Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa
Accommodation: Yak Hotel 3 stars or the same level hotel
Today's activities: Rest and have a look at Lhasa. Welcome to the "Roof of the World." On your arrival to Tibet, we will meet you at the airport or train station and transfer you to the hotel, after you check in, you could either rest for a while or see the city yourself, get the first impression of this ancient city!
Day 2: Lhasa sightseeing
Accommodation: Yak Hotel 3 stars or the same level hotel
Today's activities: Lhasa escorted tour Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery Today you will visit Norbulingka and the Sera Monastery. Afterwards you will then visit the Potala Palace, the winter palace of Panchen Lama, constructed in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, the first king of united Tibet. Later you will visit a Tibetan Family. Finally, we will drive you to your hotel for your accommodation.
Day 3: Lhasa sightseeing
Accommodation: Yak Hotel 3 stars or the same level hotel
Lhasa escorted tour - Jokhang Temple ,Drepung Monastery Today, you will visit Jokhang Temple, you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni inside the temple; and you can see pilgrims make prostrating outside the temple. Then you are going to visit the Carpet Factory and The Tibetan Traditional Medicine Hospital. Finally you will see Drepung Monastery, which is constructed in 1416; and it is the livibg room for the second to the fourth Dalai Lama. Afterwards you will be driven back to your hotel for the remainder of the evening.
Day 4: Lhasa (3650m)drive to Shigatse(3900m) via Gyantse
Accommodation: Shigatse Manasarovar
Today's activity:Yamdrok lake, Karo-la Glacier Palkor monastery (Optional) In the morning you'll start the drive to Shigatse , via Gyantse on the Southern Friendship Highway. Crossing over the summit of Kamba La (4794 m), you'll see the tranquil turquoise waters of Lake Yamdrok below; one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. Far in the distance you'll spot the towering massif Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7191 m), and the staggering Karo-la Glacier (5045 m). Afterwards, you'll drive to Shigatse and we'll visit Tashilumpu monastery , the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama.and overnight there. Tips: After you arrive in Shigatse, our guide will collect your passport to transact the PSB permit to Everest Area, it will take few mins (pending the queue at the office), and you may either wait in the vehicle or just walk around. The application could be arranged next morning alternatively.
Day 5: Shigatse - Mt. Everest
Accommodation:Rongbuk Guest house
Today's activity: EBC and the sunset. We'll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien's travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse. It is a small town where you can take lunch. After that, you will drive to Shegar and if the weather is clear enough then on the way down to shegar you will view the Mt, Everest in the far distance. On the way, you will pass one of the highest passes in Tibet (pang la pass height 5050m) from there you will view the whole five highest peaks in the world. After 4 to 6 hours then you will arrive at Rongbuk monastery, the highest monastery in the world. Today,we will stay overnight at tent or Rongbuk monastery guest house with dormitory bed. Ps: Tent will be only available from May to Oct according to weather condition
Day 6: Mt. Everest Base Camp – Saga
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
Wake up below the stunning north face of Mt. Everest, (8848) the tallest mountain on earth. After breakfast, drive the remaining 8 km to visit Everest Base Camp. Then, drive forward to Saga via Old Tringri, and be wrapped in the endless vistas of the Tibetan plateau.
Day 7: Saga – Lake Monasaravar
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
Zhongba is 145 km away from Saga. The road is good and the trip can be completed within 2-3 hrs. There is also a small monastery at the western end of town on a hill. From Zhongba onwards the southern road deteriorates. This section of the road has panoramic views of mountains on either side of the road. From Paryang to Lake Manasorovar, There will be several river crossings and we drive past Mayum la pass (5200 M). The scenery is stunning beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalaya
Day 8: Lake Monasaravar – Mount Kailash
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
About 60 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen, the main gateway and the village. The monastery at Darchen, Darchen Gon, is a part of the Drukpa sect. The two-story monastery structure in the center of the town serves as a trading post and shelter for pilgrims. Within the dukhang assembly hall are new and old thangka paintings and some statues, the main image is Sakyamuni. West of the gompa is the Mani Lhakhang that has a large, new mani prayer wheel. This is the site where the original old flagpole (a darchen is a flagpole for prayer flags) of Darchen was located. When beginning their kora pilgrimage around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate the Darchen Gon monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before setting out. We organize yaks or ponies for the Kailash circuit trek at Darchen.
