PLAN A: via Lhasa to KAILASH!

Day 01: Sunday/Monday: Kathmandu arrival

Day 02: Kathmandu guided tour

Day 03: Kathmandu guided tour

Day 4: At Lhasa (3600 m high):

Upon arrival, our guide and the driver will greet you either at airport or railway station and drive to your respective hotel in Lhasa, stay at hotel for adapting to the high altitude, as it, s good if you don, t push yourself harsh and take it easy. Even if you want to walk out, make it light as it, s your first day in Tibet. And make sure that you drink mineral water more than usual. Try to avoid having alcohol on first three nights in Tibet. Your guide will introduce you the tomorrow’s program. Accommodation is in Shambala Palace.

Day 5: At Lhasa:

Full day sightseeing of Lhasa, in the morning, you can visit the treasure house Potala Palace- the central attraction of whole Lhasa. It is founded in 7^th century and since then it had been used as a palace of every successive leader of Tibet. In the afternoon, your guide will lead you to visit the Sera monastery, which was founded in 1419, in 15^th century. It’s the second largest yellow hat lineage monastery in whole Lhasa. If you are hiking enthusiast or don’t have any sign of altitude sickness, ask your guide to lead an hour hiking through the pilgrimage path around the monastery and it’s worth taking chance. While visiting monastery, you will witness the monks doing philosophical debates in the courtyard. Accommodation is in Shambala Palace.

Day 6: At Lhasa:

Today, we will visit Drepung monastery, it was once the largest yellow hat lineage monastery of whole of Tibet and it was founded in 1416 and one get to see some magnificent statues of buddha which are dated back to 15th century. Even if it was badly affected during the cultural revolution, but still some of the original buildings which are dated back to 15^th century can be seen even today. In the afternoon, your guide shall guide to the Jokhang temple which is situated in the old Tibetan quarter of Lhasa. It was founded in 7^TH century, considered one of the first Buddhist temple ever built up in whole Tibet, founded even before the full fledge Buddhism came to Tibet. Founding this Buddhist temple is a mark of initiating the Buddhism here. After the visit, we advise you to take a circumambulation around the temple, as you can witness some of hundred years old authentic buildings and you will come across hundreds of local pilgrims doing pilgrimage circuit around the temple. If you are interested in shopping, you will be welcomed by souvenir shop owners. You will be escorted to the hotel by our tour guide. Accommodation is in Shambala Palace

Day 7: Gyantse (13467ft high, 260 km) 6–7-hour drive.

Today, we drive to Gyantse town where you can find authentic lifestyle of Tibetan people. The journey involves crossing of two high passes Kamba La (15,700 ft) and Karo La (16,500ft) and will drive you through beautiful Yamdrok Tso Lake which is 40 miles long. Yamdrok Tso Lake is one of the four holiest lakes of Tibet and has turquoise green water. As we leave the lakeshore behind, the road climbs to Karo La (16,500ft) pass, where you will make a short stop, you will discover a huge Mt. Nyechenkangsar (7190mt) capped with huge glacier. The whole journey from Lhasa to Gyangtse takes 7 hours long. Once you arrive the destination, you shall see a huge ancient fortress as well as beautiful Monastery. If time permits, your guide will lead you to visit Palchoe monastery, if not one can do the sightseeing next morning. In short, the whole journey takes you through awesome valley and breath-taking panorama. We will check in hotel and relax at Gyantse town. Accommodation in Gyantse Hotel

Day 8 Shigatse (12,785ft high, 90km) 1–2-hour drive.

After breakfast, we will visit the Pelkor Chode and Kumbum Monastery-the main highlights of Gyantse City. Kumbum Stupa is the landmark of Gyantse and can be spotted from a long distance. If you are a hiking enthusiast, you may also attempt hiking the historical fortress of Gyantse. View from the fortress over the city is just superb. From Gyantse, it is less than 2-hour drive to Shigatse, the second largest city of Tibet. The journey will be through native people’s farmland and the region has got the most fertile land in whole central Tibet and it is known as “land of barley”. Once we arrive Shigatse, we check in hotel and later take a relaxing walk through the Shigatse's Flea market which is a nice bargaining place for Tibetan souvenir. In the afternoon, you will visit the famous Tashi Lhunpo monastery. Accommodation in Gesar Hotel (4 Star)

Day 9: Shigatse- Saga (4060m/15088ft ,400km) 6–7-hour drive.

