Lhasa Kailash Tour

After the flight and getting refreshed in respective hotels, a rendezvous in Kathmandu with other members for trip orientation, where our guide / leader will inform and brief regarding the journey to Tibet, hotels, do and don’ts with evening group dinner.

Morning after breakfast as time set for the sightseeing tour, our city guide will lead you for few hours in our fascinating heritage and cultural tour around places of interest, tour of holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, old historical Palaces, courtyard; and then back to hotel after the wonderful tour, afternoon free for individual activities and preparation for journey to Tibet.

Morning after breakfast depart from the hotel to Kathmandu International airport for the flight to Lhasa city, a scenic flight with panoramic views of high Himalayas including the soaring Mt. Everest. On reaching at Gongar airport near Lhasa our Tibetan guide and driver, from our counterpart agent in Tibet receives you for a short drive of an hour to reach the main Lhasa city.

Lhasa city a mixture of old and new, our hotels situated in the old parts of east Lhasa around Barkor market square, which is the hub of Lhasa, where one can observe the Tibetans from all part of Tibet with their colorful costumes and deep root in Tibetan Buddhism. Here in Lhasa with two days of interesting tour, the visit around monastery Drefung monastery, which is one of the largest and oldest monastic complex, in olden days over 7,000 monks, priest used to reside, at present about 200 -300 monks, Dalai Lama used to reside here, before Potala Palace was built. Drefung means heap of rice, as this building washed with white lime paints perched on a hill top above Lhasa or Kyuchi valley. Afternoon visit Sera Monastery, one of the most important and old monastery of Tibet as well a school for Tibetan Buddhism, interesting to watch young monks in heavy debate, from here visit Jorkhang Temple is another interesting place as it boasts a lot of historic importance and tales of old days. Conclude the day tour visiting Barkor market square.
Next morning tour of magnificent Potala Palace, originally built during 640 A.D, the 13 storied palace stands at 117.19m high with 1000 rooms, visitors are allowed only 10 -12 main and important rooms and shrines. Afternoon visit Norbu Linka a summer palace of most resent Dalai Lamas, which is quite modern with immaculate garden, after an enjoyable time afternoon free at leisure for last minute shopping souvenirs.

Morning departure for Gyantse, drive leads towards west and then south of Lhasa crossing the Bhramaputra River (Yalung Tsangpo) which flows from
Mt. Kailash remote south west of Tibet, and then heading over Khamba-la pass at 4,795 meters high with awesome panorama of Tibetan plateau with snow capped peaks and turquoise Yamdrok Tsho (lake), heading downhill towards the turquoise lake to reach another pass after Nakartse town, drive leads on the vast Tibetan plateau crossing over Karo- La Pass 5,010m, with stunning views of Nzongkhansa peak which is over 7,000 meters and icefall, glacier can be seen just next to the road side, around here settlement of Drokpa (nomads) with Yaks grazing around the grassy meadow, as the ride continues reaching at Gynatse city, check into a nice hotels, afternoon tour of Khumbum terracotta stupa and its huge Dzong (Fort).

Today one of the shortest drive of this trip with just about 3 hours drive to Tibet’s 2nd biggest city of Shigatse, drive leads south west through farm villages and small towns and with first views of famous and beautiful Tashilumpo monastic complex and its golden roof top.On reaching in the midst of Shigatse city check into a nice hotels where our guide will take you for a tour of Shigatse, honored by famous Tashilumpo Monastery; the seat of Panchen Lama. The most interesting places are Tashilumpo monastic complex and the ruined fortress which dominates the city’s skyline. A high wall surrounds the red and gold buildings which make up the Tashilumpo Monastery. The route around the wall circumambulates the monastery which also includes small shrines, significant rock inscriptions and many prayer wheels. A visit to the market concludes our stay at Shigatse.

After a wonderful time in Shigatse, leaving the city behind, towards vast windswept terrain of typical landscapes heading south on the Lhasa / Kathmandu Friendship highway reaching at Larze town, located on route to Mt. Kailash also, after a small break here our route diverts from the main highway heading towards South West Tibet along the road to Mt. Kailash via Saga. Drive follows on the wide plain with several small high passes with stunning views of Shisha Pangma (8,013m-26289 ft), Mt. Gaurishanker (7,134m-23,406 ft) Mt. Langtang (7,234m-2,3734 ft) along with array of snow capped peak range which straddles Tibet / Nepal borders, after catching a mind blowing scenery, drive continues downhill on the wide windswept Tibetan plateau close to Shisa Pangma base camp, on the wild side of Tibetan landscapes, passing few farm villages with Yaks and sheep grazing over the fields, reaching at Saga town where the road from Nylam and Zhangmu joins also. A sleepy town, with number of guesthouse, hotels, shops and stores including night clubs, overnight in Saga hotels or Guest Houses.

From Saga, another day of scenic drive on the vast windswept terrain as the ride on four wheels continues, leading uphill and downhill reaching quaint and deserted village at Dromba with few houses and lodge, restaurants after a stop here, drive continues on the wide plain with views of snow capped peaks towards south around western Nepal side, soon after few hours of drive in the afternoon reaching at Paryang a small windswept village, due to harsh climate people are indoors most of the day. Here in Paryang in simple and basic lodge for overnight stop and relax in this high and dry altitude.

