17 Days Mount Kailash Pilgrimage

From

$2706.00

Duration

17 days

Tour Type

Adventure, City Tours, Historical

Best Months To Travel

June, July, Aug, Sept

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Terms & conditions How to pay Reviews

Overview

Mt.Kailash Pilgrimage Tour is following the footstep of devoted pilgrims to the far-west Tibetan plateau and trekking around the mystical Mt.Kailash is a pilgrimage destination of Buddhism, Bon, Hinduism, and Jainism since from long time ago. Gangkar Ti-se is the Tibetan name for Mt.Kailash and Kailash Travel is the prime focus of most travelers to western Tibet, with a high of 6,714m, it is clearly distinguished from the surroundings by its perennial snow cover, it is But it no longer remains only a pilgrimage destination, but every year hundreds of adventurers gratify by its natural beauties and geographical rareness.

This thrilling journey is across the dry and vast plain that is bounded by the Himalayas 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. Sandstone canyons and erode valleys in the upper Sutlej are the result of heavy erosion in the past centuries, and that simulates a treeless moonscape. 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.

Apart from the natural beauties of western Tibet, ruins of ancient cities and temples that once comprised the Guge kingdom in the 9th century are unparoled wonders of the trip; some temples are still intact and contain delicate murals and artistic motifs that count 1,000 years of history. This Mount Kailash Trek covers the whole Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Package which will start from the holy city of Lhasa and then gradually travel toward Shigatse through Gampa La pass and drive toward Mt Kailash in Western Tibet.

Included/Exclude

All necessary travel permits to Tibet;

- Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the program;
- Private transportation in Tibet: Ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route (car gasoline is included), SEE VEHICLE PHOTOS HERE;
- Private guide: English-speaking local Tibetan guide;
- Lodging: available from 5-star hotels to budget guesthouses, SEE HOTEL PHOTOS HERE;
- Pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
- Oxygen canisters: 2 canisters for each person;
- Lodging and meals for guide and drivers;
- First aid kit;
- Liability travel insurance;
- Basic camping gear: tents, mattresses, and sleeping bags;
- Yaks and porters during the trekking days;

- Travel insurance covers trip cancellation and emergency evacuation(recommended);
- Expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc.);
- International and domestic flight/train.(Note: we accept flights and train tickets bookings in advance, please check the updated cost and ticket availability with your travel consultant);
- Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in Tibet cost USD5 per person);
- Gratuities for the guide and driver:

Tour Amenities

Accepts Credit Cards

Car Parking

Free Coupons

Laundry service

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Restaurant

Smoking Allowed

Wireless Internet

Tour Plan

DAY 01. ARRIVAL IN LHASA EITHER BY AIR OR TRAIN

Attraction: First sight of the Giant Potala Palace and holy Lhasa city. You'll arrive at the Gonggar airport or Lhasa Train Station and will be greeted by our Tibetan guide and driver, transfer you to the hotel, from the airport, it is about 70km to Lhasa and it takes 1:30 hrs, 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

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 sacred temple in all over Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. You have time to walk around Bakhor Street which is one of the devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa. In the afternoon you will visit Sera Monastery, it is built in the fifteenth century by the Jamchen Choji Sakya Yeshi who is a 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. Overnight in Lhasa.

DAY 03. LHASA ESCORTED TOUR

Attractions; Potala palace and Drepung Monastery. This morning you will visit the famous Potala Palace, it is the cardinal landmark of Tibet, and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, 33rd King Songtsen Gangpo first built it in the 7th century, and later in the 17^th century rebuilt by the fifth Dalai Lama. Since then it was home to the Dalai Lama. This truly amazing day will be ended with a visit to the Drepung Monastery. Once the world's largest monastery that houses more than 10,000 monks and residents of the Dalai Lama prior to Potala Palace, continues to acclimatize and alleviate jet lag rest of the day. Overnight in Lhasa

