We had a wonderful time in Tibet. We have learned a lot about this unique destination because of the wonderful guide Degyi who is so knowledge and always available towards our tours. We stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel Lhasa, and we would never imagine a Tibet travel could be so nice and amazing without the help of Degyi.
Also, thanks a lot to our Tibetan driver Mr.Wongdun for his safe driving and a good sense of service along the way.
We shall return Tibet in the near future!
P.B. and A. A - Europe
Tibet Travel
June 2018 (Private Tibet Journey from Kathmandu)
Tour Name: Lake Manasarovar and Mt.Kailash Kora Tour Code: M69D324 Duration: 20 Days & 19 Nights Destination: Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Saga, Manasarovar Lake, Mt.Kailash trekking Features: Mt. Kailash (6,638m/21,778 ft) is Asia's most sacred mountain and the source of four greatest rivers in Asia, the Indus River, the Sutlej River (a major tributary of the Indus River), the Brahmaputra, and the Karnali River (a tributary of the Ganges River). Mount Kailash is considered as the spiritual center of the universe and a Kora around Mt. Kailash on the famous pilgrim circuit with many Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims is undoubted a great inspirational journey. This trip also takes us to Lake Manasarovar, the divine lake for both Buddhists and Hindus. Departure Date: You Choose! Tour Price: From $ P.P |
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Tour Dates |
Destinations |
Tours & Services |
Meals |
Accommodation |
Day01 |
Lhasa |
Arrive in Lhasa, be met and transferred to hotel. Free at own leisure for altitude acclimation. | N/A | Lhasa Kyichu Hotel |
Day02 |
Lhasa |
Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and walk on the holy Barkhor Circuit. | B, L | Lhasa Kyichu Hotel |
Day03 |
Lhasa |
Visit Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka Park and see monk debating at Sera Monastery. | B, L | Lhasa Kyichu Hotel |
Day04 |
Lhasa - Shigatse |
Drive to Shigatse. On the way visit Yamdrok Lake, Pelkor Chode Monastery and Kumbum Chorten in Gyantse. | B, L | Shigatse Manasarovar Hotel |
Day05 |
Shigatse - Lhatse |
Morning visit Tashilunpo Monastery, drive to Lhatse and explore Sakya Monastery en route. | B, L, D | Local Hotel |
Day06 |
Lhatse - Saga |
Leave for Saga and visit Saga Monastery on arrival. | B, L, D | Local Lodge |
Day07 |
Saga - Lake Manasarovar |
Drive to Lake Manasarovar. | B, L, D | Camp or lodge |
Day08 |
Lake Manasarovar - Darchen |
Explore Lake Manasarovar by 4WD jeep, drive to Darchen. | B, L, D | Local Lodge |
Day09 |
Mt.Kailash |
Mt.Kailash Kora. | B, L, D | Camping Tent |
Day10 |
Mt.Kailash |
Mt.Kailash Kora. | B, L, D | Camping Tent |
Day11 |
Tirthapuri |
Trek back to Darchen and end of Kora before noon. Drive to Tirthapuri and explore the hot spring and visit little temples nearby. | B, L, D | Camp or lodge |
Day12 |
Tirthapuri - Lake Manasarovar |
Drive to Chiu Monastery by the Lake Manasarovar. | B, L, D | Camp or lodge |
Day13 |
Manasarovar Lake - Saga |
Leave in the morning for Saga. | B, L, D | Local lodge |
Day14 |
Saga - Shigatse |
Transfer back Shigatse and explore Phuntsoling Monastery, visit local market in Shigatse. | B, L | Shigatse Manasarovar Hotel |
Day15 |
Shigatse - Lhasa |
Drive back Lhasa and en route visit Ralak Yungdrungling Monastery and a Tibetan family. | B, L, D | Lhasa Kyichu Hotel |
Day16 |
Lhasa |
Transfer to airport for departure flight. Trip ends. | B | N/A |
Day01 Arrival Lhasa You will be greeted and received by your Tibetan guide and driver with Hadda (snow white silk ribbon for Tibetan to greet distingue guests). Transferred to your hotel in the city and free at own leisure to acclimatize to the altitude. | ||
Day02 Lhasa (B, L)
Today you will have a full day guided tour in Lhasa. You will first of all visit Potala Palace, which was originally constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of the united Tibet, and later expanded and served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet. Then you will admire Jokhang Temple, the center of the Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of Buddhist followers where thousands of pilgrims come for worship everyday. Walk on the holy Barkhor Circuit and do some shopping if desired.
