Kailash Mansarovar and Lhasa Tour

Upon reaching Gonggar airport, Lhasa our Tibetan guide will be waiting outside the arrival gate and he will extend cordial greetings and welcome you with Hada, the customary Tibetan ceremonial scarf.

Then after the driver and guide will drive you to your accommodation in the heart of Lhasa. On the way to hotel, we will be able to see Yarlung Tsangpo River, also known as the Brahmaputra River, which is the longest and greatest river in Tibet, and also see Lhasa River.

After arrival in the hotel, we will take some time to rest and adjust with the high altitude. And spend our day in Lhasa. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

After having breakfast in hotel, we will begin the tour from UNESCO World Heritage sites: Potala Palace. which is also the winter palace of Dalai Lama. It's situated at 12,139 feet above sea level. It's a 13-story high building that contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals and artifacts.

After visiting Potala Palace, we will visit Longwangtan Park which is located at the foot of the Potala Palace. Here, we will be able to appreciate the majestic Potala Palace from a different perspective and engage in local Tibetan folk activities as well.

Then after we will continue to Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Inside we can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Next to the temple there is Barkhor Street, filled with pilgrims and street vendors, selling traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry. Here, we can do Kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

In the end, we can follow our guide to one of the liveliest indoor Tibetan tea houses in Lhasa. We can sip traditional Tibetan sweet tea alongside local Tibetans as guide shares insights into Tibetan social dynamics and daily life. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

After having breakfast in hotel, we will get ready for Lhasa Tour.

At first, we will go to visit Drepung monastery which used to be home of over 10,000 monks once upon a time and was founded in 1416. Ganden palace is used as Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before moving to the Potala palace. We can meditate in this monastery for maximum 1 hour, if any rituals is not being performed during our visit.

In the afternoon, we will visit Sera Monastery---It was one of the “three greats” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded in 1419. The highlight is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa. Guide will help you understand on how Tibetan monks participate in these discussions in order to learn new things and improve their academic standing. Stay overnight at 3-star hotel in Lhasa.

In the morning, we will drive towards Shigatse via Gyantse which takes about 5-6 hours (365 km).

At first, we will drive over Gampala pass (4790 m) to see beautiful Yamdrok Lake (4400 m). Surrounded by several snow-capped mountains, Yamdrok Lake offers breathtaking views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191 m), the highest mountain close to Lhasa. We might get to visit a local family at the village at the lake's edge and have lunch with the locals after continuing to explore the lakefront from different perspectives.

The after we will drive towards Gyantse and on the way we can see amazing Korola Glacier on the roadside. It is the largest glacier in Tibet. On the way, we will stop at Simila Mountain Pass, here we can hang prayer flags to pray for world peace and the health of your family.

Upon arrival in Gyantse, we will visit Kunbum monastery. It is believed that the stupa captures within it the complete path of spiritual enlightenment and the gradation of the tantras. Then we will visit Pelkhor Stupa, located in the valley of the Nyangchu River is Pelkor Chode Monastery, often referred to as Palcho Monastery or Shekar Gyantse. The monastery is well-known for its Kumbum Stupa, the only one of its sorts in Tibet, and for being a sizable complex of monastic buildings.

Finally, driving towards Shigatse, we will pass through the mesmerizing landscape of Tibetan barley fields and countless farms; green (in summer) and golden (in autumn). After arrival in Shigatse, second-largest city in Tibet we will check in the hotel and take good rest. Stay overnight in Shigatse.

After breakfast in Shigatse, embark on a long but scenic drive westward toward Saga, crossing vast stretches of the Tibetan plateau. The route takes you through rolling grasslands, traditional Tibetan villages, and high-altitude landscapes marked by rugged mountains and clear rivers.

Key highlights on this route include:

• Sakya Monastery: A major Tibetan Buddhist monastery renowned for its unique architecture and rich collection of ancient scriptures. It’s a significant cultural and religious site on the way to Saga.
• Gyanchula Pass: Offering panoramic views of the surrounding plateau and distant peaks.
• Opportunity to witness nomadic herders, yak caravans, and traditional Tibetan rural life.

