Tibet Highlights and Mt.Kailash Kora Trekking

Welcome to Lhasa, capital of the mystical Buddhist Kingdom of Tibet! On your arrival, our experienced guide & driver will greet you at the airport or train station. Then transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to relax and acclimate.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today you can appreciate the awe-inspiring Potala Palace in person. Yes! Check out Lhasa’s cardinal landmark by yourself not just getting sight of it on the travel news from TV or books. You will be enchanted as you visit the rooms, halls and chapels of the palace. At the top of the palace called golden roofs, you can have a bird-eye view of the whole of Lhasa. In the distance, there are undulating mountain ranges, the beautiful Lhasa River, tracts of fields, and tree-shaded villages.

Afternoon, visit Jokhang Temple, built in the mid-7th century AD. It is among the most sacred place for pilgrims all over the world, and features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, golden sutra streamers. You'll find that many Pilgrims pray before the monastery. Then proceed to the Barkhor Street, a famous local handmade crafts market. You can buy some souvenirs for your families or friends.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today you’ll explore Drak Yerpa first. Built on a hillside, it features small temples, shrines and over 80 meditation caves. Drak Yerpa seems to be a blend of the road, a cascade of small white buildings along steep overgrown cliffs. No word can say the beauty of Drak Yerpa perfectly except you come here and see in person. Afterwards, you will have a view of the Sera Monastery, one of the three most famous monasteries in Lhasa along with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery. You’ll attracted by the scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloth and unparalleled murals. Finally you will continue to visit the Tibet Museum. Not only to get a close chance to the Tibetan culture, but also to appreciate the traditional Tibetan architecture such as Tibetan doors, beam-decoration, patterns.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

After breakfast, you will be driven to Shigatse and then take a visit to the most famous scenic spot of Shigatse - Tashilhunpo Monastery. It was founded by the First Dalai Lama in 1447, and expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. This monastery houses the tombs of Panchen Lamas, beautiful Chortens decorated with gold and precious stones, as well as a Maitreya Bouddha statue 26 meters high.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

On this day, you will be driven to Saga. It may take you 9 hours (460 kilometers) to Saga from Shigatse. You will pass by beautiful plateau mountain sceneries, lakes, towns, nomad tents along the way.

Stay overnight in Saga

Today you will leave for Paryang from Saga. It’s about a 5-hour drive, near 280 kilometers. Along the way, you will see many wild animals and enjoy typical plateau scenery and landscape.

Stay overnight in Paryang

The sightseeing today will focus on a famous holy lake of Tibet - Lake Manasarovar. It is famed for its exceptional beauty, including its sapphire-blue waters, sandy shoreline and snowcapped-mountain backdrop. As the most venerated of Tibet’s many lakes, Lake Manasarovar is also a place of pilgrimage, attracting religious people from India, Nepal, Tibet and the neighboring countries.

Stay overnight in Manasarovar

Early-up to appreciate the beauty of Lake Manasarovar, then head to Darchen. Free time for you to relax and rest and prepare for next day trekking. such as prepare some additional foods, water or hire yaks and yak worker for your heavy luggage.

Stay overnight in Darchen

Trekking Route: Darchen to Dirapuk Monastery (5 hours)

Your adventurous trekking starts from Darchen, finding original appearance of West Tibet and experiencing genuine flavor of local customs. The sacred Mt. Kailash is waiting for you. Every year thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Kailash. They believe that circumambulating Mt. Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. It is a walk on holy ground. Move on to Dirapuk Monastery and camp nearby to get ready for tomorrow’s trekking.

Travel Tips
The tour is highlighted by picturesque landscape including prayer umbrellas, Marnyi Stone (stones engraved with the mantra or the Buddha), typical small Tibetan temple and primitive villages en route.

Trekking Route: Dirapuk Monastery to Zutulpuk Monastery (5 hours)

Today your challenge is to get over Drolma La Pass (5,630m), the highest point of the entire kora, where you can look south for your last glimpse of the north face of Kailsh. It takes near 5 hours trekking from Diarpuk Monastery to Zhtulpuk Monastery. This section is the best place to appreciate the scenery. After the ascent, you will experience a steep descent. Almost immediately, Gauri Kund Lake comes into view. Finally, after a long valley and river, you will reach the Zutulpuk.

Camping near Zhtulpuk Monastery

Trekking Route: Zutulpuk Monastery to Darchen

Your final day of trekking begins with the easy stroll down to where the river emerges onto the plain. The valley narrows and the prayer flags fluttering across the river. There is a rough road from here back to Darchen and it’s less then an hour’s walk.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

Travel Tips
1. Darchen is a favorable site to catch a glimpse of Mt. Naimonanyi, the fifth sacred mountain of the Himalayas with magnificent dawn and sunset views.
2. Due to the big temperature difference between day and night, at any moment you should pay attention to your dress in case of getting sick.
3. In Darchen, there are some small stores selling biscuit, beer, fast food and daily necessities, and some restaurants highlighted with Sichuan and Tibetan food.

Today you will head to Payang. It’s about a 6-hour drive. En route, you will appreciate beautiful natural landscape where herds of horses and cows wander leisurely, snowy mountains stand out against the grassland, ect.

Stay overnight in Paryang.

Today you will be driven to Saga. It’s about a 5-hour drive, near 280 kilometers. Along the way, you will see many wild animals and enjoy typical plateau scenery and landscape.

Stay overnight in Saga.

Drive back to Shigatse. It’s about 11 hours. And free time for the rest of the day.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

Palkhor Monastery is your first stop of this day, which is built in the 15th century. It is situated in the west of Gyantse Town with mountains enclosing from three sides of the east, west and north. In the Center of Palkhor Monastery, you can find the Kumbum Stupa – the most stunning architectural wonder in Tibet, whose name means “place of 100 Thousand Images”. The great pagoda is consisted of 9 tires, over 32 meters, and enjoys more than 77 chapels, shrines and chortens.

Then head to Yamdrok Lake. It name means “the jade lake in the upper pastureland” or “Swan Lake” in Tibetan and is an out flowing lake. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. Afterwards, take a look at the Karola Glacier, close to a highway in Tibet with an area of 9.4 square meters.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

See-off at the airport or train station of Lhasa for your home or next destination.