Day 9: Kailash Circuit Trek / Diraphuk 6+ hours walking/trekking
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
Zhongba is 145 km away from Saga. The road is good and the trip can be completed within 2-3 hrs. There is also a small monastery at the western end of town on a hill. From Zhongba onwards the southern road deteriorates. This section of the road has panoramic views of mountains on either side of the road. From Paryang to Lake Manasorovar, There will be several river crossings and we drive past Mayum la pass (5200 M). The scenery is stunning beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalaya
Day 7: Saga – Lake Monasaravar
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms and can be done in 3 days. We head west in clockwise direction and after a few kilometers the trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from where the southern face of Mt. Kailash comes to view.
Day 10: Diraphuk / Zutrulphuk, 6+ hours walking/trekking
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
Today we cross Drolma la pass (5630 M) and Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m) where Hindus worship and immerse themselves in the icy waters of the lake.
Day 11: Zutrulphuk trek to Darchen / Drive to Paryang
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
The final end of the parikrama is an easy 2-3 hrs walk down to where the river emerges on to the Barga plain. We complete the 3 day circuit trek of Mt. Kailash and head back to Paryang and overnight there.
Day 12: Paryang– Saga
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
Today we will heading from Paryang directly to Saga city. Upon arrival, free time at your disposal.
Day 13: Saga – Gyirong-(tour ends at the border) / Saga-Lhasa or Sagya
Accommodation:tent or guesthouse
Today’s morning, we will drive from Saga to Gyirong border if your chosen tour ends at the border area. Our guide will help you go through the formalities of China Customs and apply for your Nepali visa, then you need to cross the border to Nepali side by yourself. And our guide & driver with the vehicle will spend two days to get back to Lhasa Alternative: On Day 13 Drive from Saga to Lhatze/or Sagya, it depends NOTE: If your chosen group tour is a simple round trip, today we would continue drive to Lhatse. But the road is different from the one when we are heading for Mt. Kailash. Of course the views along the road is fresh but no repetition.
Day 14: Lhatse – Lhasa
Accommodation:3 Star Hotel in Lhasa
Today we will continue heading back to Lhasa city, but with a slightly different route, so, sit back, and enjoy the endless Tibet Plateau.
Day 15: Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Today's activities: See off (Tour member Exit from Lhasa city finished today
Dear Janet, I would like to thank you and your team for a wonderful tour setup. Begging with your professionalism, warm support and willingness to make our group tour successful one.And great thanks to Dhargye our tour guide who took care of whole group and especially myself during a night of vomiting. He and Mr. Namla- the driver were superb. I will send you some photos separately. Feel free to use them on your company's website. Am happy to give references as required.
Dear Janet,We are safe and sound home and are looking back at a very impressive trip to Tibet and Zhangye. We have between us some 3000 pictures – some quite stunning. Yesterday the four of us expressed what an unforgettable trip this has been. We want to share our appreciation for the way the trip has been organised. Like clockwork. All guides appearing at the right time and place. Everything was very well organised. It was a bit double for us when we were in Lanzhou hearing about the earthquake creating havoc in Nepal, but not leaving Tibet unaffected either. Thank you again for a trip to be remembered for a long time.
Dear Nancy,I feel embarrased that I am answering only now but another couple of weeks of travelling and the beginning of the next semester at the university made me really busy. However, me and Olaf wanted to thank you for the amazing trip we had in Tibet! The organization was simply excellent, thank you for a very quick and informative communication from your side. Many thanks go also to our guide, Danluo as well as to our driver; both of them acted very professionally and kindly towards us. It was really great that our guide was of the Tibetan origin, providing us with a unique cultural insight and first-hand information. His English language skills were just perfect and the communication with him very pleasant.