15 Days Kailash Pilgrimage Small Group Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, local tour guide will welcome you at the airport/train station, then transfer the guests to the hotel. Acclimatize the high altitude in the hotel.

Day 2: Lhasa City, Potala Place and Barkhor Street (B,D).

The tour will begin from UNESCO World Heritage site - Potala Palace, which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.

Then continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Next to the temple there is Bakhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry.

Day 3: Monasteries in Lhasa, Drepung and Sera (B).

In the morning, tourists are going to visit Drepung monastery which was one of the “three greet” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace.

Afternoon, Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three great” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.

Day 4: Lhasa – Gyantse - Shigatse (B)

Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. Admire the Gampala pass (4790 m) on the way, and get a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Then continue to drive west towards Gyantse. In Gyantse, tourists will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum. After one and a half hour's drive, clients will arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet.

Day 5: Shigatse-Everest Base Camp (B)

Drive to Lhatse where tourists can take lunch. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery,Then drive to Shegar and if the weather is clear enough, tourists can view the Mt. Everest in the distance on the way back down. After 4 to 6 hours, arrive at Rongbuk monastery, but on the way there, clients will pass Pang la Pass, one of the highest passes in Tibet at 5050m. From that pass, enjoy view all of the five highest peaks in the world.

Day 6: EBC - Saga

Drive to Saga，in the morning,we can enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits; then As we head to saga, you can view of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m), and  Turquoise Lake Peiku tso(4590m).

Day 7: Saga to Darchen, via Lake Manasarover

On the way to Darchen, you will have a chance to appreciate the stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, the beautiful grassland and local's villages can also be seen. As we cross the Mayomla Pass(5112M), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694M).  Then we are supposed to pass by the holy Lake Manasarover and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt.Kailash, the most holy mountain in Tibet. 

Day 8: Darchen-Drirapuk

In the morning, we are supposed to take eco-bus from Darchen to Sarshung valley. Then we will meet Yaks and porters at Sarshung village. (the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package) After that, we can begain the trek (Around 13km) from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu valley and rivers. You can enjoy the both west and north face of mountain Kailash today. Finally, we will visit Drirapuk Monastery. 

Day 9: Drirapuk-Dzutrpuk

Today, we will trek over  Dromala pass(5630m), the highest pass of the Kora. On the way you can have a rest in a teahouse. All the way, you can see locals Tibetans prostrating in the Kora path and beautiful Kadoe Lake when walk downhill. We may also visit Zutulpuk Monastery. 

Day 10: Dzutripuk-Darchen 

On the day three of the kora. you will trek 7km to Zongto where you can take bus to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. We will end the Trek around noon, rest in the lodging place.

Day 11: Darchen-Saga 

Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasorova

Day 12: Saga to Sakya

Drive from Saga to Sakya

Day 13: Sakya to Shigatse 

In the morning, we will visit ancient Sakya town and you can tour Sakya monastery with amzing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues.Then  we are abou to drive from Sakya to Shigatse. 

Day 14: Shigatse-Lhasa  (B).

We will follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa. On the way, you can stand on the viewing platform to view the vast Yalong River bed and visit Water Mill making Tibetan Incense material (in Summer, if time permits). Drop off at hotel in Lhasa.

Day 15: Depart from Lhasa (B).

Transfer clients to the airport or train station.

Flexibility of Tour Itinerary

The tour is also available for tourists who start in Lhasa and end in Kyilong border, so if the group has members to exit Tibet from Kyilong, we will see them off at the Sino-Nepal border, thus the itinerary from the Day 11 will be done with a small detour like following, with one extra destination Kyilong Valley, which is considered the most beautiful green valley at the foot of of Himalaya Mountain Range.