Language    English   French

Mt. Kailash & Manasarovar Lake Trek - 17 Days

0

In the far west of Tibet is Mt Kailash, the most sacred mountain in Asia, which is venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and the ancient Bon religion of Tibet. From it flow four great rivers; the Karnali, the Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra; which drain the vast Tibetan Plateau. It is an important site for Buddhist , Hindu , Jain , Tibetan and Indian pilgrims who make a 53 kms circuit, or kora, of the mountain. This circumambulation, clockwise for Buddhists and Hindus and anti-clockwise for Bon followers, is said to erase the sins of a lifetime. The mountain itself is 6714m high and with its four sheer walls and snow capped peak is an awe-inspiring sight. Only 30 kms from Mt Kailash is another important pilgrimage site, the beautiful Lake Manasarovar. According to mythology it was formed in the mind of Brahma, and Indian and Tibetan pilgrims can also be seen circumambulations this lake, a distance of 90 kms .

For the devout pilgrim a visit to Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasarovar forms the ultimate realization of their spiritual pursuit. And for the adventure-lovers it offers rugged beauty, remoteness and solitude. The May tour to Kailash during the annual gives the opportunity to face Buddhist festival of Saga Dawa while most of the other trips are planned to arrive at Mt. Kailash during the full moon period to give all participants a rare experience.

The tour offers rigorous overland driving, trekking and camping, passing the remote and wild western Tibet, in altitudes between 2745m and 4880m  and hiking to a maximum of 5600m

Group Size : 02 - 12 people altitude  Max-Altitude : 5600m
Destination : Tibet Fitness level : Moderate
Trip Season : Spring (Mar - May) / AUTUMN (Sept – Nov) Departure from : Kathmandu
Meals : Breakfast
Accomodation : 3 star standard hotel
Trip Mode : Lodge to lodge trek
  • Detail Itinerary
  • What’s Included
  • Cost Exclude
  • Trip Gallery

Tour Itinerary

1

Day 01: FLIGHT KATHMANDOU / LHASA

Transfer to Kathmandu airport for flight to LHASA, airport located 60 km from Lhasa 3650m and transfer to hotel, Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Accommodation: overnight in hotel in Lhasa

2

Day 02: LHASSA VISITS JOKHANG AND POTALA

Visit the Jokhang Temple, one of the three most beautiful ancient buildings constructed between the 7th to 9th centuries. Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo built to Bhrikuti princess ( from Nepal ) whom he made his wife. Many of the faithful come to prostrate themselves in front of this massive, thick-set building, around which stands the great Barkhor bazaar, The narrow lanes are perpetually animated by the movement of an impressive crowd of fervor, amidst a multitude of small stalls, shops and shelters sheltered from parasols.

Discover the Potala Palace, where several times a week a huge crowd of Tibetan pilgrims press on the stairs that "red hill". This represents in a few figures: 13 floors with 1000 rooms, Potala means "holy abode of Avalokitesvara", It is said that King Songtsen Gampo built a palace here in the 7th century, but it fell into ruin thereafter. Nearly a thousand years later, the 5th Dalai Lama undertook its restoration and extension, which gave this magnificent which dominates the city.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Accommodation: overnight in hotel in Lhasa

3

DAY 03: LHASSA VISITS OF THE DREPUNG MONASTERIES

Visit Drepung, which is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelugpa school, often called the "Yellow Bonnets" school, with the monasteries of Sera and Tashilunpo, from which the Dalai- Lamas, spiritual and temporal leaders of Tibet since the 15th century. Near Drepung, we discover the monastery of Nechung, where the oracle of the Dalai Lama sat. Also visit the monastery town of Sera, located like Drepung a little outside the city, and Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace. And of course you can plunge back into the atmosphere of Barkhor.

Transfer (45 km, approximately 2 hours)
Accommodation: overnight in hotel in Lhasa

4

DAY 04: FROM LHASSA TO GYANTSE

Transfer to Gyantse. We cross the Yarlung River and cross the Kampa Pass 4794m, from where we have a superb view of Lake Yamdrok (Turquoise Lake) , We go around the lake, then cross the Karo La 5045m, On the other side we descend to Gyantse 3950m. Overnight at hotel in Gyantse.

Transfer (270 km, 6 to 7 hours by car)
Accommodation: overnight in hotel in Gyantse

5

DAY 05: VISIT OF KUMBUM AND ROAD TO SHIGATSE AND VISIT OF TASHILUMPO

Gyantse is a village dominated by a Tibetan fort where we discover the monastery of Palkhor and the extraordinary Kumbum, stupa to the Hundred Thousand Buddha. Nepalese-inspired, this unique building brings together the richest artistic expressions of Tibet. We continue our journey to Shigatse 3920m, the second big city of Tibet where we discover the monastery of Tashilhunpo, one of the six great pillars of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, and seat of the panchen-lamas, second most important religious figure of Tibet, After the Dalai Lama.

Transfer 90 km, 2 hours approximately)
Accommodation: overnight at hotel in Shigatse

6

DAY 06: FROM SHIGATSE TO SAKYA AND VISIT OF THE MONASTERY

We continue our journey towards Sakya through the Tibetan immensity. We cross the Tso pass 4520m before turning to Sakya Monastery, which is home to the Sakyapa School, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit the monastery as well as the village and stroll in the surroundings.

Transfer 150 km, 3 hours approximately)
Accommodation: overnight stay in local hostel in Sakya

7

DAY 07: FROM SAKYA TO SAGA

Return to Lhatse, then continuation of our road towards Saga, farther west, through a series of valleys and the Raka Tsangpo gorges.

