Once your flight or train arrives at Lhasa airport or train station. Our guide will be waiting for you there. If you take flight into Lhasa, please go out to the entrance of the parking lot where your guide will be waiting for you. Should you take the train in, you will meet our guide once you come out of the train station and get to the plaza. The guide will always hold your name sign or other placard your travel consultant tells you. The rest of the day is at your own to wander around or just rest to acclimatize.
This mystic tour begins with the visit to the Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. It is a wonder of architecture built on the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley with the White and Red Palace as its wings. The view of the iconic palace will long stay with you. Heading to the Jokhang Temple, which is the most scared shrine in Tibet. This temple was originally built to hold two statues brought here by Songtsen Gampo's Nepalese wife and the other wife Princess Wencheng from Tang Dynasty. You can see many pilgrims do the prostration in from of the temple. After that, you can join in the locals or pilgrims to do the Barkhor Circuit in a clockwise direction. Afterwards stroll on the narrow streets of Lhasa old town to meet local people and visit their markets. Overnight in Lhasa.
Potala Palace
Jokhang Temple
Drive about 8km west of central Lhasa, we come to the Drepung Monastery, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains. Drepung is one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries. Later after lunch, witness the Buddhist doctrines debating session at Sera Monastery. With golden roofs and whitewashed walls, this fifteenth-century monastery is one of the six great Gelukpa sect academies in Tibet. Overnight in Lhasa.
Drepung Monastery
Sera Monastery
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 Lake Yamdrok Tso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, the unforgettable vista of pincer-shaped turquoise water of the lake and amazing spectacle of Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar glacier from Karo la pass are the wonders of the day. Far in the distance you’ll spot the towering massif Mt. Nojin Kangtsang [7191m], and the staggering Karo-la Glacier [5045m]. Then drive to Gyantse, we will visit the Pelkhor Monastery and the famous stupa - Gyantse Kumbum, one of the most stunning architectural wonders in Tibet. Drive another 90km to Shigatse.
Yamdrok Lake
Gyantse Kumbum
Today, we first have an exploration to the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the spectacular tombs of Panchen Lamas in Shigatse. Then drive westwards along the Friendship highway heading to Everest Base Camp. If the weather is good, on the top of the Gyalpo-la pass you can see 4 of the highest mountains over 8000 meters (Mt. Everest; Mt. Makalu; Mt. Lotse; Mt. Cho Oyu) in the world at the same time, what a great picture. Before reaching EBC, we will firstly see the Rongbuk Monastery that is the highest monastery in the world. Tonight, you can either stay overnight in the tent guesthouse or the Rongbuk Guesthouse (dorm bed, share room with other tourists).
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Rongbuk Monastery
In the morning, if weather is good, you can choose to wake up early to appreciate the stunning sunrise of Mt. Everest. Passing by the Peikutso Lake and leaving behind the breathtaking views of the snow-capped Shishapangma, you will come to the small town-Saga. You might find many dogs on this street. Be careful with the dogs to avoid unexpectable bite.
Everest Base Camp
Peikutso Lake
Starting from Saga, we will firstly come to Zhongba, the last county in Shigatse area before we enter Nagari district. It is an area with extremely serious geological desertification. You can see heaps of desert everywhere. Forward to Lake Manasarovar, one of the holiest lakes in Tibet and the world’s highest fresh water lake. Spend some time here to adore the beauty of the lake. In summer, you might see flocks of swans gathering on the lake, bringing life and harmony to this land. Drive to Darchen, a small town in the foot of Mt. Kailash, the starting point of the Kailash Kora.
Lake Manasarovar
Darchen
In 2025, Saga Dawa falls on June 11th. From Darchen, we will take the green car and drive 7kms to Sershong village where we will start our kora. Before that, you might need to rent horse, yak or porters to carry your belongings. Before the trekking, we will come to the Tarboch Flag Pole, one of the most essential facets of Tibetan spirituality. Here is the site for the Saga Dawa Festival. Today this giant flagpole which has multitudinous prayer flags on it will be pulled down and replaced with new flags. There are many pilgrims coming for this big ceremony. After joining the ceremony, trek along the Lha-chu River and valley, we head to our destination today, Dirapuk Monastery. On the way, we can see occasionally the west and north face of Mount Kailash.
Saga Dawa Festival at Mt. Kailash
Darchen
We will climb up to the Dolmala pass which is at an elevation of 5640m. It is the hardest part of the three days’ Kora considering all the climbing and strong wind. Be prepared with plenty water and some snacks. You can also find some teahouses to drink some tea or restore your energy. Our trekking ends till we come to Zutulpuk Monastery. According to the legend, it was built by Milarepa as a shelter from the rain.
Dolmala Pass
Kailash Kora
The locals always do the kora in 1 or 2 days. We normally extend it to 3 days to make it possible to finish for tourists. Just some easy trekking will take us back to Darchen late this morning or at noon. Afterwards, we'll drive to Saga and spend the night there.
Kailash Kora
Kailash Kora
Today, we drive to Gyirong town. You'll have time to rest and have a chance to have a leisure time in this beautiful town.
Today we drive back to Tingri. You might sit back and have a good rest or enjoy the view of the vast land of western Tibet. Overnight at the hotel in Tingri.
Note: For those who like to head to Kathmandu, we drive to Gyirong border and exit the custom this morning.
We head for Shigatse, which has a history dating back to 600 years ago and it serves as the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the spiritual leaders in Tibet. Today, we'll visit Sakya Monastery en route.
Today, we drive back to Lhasa along the northern friendship way, marvelous landscapes and sceneries along the Brahmaputra River will accompany you all the way back to Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa.
Airport and train station send off will be arranged today. Thanks for traveling with GoToTibet.
| 15 Days Lhasa-Mount Everest-Mount Kailash-Lhasa | 2100 USD/person |
| 12 Days Lhasa-Mount Everest-Mount Kailash-Kathmandu | 1850 USD/person |
Potala Palace
Mt. Everest
Yamdrok Lake
Sera Monastery
Namtso Lake
Mt. Kailash
From Mr. Gerard AdrienHi Daniel. We are already on our way back to Shanghai. We would like to thank you for the great trip we had. Our guide Jampa and our driver did an excellent job. They are both very recommendable! We enjoyed the trip despite the altitude discomfort we experienced during the first 3 days. Thank you!
From Ms. Elena Maria ValisiI highly recommend this agency. I travelled with other 2 couples who booked through different agencies and they paid a lot more to have less assistance, same hotels/tour/guide/car, less flexibility and no travel insurance included.