Today on wards journey leads closer to our main destination, as the morning starts into more arid, barren terrain, but somehow beautiful in this remote isolated country, drive leads through few nomads camps and villages and then climb towards Mayum-la pass at 5,150 m, around this area chances of seeing some wild life the most common are gazelle, deer’s and herd of Kang (wild ass), from here view of Mayum Tsho (lake) as the drive leads downhill driving past near Mayum Tsho to reach at Horpa, a small place but slowly flourishing into larger town, from here leaving the town behind with a short drive towards eastern side of Lake Mansarovar, an enormous lake with changing colors of light on its deep blue waters, regarded as one of the holiest lake among Hindu’s and Buddhist. Here at Mansarovar in tents for overnights with camping facilities of separate kitchen department of cook, kitchen helpers, camping staff, and guides including our Tibetan guide (job as interpreter / liaison officer).

A rest day in this beautiful spot with grassy field for camping overlooking the vast deep blue lake, which is almost the size of Delhi and twice large than Kathmandu valley almost 70 k.m. from east to west and about 30 -40 k.m. wide with several smaller Gompa (monastery) around the four side of the lake. Pilgrims takes nearly 4 days to cover the circuit around this huge lake, on drive 3-4 hours. From this camp view of Mt. Kailash (6,714 m-22,028 ft) and of Gurla Mandhata Range (7,694 m-25,243 ft). As Mansarovar floats beneath the shadow of holy Kailash formed in the mind of God (Brahma creator) hence the word ‘Manas’. In any language, this is a holiest and most famous lake in Asia and probably around the world.

After a pleasant time in Lake Mansarovar, today the start towards our main destination to walk around the holy Mt. Kailash, morning dive leads over the great Barkha plain for two hours near to Darchen town, with full of Guest Houses and Hotels, a popular pilgrims place as this is the start and ending point of 52 k.m distance of holy circuit, parikrama / kora (circumambulation). Drive finally ends west of Darchen town at a small spot called Tarboche regarded as holy place, with a huge Buddhist flags where the poles coveed with yak skins, this flag is changed every year during Lord Buddha birth anniversary which falls in the month of April / May as per Buddhist Luna calendar, this festival is called Saga Dawa. Starting our first day walk across a scree slopes and crossing small streams and meadow, before Damding Donkhang with great view of Mt. Kailash West Face, soon after 5 hours of tiring and good walk reaching at Diraphuk for overnight, this place located North Face of Kailash with an old Gompa and few lodge and stores.

Today, walk leads to highest point at Droma-la pass 5, 470m-17,946 ft, the highest point of this awesome journey, as the morning starts on a level path for short while and then after crossing small wooden bridge, then climbing high, where the trail to inner branches off as our walk leads higher following the path with scattered items of old worn clothes, bangles and etc offering made by the Tibetans pilgrims, finally after a hard struggle uphill with few rest in between reaching at Dromo-la highest top of this circuit and kora, on the top a big boulder represents Dolma or Dromo goddess (Tara) the pass festooned with thousand of Buddhist prayer flags, after a physical and spiritual high point of walk where this holy kora completes after heading downhill just near Sarswati kund (a small frozen icy pond) regarded holy for Hindus. Walk finally descends on the vast grassy plain where you see lots of moles around this area hiding in mud holes, from here on the gradual winding path all the way to Zutul-Puk Gompa, Zuthul meaning cave (Tibetan). with few lodge and guest houses and stores, close by lies 11th Century saint, poet and tantric guru Milarepa stayed here meditating, where you can see his footprint on the roof of the overhanging cave, overnight in tents or inside the lodge with meals served by our camping crews.

After a hard day walk of previous day, completing this excellent journey towards the starting point of this circuit / parikrama or kora in Darchen, as the trek leads on the easy trail following Karnali River which flows all the way to far western Nepal onto India. Just near Darchen town located sout of Mt. Kailash, where some Indian pilgrims mostly Jain religion visits Astapada, a small icy rock next to Mt. Kailash, represents a Nandi bull for Hindus and Tarmo an offering for the Buddhist pilgrims, for Tibetans and Buddhist Mt. Kailash is known as Great Khang Ringpoche and abode of the guru, where’s Lord Shiva for the Hindus. From here driving towards Mayum-la pass to camp on the suitable grassy field after few hours of ride.

After a great journey over holy Mt. Kailash and visit of sacred Lake Manasarover, packing the camping gear drive continues heading back to Saga on the great vast arid plain of Tibetan plateau with few high passes to cross till Saga is reached for overnight stop in local hotels / guest houses after driving through Paryang.

Goodbye to vast Tibetan plateau, as the drive today leads back into greenery into forested area, after Laylung -la pass and Nylam town, heading downhill following Lhasa / Kathmandu highway all the way reaching frontier town in Zhangmu, after going through the gorge with lovely alpine forested area and beautiful waterfalls. Zhangmu town, Nepali calls Khasa and in Tibetan Dramu, this town busy with Chinese, Tibetans and Nepali merchants and traders full of shops and restaurants, including bars, night club and discotheque.

After a great time in Tibet, morning after going through immigration and heading towards Friendship and farewell to our Tibetan guide and drivers, at Kodari in Nepal check into immigration and then a scenic drive all the way back to hustle bustle city life of Kathmandu.

Today your last day in Nepal with great memories of Journey to Mt. Kailash & Lhasa Tour and Nepal, after an amazing experience transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for final departure towards homeward bound or to next port of call.