15 Day Mount Kailash Kora

Our 15-Day group tour journey through central and western Tibet will allow you to see just about everything that Tibet has to offer. You will start by exploring the holy city of Lhasa for three days. You will begin by rubbing shoulders with thousands of Buddhist pilgrims as you work your way through the Jokhang, Tibet’s most famous temple.

From there, you will explore Barkhor Square, Sera Monastery, and the Potala Palace, Tibet’s most iconic building.

From Lhasa, you will then journey through central Tibet to Yamdrok Lake, the Karo La Glacier, Gyantse, and Shigatse’s Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. You will then make your way tour to explore the little-visited region of Ngari in far western Tibet. This fantastic landscape is home to Lake Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash.

The 3-day trek around Mt. Kailash will undoubtedly be a highlight! From western Tibet, you will then make the journey back to Lhasa, where the tour will conclude.

Price:

2,200 USD per person

Notes:

Below the price is two people sharing one room. If Travelers prefer to have a separate room, the cost is 350 US dollars extra.

Tour Type: 15-Day Big Size Group Tour

Group Size: Minimum 6 People and Maximum 12 People

Tour Duration: 15 Days

Price: 2,100 USD

View Included

All travel permits for Tibet
English speaking Tibetan tour guide
Pick up and drop off by airport bus
All transportation in Tibet per itinerary, a vehicle for the trip outside of Lhasa, taxis inside Lhasa
Vehicle tolls and vehicle repairs(if necessary)
All administrative fees
All meals and accommodations for your guide
All lodging listed in the itinerary; If you travel individually, you will need to share one room with another tourist; while if you prefer to stay in one room by yourself, you will have to pay the single room supplement
Breakfast each morning
Entrance fees for the places listed in the itinerary
One time welcome meal for the group
One box of mineral water plus shared
Oxygen tank in the car

View Excluded

Transportation costs to and from Tibet
Chinese visa fees and passport fees
Lunch and dinner
Personal expenses (laundry, photography fees, souvenirs, etc)
Tips to the driver and guide

Day1. Lhasa Arrival [3650m]

Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be welcomed by your English-speaking Tibetan Guide and Tibetan Driver who will bring you to your hotel. Acclimatization to high altitude: please, drink lots of water and take plenty of rest in order to minimize altitude sickness.

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

Day2. Lhasa Sightseeing

We begin visiting Jokhang Temple, the most sacred monastery in Tibet. It was founded in the 7th century by the first great Buddhist king Songtsen Gampo. Later you can explore the surrounding Barkhor old quarter and spend time walking around Jokhang Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau. In the afternoon we go to Sera Monastery, one of the three great universities of Gelugpa Sect. We will attend the debating session of the monks.

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

(B)=breakfast

Day3. Lhasa Sightseeing

Today we visit the beautiful Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala Palace 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 staterooms, and chapels. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama. It’s a tradition to do a picnic in its beautiful garden and perform opera dances during Shoton Festival (August-September).

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

(B)=breakfast

Day4. Lhasa – Shigatse [354Km, 3840m]

Morning drive up to Kampala pass [4794m], you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso and spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance, the turquoise-colored Lake Yamdrok Yutso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, the unforgettable vista of the pincer-shaped turquoise water of the lake and amazing spectacle of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier from Karo la pass is wonders of the day.

We visit the Ralung monastery, which was once the biggest Buddhist college in Tibet and home of many great Tibetan Yogis from the Drukpa Kagyu sect including Jetsun Ling Repa, Jetsun Tsangpa Gyare, Jetsun Tsang Nyon, Jetsun U Nyon, Jetsun Drukpa Kunley. They are no tourists and sometimes not even locals so Ralung monastery is one of the most peaceful monasteries with beautiful landscape.

Then along the Friendship southern Hwy drive to Gyantse, visit the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Late afternoon travel to Shigatse with a driving duration of 1 hour 10 minutes through the beautiful farming culture in Tibet.

Overnight at 4-star Gesar hotel

(B)=breakfast

Day5. Shigatse – Sakya monastery - Lhatse [200Km, 4300m]

Today we will visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery in the morning and the guide will make his/her time to obtain the ATP permit from the local PSB, Tashi Lhunpo monastery is one of the largest monasteries in the southern Tibet

From Shigatse drive to Lhatse for the night, en route we will drive off the main road to Sakya monastery which is located in a small village, this area and monastery have a different architectural designs and colors. Sakya monastery was an important scholastic study center in the 13th century and under the leadership of Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen, Sakyapa ruled Tibet for decades during that period of time.

Overnight in 2-star hotel

(B)=breakfast

Day6. Lhatse – Saga [340Km, 4500m]

After breakfast, travel to Saga via Namring town and the view of Namring Lake. Travelers will witness the start point beauties of western Tibet's vast grassland area.

Saga is one of the bigger towns near western Tibet. The journey is around 340km with a driving duration of 5-6 hours.

Overnight in Saga hotel

(B)=breakfast

Day7. Saga – Darchin [490Km, 4556m]

Today we enter the semi-nomadic regions of Tibet’s far west. We will enjoy the authentic Tibetan landscapes during this long drive journey through the biggest and highest plateau in the world. We follow Yarlung Tsampo River West (also called the Brahmaputra in India) until the lake Manasarovar, one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet. Hindus believe that whoever bathes in it will clean all their sins and provide good karma. Drive 30km to Darchin.

Overnight at the guesthouse (dorm bed without bathroom)

Breakfast

Day8. Trek To Dira-Puk Monastery [20Km, 5-6h, 5050m]

Today our trek starts from Darchen town and traces the small trail in the clockwise circuit around Mount Kailash at an average altitude of 4700 m with a duration of 20 km.

You will pass by many local Buddhist pilgrims doing kora along your way and several Bon pilgrims in the anti-clockwise direction.

After the 4hours trek, we will reach Tamdin(4780m) where nomadic tents serve simple lunches and boil water. From there it is only 4 km to Dirapuk monastery but between these stretches has some of the best scenery of the entire kora.

Dirapuk was rebuilt in 1985 located on the north side of the Lha-Chu River facing the north face of Mt. Kailash. Dirapuk's name originally comes from the word Dira that means female yak horn and Puk means cave that in a mythical story says a female yak opened the cave.

Overnight at Dirapuk guesthouse ( No private bathroom / No shower )

Breakfast

Day9. Trek To Zutul Puk Monastery, [18Km, 6-8h, 4820m]

Today is the most challenging part of the trek where we will cross two passes, though they are not too steep, the altitude is the main reason for tiring and slow, the duration is 18 km and the altitude is 4790 m

After we cross Dikpyala 5000 m & Dromala 5500 m, the passes are remarked by heaps of prayer flags and Cairns.

Spending some minutes on the pass to view and relax is worth it, as you are on the backside of Mt. Kailash, and offers a great view of Mount Kailash.

After the pass, you will hike down into the long valley and stop lunch at Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent.

Zuktrulpuk monastery 4790 m, also known as miracle cave is built by two Religious figures Buddhist Jetsun Milarepa and Bon Jetsun Naro Bonchung.

You can witness the spiritual beauties footprint and handprint of Jetsun Milarepa inside the meditation cave.

Overnight at the guesthouse (No private bathroom/ No shower)

Breakfast

Day10. Trek To Darchen - Lake Manasarovar [14Km, 3-4h]

Today is the easiest day of the trek, the duration is 14 km from Zutrulpuk monastery to Darchen town. No any climbing up, it's all hiking at an almost flat altitude of around 4500m

After arriving at Darchen town, drive to Lake near the Chiu Bird monastery for the night.

Overnight at the guesthouse (No private bathroom/ No shower)

Breakfast

Day11. Spent A Free Day At Lake Manasarovar

Today you will spend a free day at Lake Manasarovar to explore the lake and relax after the trek around Mount Kailash.

Overnight in Guesthouse ( No private bathroom / No Shower)

Breakfast

Day12. Lake Manasarovar Saga

After spending the morning at Lake Manasarovar exploring the lake, we will drive to Saga town. The duration is around 400km. On the way, we will stop for photos of sand dunes and beautiful nature.

Overnight at the guesthouse (No private bathroom/ No shower)

Breakfast

Day13. Saga Shigatse

Saga is one of the bigger towns near the Mount Kailash region. From Saga, we will drive to Namring town via the northern route enjoying the beautiful landscape.

Overnight at 4 star Gesar Hotel

Breakfast

Day14. Shigatse – Lhasa [272Km]

Today you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama. Nowadays seat of the Panchen Lama. We recommend doing Kora around Tashilhunpo Monastery. Also, you can walk around the local market. After driving back to Lhasa through the southern friendship highway.

Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple

(B)=breakfast