DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive Lhasa (3660 m)
You have 2 options to arrive in Lhasa, you can join the trip in Kathmandu and fly to Lhasa or arrive in Lhasa from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian or any Chinese Cities. (Please see option detail on ‘general information’ section)
You will be met at Gongkar Airport by your Tibetan guide. After immigration formalities, we'll take a 1.5-hour drive along 93 km road leading to Lhasa lying at an altitude of 3660 meters. It’s advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa’s altitude.
Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Foremost, your tour begins with a visit to SERA MONASTERY. An experienced tour guide, also working as an interpreter, escorts you to this preserved monastery of white-washed walls and golden roofs. Equally adventurous and exciting tempo builds up while touring NORBULINGKA, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. JOKHANG TEMPLE is another important sacred site which unravels more deep seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit to BARKHOR MARKET can be quite a change from other visits as you roam around the city savoring every tiny detail from stall hawkers coaxing their clients to purchase their goods to exhibition of Tibetan culture, custom and tradition. Eventually, the tour for the day concludes as you return to the comforts of your hotel.
Day 3 Sightseeing in Lhasa
Like the previous day, you experience invaluable insights during your visits to POTALA PALACE and DREPUNG MONASTERY. This 17th century POTALA PALACE offers an awesome view of entire city and also has private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels. Ancient history has it that Drepung Monastery which was built in 14th century used to shelter around 10,000 monks but as now there has been quite a declination resulting in only few hundreds. Tibetans’ respect and belief are immensely knotted with this monastery.
NOTE: A restricted number of tourists are allowed to visit the Potala Palace each day. The order of visits could be modified by your guide to ensure a visit to every sights of Lhasa included in our services.
Day 4 Free day in Lhasa
On this day, you will be able to go shopping, relax at the hotel and keep exploring this magnificient city.
Day 5 Drive to Gyantse (3950m)
Following Friendship Highway, you drive past Khamba La at 4794 meter with a brief halt to savor majestic views of Yamdrok-tso Lake and Nazin Kang Sa standing proud at 7252m. On turning westwards, you come across another Karo La pass at 5045m. If you glance at the road, you can see huge glaciers tumbling down into the road. After hours of driving for 261 km, beautifully landscaped Tibetan villages become visible as you enter the town of Gyantse.
Day 6 Sightseeing & drive to Shigatse (3900m)
Gyantse prides on GYANTSE DZONG and KUMBUM. Gyantse Dzong is a historical fort built in the 14th century and overlooks a mesmerizing view of entire Gyantse and surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. Kumbum has large gold-domed stupa and houses several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals. After you enjoy exploring Gyantse, you will take a 90 km drive to Shigatse. Having driven to an altitude of 3900 meter, you find yourself at Shigatse, second largest city of Tibet. TASHILHUNPO MONASTERY being one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet is a major attraction of Shigatse.
Day 7 Drive to Lhatse (4050m)
Today you continue along the Friendship Highway to Lhaste. 157 km drive finally concludes at a small dusty town of Lhaste. Good restaurants, well-resourced shops and guesthouses are available in Lhatse. This place may arouse special interest in archeologists. You can spot many ruined dzongs and small Changmoche Monastry at the west end of the town. You meet your Sherpa cooking team from Nepal here, they cook and do camping chores from this point onwards.
Day 8 Drive Sasang.
A long but a scenic drive through grassy riverside takes us to our campsite at Tsochen.
Day 9 Drive to Tsochen from Sasang.
Heading away from Sasang, you drive for 355 km towards Tsochen. The trail continues along grass-strewn riverside. Hugging onto the fascinating environment amidst amazing natural vistas, you make your way to a suitable campsite where you will spend the night.
Day 10 Drive Tsochen – Gertse 268km
The trail undulates past thick verdant hills. As the drive progresses a little further, amazing views of towering snow-capped peaks zoom into vision. Further ahead, a wide plain sprawls over. Thereon, you continue driving for another 84 km. Eventually, the trail ends after reaching Gertse. Camping in Gertse gives you ample of opportunity to bask in the splendor of surrounding beauty and Gertse’s cultural richness.
