Tibet Holy Land Tour

Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)

Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, usually, it takes about one hour. It’s about 20 mins drive from Lhasa Railway Station to your hotel. In order to adapt to the high altitude in Tibet, you'd better have rest and don’t do strenuous exercise. If you feel good, you can visit the Potala Palace Square, a far view the Yaowang Mountain and take a panoramic view of the Potala Palace. Remember to drink lots of water, and eat light and high carbohydrate foods for adapting to the high altitude better.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Lhasa Sightseeing

After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and covers the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect. .

In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery, which is reputed as the most beautiful Tibetan Monastery. The biggest feature is the Monks' debate from 3 pm to 5 pm. As a part of the study, lamas should participate in debates to further their comprehension and proceed to more advanced levels of Buddhism.  

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Lhasa Sightseeing

Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace, which is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Potala Palace was the winter palace of successive Dalai lamas. It was built by the 33rd great king of Tibet - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th Century. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. 

At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors. 

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs

We will pass by Kampala pass(4,790m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Standing at the lakeside, you can see its blue water shimmering with charming light, as well as the snow-capped holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar(7,191m) in the distance.  

Next we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is about 300m from the main highway on your way to Gyantse. 

Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.

Stay overnight in Shigatse  

Shigatse-Tingri-Rongbuk-EBC(5,100m), 350km, Approx. 7hrs

In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery and then drive to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass Tsola Pass(4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass(5,248m). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5,198m). Then you'll drive along the New Zigzag road to Rongbuk Monastery or the Everest Base Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of the Golden Everest Peak.

Stay overnight in Rongbuk guesthouse or Nomad Tent(Dorm Bed)

EBC-Saga (4600m), 450km, Approx. 9hrs

You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at Everest Base Camp if the weather is good. After that, drive to saga, on the way, you can view of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m). Later, you will reach Lake Peikutso(4590m) and have a rest there. Then continue to Saga, If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like the wild donkey, wild antelope, etc.

Stay overnight in Saga, Guesthouse

Day 7 Saga – Darchen (4560m), 490km, Approx. 9hrs 

Today, you will spend a lot of time on the way, but it’s worthy to see the landscape along the way.You’ll have stunning views of the great Himalayans to the south and Trans-Himalayan to the north as we drive across the vast plains. This region is home to nomads, you’ll see the beautiful grassland and local's villages. As we cross the Mayomla Pass (5112M), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694M).

During this thrilling journey, you’ll pass by sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valleys before we reach the Darchen, a small nomadic village and important launch point for pilgrimages around Mt. Kailash. Upon your arrival, you can explore the Darchen town on your own. If you need porters and yaks, your tour guide will arrange it for you this afternoon.

Stay overnight in Guesthouse

Mt Kailash Kora Darchen-Dirapuk (4700m), Drive 5km, Trek 15km, Approx. 7-11hrs

In the morning, you will take an eco-bus (included in the cost) to Sarshung valley and start the trekking from there. Then you will meet your porters and yaks at Sarshung Valley(the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package). You’ll trek about 15 km from Sarshung Valley to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu River Valleys. During your trekking today, you can see both west and north face of Mt.Kailash. Finally, you will visit Drirapuk Monastery and stay overnight here. 

Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed

Mt Kailash Kora Dirapuk -(4700m), Drive 5km, Trek 15km, Approx. 11-14hrs

Today is the most challenging day of the trekking, you’ll climb over the highest pass of the Kora, the Dromala pass(5630m). After a short rest at the top, we will climb down into the long valley and stop for lunch at the Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent. On the way, you can have a rest in a teahouse. Then you will continue to the Zultulpuk , built by two important religious figures, Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. At last, you will visit Zutulpuk Monastery. You will find the footprint and handprint of Milarepa inside the cave. 

Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed

Mt Kailash Kora: Zutulpuk- Darchen (4700m), Trek 9km, Approx. 2-5hrs; Drive from Darchen-Manasarovar (4560m)-Zhongba, 340km, Approx. 5.5hrs

It's an easy day of the trek. You'll trek 9km to complete the Kora then take the eco bus back to Darchen. According to Buddhism theory, doing a kora around a holy mountain for one circle can get rid of sins and miseries for the whole life. Only after going through lots of hardships, you can feel the happiness and gratification brought by Kora. Then you take the shuttle bus back to Darchen, about 3km. We will drive you from Darchen to Mansarovar, the top holy lake in Tibet. It’s 40km to the southwest of Darchen. If the weather is good, you can see the splendid scenery of the lake Manasarovar. If you feel good, you can do a trek along the shore of the lake for a while. And then you'll head to Zhongba. 

Stay overnight in Zhongba, Guesthouse

Zhongba-Kyirong Town, 344km, Approx. 7hrs

Today we will drive to Gyirong town from Zhongba. In the afternoon, you will visit Kyirong Valley, which is regarded as the backyard garden of the Himalayas. You will see lust forest and breath fresh air. You will be amazed by the creator's masterpiece that 4 seasons exist in such a narrow valley. Gyirong, in Tibetan language, it means comfort or happyness. It's said Gyirong was named by Padma sambhava Buddha, when he entered Tibet from here. 

Stay overnight in Kyirong

Kyirong to Nepal border

Your tour guide will assist you to exit China and see you off at the Kyirong border. We can organize a jeep for transfer from Gyirong to Kathmandu but it's not included in the Package. Or you can take a bus to Kathmandu, about 40 US$ depending on your negotiation with the driver. The road condition is not good, and it takes about 10 hours from the border to Kathmandu city. Thus, taking a bus is not recommended.