Stay overnight at guesthouse. 

After breakfast, we will drive approximately 450 km towards Mansarovar Lake via Paryang town. The journey takes around 8 to 9 hours. Paryang is the last town before reaching Mansarovar and offers a glimpse into Tibetan town life. On the way, enjoy spectacular mountain vistas and stop at Zhongba, a small, charming town nestled in the high plateau.

As we approach Mansarovar Lake, we will see the Chiu Monastery located on the lake’s northwest shore. Here, you will also catch your first breathtaking view of the sacred Mt. Kailash. Mansarovar Lake is surrounded by iconic landmarks including Mt. Kailash, Rakshas Tal (Rakchyas Lake), and Mt. Gurla Mandata, making it a profoundly spiritual and scenic destination. We will stay overnight at a guest house near Mansarovar Lake. (Dormitory rooms only available in Mansarovar). 

Today, we begin with a visit to the sacred Mansarovar Lake, nestled between the towering Mount Kailash (6714 m) and the majestic Gurla Mandhata range (7694 m).

According to legend, Mansarovar Lake was created from the mind of the gods and lies in the divine shadow of Mount Kailash. Both the lake and the mountain are revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, holding profound spiritual significance for Hindus and Buddhists alike. Mansarovar is regarded as one of the purest lakes in the world, and it is believed that drinking its waters purifies a person from sins accumulated over 100 lifetimes. After performing rituals or spending some peaceful, reflective time by the lake, we will drive approximately 40 km (about 1 hour) to Darchen.

Darchen is a small village located at the base of Mt. Kailash and serves as the starting point for the sacred circumambulation, or “Kora” in Tibetan. The full Kora around Mount Kailash takes about three days to complete. We will stay overnight at Hotel in Darchen.

After breakfast, we will drive about 45 minutes (18 km) from Darchen to Tarboche, located in Yamadwar — known as the “Gateway to the God of Death.” This sacred spot marks the official starting point of the Kailash Kora (circumambulation).

From Tarboche, we begin our trek, walking approximately 15 km over 5 to 6 hours to reach Dirapuk, a high-altitude guest house situated at 4,920 meters. Along the way, be mesmerized by stunning panoramic views of the Himalayan giants such as Mt. Ape, Kamet, and the Gurla Mandhata massif.

Tonight, we rest and acclimatize at the guest house in Dirapuk in preparation for the challenging day ahead.

Today is the most challenging and longest day of the Kailash Kora pilgrimage, covering approximately 20 km and taking about 7-8 hours. The trek involves a demanding ascent of around 550 meters followed by a descent of about 600 meters.

We begin from Dirapuk and trek to Jarok Donkhang village before heading to Shiva-tsal, a sacred site where pilgrims symbolically undergo death to be reborn. From here, we ascend to the highest point of the Kora — the Drolma La Pass at 5634 meters. It is believed that reaching the summit signifies spiritual rebirth.

After crossing the pass, we descend to the banks of the Lham-Chu Khir River and arrive at Khando Sangam La on the eastern side of Mt. Kailash. After a short rest, we continue to Juthulpuk, famed for its miraculous cave where the revered ascetic Milarepa is said to have performed miracles.

We will spend the night at a guest house in Zutulpuk, resting after this spiritually and physically demanding day.

After breakfast we will complete the Kora by walking for about 3/4 hours and return back to Darchen village. After resting and having lunch we will head back through the same route to Saga village. Stay overnight at Guest House.

After breakfast we will drive back through the same way enjoying the scenic view to Kerung. Stay overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast, complete border formalities at the Tibetan and Nepalese immigration checkpoints. Once you cross back into Nepal, you will be met by our team for the scenic drive through the Langtang and Trishuli valleys back to Kathmandu.

The drive offers beautiful views of rivers, terraced hillsides, and rural Nepali life. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel.