18 Days Lhasa to Kashgar Overland Tour via Mount Kailash

Detailed Itinerary of the 18 Days Lhasa to Kashgar Overland Tour via Mount Kailash

Day 1: Arrival upon Lhasa

Highlights: Arrival & Pick-up & Acclimatization

Schedule today: Arrival at Lhasa at airport or train station, our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to hotel for acclimatization; you can have your free time hanging out at this holy city to get the first impression of Tibet

Warm Tibetan Style Pickup Service	Warm Tibetan Style Pickup Service

Day 2: Lhasa city tour

Highlights: Potala Palace, Johkang Temple，Barkhor Street

Schedule today: In the morning, visit the symbol or landmark of Lhasa - Potala Palace (video), the successive Dalai Lama’s winter residence since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. In the afternoon, visit the center of Tibetan Buddhism - Johkang Temple (video), where you will come across lots of devoted pilgrimages coming from every corner of Tibet. Both sites are under the list of the world cultural heritages by the UNESCO. Afterwards, free time for you to wander through the Barkhor Street, the busiest street in old Lhasa quarter.

Potala Palace	Johkang Temple

Day 3: Lhasa city tour

Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery

Schedule today: In the morning, we will visit Drepung Monastery which is the biggest Tibetan Buddhism College with the biggest number of monks in Tibet. The monastery used to be the winter residence of the Dalai Lama before the 5th Dalai Lama moved his residency to the Potala Palace. And in the afternoon, we will visit another influential Gelugpa Monastery - Sera Monastery (video), where you can see the largest scale of sutra debating (video) among monks is famous all across Tibet.

Drepung Monastery	Sera Monastery

Day 4: Lhasa - Gyantse

Highlights:Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelchor Monastery

Schedule today: In the morning, drive to the historic town of Gyantse via Yamdrok Lake (video), according to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess, on the Gangbala Pass, you will have a clear picture of this Tibetan holy lake in turquoise, in distance you can also see the snowcapped Summit of Ninjingkangsang. In Gyantse (video) , you will find the largest stupa in Tibet - Kumpa Stupa (Ten-thousand stupa), just next to the Stupa is the Pelchor Monastery (video). Another important site in Gyantse is Dzong Castle which once was a battle field where Tibetan fought against British invasion. Continue drive to Shigatse for overnight.

Yamdrok Lake	Pelchor Monastery

Day 5: Shigatse - Sakya - Lhatse

Highlights: Tashilhunpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery

Schedule today: In the morning after breakfast, we will drive to Shigatse, our guide will go to tourism bureau in Shigatse to apply for PSB permit for Mt. Everest, which will take about 1.5 hour. In Shigatse we can visit Tashilumpo Monastery (video) which is the seat of Panchen Lama, the equally important religious figure in Tibet as Dalai Lama. The monastery was built by the first Dalai Lama in 1447, and inside the Monastery placed the highest statue of Buddha in Tibet which is 26.8 meters high. After obtaining the permit, we will drive to Sakya County and pay a visit to the famous Sakya monastery which was founded in 1073 and it was the principal monastery of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery	Sakya Monastery

Day 6: Lhatse - Saga - Zhongba

Highlights: Bhramha Purtra River

Schedule today: In the morning we will start the Long driving (about one day) over the sandy and rocky land of Tibet, other things like lake, nomads chasing thousands of yaks and sheep keep you busy. By the late afternoon you will cross Bhramha Purtra River way to typical Chinese and Tibetan town. Overnight at Zhongba (Guest house, dorm bed)

Autumn in Lhatse	Colorful sands near Zhongba

Day 7: Zhongba - Lake Manasarovar - Darchen

Highlights: Lake Manasarovar

Schedule today: Prior to Mt. Kailash trekking, you have to transverse along 350 km distance to Lake Manasorovar. This route takes you to the amazing and holy Manasarovar Lake stunningly set on the Tibetan plateau bordered by the majestic Gurla Mandata. As you approach this sacred lake, historic Chiu Monastery will come into your sight on the north-west shore of the lake. From this vantage point, you can even get a glimpse of the majestic Mt. Kailash and Gurla Mandata. This journey leaves your spirit fulfilled.

Lake Manasarovar	Darchen Village

Day 8: Darchen - Dirapuk Monastery (20km trekking)

Highlights: Dirapuk(Lhalung Dira) Monastery

Schedule today: After breakfast, drive approx. 13 Kms to Darchen, the trek starting point of Kailash kora. Tarchen is also known as the outer "Asthapath". The first day of our Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail leads us to few ups and downs till we reach our camp/guest house at Dirapuk (4860 m) 7 km/ 5 - 6 hours trek. We will be camping on the nice grassy meadows with a view of northwestern face of Kailash.