Today, our day starts with driving over friendship highway and indeed we must prepare for a long day drive, as we drive over couple of medium height passes, while one the way, you will see some lonely nomadic tents, with flock of yaks and sheep roaming on a Tibetan plateau. Moreover, you will witness a lake beautiful although not very famous. As you drive further, you will see a huge Brahmaputra River from where you may see some Himalayan Mountain and will definitely be a panoramic drive all the way to Saga town. Accommodation in Norling Hotel

Day 10: Saga-Mana Sarovar Lake (500 km,4560m|14957ft) 5–6-hour drive.

We start little earlier than usual, as today will be the longest drive of your whole trip as we must cover 500km. On the way, you may see some wildlife and of course, since you have become close to India and Nepal, will see some snow caped Himalayan mountains and vast pasture lands. The trip involves crossing several sandy rivers and couple of vast sand dunes. You shall discover some ancient ruins and meet the highest point that you will be crossing today is big pass called Mayum-la pass(5216m|17108ft) As you arrive Mana Sarovar Lake site, we will have first glance of holy Mt. Kailash. So, we either check in guest house or put the camp near the holy lake Mana Sarovar. Accommodation in Guest house

Day 11: Mana Sarovar -Darchen village(30km|4660m15285ft) 1 hour drive.

As you get up from your bed, your morning starts with beautiful view of holy Mana Sarovar Lake and the stood still giant snow caped Mt. Gurla Mandata (7728mt). It’s refreshing to walk along with the bank of this lake in the morning and right after the breakfast, your guide will lead you on a small hill to visit chiu monastery, from where you can take some outstanding pictures of the lake, Mt.kailash and Mt.Gurla Mandata . It’s only an hour drive to the next destination, i.e., Darchen village. Rest of the day, you will stay there to prepare for the following 3 days trek around Mt. Kailash. Accommodation in Himalaya hotel.

Day 12: Trek from Darchen to Drirapuk (4910m|16102ft\18kmtr) 7-8 hour walk.

You have to begin your trek from Darchen, we suggest you leave around 8 am and your trek will be mostly through lha chu valley and along with this river. While doing the trek, you shall come across many local pilgrims, perhaps you may meet pilgrims, circumambulating the whole circuit just by prostration and it takes more than 20 days to complete the whole circumambulation of Mt. Kailash. Moreover, you shall see the Mt. Kailash from different angle. today, you are destined to stop at Drirapuk, right below the northern face Mt. Kailash, perhaps you can take a beautiful picture of it. If you are still not tired, you do have an option to visit a temple which is built up over a meditation cave, i.e., Drirapuk temple. Accommodation in Guest House.

Day 13 trek from Drirapuk to Zultrul puk (4790|15711ft) 7-8 hour walk.

Bid farewell to Lha Chu valley and prepare for the toughest part of the whole pilgrimage. You will enter the dolma Chu Valley, heading up towards a high pass, the dolma la(5630mt/18566ft) which is engrossed with full of prayer flags on top of it. This particular pass is the highest point you will cross in your whole trip. As you start descending from pass, you will pass by a small lake which is known to be world, s highest lake. As you climb down Dolma la pass, your trek gets easy as there won’t be much climbing. Then, after few hours of walk, you will reach your destination, Zultrul Puk. Either you spend a night in tent. At your station, you can visit the Zultrul Puk temple as you will have plenty of time. Accommodation in Guest House

Day 14 trek to Darchen, (14km-40km)- Mana Sarovar Lake.

The last day pilgrimage is pretty easier and all you have to do is, walk along with river and after an hour walk, you will have a view of Demon Lake which lies quite nearby holy Mana Sarovar lake. Within 3 hours walk, you will reach your destination. As you finish your trek, you will proceed to Mana Sarovar Lake and will spend a night there. It will be good idea to take a bathe in famous hot spring water and accommodation in Guest House.

Day 15 Mana Sarovar Lake –Saga 7-8 hour drive.

We Retrace our drive back to saga town. Accommodation in Norling Hotel.

Day 16 Saga – Kyirong border (4300mt./260km) 4-hour drive.

This time, you will be driving over unsurfaced road most of the time and you must cover 260km to reach your next destination. Today, you will witness one of the most beautiful lakes which is called Pikutso and as you arrive Kyirong border, you shall spend one last night in Tibet. Accommodation in Kyirong hotel.

Day 17 Departure from Tibet .

Our representative and driver will drive you to the border custom and tour guide shall assist you in going through custom procedure. Then you will be driven to Kathmandu in a private vehicle by our Nepali staff. Ends the trip.

Day 18 Kathmandu – Fly back home, or stay more days……

PLAN B: ROAD TO KAILASH!

DAY 01:  Kyi rung-China –Depend the month of the trip we can start earlier from Kathmandu. We will be planning to be at the border before mid-day. If your trip is after mid-June to Mid Aug, we may plan to start the trip earlier i.e. (on 2^nd day itself) or we can have helicopter options.

