Mount Kailash Manasarovar Tour 19 Days- From the 9th to the 17th century, the Kingdom of Gu-ge ruled western Tibet. Its strong associations with India and Ladakh made Gu-ge the leader of the Buddhist restoration on the Tibetan Plateau. Particularly popular for their incredible art, there were once over 100 monasteries in this area.
The area is scenically magnificent, apart from the history. The Sutlej River cuts through the valley with its astonishing eroded sides.
Day 1 KATHMANDU – GONGGAR(3600m, 1 HRS) & DRIVE TO LHASA (3658m, 100kms, 2hrs)
It is pointless to express more, how beautiful and stunning the flight to Lhasa Gongar airport is , It does not matter where the flight is from but what it matters is it is one of the world`s most stunning flight sightseeing ever.You will be welcomed by our Tibetan crew guide and driver at Lhasa Gongar airport with a pleasing smile. When you reached hotel you will be amaged by its location because it is situated at high altitude and then you will step to the local altitude where your room is booked by our representative.
Day 2 SIGHTSEEING IN LHASA
After your refreshing breakfast we move on for the sightseeing at Lasha. We brief you a whole day program and your tour will be guided by our experienced guide. Then we move on to Sera Monastery offering an insight to the important aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, Norbulingka and the Barkhor Square. Norbulingka is known as the summer retreat of Dalai Lama,The building was made in 1956 which is highly decorated by Tibetan carvings and paintings. Tibetan cultural glimpse can also be seen in the Jokhang temple. We will be spending some time walking around the busy Barkhor Square and return back for the hotel.
Day 3 Visit to LHASA
Today, we visit the majestic Potala Palace, the imposing structure, for sightseeing. You will be guided through the structure of Potala Palace which dominates the landscape of Lasha. You can experience the best Tibetan art there, As we continue through the ancient chambers. The palace has a vast array of intricate Tibetan murals and beautiful statues along with the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas. Further, you will be guided to visit beautifully landscaped Drepung Monastery where you can observe nuns and monks chanting mantra and performing religious discourses. Finally, we will escort you back to hotel for pleasant rest.
Note: The sightseeing of the places will be decided as per the order decided by the Guide since only limited numbers of visitors are allowed to visit the Potala Palace.
Day 4 LHASA – GYANGTSE (3950m, 280kms, 7hrs)
By a private land cruiser with guide, taking the friendship high way towards the Khampa la pass ( 4730metres ), at the pass we have a short break for dazzling views of some key white peaks in the eastern regions of Himalaya to the south and the young Norjing Gang Sang spiritual snow mountain range to the west , and driving to the local nomadic and farming villages as far as to the western edge of Yamdrok lake where we have a pleasant meadow next to the lake for our picnic lunch (50-50meters),after that we continue our scenic driving to the next pass Karo la where we have our first high altitude adventure experience of Norjing Gang Sang glacier peak and some funs with the local high altitude animal Yaks and their herders, In the late afternoon,we have our arrival in Gyangtsecheck in a hotel in Gyangtse ( 3850metres ), shower and prepare for a nice dinner!!! (Hotel stay)
Day 5 GYANGTSE – SHIGATSE (3900m, 90kms, 2 hrs)
We visit the local historical and the cultural centers after breakfast. The Palkhor Chode monastery including the Kumbum stupa ( the only survival with such unique structure and the thousands of art works ) and the local ancient Gyangtse fort, We drive to Shigatse through the rich agricultural Nying Chu valley of central Tibet at noon, on arrival in Shigatse and rest. (Hotel stay)
Day 6 SHIGATSE – SAKYA (4300m, 150kms, 3hrs)
We visit the Tashilunpo monastery (the main seat of Panchen Lama ) after breakfast and the local Traditional market we leave Shigatse town in the afternoon. Then our drive continue west on the friendship high way to Sakya, visit Sakya monastery ( The main seat of Sakya pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism ) a monastery which was once the political center of majority parts of Tibetan territory and its history dates back to 11th century contemporary to the second diffusion of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet ).Although thousands of precious scriptures were destroyed during cultural revolution, it still has the largest library for ancient Buddhist scriptures (4300metres) (Hotel stay).
Day 7 SAKYA – SAGA (4580m, 275 kms, 8 hrs)
We leave the main friendship high way and head into the high way up to the capital Ngari of west Tibet this day, we cross the Bramapurata to the North and drive west via Lang Tso lake, Namring lake and up to the rich grass lands of Sang Sang nomadic zone where we have our lunch. After lunch we drive for 2 hours to reach Saga for overnightovernight camp(4580 meters).(Camp)
Day 8 SAGA – PARYANG (4520m, 240 kms, 7 hrs)
We leave for Paryang after early breakfast and drive through the winds wept territory passing many villages and camps of Yak herders. Then we arrive in Paryang,after crossing the wide open grass land. We have fabulous views of Himalyas to the south and clear weather condition. Drive will be comfortable compared to other days, as the road is quite flat on the day.(4520 metres).(Camp)
Day 9 PARYANG – DARCHEN (4580m, 335kms, 9 hrs)
We have an easy drive to Darchen (4580 metres) southern base of so called sacred Mt. Kailash ( the starting point of the holy circuit around the sarcred mountain ) after breakfast.We take a leisurely 2 and half days walk to complete the interesting circuit though tibetan pilgrims complete 52kms distant circuit in a day starting before dawn and completing before sunset.
Day 10 KORA MT. KAILASH – TREKKING (4780m, 6 hrs)
Our trek starts with Yaks and Yakmen. This is our first day to discover a few of the magical sites in Mt Kailash region .The walk is a slow and relaxing ascend to our first camp ( 4780 metres ) in the environs of the historical hermitages of the great poet saint Milarepa on the Northern base of Kailash.
