This tour will bring you all the way through western Tibet to Mt. Kailash. After crossing the plateau, we will stay at Lake Manasarova, the “Ocean within Mountains.” Upon arriving at Mt. Kailash, we will relax our legs, and start our three days journey around the holy mountain by foot or on horseback, following the pilgrims and listening to their prayer songs. We will visit Shigatse, one of the largest and most powerful monasteries in ancient Tibet. The way back to Lhasa leads us through small villages, curvy country roads, narrow gorges and the King of all Mountains: Mount Everest. 50 kilometers on an unpaved road will bring us to the Everest Base Camp, where we will have a magnificent view on the highest mountain on Earth.

 

 

Tour Overview:

Date: On request
Price: On request
Highlights / Route: Chengdu – Lhasa – Xigatze (Shigatse) – Lhatse – Saga – Manasarovar-See – 3-day Kailash-Hike – Zhongba – Gyirong – Everest Basislager – Sakya – Lhasa
Length: ~ 2200 Km
Duration : 16 days
Style / Character: Adventure Tour with a 3-day hike
Media:
Vehicles: 4×4, SUV, Van, Bus

 

 

 

 

Daily itinerary for Holy Mount Kailash Tour

Day Route: Description
1

Arrival in Lhasa:

Transfer to the hotel and dinner in the following evening. Afterwards, there will be a short orientation in Lhasa.

2

Acclimatization and sightseeing day in Lhasa:

We will visit the Potala Palace and the Norbulingka summer palace of the Dalai Lama. In the afternoon, we will have time for the Bharkor Market.

 
3

Lhasa – Shigatse:

On our first day we will pass by the stunning lake Yamdrok and the Palcho Monastery in Gyantse before we reach Shigatse, host to one of the largest monasteries in Tibet, Tashilhunpo.

[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 5h

 
4

Shigatse – Lhatse:

150 kilometers from Shigatse is the old town of Lhatse. In Lhaste we take a walk up to the ancient fort of Lhatse Dzong from where we have a view of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world and slightly longer than the Grand Canyon in the United States.

[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 2 1/2h

 
5

Lhatse – Saga:

Today, the road leads us over the immense Tibetan highland plateau, grassland, nomad people, and the vast horizon
[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 6h

 
6

Saga – Lake Manasarovar:

We ride further through the windswept high plateau to be among the small villages and herds of grazing yaks. After conquering 5,200-meter high Mayum La Pass, we will have the first sight of Holy Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. When reaching the lake we will visit on lake shore to enjoy the view.

[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 7h

 
7

Manasarovar – Dirapuk:

Early in the morning we will ride to Darchen at the base of Mt. Kailash from where we begin the trek. After leaving our motorbikes behind, we will gradually ascend and trek 5-6 hours up to Dirapuk (4,860m). We will stay overnight near  Mt. Kailash. Those who don´t feel fit to continue can descend the next day back to Darchen and rest there. There will be an overnight stay in either a monastery or a nomad yurt.

 
8

Dirapuk – ZuthulPuk:

From Dirapuk we trek up to 5,636m high Dolma La. On the way, Tibetan pilgrims leave personal items behind to symbolize that nobody is able to take material things into the next life. From here we descend again and stay in ZuthulPuk. Our longest trekking day takes between 8 and 9 hours. There will be an overnight stay in either a monastery or a nomad yurt

 
9

ZuthulPuk – Darchen:

Our way back to Darchen leads us over green meadows and along small water streams, mostly downhill, trekking between 4 and 5 hours.

 
10

Rest day in Darchen:

We take the best hotel the village has to offer to relay one full day and watch the pilgrims worship their holy mountain. There will be a day excursion to Lake Manasarovar for those in the mood of more holy sites.

 
11  

Darchen – Zhongba:

We take part of the road back to Zhongba where we stay overnight.
[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 5h

 
12

Zhongba – Gyirong:

This minor road leads us along the Yarlung Zangbo river, small villages, and snowcapped 6,000-meter high mountains.

icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 7h

 
13

Gyirong – Mt. Everest Base Camp:

After leaving the Friendship Highway and riding 50 kilometers on an unpaved road, we will arrive at the Mt. Everest Base Camp and have a stunning view on the world´s highest mountain. From Base Camp, depending on view condition, we will either take a bus or hike up in the afternoon or the next morning to the spot to enjoy the view.

[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 9h

 
14

 Mt. Everest Base Camp – Sakya:

The small village of Sakya, with its high walls around the monastery (some call it the Great Wall of Tibet) and the smoke filled interior, is our last stop before heading back to Lhasa.
[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 7h

 
15

 Sakya – Lhasa:

From Sakya we head further north through small farming valleys to the southern Friendship Highway and back to Lhasa.
[icon color=”#3f3f3f” size=”20px” target=”_blank” name=”moon-stopwatch”] 8h

 
16

All good things come to an end:

Our adventure ends after breakfast in Lhasa. Here you have the chance to stay several more days in and around Lhasa by yourself or with a Tibetan guide (as prescribed by law).

 

Included Services:

Overnights stays in hotels and guest houses
English speaking tour guide
Vehicle
Meals (Breakfast, lunch), mineral water
Help with applying a Chinese visa

 

Kailash Mountain is sacred to four religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Bon (Shamanism religion of Tibet, Hinduism, and Jain.) Tibetan Buddhists see Kailash as the center of the universe, Bôns venerate the mountain as the soul of the region and as the origin of their religion, the Jains believe that their founder, Rishabanatha, received enlightenment at the top of the mountain, while Hindus see it as the home of Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims go to Mount Kailash and do the kora: walk around the Kailash mountain in a clockwise direction while the böns walk in the other direction.