DAY 02: Kyi rung China, it is such as joyful town to be, full of greens and mountains, lots of air, good hotels, shopping facilities, old temple to pray and good friendly people.  Explore one of the best border towns in the world, the gate way to Holy Himalaya (Mt. Kailash).

DAY 03: Saga- A Good joyful driving day. Crossing valleys, peaks, high pass, lakes, and Holy Brahmaputra. This is first day to feel what the highland is and how life with nature blends here. It is a big day physically and not easy to catch everything since too many things goes on a single day.

DAY 04:  We start little earlier than usual, as today will be the longest drive of your whole trip as we must cover 500km. On the way, you may see some wildlife and of course, since you have become close to India and Nepal, will see some snow caped Himalayan mountains and vast pasture lands. The trip involves crossing several sandy rivers and couple of vast sand dunes. You shall discover some ancient ruins and meet the highest point that you will be crossing today is big pass called Mayum-la pass(5216m|17108ft) As you arrive Mana Sarovar lake site, we will have first glance of holy Mt. Kailash. So, we either check in guest house or put the camp near the holy lake Mana Sarovar. Accommodation in Guest house.

DAY 05: Mana Sarovar -Darchen village(30km|4660m15285ft) 1 hour drive.

               As you get up from your bed, your morning starts with beautiful view of holy Mana Sarovar Lake and the stood still giant snow caped Mt. Gurla Mandata (7728mt). It,s refreshing to walk along with the bank of this lake in the morning and right after the breakfast, your guide will lead you on a small hill to visit chiu monastery, from where you can take some outstanding pictures of the lake, Mt.kailash and Mt.GurlaMandata . It, s only an hour drive to the next destination, i.e., Darchen village. Rest of the day, you will stay there to prepare for the following 3 days trek around Mt. Kailash. Accommodation in Himalaya hotel.

DAY 06: Trek from Darchen to Drirapuk (4910m|16102ft\18kmtr) 7-8 hour walk/ OR 1 HOUR’S DRIVE*-

              You have to begin your trek from Darchen, we suggest you to leave around 8 am and your trek will be mostly through lha chu valley and along with this river. While doing the trek, you shall come across many local pilgrims, perhaps you may meet pilgrims, circumambulating the whole circuit just by prostration and it takes more than 20 days to complete the whole circumambulation of Mt. Kailash. Moreover, you shall see the Mt. Kailash from different angle. today,you are destined to stop at Drirapuk, right below the northern face Mt. Kailash, perhaps you can take a beautiful picture of it. If you are still not tired, you do have an option to visit a temple which is built up over a meditation cave, i.e., Drirapuk temple. Accommodation in Guest House.

DAY 07: Trek from Drirapuk to Zultrul puk (4790|15711ft) 7-8 hour walk (YOU CAN WALK ONLY THIS HIGH PASS PART AND DRIVE BACK TO DARCHEN AS WELL*)-

              Bid farewell to Lha Chu valley and prepare for the toughest part of the whole pilgrimage. You will enter the dolma Chu Valley, heading up towards a high pass, the dolma la(5630mt/18566ft) which is engrossed with full of prayer flags on top of it. This pass is the highest point you will cross in your whole trip. As you start descending from pass, you will pass by a small lake which is known to be world, s highest lake. As you climb down Dolma la pass, your trek gets easy as there won, t be much climbing. Then, after few hours of walk, you will reach your destination, Zultrul Puk. You spend a night in tent. At your station, you can visit the Zultrul Puk temple as you will have plenty of time. Accommodation in Guest House.

DAY 08: Darchen, (14km-40km)- Mana Sarovar lake-

             The last day pilgrimage is pretty easier and all you have to do is, walk along with river and after an hour walk, you will have a view of Demon Lake which lies quite nearby holy Mana Sarovar Lake. Within 3 hours walk, you will reach your destination. As you finish your trek, you will proceed to Mana Sarovar Lake and will spend a night there. It will be good idea to take a bathe in famous hot spring water and accommodation in Guest House.

DAY 09: Mana Sarovar Lake –Saga 7–8-hour drive.

              We Retrace our drive back to saga town. Accommodation in Norling Hotel.

DAY 10: Kyirong border (4300mt./260km) 4-hour drive

              This time, you will be driving over unsurfaced road most of the time and you must cover 260km                  to reach your next destination. Today, you will witness one of the most beautiful lakes which is                    called Pikutso and as you arrive Kyirong border, you shall spend one last night in Tibet.                               Accommodation in Kyirong hotel – or drive to Kathmandu, Nepal, same day or next using roads                  (6  hrs) or Helicopter.