The Holy Mount Kailash
Mansarovar Lake
Yamdrok Lake
Potala Palace
Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery
Pilgrims in Barkhor Street

16-Day Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Tour

Tour Outline: Lhasa(3N) - Shigatse(1N) - Lhatse(1N) - Saga(2N) - Prayang(1N) - Mansarovar Lake(1N) - Darchen(2N) - Camp(2N) - Shigatse(1N) - Lhasa(1N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion

Trip Overview

This 16 days pilgrimage tour starts from Lhasa to Lake Manasarovar Lake and Mount Kailash, which will take you to get close to the holiest and most famous mountain in Tibet.

After spending a few days in Lhasa with the splendid Potala Palace, the sacred Jokhang Temple, as well as the famous monasteries of Sera and Drepung, you will depart Lhasa for the mighty Mount Kailash for the pilgrimage circuit. The amazing views and the traditional Tibetan culture is waiting for you to discover.

[Potala Palace] Touch this bright and flawless jewel in the roof of the world;
[Jokhang Temple] Marvel at the solemn silence with the serene sounds of chanting scriptures;
[Sera Monastery] Listen to the scriptures debating and comprehend the essence of Buddhism;
[Yamdrok Lake] Touch the pure water to see if you can turn young again;
[Manasarovar Lake] Worship the king of the holy lakes in Tibet;
[Trekking Around Mount Kailash] Relieve all your sins in your entire life by the hardship of trekking;

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Tight tour; strong physical condition for the high altitude trekking

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Lhasa Arrival

Upon your arrival at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Lhasa. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest and acclimatize yourself to the high altitude at Tibet. Get prepared for your tour in Lhasa.

Drive 65km
High Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
Internet & Wifi
Hotel: Lhasa Business Hotel

Day 2: Lhasa

The Splendid Potala Palace

Jokhang Temple

After breakfast in your hotel, your personal private will pick you up to visit the splendid Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark in Lhasa. The whole morning is for you to appreciate this world-level architectural work.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Tibetan people from all over the world come here to kowtow in the front of the entrance with their pure heart.

Finally, you can spend some time walking on around the Jokhang Temple in Barkhor Street where is full of religious atmosphere.

Drive depends on your location of hotel
High Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhasa business hotel
Breakfast

Day 3: Lhasa

The Beautiful Norbulingka Park

Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery

After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up to visit the Norbulingka Park, which was used as the summer palace for successive Lamas holding festival celebrations. After that, head to visit Drepung Monastery, the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism.

In the afternoon, head to visit Sera Monastery to see the famous scriptures debating in this monastery.

Drive about 20km
High Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhasa Business Hotel
Breakfast

Day 4: Lhasa - Shigatse

Yamdrok Lake

Pelkor Monastery

Today, you will be driven to view the Yamdrok Lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet which you can never have a panorama. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and fed by numerous small Himalayan streams. Just enjoy the breathtaking blue Yamdrok Lake.

Then head to Gyantse and visit the Pelkor Monastery where displays sculptures, murals and carvings. Then drive to Shigatse where you will stay overnight.

Drive about 260km
High Altitude: Yamdrok Lake (4,441m)
Internet & Wifi
Shigatse Business Hotel
Breakfast

Day 5: Shigatse - Lhatse

Shigatse to Lhatse

Today, we will drive to Lhatse from Shigatse. Enjoy the amazing landscapes along the way up to Lhatse.

Drive about 200km
High Altitude: Lhatse (4,012m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhatse hotel
Breakfast

Day 6: Lhatse - Saga

Lhatse to Saga

Today we will drive to Saga from Lhatse. Along the way, you will have some view of the Tibetan villages and have a chance to see how they live.

Drive about 300km
High Altitude: Saga (4,600m)
Internet & Wifi
Saga Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 7: Saga - Prayang

Saga to Prayang

After breakfast, we will drive to Prayang from Lhatse. Driving through the wildswept territory and watching the mountains and villages in distance, you will be marveled at the landscapes.

Drive about 280km
High Altitude: Prayang (5,000m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Prayang Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 8: Prayang - Mansarovar Lake

Holy Mansarovar Lake

Today, we will drive to the holy Mansarovar Lake, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists.

Drive about 280km
High Altitude: Mansarovar Lake (4,588m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Camping at the Mansarovar Lake
Breakfast

Day 9: Mansarovar Lake – Darchen

Sunrise over the Mansarovar Lake

Views along the Way

Get up in the morning and view the sunrise over the Mansarovar Lake and having a picnic lunch on the bank of the Holy Lake. After that, we will drive the Darchen, the starting and ending point of the pilgrimage. Get prepared for the trekking.

Drive about 100km
High Altitude: Darchen 4,700m
Internet & Wifi: No
Darchen Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 10: Trek to Dirapuk Monastery

Darchen to Dirapuk Monastery

Dirapuk Monastery

Today, you will begin your trekking from Darchen to Dirapuk Monastery. Along the way, there will be local pilgrims chanting and praying.

High Altitude: Dirapuk Monastery(5,210m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Camp at the Dirapuk Monastery
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Trek to Zutulpuk Monastery

Trekking people

Mount Kailash

Today you will trek to Zutulpuk Monastery from Dirapuk Monastery. En route, pass by the Drolma-la Pass.

High Altitude: Zutulpuk Monastery (4,900m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Camp at the Zutulpuk Monastery
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Trek Back to Darchen

Trekking Way to Darchen

Marnyi Stone

Your trekking tour will end at Darchen today after several hours of trekking.

High Altitude: Darchen 4,700m
Internet & Wifi: No
Darchen Guesthouse
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Darchen to Saga

After breakfast, we will drive to Saga.

Drive about 600km
High Altitude: Saga (4,600m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Saga Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 14: Saga - Shigatse

After breakfast, we will drive to Shigatse.

Drive about 500km
High Altitude: Shigatse (4,000m)
Internet & Wifi
Shigatse hotel
Breakfast

Day 15: Shigatse - Lhasa

After breakfast, we will drive to Lhasa.

Drive about 260km
High Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
Internet & Wifi
Lhasa hotel
Breakfast

Day 16: Lhasa Departure

This day is free for you until you head to your next destination or take flight to get back home.

High Altitude: Lhasa (3,680m)
Internet & Wifi: No
Hotel: No
Breakfast

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Lodging: four nights in Lhasa hotel; two nights in Shigatse hotel; one night in Lhatse hotel; two nights in Saga guesthouse; one night in Prayang guesthouse, three nights camping in tent, two nights in Darchen hotel?
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals listed in the itinerary ( 15 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 1 Dinners );
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Lhasa (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Lhasa from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availibility and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!