Day03 Lhasa (B, L)
Visit Drepung Monastery the sacred land of Gelug Sect, which was established in 1416AD and the second, third and fourth Dalai Lama once resided in. After that you will be transferred to Norbulingka Park, the former Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas. Additionally you will be transferred to visit Sera Monastery, which was created in AD1419 and has always been an important Buddhist seminary. Here in Sera, you have chance to see the grand occasion of the Buddhist monk debating at one big courtyard. Lunch served at a good local restaurant and dinner will be arranged at your hotel.
Day04 Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse (B, L)
In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4.796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake Yamdrok Yumtso (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. The Yamdok Yumtso, one of the three largest lakes of Tibet, lies about a hundred kilometers' distance to the southwest of Lhasa, is within Langkamu county, with an area of 638 square kilometers and a coastal line of 250 kilometers. The deepest point is 60 meters. To the interior of the lake ten or so hilly islands stand independently one from the other which give homes to flocks of wild ducks. A lot of colorful ducks and geese are swimming on the surface of the lake. There is also plenty of natural fodder for the fish in the lake. The lake has a fish reserve of about 300 million kilograms. That is why it is called "the Fish Store of Tibet". The coast of the lake is an ideal pasture. All these make an intoxicating quite picture. Then drive over the 5, 010 m high Karo La and the Simi La to Gyantse (approx. 3.950 m). On arrival, you will explore the Pelkor Chode Monastery and the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby. Built in the15th century and situated in the northwestern edge of Gyantse, Pelkor Monastery is the only one large building complex in Tibet that old monastery and stupas are completely preserved and characterized as a monument. It is recorded 14,000 kilograms of copper was used to make the 8-meter-high sitting statue of Sakyamuni Buddha housed in the grand hall of the temple. The 8-storey stupa is 42m high and 62m in diameters contains a total of 76 chapels with wonderful murals revered by art scholars around the world. Kumbum Stupa opens 8 doors, which are decorated with relief sculptures of lively flying dragons, running lions and walking elephants. It is a master-piece of the joint efforts of the Nepalese, Tibetan and Chinese. Then you will drive to Shigatse.
Day05 Shigatse - Sakya - Lhatse (B, L, D)
In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447. The monastery is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the Tsang regions of Tibet, sprawls on the slope of Mt. Niser, south-west of Shigatse. Tashilhunpo is associated with the Gelugpa order and is one of the six great Gelugpa institutions along with Drepung, Sera and Ganden in Lhasa and Kumbum and Labrang in Amdo. It is probably the largest functioning monastic institution in contemporary Tibet and is an impressive place to explore. Then you will drive to Lhatse and stay overnight. On the way you will visit Sakya Monastery.
Day06 Lhatse - Saga (B, L, D)
Drive to Saga along the paved south route leading to West Tibet as far as Kashgar on the Pamirs. Enjoy nice view enroute and on arrival Saga you will visit Saga Monastery in town.
