16 Days Kailash and Manasarova Small Group Tour by Tibet Train

Fantastic Tibet travel will start with boarding on Xining-Lhasa trains from Xining Railway Station. Our local guide would sent train ticket and Tibet travel permit to you before train departs. Please be sure to bring all your belongings and Tibet visa to Xining Railway Station one and a half hour ahead.

After checking in, you can find your seat or sleeper easily according to train tickets. And all the train tickets would be checked again before getting out of Lhasa Railway Station. So please keep your train tickets safe!

Today is your first day on Tibet train. Take things easy and acclimate to high altitude gradually.

Stay overnight on the train.

Note:
If you bought ticket for hard or soft sleeper, the train conductor would ask you to exchange it for berth number plate and then change it back to train ticket when reaching Lhasa Railway Station.

Today, you will witness the most beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The land of snows, vast desert, boundless grassland, snow-capped mountains and stunning lakes will continually appear and strongly attract your heart.

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 (3-Star Hotel).

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 (3-Star Hotel).

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 (3-Star Hotel).

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, Perklor 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 Manasarovar Hotel.

In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo 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 Kyawula 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 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(5112M), you can catch the far view of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694M). Then we’ll pass by the holy Lake Manasarover and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt.Kailash, the holist mountain in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Tarchen Chongqing Hotel.

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 Tarchen Chongqing Hotel

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

Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasorova.

Stay overnight in Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen 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 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 12 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.