This is a top grading Tibet group tour that specially designed for those enthusiastic travelers to have insight Tibetan plateau experiences. By following the footstep of devoted pilgrims to the far-west Tibetan plateau and trekking around the mystical Mt.Kailash is pilgrimage destinations of Buddhism, Bon, Hindu and Jainism since from centuries ago. Gangkar Ti-se is the Tibetan name for Mt.Kailash and it is the prime focus of traveling in western Tibet, with a high of 6,714m, it is clearly distinguished from the surroundings by its perennial snow cover and people worship it as God’s palace from generation to generation.
However, it no longer remains only a pilgrimage destination, but every year hundreds of adventurers gratify by its natural beauties and geographical rareness. This is a thrilling journey across the dry and vast plain is one of the most amazing trips in Tibet, this journey takes you to visit the base camp of world’s highest peak of Mt.Everest and travel through the western Tibetan plateau that bounded by Himalaya in the south and Trans-Himalayan in the north, which is the home for sparse lone nomads whose lifestyle remains close to what it has been for centuries. This region abounds with wildlife, particularly after the monsoon season (July and August), herds of wild ass, Gazelle, Hodgson’s antelope, Marmot, and different species of geese that can be seen along the route.
Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Lhasa Train Station
A short flight into Tibet give you a panorama of the snowy Himalayan ranges or the days of train ride over the high plateau by crossing mighty Thangu la ranges get you to Lhasa with beautiful sceneries along the route. Your arrival at the Lhasa Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver and transfer to your hotel in Lhasa city.
From the airport to Lhasa City it is about 60km and it takes less than an hour through the recently built highway, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half an hour, check in the hotel and maybe meet with other fellow travelers.
Then take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa. If you have any health problems after arriving in Lhasa City, you must inform your tour guide about your well being.
(Note: If you shares the pick-up transportation with other travelers in the group then sometimes you may have to wait at the airport in case their flights delayed).
Here are some of the important gears you should take during Tibet Tour.
A short flight into Tibet give you a panorama of the snowy Himalayan ranges or the days of train ride over the high plateau by crossing mighty Thangu la ranges get you to Lhasa with beautiful sceneries along the route, your arrival at the Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver and transfer to your hotel in Lhasa city, from the airport to Lhasa it is about 60km and it takes less than an hour through the recently built highway, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half an hour, check-in the hotel and maybe meet with other fellow travelers, then take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa
(Note: If your arrival time is different from others then we will arrange private airport/train station pick up without any additional cost, so please let us know your arrival time and detail information of flights/train)
Today is your first day on the high plateau and some of you may have a little headache which is very common for travelers by the high altitude, so drinking enough water and mild activity on the first few days is recommendable. In the morning our guide will meet you at the hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of the Old Lhasa city.
Jokhang temple is one of the most sacred temples in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since from early days. After that, you have time to walk around the Barkhor street which is the one of the most devotional circuit as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa, during the old days it is the most famous local market but now it is changed to tourist gift shopping center.
The amazing day will be ended with a visit to the Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen Choji Sakya Yeshi who is disciple of Tsongka pa, few different monastic colleges in Sera is home to several hundred monks from different part of Tibet, the famous Buddhist philosophical debates among the monks are happening every day in the afternoon except Sunday. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa
Today we will visit the famous Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, it was first built by 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo in 7thcentury and later in 17th century rebuilt by 5th Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the Dalai Lama and his government.
Walking through the long steps are quite challenging it is worthwhile to leave your footsteps in the spiritual palace of God of compassion, which listed in the world heritage in 1994. And in the afternoon, we will visit the Drepung monastery, once the world’s largest monastery that housed for more than 10,000 monks, it was resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, but several destructions were taken place in different time but still you have lots of things to see by walking through numbers of narrow and twisted lane through the monks apartments is thrilling. Continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa
We start drive toward southwest, through the zigzag road climb up the Kampa la pass (4700m), from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking glimpse of the holy Yamdrok lake with its turquoise color and snow-capped Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance, then continues drive along the lake for few kilometers get us to the lunch stop at Nagar Tse.
The rest of the day will be spent enjoying the many magnificent valleys and exquisite Tibetan villages that pass through; en route, we will stop at Karo La (5150m) to see the holy mount Nyenchen Kangsar glacier. Arrival at Gyantse, we visit Kumbum stupa and Palkhor Choede monastery, this magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, it is not only well known for its architecture but also its old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls, late afternoon drive to Shigatse which is only 90km. Overnight in Shigatse
Today we will drive straight to EBC by crossing several passes along the way, you will have the first views of mighty Himalayans from the pass of Gyatso La(5400m) after Lhatse and distant view of Mt. Everest from its viewing point soon after climb down Gyatso la, shortly after the border checkpoint at Shegar, turn off the Friendship Highway and drive toward south in the valley, cross over the Gawu la pass[5250m] through zigzags road.