Mount Kailash Trekking	Mount Kailash Trekking

Day 9: Diraphuk Monastery-Zutulpuk Monastery (15km trekking)

Highlights: Drolma Chu Valley,Thukpe Dzingbu Lake,

Schedule today: Lha Chu Valley blurs as you turn towards Drolma Chu Valley. You ascend to Drolma La, the highest point on the trip. But soon after the breathtaking biew of the Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion, at the summit, you realize that this tough and challenging ascent has indeed been worthwhile and fruitful. Several prayer flags can be seen at the summit. Further on, the trail descends to the flat fields of Zutul-puk, which houses a monastery and several fascinating caves. These caves were used for meditation. Milarepa's cave is one of the most ancient and popular. Milarepa's footprints and elbow prints are believed to be imprinted all over this cave filled with mani stones. You then reach Zutulpuk.

Mount Kailash Trekking	Mount Kailash Trekking

Day 10: Zutulpuk Monastery -Darchen (17km trekking)

Highlights: Mt. Kailash trekking

Schedule today: In the morning we will hike back to Darchen. Away from Zugulpuk, you follow the trail through Bhark plain leading to Darchen. It is an easy walk along some impressive gorges and around many manic stones and mani walls back to the Bharkha Plains and dusty Darchen. The Kora has come to an end- you have erased your sins, endured cold nights and mornings, crossed some of the highest passes in the world, met countless fellow pilgrims and sent prayers of peace out to the world. Shortly after arriving at Darchen, you board the waiting vehicle for a short drive to Chi Gomapa, on the shore of the Manasarovar Lake.

Mount Kailash Trekking	Mount Kailash Trekking

 

Day 11: Darchen - Zanda

Highlights: Tholing Mound Forest, Tholing Monastery

Schedule today: Drive from Darchen to Zanda along the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, and drive off the main highway after 150Km, go across a few mountain passes, you will see the magnificent Tholing Mound Forest. In the afternoon, visit the Tholing Monastery. Overnight at Zanda.

Tholing Mound Forest	Tholing Monastery

Day 12: Zanda - Guge Kingdom Ruins (18km)

Highlights: Tholing Mound Forest, Tholing Monastery

Schedule today: Morning drive to Tsaparang Guge Kingdom ruins, in the vast valley of Sutlej river you can find ruins of ancient famous Guge kingdom among the remarkable sand-dunes, a number of temples are still intact and contain exquisite murals and decorative motifs, some are dating back more than 10,000 years, make a half day tour at there. Afternoon drive back to Zanda and have a rest or look around Zanda town.

Guge Kingdom Ruins	Guge Kingdom Ruins

Day 13: Zanda -Pangongtso Lake

Highlights: Lake Pangongtso

Schedule today: After breakfast, drive to Lake Panggongtso, it is a mysterious lake as the one part of lake is inside Tibetan area and other part is inside Indian Territory.

Pangongtso Lake	Pangongtso Lake

Day 14: Pangongtso Lake - Dorma - Dahongliutan

Highlights: Pangongtso Lake

Schedule today: In the morning we will head to Dahongliutang of Xingjiang province. It is a long day on the road and today we will drive pass Tialongtan-la pass which is over 5000m above sea level. This is also the most challenging road among all 4 roads to Tibet.

Dorma	Dahongliutan

Day 15: Dahongliutan - Mazar

Highlights: Kunlun Mountain Ranges

Schedule today: In the morning we will drive to Mazar.

Dahongliutan	Road from Dahongliitan to Mazar

Day 16: Mazar - Yecheng

Highlights: Karakorum mountain range

Schedule today: In the morning, we will head to Yecheng, a city located at the edge of the Taklamakan and the sea level steep down quickly to 1765m. When arrive in Yecheng, you can enjoy the local Bazaar inhabited by Uighur and Han Chinese, welcome back to city after a few days in remote area.

Road from Mazar to Yecheng	Yecheng

Day 17: Yecheng - Kashgar

Highlights:Tomb of Abakh Hoja; Id Kah Mosque and the markets and the old district of city

Schedule today: Drive to Kashgar from Yecheng. Enjoy the culture of Xingjiang Minority along the way to Yecheng. If you arrive at Sunday, do not miss the Sunday market, one of the largest weekly markets of Asia.

Kashgar City	Id Kah Mosque

Day 18: Depart from Kashgar

Schedule today: Tour ends, our guide and driver will drop you off at airport in Kashgar. Welcome to Tibet next time.