DAY 04. drive from Lhasa to Shigatse 370km

Attractions: Yamdrok Lake, Glacier, Kumbum Monastery, and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. In the morning you are driving with your guide and driver to Shigatse where you are visiting the Turquoise Lake, Yamdrok (4300m) crossing the zigzag high Khamba pass (4990m). Then lunch stop at Nakartse town(4400m) and drive via Karo pass (5039m) you are going to see the Nyenchenkhangsar glacier (7191m) and another road driving to Gyangtse(3900m) or sometimes called the Hero’s Town where you are going to visit Kumbum monastery belongs to the yellow hat sect(One of the four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism). Moreover, you can see the Palkor Choede monastery and Kumbum stupa erected in 1427 at the time of the 1^stPanchen Lama. That is a kind of magnified stupa containing 100 thousand wall paintings, murals, statues with a height of 32.4m and five floors to climb up in clockwise. Still, you have to drive to Shigatse(3900m) from there like 90km. O/n Shigatse.

DAY 05. Shigatse to Lhatse 200km

Attractions; Tashi Lhunpo monastery and Sakya Monastery. This morning your guide needs to collect your passports for making ATP from PSB to travel to Mt. Kailash. Where actually you are going to start quite late as today is a short journey to Lhatse. As you are going to visit the Tahsi Lhunpo monastery, the seat and administration office for Panchen Lamas that is actually built by the first Dalai Lama. There you are going to visit the four highest chapels in which you will find the biggest bronze and copper alloy statue of Maitreya Buddha, then the stupas of some Panchen Lamas. Later you are going to drive via Tso pass (4500m) and be able to reach there at Sakya monastery (4280m), another sect of Tibet, and check the ATP there. This monastery is quite unique in that it’s all in ash grey with white and red vertical stripes. The color symbolizes the Rigsum Gonpo (the trinity of bodhisattvas). Where the monastery is divided into two parts divided by the river called Zong Chu or Trum Chu. Then short drive to Lhatse (3950m). O/n Lhatse.

DAY 06. Lhatse to Saga (4600m) 312km

Attractions; deserty part of Tibet. Today is more driving day and the only you can do is you are going to see so many huge mountains and cross different passes like Nangla (4587m), Bangla (4300m), Kala (4770m), and Yala (4620m). Therefore, the western part of Tibet is more popular with the deserty looks of landscapes. And you can find different landscapes along the road with the Yarlung river. O/n Saga.

DAY 07. Saga to Manasarovar lake(4560m) 606km.

Attractions; Sand dunes Chewu monastery and Manasarovar lake. Today you got a long drive but, on the way, you can see the sand dunes near Thuktso Lake. The smoothness of sand dunes shows you the beauty of the lake behind and you can see the snow-capped mountains right behind the lake. So, in short, you can have a unique snapshot as you can see the three beauties in the same place. Around the afternoon, you are going to reach Manasarovar Lake(victorious Lake) which is one of the holiest lakes in Tibet that was a workshop by three different countries like Tibetans, Indians, and Russians and Indians use to circumambulate the lake since 1700 years back. In addition, the Lake is surrounded by Snow Mountains and among which one is Gurla Mandata (7760m). And on the opposite, you can see Mt. Kailash(7762m). Near the lake on a hill, you can see a monastery that is Chewu and there is a hot spring as well. O/n local guesthouse.

DAY 08. Manasarovar Lake to Darchen (4560m) 80km

Attractions; the views of Mt. Kailash. Today is like a one-hour drive to the next town but once you get there your guide has to arrange the necessary potters and yaks for you where he/she will suggest you bring the related things for your three days trek. However, the best thing is if you got a sleeping bag then it's better if you bring one during kora time. So, you can just hang around on your own as you can explore different things from the town that is like a nomadic part of Tibet but now a day they changed their way of life. But there you better watch after dogs 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 take you for meals. O/n Darchen guesthouse.