From the pass you will amaze the spectacular Himalayan Ranges and its mighty peaks beyond 8000m, Mt.Makalu(8463m), Mt.Lotse(8516m), Mt.Everest(8844m), Mt.Cho Oyu(8201m) and Mt.Shishapama(8020m) from Left to right, climbing down through numbers of switchback bends lead to the dry valley of Tashi Zom and then finally the day’s destination – Everest Base Camp located in the Rongbuk valley. Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world and it consist of both monks and nuns.
Afternoon you have an option to do a short trekking from the tent guesthouses community to E.B.C, it will take you about 2 hours or more per your physical condition (6Km). Or you can take the dedicated minibus instead. We suggest you bring your own sleeping bags for the night if available at the local tent guesthouses reuse the blankets for several weeks due to their poor facility. Overnight at local tent guesthouses except for Nov – Mar where the tent guesthouses close and only Rongbuk monastery guesthouse is available.
Note: before leaving Shigatse, your guide need some time to obtain the ATP from the local PSB, ATP is also known as Alien’s Travel Permit and it is a permit that should be issued for the border check at Shegar
Today we will drive back to the main road and a lunch stop at Old Tingri, then continue the journey into Tibet western wilderness via stunning views of Mt.Shishapama (8020m) and Peikutso Lake. It will be a long driving within the long valley and ends the day at Saga. Overnight at Saga
Today the thrilling journey across the dry and vast plain with stunning views of great Himalaya in the south and Trans-Himalayan in the north, the moonly plain of the region is home for sparse lone nomads whose lifestyle remains close to what it has been for centuries. Different natural structures like sand dunes and picturesque mountains views are not only the great beauty of the day.
Then we will reach to the Manasarovar Lake (victorious lake) in the late afternoon, which is one of the holiest lakes in Tibet and every year it receives hundreds of hundreds of pilgrims from all corner of Tibetan plateau, India and Russia. The lake is surrounded by several prominent peaks like Gurla Mandata (7760m). Also, you can view the Mt. Kailash(7762m) in the distant. Overnight at a local guesthouse at the lakeside.
Today it is a short drive to the Kailash trekking base camp town of Darchen, so if you like you can explore around the lake for a while, Darchen is a small nomadic village and now increasing number of guesthouses and restaurants make it more commercial. At your arrival you have plenty of time to explore around the town and prepare for the trekking, you can also hiking around the hills to get physically ready for the trekking challenge.
In the afternoon, your guide will arrange other trekking necessities like porters and yaks for your luggage transportation. It is advisable to beware of dogs within the town as you can find so many dogs there and those dogs are friendly during the day time and quite aggressive during the night time. You can find different restaurants according to your taste or your guide will help you to find some better ones. Overnight at a local guesthouse
Today our trekking start from Darchen and tracing the small trail in the clockwise circuit around the Peak on an average altitude of 4700m. You will encounter numbers of local Buddhist pilgrims doing along your way and several Bon believers in the anti-clockwise direction.
After the 4hours trek, we will reach to Tamdin(4780m) where nomadic tents serve simple lunch and boil water. From there it is only 4km to Dirakpuk monastery but between this stretches has the some of the best scenery of the entire kora. Kirkuk was rebuilt in 1985 located on the north side of the Lha-Chu River facing to the north face of the Mt. Kailash.
Kirkuk name originally comes from a word Dira that means female yak horn and Puk means cave, which is a mythical story says a female yak opened the cave. Overnight at Dirapuk guesthouse
Today is the most challenging part of the trekking where we will cross two passes, though there are not too steep the altitude make is more tiring and slow after we cross Dikpala (5000m) & Dormala (5600m), the passes are remarked by heaps of prayer flags and Cairns.
It is worthwhile to spend some minutes on the pass to view and relax, as you are the right back side of the Mt. Kailash and offers a great view of the holy peak. then we will climb down into the long valley and stop lunch at Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent for lunch. Zuktul Puk monastery (4790m) also calls the miracle cave that is built by two religious figure Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. And still, you can see the footprint and handprint of Milarepa inside the cave. Overnight at Zultul Puk
Today is an easy day trek to our starting point Darchen, and your driver will pick you up from the halfway when if you get tired. Overnight at Darchen
Today we trace the road back to Saga. Overnight at Saga
Today we will drive all the way from Saga to Shigatse and spend overnight at Shigatse.
Attractions; Yarlung Tsangpo River.
Today we will drive back to Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa.
Today our guide and driver will send you to the airport or train station and it is time to say goodbye and depart to your next destination. Before your departure, we will appreciate if you can spend a short time to evaluate our services either by filling the feedback form or simply send us an email. If you have extension trips then it will be arranged accordingly.