16 Days Pilgrimage Self-Drive to Mt.Kailash

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN LHASA EITHER BY AIR OR TRAIN.

Attraction: First sight of the Giant Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city.

At your arrival at the Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station, you will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver, transfer you to hotel in Lhasa, from the airport it is about 65km to Lhasa over the recently build highway and it takes only 50 minutes by drive, from the train station it is only 25km and it takes about half hour, check in the hotel and take it easy for the rest of the day to acclimatize and alleviate the jet lag. Overnight in Lhasa.

DAY 02: LHASA ESCORTED TOUR. (B)

Attractions; Jokhang temple and Sera monastery.

In the morning, your guide will meet you at your hotel and take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple. Jokhang temple is the most scared temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. You have time to walk around the Bakhor street which is one of the devotional circuit as well as crowded central market for locals in the history. In the afternoon you will visit 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 everyday in the afternoon except Sunday. So there you have great opportunity to experience the close view of monks debating in the cord yard. Overnight in Lhasa.

DAY 03: LHASA ESCORTED TOUR. (B)

Attractions; Potala palace and Drepung monastery.

This morning we will visit the famous Potala Palace, it is the cardinal landmark of Tibet, the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo first built it in 7th century, and later in 17th century rebuilt by fifth Dalai Lama, since then it was home to the successive Dalai Lama. This truly amazing day will ended with a visit to the Drepung Monastery. Once the world's largest monastery that housing more than 10,000 monks and resident of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, but lots of destructions in different period left it ruin and only about 1000 monks are studying there, continues acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa.

DAY 04: LHASA – GYANTSE(3890) – SHIGATSE(3800). 370km; (B)

Attractions: Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier and Kumbum monastery.

Today we leave Lhasa and heading toward the western Tibet, drive through the zigzag road climbing over the Gampa la (4900m) and you will have the first glimpse of the stunning view of holy Lake Yamdrok in the long Yamdrok valley. Then further drive along the lake and stop at Karo la pass for a close view of might Mt.Nyenchen Khangsar glacier. Then we drive to Gyantes which is a little historical town which gradually appearing into the modernization, visit famous Gyantse Kumbum stupa and Palkhor Choede monastery in the town, Palkor Choede monastery and Kumbum stupa were erected in 1427 at the time of 1st Panchen Lama, particularly the giant stupa is well known for its old murals around the inner walls and peculiar architectural structure. Then it is only 90km drive to Shigatse. Overnight in Shigatse.

DAY 05: SHIGATSE – SAKYA – LHATSE(3950M), 200km; (B)

Attractions; Tashi lhunpo monastery and Sakya monastery.

Today we will visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery in morning and guide will make his time obtain the ATP permit from the local PSB, Tashi Lhunpo monastery is one of the largest monastery in the western part of Tibet which has more than 600 years of history, it is different experience by walking with local pilgrims through temples and twisted lanes within the old buildings in the campus. Then drive to Lhatse for the night, en route we will drive off the main road to Sakya monastery which is located in a small village in the remote, this area and monastery has a different architectural design and colour. Overnight in Lhatse.

DAY 06: LHATSE – SHEGAR – OLD TINGRI – PEIKU TSO, 340km; (B)

Attractions; Distant views of Mt. Everest and Cho Oyu, Breathtaking views of Mt. Shishapama and Peiku Tso lake.

Today we will drive continues over the friendship highway and cross might Gyatso la pass(5400m), from Old Tingri we will view the Mt.Everest and Cho Oyu in the south. Then before we cross the Thongla pass we will take the side road toward north west and calm and stunning view of Lake Peiku Tso appears in front of us. Camping at the lake.

DAY 07: PEIKU TSO - SAGA – MANASARAVOR LAKE(4560m)

Attractions; Sand dunes Chewu monastery and Manasarovar lake.

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 surround by several prominent peaks like Gurla Mandata (7760m). Also you can view the Mt. Kailash(7762m) in the distant. Overnight at local guesthouse at the lake side.

DAY 08: MANASAROVAR LAKE - DARCHEN (4560m) 80km.

Attractions; the views of Mt. Kailash.

Today it is a short drive to the Kailash trekking base camp town of Darchen, it 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 others trekking necessities like porters and yaks for your luggage transportation. It is advisable to be ware 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 local guesthouse.

DAY 09: 1st DAY TREKKING TO DIRAPUK. 20km.

Attractions; the views on the both side of the valley that you are going to trek.

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 4hours trek we will reach to Tamdin(4780m) where a nomadic tents serves 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. Dirakpuk was rebuilt in 1985 located on the north side of the Lha-chu River facing to the north face of the Mt. Kailash. Dirakpuk name originally comes from a word Dira that means female yak horn and Puk means for cave, where a mythical story says the cave was opened by a female yak. Overnight at Dirapuk guesthouse.

DAY 10: 2nd DAY OF THE TREKKING TO ZULTUL PUK(4790m) 18km.

Attrractions; the once and only chance of challenging to cross the Dikpala (5000m) and Dormala (5600m) next to Dikpala.

Today is the most challenging part of the trekking where we will cross two passes, though there are not too steep but 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 worth while to spend some minutes on the pass to view and relax, as you are right backside of the Mt. Kailash and offers 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 build 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.

DAY 11: LAST DAY TREKKING BACK TO DARCHEN. 12km.

Attractions; the view of the Thuktso lake.

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.

DAY 12: EXPLORATION AROUND THE LAKE.

Attractions; Lake Manasarovar.

Today we drive back to lake Manasarovar and spend the day near the lake where you can explore around. Overnight at the local guesthouse.

DAY 13: LAKE MANASAROVAR - SAGA. 550km

Drive all the way back to Saga on the same way we went, and you are stop along the way for photos if you are interested.
Overnight at Saga.

Day 14: SAGA-SHIGATSE (3900m),450Km

Attractions；Himalayan ranges, snowcapped mountains, vast grassland

Today we will drive back to Shigatse. Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Himalayan ranges, with towering snow-capped peaks stretching into the distance, as well as wide, open grasslands home to a variety of wild animals.
Overnight in Shigatse.

Day 15: SHIGATSE -LHASA(3650m),280Km

Today, you will drive back to Lhasa. There is around 280Km for the direct route which will take only 6hrs. You will have enough time to walk around the Jokhang temple, enjoy some local food or do some shopping.
Overnight in Lhasa

Day 16: DEPART FROM TIBET

Your guide and driver will transfer you to the Airport or Train Station and you will start your next journey and say goodbye to Tibet.