17 Days EBC Kailash and Guge Kingdom Small Group Tour

When you arrive in Lhasa, your tour guide will hold a board with your name on it at the exit to welcome you. A private car will take you to the reserved hotel. You may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/Bhamaputra River (the longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa River on their way to Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you’ll pay a visit to the famous Potala Palace, the world culture heritage. You can explore its audience halls, the jeweled and golden burial chortens (stupa tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, etc.

Then tourists will head to the holiest temple in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, built during Songtsen Ganpo's reign by Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty, 647 A.D. Here you can observe sincere pilgrims making prostration in front of Jokhang Temple. While entering inside the temple, you can see the holiest statue of Buddha. Around the monastery is the famous Barkhor Street, where you can do the kora with pilgrims and locals. And then we’ll go to explore the old market and you may have chance to see the traditional jewelry trading between people from different part of Tibet.

Finally, we’ll taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house and enjoy a welcome dinner at night.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Today, you will visit two important monasteries in Lhasa, the Drepung and the Sera. Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery in Tibet, was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. Situated at the foot of Gebeiwoze Mountain, it was once home to more than 10,000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving Workshop near Drepung.

After having lunch, you’ll continue to visit the Sera Monastery, which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa's disciple Jamchen Choeje. The most interesting thing is to see monks debating in the courtyard at around 3-5 in the afternoon. Besides, you can also see the colorful Rock Painting of Buddha and the three sand Mandalas and then visit the Tibetan religious text printing house.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

Optional:
After finishing the sightseeing, if time allows, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan Handicraft Art Center or Tibetan Traditional Medicine Center. Besides, you can also choose to upgrade your tour to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD).

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse. On the way, we’ll drive over the Gampala Pass (4,790m) to view Yamdrok Lake and Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar. Besides, you can also appreciate Korola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, tourists can hang prayer flags at Simila Mountain Pass.

Then we’ll go to the heritage town Gyantse and explore its old street, Pelkor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa. Here you can catch the far view of Gyantse Fortress.

Later, we’ll arrive at Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. And tourists can visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).

Stay overnight in Shigatse.

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. It is the largest monastery of the Gelug Sect in Rear Tibet, and the main stage where generations of Panchen Lamas carried out religious and political activities. After getting your Alien’s Travel Permit, we will leave Shigatse and then drive to Lhatse for lunch.

After that, we’ll drive over Tsola Pass (4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m). At Gawula Pass (5,180m), tourists can view the panorama of Himalaya. Then we’ll drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp and get closer to Mt. Everest peak. You are lucky enough to catch the sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.

Stay overnight at tent guesthouse.

In the morning, you can enjoy the stunning sunrise of Everest peak at lodging area if weather permits. While we drive towards Saga, you can catch the view of the world’s 14th highest peak Mt. Shishapangma (8,012m) and the beautiful turquoise Lake Peikutso (4,590m). Chances are that you can see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope etc.

Stay overnight in Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen Hotel.

In the morning, you can appreciate the stunning view of the Saga Valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, you can also view the beautiful grassland and local's villages along the way. While crossing the Mayomla Pass (5,112m), you can catch the far view of Mt. Naimonanyi (7,694M). Then we’ll pass by the holy Lake Manasarovar and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt. Kailash, the holist mountain in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Darchen Chongqing Hotel.

In the morning, tourists can take environment friendly bus from Darchen to Sarshung Valley. And you’ll meet yaks and porters at Sarshung Village (The cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package).

After that, you can start the trek (around 13km) from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery (5,080m) along the Lachu Valley and rivers. Today, you can see both west and north face of Mount Kailash (6,638m). Finally, we’ll pay a visit to Drirapuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in guesthouse.

Today, we’ll trek over Dromala Pass (5,648m), the highest pass of the Kora. On the way, you can have a break in a teahouse. Besides, you’ll meet the locals prostrating along the Kora path. When walking downhill, you can see beautiful Kadoe Lake (5,568m). Then we’ll visit Zutulpuk Monastery (4,835m).

Stay overnight in guesthouse.

On the day tree of the kora, you will trek 7km to Zongto. Along the kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. We will end the trek around noon. You can take a bath and have a small rest in the hotel.

Then, we head to the holy Lake Manasarovar and visit the Chewu Cave near the lake.

After that, we will back to Darchen.

Stay overnight in the local hotel.

Today's tour will focus on the attractions around the Guge Kingdom, such as Tirthapuri monastery, Tsaparang, and Dungkar cave city, etc.

We will drive from Darchen to Tsamda county, where the ruins of Guge Kingdom remain. The capital of the county is located at Toling. The Toling monastery, founded by Richen Zangpo in the 10th century, was once Ngari's most important monastic complex. It was due to the influence of Richen Zangpo that Toling became the main religious center of the Guge kingdom after inviting the great Indian master ATISHA. The kings of Guge replaced the city as a political center of power by establishing capital slightly closer to the Indo-Tibetan trade routes. But the monastery is still an important cultural heritage of Ngari.

Stay overnight in the guest house in Tsamda.

After breakfast, we will take a long drive back to Darchen.

Stay overnight in the local hotel in Darchen.

Sit back in the seat of your tour vehicle, and say farewell to the holy Mount Kailash. We will move back to Saga.

Stay overnight in Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel.

Drive from Saga to Sakya.

Stay overnight in Sakya Yuan Fu Hotel.

In the morning, we’ll pay a visit to ancient Sakya Town and Sakya Monastery with amazing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues. Then we’ll drive from Sakya to Shigatse.

Stay overnight in Manasarovar Hotel.

Today, we’ll follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa. Standing on the platform, you can view the vast Yalong River bed. And then you can visit Water Mill making Tibetan incense material (in summer if time permits). Finally we’ll drop you off at hotel in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-Star Hotel).

The driver will take you to airport or train station.

Service end.

(Or Go to Nepal after Tibet Mt. Kailash Guge Kingdom Tour)
The tour is also available for tourists who start in Lhasa and end in Kyirong border, so if the group has members to exit Tibet to Nepal from Kyirong, we will see them off at the Sino-Nepal border, thus the itinerary from the Day 13 will be done with valuable detour to Kyirong, which will give you one extra destination to Kelong Valley, this destination is considered the most beautiful valley at the foot of Himalaya Mountain Range and attracts many tourists a year.