Transfer 305 km, 7 to 8 hours drive)
Accommodation: overnight stay in local inn in Saga

8

DAY 08: FROM SAGA TO PARYANG

Drive westwards continue following more or less the valley of the Brahmaputra. Before reaching Dongpa 4460m, we cross the Lablung pass. About twenty kilometers before arriving in Paryang, we cross the pass of Soge 4725m.

Transfer 216 km, 5 to 6 hours drive)
Accommodation: overnight in local hostel in Paryang

9

Day 09: FROM PARYANG TO DARCHEN

We continue our route towards west, following the course of the Brahmaputra almost to its source, which is located in the region of Lake Manasarovar. After crossing the Mayum pass 5270m, then reach to Darchen, gateway to tour Mount Kailash.

Transfer 270 km, 6 to 7 hours drive)
Accommodation: night in a local hostel in Darchen

10

Day 10/11/12: TREKKING ON THE KORA AROUND MONT KAILASH

Mount Kailash is one of the great holy places in the world, where the faithful of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Bön religions meet. The 53-kilometer pilgrimage takes place clockwise direction, (ancient Tibetan bön religion walk opposite direction) Monasteries, meditation caves, prayer flags, mani walls (stones engraved with Buddhist prayers) accompany the pilgrims.

From Darchen to Drira Phuk 4910m about 6 hours of trek and then Dira Phuk to Zutul Puk 4790m, the "cave of miracles" where meditated the sage Milarepa, which we reach after crossing the Dolma la 5630m , then 3 hours of walking Zudrul Phuk to Darchen 4578m. Transfer the last day Lake Manasarovar, to the south by the Gurla Mandhata 7728m and further north by Mount Kailash 6714m and the Bonri 5995m. Many pilgrims make a pilgrimage while walking around the lake nearly 100 kms

Hiking: 6 hours of walking about the 1st day, 6 to 7 hours of walking on the 2nd day, and 3 hours of walking about the 3rd day

Meals: Picnic breakfasts (1st at the inn) - Picnic lunch (3rd in local restaurant) - Dinners at the camp (the 3rd in a local restaurant or at the inn)

Accommodation: first two nights in a tent, and third night in a local inn near Lake Manasarovar

11

Day 13: FROM MANASAROVAR LAKE TO TSAPARANG

We leave Manasarovar Lake and Mount Kailash to reach Toiling and Tsaparang to discover Kingdom of Guge, to west. We thus reach the Sutlej valley, a river that originates in the area of Mount Kailash, and is the largest tributary of the Indus, If conditions permit, visit also the Bonpo Sanctuary of Gurugyam and the cave hermitage of Yungdrung Rinchen Barwa, a major center of the Bön religion, which was the official Tibetan religion before the introduction of Buddhism in the 7th century in Tibet.

Transfer 260 km, approximately 7 hours drive).
Accommodation: night in a local inn.

12

Day 14: TÖLING AND TSAPARANG REGION

Visit to the region of Töling and Tsaparang of the remains of the Kingdom of Guge, founded in the 10th century, which was second spread of Buddhism in Tibet, King Yeshe Ö and to Rinchen Zangpo, Buddhist monk scholar, who founded many monasteries, both in western Tibet and in nearby Spiti (nowadays located in India). We discover the ruins of Tsaparang and the ancient capitals of the kingdom of Guge, the sanctuaries of the monastery of Toiling, as well as many other vestiges,

Transfer
Accommodation: night in a local inn

13

Day 15: Road to Pelku Tso and Old Tingri (4350 m).

Our day begins with the crossing of great spaces where the wild life is very rich. We crossed antelopes, kyangs, various birds, then some villages and the tents of Tibetan nomads accompanying their immense flocks of yaks and sheep. The road then slips between Lake Pelku and the Shishapangma Range. We reach the road of friendship and soon discover, in the distance the Everest and the Cho Oyu 8201m and arrive Old Tingri, for over night.

Transfer: 10hrs
Accommodation: Guest house

14

Day 16: Road to Sakya, Shigatsé (3930 m).

panoramic morning: We take the direction of Sakya through Shegar. Sakya is reached at mid day, Here the visitor is struck by the color of buildings, village houses or temples. The monastery and its impressive assembly hall (more than 5700 m²) are filled with statues and richly ornate thangkas . a small door opens onto the Kunga Rawa, the famous library of Sakya. More than 20000 volumes of all shapes and ages are piled up along one of the walls. We return to Shigatse, we pass last night on the Tibetan plateau.

Transfer: 7h
Accommodation: Hotel
Hours of operation: 2 hours

15

Day 17: Flight to Kathmandu

Overnight at the hotel.

  • Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
  • All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary;
  • Local tour Transfers, 5-29 seats comfortable Tourist Vehicle according to Group Size.;
  • Knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide shared in your group;
  • Comfortable Hotel Accommodations;
  • Service Charge & Government Taxes;
  • Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges.
  • Welcome Dinner in local restaurant when group members meet in Lhasa
  • Free Airport shuttle transfer between Lhasa Gongar airport and Hotel on designated time.
  • Group tours only include a welcome dinner after your arrival in Tibet.
  • Tibet Handy Map
  • Drinking water Provided during the trip
  • One shared big Oxygen tank in the car;
  • Tourist accident/casualty insurance.
  • International flight to and out of China;
  • Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price.
  • Lunches and dinners are not included, please pay on site by yourself.; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
  • Tips to tour guide and driver, you are suggested to tip them 7 USD/day in total.;
  • Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks etc.

Get Expert Advice

Book This Trip