hike is ideal for the strenuous Kailash Kora exceeding the 5627m high Dolma La pass.
After lunch, we drive about an hour to Darchen and start to prepare for the big day. Some groups are going up to Zanda county for an extra two-day Guge kingdom tour.
The trip’s Highlight is three days of conversion (52km) of the sacred Mt. Kailash. The trek starts today, and 8 km after leaving Darchen, we reach the spot Tarpoche, the giant flag pole in honour of Buddha at the entrance to Kora, where the potters and Yaks were waiting for the guests too.
The walk for today is easy as it ascends to the altitude of 4800m – Dirapuk Monastery. From there, we have the best and most beautiful view of the north face of Mt. Kailash.
Today we set out from Dirapuk Monastery early morning to reach the top of the Dolma La pass before sunrise, 6km ascending to the Dolma La pass, and a descent of 4km is the most challenging part of the whole trek.
After that, the trek route is more or less flat and down for 10km to reach Zutrulpuk Monastery, the cave where Milarepa reside.
After breakfast, we visit the Zutrulpuk monastery – the cave of wonders where the Yogi Milarepa once meditated. The distance is only 12km to Darchen and is the easiest part of the trek. Having lunch in Darchen, we drive back to Saga.
Drive the same route back to Shigatse.
Drive back to Lhasa through the 318 Friendship Highway along the Brahmaputra River.
Our Kailash trip with the Everest Base Camp Tibet tour officially ends today. So have a safe journey after that.
A Life Time Journey
A lifetime journey in Tibet, 17 days from the East, Lhasa, to the West, Zanda, with a deviation to Everest North face Basecamp and the highlight three-day pilgrimage at Mount Kailash. Besides the magnificent Monasteries and breathtaking sceneries, our highly knowledgeable, caretaker, informative and professional guide, Norbu, made this journey memorable and unique. Many thanks to him, who made this lifetime journey an unforgettable and impressive experience.
