Welcome to Lhasa (3650m)! We begin your amazing journey to Mount Kailash.

After arrival in Lhasa by plane or train, our guide will meet you with a hadak, a traditional Tibetan ceremonial scarf. You will then be taken to your hotel in the city center. Along the way, you will see the rivers of Tibet, including the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) and Lhasa.

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, one of the highest cities in the world (approximately 3,500 meters above sea level), and the ancient spiritual and political center of Tibet. As a result of the administrative reform in 1960, the Lhasa City District was formed as part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and the historical urban area became the Chengguan District. Currently, the population of the district is approx. 2 million people, almost half of whom live directly in the historic city. Lhasa is also the traditional residence of the Dalai Lama. Literally translated from Tibetan, "Lhasa" means "place of the gods."

Overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will immerse yourself in the world of Tibetan monasteries! You will visit the largest monastery in Tibet, learn about the basics of Tibetan Buddhism, and see the daily life of the monks.

In the morning, you will travel to Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, which once housed over 10,000 monks. Your guide will explain the philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism and its key figures. During the day, you will witness the famous philosophical debates of the monks at the Sera Monastery (from 15:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday). The day will end with a group welcome dinner.

Sera is a monastery in the suburbs of Lhasa, Tibet (about 5 km from the city), and is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries and universities of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a place of pilgrimage. It was previously one of the three "state monasteries" of Tibet, along with Drepung and Ganden. The monastery is also a museum that is visited by many tourists. The monks regularly hold lively philosophical discussions.

Night in Lhasa.

The crown jewels of Lhasa – UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple – will reveal the spiritual life of Tibetans.

After breakfast, you will visit the majestic Potala Palace, which offers panoramic views of the city. You will learn the history of the Dalai Lamas and see unique relics. Then a walk through the park at the foot of the palace. In the afternoon, visit the Jokhang Temple, the heart of Tibetan spirituality, with its famous statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. You will walk along Barkor Street, where pilgrims perform kora, and visit a traditional Tibetan tea house.

The Potala Palace is a Buddhist temple complex, now a museum. Built in the eclectic style typical of Tibetan architecture, the temple palace covers an area of over 360,000 m2 and has over 1,000 rooms. Many of them are chapels with sculptures of the Dalai Lamas, throne and meditation halls, as well as dormitories where personal items of the spiritual rulers of Tibet are carefully stored. The walls of many rooms are decorated with frescoes.

Jokhang Monastery is the most revered temple in Tibet, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to legend, it was built by Songtsen Gampo in 647 for his wife, Nepali Princess Bhrikuti. More than 3,000 images (sculptures, frescoes) are now stored inside the 4-storey temple in numerous chapels Buddhas, Buddhist deities and Tibetan Buddhist saints. The main object of worship is the statue of Jovo Shakyamuni, depicting the Buddha at the age of 12, installed in the main hall of the lower floor.

Overnight in Lhasa.

A journey west to Tibet's second-largest city, passing one of its most beautiful lakes, a glacier, and a charming Tibetan village. 

Through the Gampala Pass (4,790 m) you will descend to the turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok-Tso (4,400 m). You will visit a local family and have lunch with them. Next, there is a view of the Karola Glacier and the Simila Pass, where prayer flags can be hung. In Gyants, you will find photos against the background of an ancient city, and on the way to Shigatse, endless fields of barley.

Yamdrok Lake is one of the sacred lakes of Tibet. Located at an altitude of 4408 m, the name Yamdrok means "turquoise lake of Tibet". The Yamdrok-Tso resembles an octopus in shape; its head is the northern part of the lake. A monastery has been erected on one of the 9 islands, the main relic of which is a stone with Padmasambhava's footprint.

Gyantse was once the third city in Tibet in terms of importance and population (after Lhasa and Shigatse). It is located 250 km southwest of Lhasa at an altitude of 3977 m, with a population of over 50,000 people. The old town is located in a valley formed by low mountains, on one of which (with steep slopes) the Dzong fortress was erected back in the 9th century, and at the foot of the other, more gentle, in the 14th-15th centuries the Palcho monastery appeared.

Overnight in Shigatse.

The day you see the "Roof of the World" – the majestic Jomolungma. (Everest)!

After breakfast, you will head to Mount Everest. Through the Gyatsola Pass (5,280 m) you will have your first view of the top of the world. In the Everest National Nature Reserve from the Gavu La Pass (5198 m) you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayas - this is your second encounter with Jomolungma.

