Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu

Upon arrival in Kathmandu Airport, you will be welcomed by our staff and transferred to hotel. In the afternoon, collect copies of your passports and 2passportsize photos to process Tibet group visa.

Day 2/3/4: Sightseeing Including Pashupatinath Temple (Pashupatinath Temple, Budhanilkantha)

Visa Application – it takes 3 working days for the Tibet group visa to get delivered. During the 3 days in Kathmandu, we will visit Pashupatinath, Jal Narayan (sleeping Vishnu) temple, Swoyambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square etc. Pashupatinath Darshan and Puja, Hawan and Rudraabhishek by Brahman

Day 5: Take flight to Lhasa (3650m)

We will take flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Upon arrival, our drivers will pick up from Gong-gar Airport and transfer to the hotel in Lhasa. Day 1& 2 are important acclimatisation days and you will want to make sure to take it easy, by resting and drinking plenty of water. In the evening, we will have a meeting in the hotel, orientation of the Kailash yatra for more details lead by our staff. During this session, we will explain our pilgrimage tour itinerary in details and you can ask questions if you have. Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa, 4 star

Day 6: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor street

Today, we will visit the Potala Palace which is built in 7th century and explore the grandest of this myriad chapels. You will experience its audience halls, the jewelled and Golden burial Chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, Thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the holist temple in Tibet, the Johkang Temple, built during king Songtsen Gonpo’s reign by princess Wencheng and its famous Barkor Kora, where you can buy or appreciate traditional Tibetan artefacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition Tibetan clothes etc. Accommodation: Hotel in Lhasa, 4 star

Day 7: Set out for Gyantse to Shigatse (3750m). 375km

After the breakfast all group members picked up from the hotel at 09:00 and drive to Shigatse via Gyangtse. En-route, you will across Kambala pass (3975m), Yamdrok Youtso Lake, Karola Glacier and Semila Pass. Stop at every sight to take photos the great natures until arriving in Gyangtse. Gyangtse is renowned for Pelkhor Monastery and the stupa. Gyangtse Zong is located on top of the hill, was once the administration of central Tibet. We will drive more 90km to Shigatse through Tibetan villages aside the road. Accommodation: Gesar hotel, 4 star

Day 8: Drive to Rongphu Monastery (5150m)

We will drive to Rongbu Monastery, located just below the the Mt. Everest EBC (5200m) . On the way, we will cross the cultural town Lhatse, Gyatsola Pass (5248m), and Shegar cover 245km. A little from Shegar we will head into huge mountains and passes to cover 102km until Rongphu monastery, the highest monastery in the world. Overnight: Rongphu Guesthouse / Tent Guesthouse

Day 9: Trek 4km to Everest Base Camp – then Drive to Saga (4500m) 370km

The day starts early in the morning, so we can enjoy the sunrise over the top of Mt. Everest. You can trek 1-2 hours with a total of 4 kilometres to the Everest Base Camp. Explore the world’s highest Everest Mountain and then we will drive to Saga County (4500m in average). From this 468km long paved road until Saga County you will enjoy fantastic landscapes along the road. Accommodation: Xibu Yizhan (best)

We will meet our Sherpa support at Saga and you can enjoy food cooked by Nepalis until we get back here from Kailash.

Day 10: Saga – Lake Manasarovar (4560m) 500km

We will depart in the morning on a 500 km journey, on a smooth road to Lake Manasarovar, the victory lake in the Ngari region. We will also cross several rivers and Mayumla Pass (4600m), from where we can admire the spectacular panoramic views of the Himalayas. You will also see wild animals enjoying their life, free, on the world’s highest plateau. Accommodation: Guesthouse at the Manasarovar

Day 11: Group Puja at Manasarovar, then Drive to Dharchen

Today, we will do a great Puja at the lake Manasarovar in group from morning to afternoon. We will drive to Dharchen early evening. Prepare for kora (parikrima) the next day. Accommodation: Himalayan hotel (best)

Day 12: Rest & Prepare for Kailash Kora

Day 13: First Day Kora: Drira Puk (Saga Dawa Festival)

Altitude: 4690 meters
Distance: 10 kilometers
Time: ≈ 7 hours
Destination: Drirra Puk

Kailash Saga Dawa Festival celebrates the birthday of Buddha, the most important event in the Buddhist world. The festival takes place every year on April 15, according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, but the entire month of April is dedicated to a series of fascinating and crucial events for Buddhists.

The festival takes place at the base of Mt. Kailash, and includes various cultural and traditional manifestations held in the proximity of Dharpoche. When the festival ends (after about 3 hours), participants will attend a kora (trek) and set a big prayer pole around which they will be saying prayers. Kailash Kora begins in Darchen. You go by eco-bus to the 1st Prostration Point Dharpoche. Meet your horse and porter if you hired one. Then start to trek. Choku Gompa is the place where Buddha Shakyamuni left his imprints.

Opposite to Choku Gompa is the Assembly of 500 Arhats – the spot where, according to tradition, Buddha Sakyamuni prayed and meditated in front of Mount Kailash. The gradually ascending path, flanked by rocks on both sides, named after Buddhist deities, takes you to Driraphuk Gompa. Although the terrain is easy, the high altitude makes it difficult for Western hikers to walk at ease. Accommodation: Guesthouse

Day 14: Inner Kora to North Face (Kailash Touching)

Trek to inner kora North face of the holy Mt. Kailash. This inner kora also called Kailash touching by walking to the holy mountain. Accommodation: Guesthouse

Day 15: Trek to Zultrul Puk over Dolma La pass (5630m)

Highest Altitude: 4630 meters
Distance: 20 kilometers
Time: ≈ 8 hours
Destination: Zultrul Puk

This is the toughest section of your trek around Kailash, climbing from Driraphuk Gompa at 5000 meters to Dolma La Pass at 5630 meters. The atmospheric pressure is one-half that of sea level. It is recommended to slow down to 3-5 steps and take deep breaths (only 50% of oxygen) rather than collapse somewhere along the way.

Drolma La Pass is a holy place where lamas perform bardo rituals and people symbolically leave behind pieces of their hair, nails, hats, clothes…and hang up prayer flags and burn incense. Then you start descending into a long valley that takes you to Zutrulphuk Gompa, where Milarepa’s cave is situated. Milarepa is Tibet’s most beloved yogi – it is pure, pure delight to immerse oneself in meditation inside this cave. Accommodation: Guesthouse

Day 16: Trek to Zongdu, then drive back to Mansarovar 40km

Altitude: 4690 meters
Trekking Distance: 8 kilometers
Trekking Time: ≈ 3 hours
Destination: Manasarovar

The last section is fairly easy walking from Zutruphuk Gompa to Zongdu. The Kailash pilgrimage tour officially ends at Dakini Dancing Ground, with a fantastic view of Lake Manasarovar in the background. However, we will drive to back to Lake Manasarovar for the last bath. Stay the last night at the lake. Accommodation: Guesthouse near the lake

Day 17: Mansarovar – Saga 500km

We will take our return way to Lhasa by reaching back to Saga with a 500km driving. Accommodation: Xibuyizhan Hotel (best) in Saga.

Day 18: Drive to Kyirong Border

We will drive to Kyirong town today via Gongthang La. Overnight: Hotel in Kyirong town.

Day 19: Transfer to Kathmandu

We will transfer you through the border and meet our staff from Nepal side. Transit to Kathmandu. Kalash Yatra tour is officially ends here.