Day07 Saga - Paryang - Lake Manasarovar (B, L, D)
Leave at 08h00 am and drive on the newly paved road via Paryang to Manasarovar Lake. The road is very good and hence we can reach Paryang at around 14h00 pm and Manasarovar Lake by 19h00. 1N at local guesthouse or camping at Seralung Monastery by the lake
Day08 Manasarovar Lake - Darchen (B, L, D)
Today you will start your tour at Manasarovar. You will take the jeep and visit the lake clockwise from Seralung Monastery to Trugo Monastery and then to Chiu Monastery. You can trek part of the shore if desired. Later in the afternoon transferred to Darchen. 1N at local guesthouse at Darchen
Day09 Mt. Kailash Kora (B, L, D)
Enjoy sunrise in the morning and then drive half an hour to Darchen where you get ready for your forth coming trekking (Kora) around Mt. Kailash. You will have your first hour walking to Tarbochen where the annually Saga Dawa Festival takes places and this year it is on 4th JUNE. Keep walking towards Chorten Kangnyi and getting to Chuku Monastery and finally you reach Dira-puk Monastey your first night camp. Camping or stay at local primitive tented guesthouse for the pilgrim
Day10 Mt. Kailash Kora (B, L, D)
Enjoy hot tea and coffee in the morning and get ready for the Day ii trekking. You will cross a bridge and get over Dromla La Pass. This part of the trekking towards Dromla La is hard as you will climb up three steep slopes and altitude rising to 5300 metre above sea level. Have some good views at the pass and then get down to Lham Chukhir Valley and take another 10km walking to Zutul-puk where Milarepa took meditation here. Camping or stay at local primitive guesthouse for the pilgrim
Day11 Trek back to Darchen, drive to Tirthapuri (B, L, D)
This morning is leisure walk. You trek along Dzong Chu and viewing prayer flags and countless Mani Stone Walls leading you to Darchen and starting and finish point of the Kora. Meet with your driver again and have lunch break at Darchen before transferring to Tirthapuri which is 2hrs jeep away. On arrival you will enjoy hot spring and visit little temple as well as a Kora along the holy track. You will visit the site where Guru Rimpoche once took meditation. 1N at local guesthouse or camping at Tirthapuri
Day12 Tirthapuri - Lake Manasarovar (B, L, D)
In the morning you can take a little walk at Tirthapuri if desired. Then you will be transferred to Chiu Monastery by the lake Manasarovar. 1N at local guesthouse or camping for the night
Day13 Lake Manasarovar - Saga (B, L, D)
This morning you will drive to explore the ruins of ancient Cherkip Monastery and Langbona Monastery. Then you will leave Manasarovar for Saga. On the way you have photo opportunities to the wild animals and landscapes.
Day14 Saga - Shigatse (B, L)
Leave in the morning for Shigatse via Lhatse. You will visit Saga Monastery and on the way to Shigatse you will have a stop at Ngamring Lake. In Lhatse we will visit Phuntsoling Monastery which was built as early as AD1615, belongs to a Gelupa tradition, in its peak time it once had 35 chapels and one huge assembly hall with 3300+ monks. On arrival Shigatse, we can explore and shop around at a local free-market in town.
Day15 Shigatse - Lhasa (B, L, D)
Check out and leave for Lhasa. On the way you will visit Ralak Yungdrungling Monastery which is located at the foot of the Yulha Jiesam Mountain in the Numa village in Namling County about 90 km. from Shigatse. The monastery is also one of the four major monasteries of Bon religion in Tibet, which was constructed by Jianggun Dawujian during the rule of Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. You will also visit a local Tibetan family to observe what their today's life is.
Day16 Depart Lhasa (B)
Transfer to airport for your departure flight. Journey ends.
Tour costing varies upon group size, travel season and hotel accommodation levels etc. For price details please email us at info@splendidchinatours.com.
Price inclusions:
01). All accommodations based on two persons sharing one room/tent/guesthouse/local lodge (single occupancy is subject to supplement);
02). China internal flights with airport tax or train as stated in the program;
03). Round-trip transfers between airports or railway stations, hotels, and scenic spots in each city by private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced licensed drivers;
04). All admission fees and activity expenses as listed in the itinerary;
05). Daily meals as specified in the itinerary: B denotes breakfast, L denotes lunch, and D denotes dinner (SD signifies special dinner);
06). Services of a seasoned English speaking local trek guide during the walking and for culture visits in the itinerary (other languages can be arranged upon request, supplement may apply);
07). Adequate packing animals such as horses/or yaks and porters for baggages/outdoor gears during the trekking;
08). Professional outdoor sleeping tents with mattress during the trekking (twin shared basis);
09). Kitchen tent, toilet tent and folding table and chairs during the camping days;
10). Three meals a day prepared by professional outdoor cook during the walking;
11). Tibet local travel permits such as Tibet Entry Permit (TTB), Alien's Travel Permit (PSB) and Military Permit etc. when applicable;
12). Travel Agency Liability Insurance during the tour;
13). Governmental taxes and fees.Price excluded:
01). International airfare to/from China;
02). Chinese Visa fees;
03). Expenses of personal natural such as laundry, telephone, drinks, mini bar etc;
04). Personal shopping, optional activities and excess baggage charges;
05). Gratuities for local tour guides, drivers and hotel bellboy etc;
06). International travel insurance;
07). Services and activities that are not mentioned in the itinerary.