Shigatse is a modern large city, the second largest in Tibet, the capital of the county with a population of 880 thousand people. The majority of the population is Chinese; Tibetans live in their small neighborhood and in the main attraction of Shigadze, Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the few that survived the Cultural Revolution. The picturesque ruins of the dzonga fortress tower above the old quarter. South of the monastery is the summer palace of the Panchen Lama, built in the middle of the 19th century in the national style.

Tashilunpo Monastery is an important center of the Gelug School. It was founded in 1447 by Genden Droop, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. Later, it was Genden Drupa who was considered the first Dalai Lama. In 1652, the fifth Dalai Lama recognized the abbot of the monastery as the "Panchen Lama" ("great teacher"). It is the second most important title in Tibet after the Dalai Lama. It was thanks to this circumstance that Tashilunpo escaped destruction in the 1960s. During its heyday, the monastery, which now occupies an area of more than 70,000 m2, housed over 5,000 monks; currently– about 700.

Overnight at Everest Base Camp.

We continue our journey west to the mysterious Ali Plateau, enjoying views of steppes, lakes, and snow-capped Himalayan ranges along the way.

In the morning, you will have the opportunity to see the pink dawn illuminate the summit of Mount Everest. After breakfast, you will visit the Rombuk Monastery, the highest mountain monastery in the world (5154 m). Then the way lies to the most mysterious region of Tibet – Ngari, to the sacred Kailash and Manasarovar. On the way you will see Mount Shishapangma (8027 m) and the golden waters of Lake Pelku-Tso at its foot. Crossing the steppes, you will reach Saga County, the transportation hub of western Tibet.

Pelku-Tso Lake is one of the four sacred highland lakes of Tibet. It is located at an altitude of about 4,590 m at the junction of Gyirong and Nyalam districts of Shigatse Prefecture, about 250 km from Tingri District. Pelku-Tso is the largest lake in Shigatse, with an area of about 300 km2. In the south of the lake, about 60 km away, is Mount Shisha Bangma. This lake is considered sacred because it was blessed by Padmasambhava.

Saga is a city in the province of Shigatse, the capital of the Saga region at an altitude of 4600m with a population of 20 thousand people. It was founded in 1960. The region shares a common border with Nepal: about 100 km. The city has gained fame as a transit point for Nepali and Indian groups whose goal is a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.

A night in the Saga.

The path to the foot of sacred Mount Kailash through the vast expanses of the Ali Plateau.

The road runs through pastures where yaks and sheep graze, past picturesque lakes. From the Mayum-La pass (5211 m) you enter the Ngari region, and you will have a view of Lake Manasarovar, and Kailash will appear in the distance. In the evening, you will arrive in Darchen, a city at the foot of the sacred mountain.

Darchen translates as "big flag". Once upon a time, a huge thangka with the image of Buddha was hung on the wall of a local monastery, which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. After the collapse of the unified Tibetan state in the middle of the 9th century, the rulers of western Tibet (Ngari) seized the historical region of Ladakh located to the south (Ladakh; today it is part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir) and founded the Ladakh Kingdom. In the 12th century, the Ladakh kings donated the territory on which Darchen is located to the Bhutanese lama Drukchen Ngawang Namgyal. From that time on, monasteries began to be built along the Kailash-Kory route.

Overnight in Darchen.

The start of the main spiritual challenge – the kora around sacred Mount Kailash.

After moving to the starting point, trekking begins in the valley at the foot of Kailasa. You will see the southern and western slopes of the mountain. Accommodation in a guest house near the monastery of DriraPhuk, which offers an unforgettable view of the sunset over Kailash.

DriraPhuk Monastery, founded in 1213 It was built by master Gotsangpa. It belongs to the Drikung line of the Kagyu School. There are a lot of legends associated with it and the surrounding mountains. After meditating for a long time in the cave where the monastery was built, the Master said: "Anyone who leans his head in this cave, whether it be a being in precious human form, whether it be a creature of three kinds of living beings: birds, rodents or insects, everyone will avoid rebirth in the lower worlds, even if he falls here by accident." As he spoke, he left a dent in the rock with his head.

Overnight at the DriraPhuk Guest House.

Are you ready for the most challenging day of your Kailash kora? This day, you will cross the highest point at 5,630 meters!