Day 11 Drive Gertse- Gakyi 373 km
As you continue driving towards Gakyi away from Gertse, the trail wedges its way past a pass. Overlooking a scenically mesmerizing sight, the trail cuts through a wide valley en route to Gakyi. You spend the night at a fascinating campsite.
Day 12 Drive Gakyi – Shiquanhe 112 km
112 km scenic drive from Gakyi to Shiquanhe follows the trail running along
Indus River. As Shiquanhe comes into sight, you will witness some positive influences of modernization upon this town. Houses seen in the town are of modern contemporary styles. After indulging in some interesting sightseeing, you will look out for suitable campsite to overnight.
Day 13 Drive Shiquanhe – Tsada (Guge Kingdom) 295 km
Leaving Shiquanhe, you continue driving parallel to the Indus River. Few kilometers down the road, a small pristine hamlet springs into picture. The trail further crisscrosses a succession of pass and finally near Tsada, the Guge Kingdom. On finding a perfect site, you set your camp for overnighting.
Day 14 Excursion Guge Kingdom
Your guide takes you on an exciting excursion around the Guge Kingdom. This tenth century kingdom oozes ancient history of Tibet. With the passage of centuries, Guge Kingdom had to bear several ruins which as evidence lie atop a hill near a river encompassing an area of 180,000 square meters. Numerous monasteries, houses, cave dwellings and stupas nestled on the hill and its neighboring areas. When it comes to Tibetan murals, sculptures and stone inscriptions, Guge Kingdom undeniably comes into mind. White Palace, Red Palace, Yamantaka Chapel, Tara Chapel and Mandala Chapel are the major attractions of Guge Kingdom which are historically linked with Buddha, Shakyamuni, Songtsen Gampo, kings and ministers. On this exquisite excursion, you will not only relive ancient Tibetan history but immerse in Tibetan culture as well.
Day 15 Drive Zada – Tarboche 280 km
From Zada you drive towards Darchen following dirt-laded road. On your 280 scenic drive, you will cross prayer flags-studded tall pole which indicates a beginning of a 53km circummabation around Mount Kailash. Darchen is regarded as pilgrims’ gateway to Mt Kailash tour. Shortly after arriving Darchen, you can visit Darchen monastery, a small shabby monastery lying just below its village, after crossing the Darchen River on a wooden bridge. There is a Tibetan Medical School on the west side. You can trek for an hour to get on top of a ridge situated on the north of Darchen village to have a clear and full enchanting view of Mount Kailash. If you look back to the south, you can catch a glimpse of breathtaking Manasarovar Lake and Rakshas Tal (Lhanag-tso). Further on, if you trek to the north of the ridge for another 2 hours, you will see Gyangdrak Monastery, largest of the Kailash monasteries, which has Mt Kailash’s four Buddha footprints or shabje. Whereas, on the west of the ridge you will approach Selung Monastery after 1 ½ hour trek and a trail from this monastery continues westwards down into Lha Chu valley, close to the Chuku Monastery. You can either spend the night at a guest house or camp at a suitable site in Darchen.
Day 16 - Saga Dawa Festival at Tarboche
On this day in different years of his life, Lord Buddha took birth, achieved Enlightenment and attained Nirvana. These three important events are celebrated in this festivals. Thousands of pilgrims arrive in Tarboche to celebrate this event.
This festival is held on the full moon of the 4th month of the Buddhist calendar in the end of May or early June (18th June in 2008)
Day 17 Mt. Kailash-Parikrama Trek to Dira Puk
Initially, you trek for around 6 hours from Darchen to Dira Puk Monastery. Further ahead, verdant meadows and picturesque streams lie en route to Lha Chu Valley. The trail overlooks turquoise river cascading over a narrow canyon with high steep cliffs. En route, north face of Kailash comes into vision. The trail will approach 13th century monastery of Dira-Puk. Visiting this monastery can be very insightful. Eventually, you will conclude the trek of the day by camping at Dira-Puk after memorable Mount Kailash tour and trek.