Day 11 KORA MOUNT KAILASH – TREKKING (4680m, 7 hrs)
This is our tough day, we walk cross the highest pass on the whole trip known as Dolma pass 5700metres (Highest point on this trip ), needless to mention today`s marvelous sites with legendary fairy tales enroute, our arrival at our camp ( 4680 metres ) on the eastern base of the mountain may get bit late as it has been a long day! To greet your success of the life time experience day,our chefs are at the camp before hand and will have drinks and foods prepared!
Day 12 KORA MT. KAILASH TO TIRTHAPURI (4330m, 90 KMS, 6 HRS)
After having our lunch and a tea break in afternoon, we drive for 90kms – 2hrs to Tathapuri hermitages and hotspring which is our complete trek at noon in Darchen for 4 to 5hrs.This site spiritually related to Mt Kailash and its history goes back to the 8th century, we have our camp next to the hot springs there( 4580 meters ).
Day 13 TIRTHAPURI – TSATA (GUGE KINGDOM) (3660m, 220kms, 8hrs)
Drive further west to Tsata, after breakfast at the camp. It is an easy and lovely day. The Kailash terrain to North and the great Himalaya to the South, crossing the eagle pass and the white and black elephant pass, we drive descend down into the dried mud gorges of an ancient lake in the himalayan kingdom in the late afternoon, nowadays this dry unusually formed valley is drained by the elephant river ” Satlaj river ” on arrival we check in Tsata guest house (3660 meters). (Guest house stay)
Day 14 KGUGE KINGDOM – TSAPRANG (4500m) & THOLING MONASTERY (3800m, 8 hrs)
We will visit the ancient Guge Kingdom of western Tibet, the abandoned and ruined kingdom of Guge dynasty, that dates back to the 11th century. This unusual visit will give meaningful glimpse of the ancient history of beautifully painted ancient frescoes. The fascinating thing about it is they are mostly intact with hundreds of ancient locals dwelling caves dotted on the mountain, out of which the renowned kingdom of Guge was carved.Then we will visit the monastery which was founded in the 11th century and was once one of the main Buddhist centers in West Tibet. According to history, the descendents of the ancient central Tibet royal family of Yarlung dynasty wandered to West Tibet, and continued their royal family by founding this Guge dynasty and its kingdom there, after the split of the central Tibet Yarlung dynasty kingdom, back in the 9th century in Lasha. After visiting this place we return back to the hotel for rest.
Day 15 TSATA – MANASAROVAR LAKE (CHIU GOMPA) (4550m, 295kms, 9hrs)
We will be having an exciting day drive to have a hot bath in the natural hot springs at Manasarovar lake( The most sacred lake in Tibet). At the same place, we will have one night stay on the western shore of the lake camp( 4550Metres).
Day 16 DRIVE BACK FROM CHIU GOMPA TO PARYANG ( 4520m, 290 kms, 7 hrs)
We will be leaving early today for our drive back to Paryang from Chiu Gompa. Though we will leave early, we will encounter the best scenery on our trip. We can relax and enjoy the unparalleled beauty of this drive.
Day 17 DRIVE FROM PARYANG TO SAGA (4580m, 240 kms, 6 hrs)
Today we will be moving towards the Saga which will be our next ride . Then on the way to the camp we will enjoy the small dusty towns.
Day 18 (DRIVE) SAGA – NYALAM (3500m, 275 kms, 7hrs)
We will be driving across the wide grasslands of Shisha Pangma plain. Then we move on to the friendship highway following Nyalam town route at pass Thong La (5050 metres ) in Tibet. A long range panoramic view of Himalaya and the famous Tibetan peak “Shisha Pang Ma (8012metres) is been seen on the way. Then after, we will have a short break at this scenic spot before we go down to Nyalam our guest house for the night stay.
Day 19 NYALAM – ZHANG MU (2300m, 38kms, 1hr) – KODARI – KATHMANDU (1300m, 110 KMS, 5 HRS)
From Nyalam, we will descend from 3750 metres within 1hr down to 2700 metres at the border, we will see the quick changes of the scenery which will make our last hour in Tibet very memorable. At the border, you can see the Tibet exit stamp and then we will drive for another 20 minutes for few hundred meters down to the friendship bridge and cross the border on to Nepal .Till the journey from Lasha to Nepal our Tibetan crew will be with you from pick up to drop down .
Includes
COST INCLUDES : • Hotel & Guest House accommodation – Twin share with breakfast • Guided tour in Tibet as per the itinerary • All Sightseeing entry fee, Tibet permit charges & royalties as per the itinerary • All land transfers by private vehicle (Bus or Van as per group size) • Support Truck • Fully catered camping trek supported by Nepalese crew during the camping • Yak & Yak men during the Mount Kailash kora trekking • English speaking Tibetan Guide • Airfare Kathmandu to Lhasa one way • Chinese/Tibet visa fee
Excludes
• Cost for extra usage of vehicle, other than scheduled & mentioned in the itinerary. • Cost for any other service not mentioned under the “Cost Includes” Head • Cost for Insurance. • Additional cost arising due to mishaps, political unrest, natural calamities like – landslides, road blockage, etc. In such case extra will have to be paid on the spot by the guest directly. • Payment for service provided on a personal request. • Personal expenses such as laundry, bottled water, soft drinks, incidentals, porter charges, tips etc. • American national has to pay USD100 extra top of above price for Chinese/Tibet visa fee • Lunch and dinner in Tibet.