DAY 09. 1st day of your trek to Dirakpuk monastery 20km

Attractions: the views on both sides of the valley that you are going to trek. Today you are going to start your Kailash trek at an average altitude of 4700m. Where you are starting from the Chaktsal gang alone with the Barkha plain (4730m) which is the 1^st prostration point of the Kora’s four points. Then slowly moving you also see the mountain on the left side called Chuku Monastery (4820m) founded in the 13^th century by Gotsangpa Gonpo Pel. Then another 4-hour trek you are able reach to Tamdin(4780m), nomadic tents for lunch and water. From there it is like 4km to Dirakpuk monastery but between this stretch has some of the best scenery of the entire kora. Dirakpuk, rebuilt in 1985 located on the north side of the Lha-chu River facing the north face of Mt. Kailash. Dirakpuk's name originally comes from the word Dira which means female yak horn and Puk means cave. O/n guesthouse.

DAY 10. 2nd day of your trek to Zuktul puk monastery(4790m) 18km

Attractions; the once and only chance of challenging to cross the Dikpala (5000m) and Dormala (5600m) next to Dikpala. So, from the morning if you start your trek then you have to cross these two high passes and it is quite hard to cross because of the altitude as you have to climb up to Dikpala (5000m) & Dormala (5600m). In addition, as you know while crossing these passes the best thing you can do is keep trying and go at one pace. After getting on the top, you can see the five colorful prayer flags hanging on both sides of the top and some local and pilgrim peoples are praying for all beings on the top as well. It is worthful to spend some minutes there, as you are right back side of the Mt. Kailash. Then keep going down the slope you are able to reach Shabjay Dakdo which is another nomadic tent restaurant and guesthouse where you can have lunch there. From there you are crossing the scenery part with both sides surrounded by snow-caped mountains and in the center a river stream. Zuktul Puk monastery (4790m) also calls the miracle cave that is built by Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. And still, you can see the footprint and handprint of Milarepa. O/n Zuktul guesthouse.

DAY 11. last trek day to Darchen. 12km.

Attractions; the view of the Thuktso Lake. Today is an easy trek day for all of you and on the way down you can see the scenery of the valley along with a river. And from afar you can see the Thuktso Lake. And you are going back to the town. O/n Darchen guesthouse.

DAY 12. Darchen to Guge. 270km.

Attractions; the lost kingdom of Tibet and the earth forests. It's 8-hour drive to Guge, which is an ancient kingdom of Tibet. Still, you can see the destroyed buildings of Guge time, which is the Erath Forest of the Guge kingdom. Around 65km is paved road until to Moincer and after that, it’s still an unpaved road to Tirthapuri and then to Zanda where you are going to stay. But at the time of King Yeshi Obegan, nurtured an exchange of ideas between India and Tibet in the 10^th century by sending the local monk Rinchen Zangpo to India to study Sanskrit he is one of Tibet’s greatest translators of Sanskrit texts and a key revival of Buddhism across Tibet. Moreover, the ancient Guge kingdom thrived here as an important stop on the trade route between India and Tibet. And you can visit the Guge kingdom. O/n Zanda family guesthouses.

DAY 13. Zanda to Darchen. 270km.

Today is driving back to Darchen and there are no particular stops but you can stop for photos if you like some of the sceneries on the way back to Darchen. O/n Darchen Guesthouse.

DAY 14. Darchen to Saga. 550km

From today since you are going back to Lhasa, you are taking the same roads as mentioned on the way to Darchen. So, driving back to Saga. O/n Saga.

AY 15. Saga to Lhatse. 312km

Drive to Lhatse and explore on your own and you can ask for photo stops if you like to scenery. O/n Lhatse.

DAY 16. Lhatse to Lhasa. 520km.

Your last journey back to Lhasa and if there is enough time then you can explore around Lhasa.

DAY 17. Send off day

Before your departure, we will appreciate you spending a few minutes to evaluate our services for future improvement. You can either leave the feedback form with your guide or just write us an email, at your departure, your guide and driver meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport/train station per your schedule. The trip officially ends then.