Day 18 Kailash Parikarma: Trek to Zutul Puk (4790m)
Lha Chu Valley blurs as you turn towards Drolma Chu Valley. You strenuously ascend to Drolma La [5630m]. But soon after sighting breathtaking view of Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion, at the summit, you realize that this tough and challenging ascent has indeed been very worthwhile and fruitful. Several prayer flags can be seen at the summit. Further on, the trail descends to the flat fields of Zutul-Puk which houses a monastery and several fascinating caves. The caves at this locale are most popular for meditation; Milarepa’s cave being one of them with Milarepa’s footprints and elbow prints believed to be imprinted all over this cave of mani stones. Camping at Zutul-Puk for the night can be quite exciting, adventurous and pleasurable.
Day 19 Kailash Prikarma Trek to Darchen (4560m) and then drive to Lake Manasarovar
Away from Zutul-Puk, you follow the trail through Bharkha plain leading to Darchen
after crossing several streams along the picturesque gorge. Enchanting view of Mount Kailash accompanies through this Mount Kailash tour and trek. Finally, on finding the former campsite in Darchen, you will conclude the trip of the day.
35 km drive from Darchen takes you to sacred Lake Manasarovar. As you near this breathtaking lake, historic Chiu Monastery becomes visible on the North West shore of the lake. From this vantage point, you can even glimpse at majestic Mount Kailash. This journey stimulates you spiritually. You get ample of opportunity to explore Manasarovar Lake and Chiu Monastery prior to your Mount Kailash tour. Ritual bathing in this lake is believed to give salvation cleansing your past sins. Mere sight of Mount Kailash is enough to heighten your adventure spirit for Mount Kailash tour and trek. Rakshas Tal lies connected to Lake Manasarovar by a small channel. Savoring the panoramic view of Mount Kailash and spiritual experience, you will camp near Manasarovar Lake under star-lit open sky.
Day 20 Drive Manasarovar to Paryang (4750m) 270km
Taking 270 km drive away from Lake Manasarovar, you cross Mayum-la and several rivers and head to Paryang with the good memories of Mount Kailash tour and trek. At night you will camp at Paryang.
Day 21 Drive Paryang to Saga (4699m) 255km
On this day, you continue driving for another 255km to Saga up to an elevation of 4600 meters. On the way you will encounter small dusty town of Zhongba. On a ferry you have to cross Yarlung Tsangpo [Brahmaputra River]. Thereafter, you are required to transverse along 110 km route opening into wide flat plains. The trail further advances towards huge turquoise lake, the Peiku-Tso with spectacular view of Shishapangma as the backdrop.
Day 22 Drive Saga - Zhangmu (2300m) 210 km
You have to drive south crossing 180 km trail along the Friendship Highway. The trail wends through a high pass, the Lalung La [5200m]. Further on, you journey through a perfect blend of breathtaking views, alpine meadow trails, picturesque hamlets and an abundance of wildflowers. En route, you get to see several Nepalese and Indian pilgrims. As you trekked through a mossy gorge of waterfalls and cascades, you finally enter Nyalam at 3750 meter. Thereon, heading away from Nyalam you drive for one hour to the lush and verdant vegetation of Zhangmu at 2300 meter.
Day 23 Drive Zhangmu to Kathmandu (1400m) 160km
Few kilometers drive away from Zhangmu follows Friendship Bridge along Bhote Koshi River to Immigration Control in Kodari where you will bade goodbye to your Tibetan guide and handle re-entry formalities to return to Kathmandu. After 5 hours of driving for 123 km , you finally arrive in Kathmandu with good memories of Mount Kailash tour and trek and thereafter board a flight back home.
For further enquiry please feel free to mail at: enquiry@tibet-adventures.com |