We will begin the transition to the Drola-La pass (5,630 m), the highest point of the route. A descent past the emerald Lake of Compassion will take you into the valley to the monastery of ZuturPhuk.

At the top of the pass lies a giant cubic stone called Phawang Mebar. Here you are reborn, as all sins are forgiven thanks to the compassion of Drolma, the goddess of Mercy. When descending from the pass on the right, just below the trail, you can see the sacred lake Yokmo Tso (also Tukje Jingbu, Lake of Compassion, the Indians call it Gauri Kund). Gauri Kund is one of the highest mountain lakes in the world. In Hinduism, it is believed that the lake was created by Shiva at the request of his wife Parvati. Then you will have a six-hour walk to ZuturPhuk Monastery (4750 m). 

Overnight at the ZuturPhuk Guest House.

Completion of the kora around Kailash and a pilgrimage to the shores of sacred Lake Manasarovar.

In the morning, the final crossing around Kailas and return to Darchen. After lunch you will drive to Lake Manasarovar. You can take a bark along the shore, take a dip in the sacred waters, or simply enjoy the incredible scenery. Hot springs are also available.
Overnight in Darchen. 

Manasarovar is one of the most fantastic natural monuments of western Tibet and one of the main Buddhist shrines in the world, along with the protected Mount Kailash. Its area is about 500 km2, and its maximum depth is 82 m. Manasarovar is comparable in size to the largest alpine lakes on our planet, but it has no equal in terms of veneration and symbolic significance. For representatives of four religions at once (Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and followers of bon), it is here, at Kailasa and Manasarovar, that the heart of the Universe beats, the axis of the Earth passes. 

Visit Chiu Monastery ("Bird Monastery"). Chiu Gompa was originally built on the oval-shaped mountain Sangduo Bayre ("Copper Mountain"). The central Place of Power here is the eighth–century cave where Padmasambhava meditated. Here he spent the last seven days of his earthly life. From the top of the monastery there is a magnificent view of Lake Manasarovar (4,500 m.), as well as the snow-capped peak of Kailasa.

Overnight near Manasarovar Lake.

Today, you will say goodbye to the Ali Plateau and return to the Himalayas.

After breakfast you will return to Saga. The road will give you a few more moments of unity with the Ngari nature.

A night in the Saga.

Today is a day of exploring snowy mountains and forests on the edge of the Himalayas.

Transfer to Gyarung Valley (2,800 m). You can visit the Sherpa village, hike to the Padmasambhava Meditation Cave and visit Pakba Monastery. In the evening, a farewell dinner for the group.

Gyirong is located in the middle of the Himalayas southwest of Shigatse. The region borders Nepal, with a total area of 1,200 km2. The length of the borders is 162 km. The population of the region – about 25 thousand people – is distributed among 2 cities, 4 towns and 42 villages. Due to its proximity to Nepal, the region has often been attacked by this country. Gyirong means "a comfortable and happy place" in Tibetan. The county is also called the back garden of Mount Everest and the last land of mystery in Tibet. The legend associated with the name says that when at the end of the VIII century. Padmasambhava passed through these lands, then, seeing the beautiful picturesque landscapes, emotionally exhaled the word "Gyirong", expressing endless praise and love. For a long time, Gyirong was ruled by the Tubo dynasty, then it was replaced by the Gong Tong dynasty, and later by the Yuan dynasty. In the 17th century, Gyirong was the last political stronghold of the Sakya school. In the Middle Ages, there was a Tibetan book printing center here. The region was of great strategic importance, as it was located at the crossroads of trade routes between Nepal and India.

The main temple of the city, Pakba, is located in the center of Lower Gyirong. This temple was built in the 7th century by order of Sangtsen Gampo, when Nepali Princess Bhrikuti was traveling to Lhasa. The main attraction is the sandalwood statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the four sacred statues. This temple is one of the twelve that fixes the ankle of an evil demoness, which was shaped by the territory of Tibet in the 7th century.

Overnight in Gyarung.

Return to the high plateau.

In the morning, rest or transfer to the Nepalese border for those who wish. After lunch, transfer back to Tingri (4,300 m).

Overnight at Tingri.

Return to Lhasa via the scenic road along the Brahmaputra River.

Scenic drive back to the capital of Tibet.

Overnight in Lhasa.

The end of your Tibet tour.

Transfer to the airport or railway station according to your schedule.