15 Days Tibet Mt. Kailash Trekking Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Lhasa Arrival

   Upon your arrival in Lhasa, your driver and guide will pick you up and transfer you to the downtown hotel for check-in. Free and easy on your own for rest of the day to acclimate to the high altitude.

   Accommodation: Lhasa

2. Day 2: Lhasa City Tour
   Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

   Today, visit Potala Palace first, a majestic architectural treasure of Lhasa including the White Palace and the Red Palace. Then head for the holy Jokhang Temple, with a fusion of Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese, and Indian architectural styles. Take a walk along the old Barkhor Street, where you could get a taste of Tibetan people's life and their faith.

   

   If time permits, you could visit the Tibetan Handicraft Art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine Center with your guide, or enjoy an evening Tibetan cultural performance (at your own expense).

   Accommodation: Lhasa

3. Day 3: Barkhor Street
   Dadong Village, Sera Monastery

   In the morning, go to visit Dadong Village, a traditional Tibetan village with no tourists there, then visit a Tibetan family in the village, and experience the local lives.

   

   After a simple Tibetan family lunch, move forward to Sera Monastery, where the debate about Buddhism is always a necessary activity to see.

   Accommodation: Lhasa

4. Day 4: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse
   Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Monastery

   Today, drive 360 km from Lhasa to Shigatse. Along the way, visit one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, Yamdrok Lake, surrounded by many snow-capped mountains; admire the spectacular view of Karola Glacier on the roadside; hang a prayer flag at Simila Mountain Pass.

   

   Continue to drive to Gyantse to admire Pelkor Monastery with a mixed architectural style of Han, Tibetan, and Nepal, and Gyantse Kumbum, highlighting the structure of "tower upon tower". Then drive 1.5 hours to Shigatse.

   Accommodation: Shigatse

5. Day 5: Shigatse - Everest Base Camp
   Tashilunpo Monastery, Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve

   You'll be accompanied to the Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest Gelug Monastery in Shigatse and the traditional residence of Panchen Lamas. Then drive to Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve and en route, you could have lunch at Lhatse Town at your own expense and get an awesome panoramic view of the central Himalayas at Gawu La Pass.

   

   Accommodation: Rongbuk Monastery guesthouse or Everest Base Camp

6. Day 6: Everest Base Camp - Saga
   Sunrise View of Mount Everest, Turquoise Lake Peiku-tso

   Get up early to enjoy the gorgeous sunrise view of Mount Everest if the weather is good. After breakfast, have a view of Mt.Shishapangma (the 14th highest mountain in the world) as well as Turquoise Lake Peiku-tso (the largest lake in Shigatse) on the way to Saga. The whole journey is about 450km.

   Accommodation: Kashgar

   

7. Day 7: Saga - Darchen
   Mayomla Pass

   You have an opportunity to see the beautiful Saga Valley covered with green meadows. Cross the Mayomla Pass and shoot the splendid view of Mt. Naimonanyi. Keep driving to the southern foot of Mt.Kailash via Lake Manasarover, the most transparent freshwater lake in China.

   Accommodation: Darchen

   

8. Day 8: Darchen - Drirapuk
   Sarshung Valley, Drirapuk Monastery, Droma La Pass

   Take a bus from Darchen to Sarshung Valley where you will start today's trek. Hike 13km along the Lachu Valley and river, admiring the mysterious natural beauty along the way, and finally reach Drirapuk Monastery, which is located at the "big turn" on the back of Mount Kailash. It's an important post for visitors or pilgrims to rest before they walk onto the Droma La Pass.

   Note: You can hire a porter or a yak to carry your luggage for an extra fee if you need it.

   Accommodation: Guesthouse

   

9. Day 9: Drirapuk - Dzutrpuk
   Kora - Droma La Pass, Zutul Puk Monastery

   Today is the most challenging day of trekking over the highest pass of Kora - Droma La Pass (5,630m). You have to be careful with every step and the paths can be slippery at any time, especially at such a high altitude area. En route, have a rest in a relaxing tea house. At last, you will arrive at Zutul Puk Monastery and stay overnight there.

   Accommodation: Guesthouse

   

10. Day 10: Dzutripuk - Darchen
    Lake Manasarovar

    On the third day of the Mt.Kailash trekking tour, you'll hike 7km to Zongto. Along the way, you can see piles of Mani stones, engraved with exquisite Tibetan characters and patterns. The hike ends around noon and you can have a good rest. From Zongto, take a 7-km bus ride to Darchen.

    If you're interested, we can arrange for you to enjoy hot springs in Lake Manasarovar at your own expense.

    Accommodation: Darchen

    

11. Day 11: Darchen - Saga

    Drive about 450km to Saga by Lake Mansarovar.

    Accommodation: Saga

12. Day 12: Sga - Sakya

    Keep driving 350km to Sakya.

    Accommodation: Sakya

13. Day 13: Dzutripuk - Darchen
    Sakya Monastery

    The guide will lead you to Sakya Monastery, which houses a great number of important artifacts. Looking super spectacular, the monastery is surrounded by high black-colored walls with watchtowers on all four corners. After the visit, we'll drive to Shigatse.

    Accommodation: Shigatse

    

14. Day 14: Shigatse - Lhasa
    Yalong River

    Today we drive back to Lhasa along the Yalong Valley. The driver will make a few stops for you to admire the magnificent Yalong River. If time permits, you can visit the Water Mill grinding raw materials for making the incense.

    Accommodation: Lhasa

    

15. Day 15: Lhasa Departure

    After breakfast, your driver will escort you to Lhasa airport for departure.

    Accommodation: N/A