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Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Cristian Pumarino Jun,11 2019 01:29:35
We are 3 people that will travel from Chengdu to Lahsa by train, arriving around August 5th. We want to take 4 days tour in Lhasa. We need to know how to book the tour with you, the price, how to pay it and what are the documents we need to go there. We will get our tourist visa to visit China after we book the tour. Two of us will travel form Chile in South America and our son -also chilean- will do it form South Africa. Stay tuned to reply

Admin(06-12,2019): Dear Cristian pumarino, Thanks for your inquiry, this is Mia from Explore Tibet, I am very happy to be your personal trip advisor, I am confident that I can answer all the questions you may have based on my own experience and help you plan a memorable tour in Tibet.
Explore Tibet is one of the few Tibetan owned agencies based in Lhasa, we practice Responsible travel by using local services and employ locals as much as possible. We use Tibetan drivers and tour guides for their strong Tibetan Cultural and religious background to make your travel unique and authentic.
We are an agency based in Lhasa, not anywhere in mainland China. Since if something happened or you need anything during the tour, we local agency will be more convenient.
Tour information: Yes, you can join our group tour 4 Days Lhasa Highlight group tour departure on July 9th it will end on July 12th, For group tour, there will be at most 12 group members in one group, and the starting and ending dates are fixed, price will be cheaper. http://www.exploretibet.com/tibet-group-tours/4-Days-Lhasa-Highlight.html
The cost of the Group tour 4 Days Lhasa Highlight costs USD532 per person based on maximum 12 people in the group& triple-bed rooms
Best Regards
Mia (Trip Advisor)

Lakshmi May,23 2019 15:20:14
Hi, I am interested in this tour. But I cannot exert myself much and was wondering if I can skip the Kailash Kora and use other forms of transportation. I do however want to see Mt. Kailash. Also are you able to provide oxygen?

Admin(06-12,2019): Dear Lakshmi, Thanks for your inquiry, this is Rex from Explore Tibet, I am very happy to be your personal trip advisor, I am confident that I can answer all the questions you may have based on my own experience and help you plan a memorable tour in Tibet. Explore Tibet is one of the few Tibetan owned agencies based in Lhasa, we practice Responsible travel by using local services and employ locals as much as possible. We use Tibetan drivers and tour guides for their strong Tibetan Cultural and religious background to make your travel unique and authentic.
Permit application：
Tibet travel permit process takes around 22 days and we need 3 days to send you the permit in mainland China . We also need your passport and China visa copy for the permit application. Please send me clear photos or scan copies. If your China Visa is not an “L” visa, then you must also provide additional documents such as student certificates, work permits, residence permits and so on. If you enter Tibet by plane, you need original permit which we will mail it to your last hotel in mainland China, if you by train, only need copy of the permit, which we will send you by email. Tour Information:
Here I recommend you 15 days Kailash group tour below, sorry, since this is group tour, basically everything is fixed, so, we cannot find other transportation for you to avoid the trekking. What’s more, there is no public bus.
Please check the details below. Also, please let me know if your nationality is India, thank you!
Have a wonderful day!
Best Regards,
Rex(Your personal trip advisor)

matteo May,18 2019 16:19:11
Hello! we would kindly like to know what’s the cheapest offer you have for this guided tour. We’re two people thank you!!

Sdmin(06-12,2019): Dear matteo, Thanks for your inquiry, this is Sherry from Explore Tibet, I am very happy to be your personal trip advisor and I hope me and my team can offer you a memorable tour in Tibet.
Explore Tibet is one of the few Tibetan owned agencies based in Lhasa, we practice Responsible travel by using local services and employ locals as much as possible. We use Tibetan drivers and tour guides for their strong Tibetan Cultural and religious background to make your travel unique and authentic.
As you have 2 pax, the cheapest way for this tour must be joining our group tour, in June, it’s still not high season, cost is USD900 per person. Max. 10 pax.
We have fixed dates starting on June 11th, 14th, 21st, 25th, and 28th. Which date is suitable for you?
In July, cost is USD1020 per person.
Best Regards
Sherry (Your Trip Advisor)