13 Days Lhasa Kathmandu Small Group Tour with Mount Kailash Trekking

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.

Optional:
After finishing the sightseeing, if time allows, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art 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, 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 10000 monks. Here you can see the biggest monastery kitchen inside and then pay a visit to the Buddhist Sculpture Carving 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.

Today, we will drive from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse. On the way, we’ll drive over the Gangbala Pass (4790 m) to view Yamdrok Lake and Mt. Naiqinkangsang. Besides, you can also appreciate Korola Glacier on the roadside. At Manak Dam Lake, tourists can hang pray flag 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 Gyangtse 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 - Tashilhunpo Monastery. It is 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 (4600M), and Gyatsola Pass (5248M). At Gawula Pass(5180m), 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 Guest House.

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 vew of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m) and beautiful turquoise Lake Peiku tso (4590m). Chances are that you can see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope etc.

Stay overnight in Saga Guest House.

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 (5112M), you can catch the far view of Mt. Naimonanyi (7694M). 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 Guest House.

In the morning, tourists can take environment friendly bus from Darchen to Sarshung valley. And you’ll meet yak and porter 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 along the Lachu valley and rivers. Today, you can see both west and north face of Mountain Kailash. Finally, we’ll pay a visit to Drirapuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in Guest House.

Today, we’ll trek over Dromala pass, the highest pass of the Kora. On the way, you can have a break in a teahouse. Besides, you’ll meet the locals prostrating in the Kora path. When walking downhill, you can see beautiful Kadoe Lake. Then we’ll visit Zutulpuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in Guest House.

Today, we’ll trek 7km to Zongto where you can take bus to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. Finally, we’ll end the trek around noon and rest in the lodging place.

Stay overnight in Guest House.

Optional:
Taking bath in Lake Manasarovar and enjoy hot spring.

Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasorovar.

Stay overnight in Guest House.

Today, you will drive about 5-6 hours from Saga to Gyirong Valley, the border of China and Nepal. You will pass the Kungtang Lhamo pass (5236m), deep gorges and waterfalls along the way. The most amazing view is the snow-capped mountains standing behind the evergreen forest, which makes scenery take varied forms.

Our Tibetan guide will help you exit China and see you off at Gyirong Border. After walking across the border bridge, you will come to Rasuwaghadi, the border town at Nepal side. You will stay at the hostel of Rasuwaghadi to wait the Nepalese driver to pick you up in the next morning.

Stay overnight at Rashuwaghadi.

On the last day, the Nepal tour guide will be expecting you at Nepal border (Rasuwaghadi) and greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Though pretty bumpy and dusty, the road to Kathmandu is filled with deep gorges, rivers, waterfall and forest all through the way. After about 8 hours’ driving, the driver will drop you off at your reserved hotel in Kathmandu. Tour ends.