15-Day Tibet Adventure: Everest & Mount Kailash

Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, E.B.C, Lake Manasarova, Kailash Trek, Saga, Shigatse, Lhasa

Traveler Reviews

Potala Palace in Lhasa travel experience

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Tibet-13

Tour Highlights:

Combine an overland adventure with a spiritual journey through Tibet.

Experience Tibet's highland landscapes and distinctive cultural heritage.

Visit Everest Base Camp on the mountain's northern side.

Complete the pilgrimage circuit around Mount Kailash, one of Asia's most important sacred journeys.

Best Travel Time:
Suitable from April to November. Best from April to June. p.s. July and August will be the rain season, so it will be hard to get the chance to view the Mt. Everest from the camp site.

From on request

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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Day 1Arrival Lhasa

Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No meal
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Arrive in Lhasa, whose Tibetan name means Land of the Gods and which serves as the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Meet your guide, transfer to the hotel and rest for the remainder of the day while adjusting to the high altitude.

Lhasa, Tibet

Day 2Lhasa

Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

Spend the day exploring Lhasa's religious heritage. Visit Potala Palace, the city's landmark palace, followed by Jokhang Temple, regarded as Tibet's spiritual center. Continue around Barkhor Street, one of Lhasa's oldest streets and a meeting place for Tibetan culture, commerce, religion and art.

Jokhang Temple

Day 3Lhasa

Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka, Sera Monastery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Lhasa

After breakfast, begin at Drepung Monastery, known for its tradition of monastic scholarship and often called the Nalanda of Tibet. Continue to Norbulingka Park, the summer palace associated with the Dalai Lamas from the time of the seventh holder of the title. In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery and observe the monastic debates in the courtyard when available. Return to the hotel afterwards and keep the rest of the day free.

Sera Monastery

Day 4Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse (360km)

Yamdrok Lake, Coach to Gyangtse, Korola Glacier, Pelkor Chode Monastery, Coach to Shigatse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shigatse

Drive toward Shigatse, stopping first at Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet's three largest sacred lakes. Continue past the roadside Karola Glacier and visit Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse (4000m), known for its distinctive structure at the foot of Dzong Hill. Drive onward to Shigatse (3836m), then rest at the hotel after arrival.

Details in the itinerary:

The best time to visit Yamdrok Lake is between July and September. But if you visit this place in rainy day, you may not see the most beautiful moment of this lake
Lhasa downtown – Yamdrok Lake: 105km, 2 hours driving
Yamdrok Lake – Gyangtse Parlkhor Monastery: 155km, 4 hours driving
Gyangtse Parlkhor Monastery – Shigatse downtown: 95km, 2.5 hours driving

Yamdrok Lake

Day 5Shigatse – Everest Base Camp (350km)

Tashilunpo Monastery, Everest Base Camp

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Everest Base Camp

Today, you will be transfer to Mt. Everest from Shigatse (7hrs driving & 350KM).

Before lunch in Lhatse, visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. Cross Tsola Pass (4600m) and Gyatsola Pass (5248m) into the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, then view the Himalayan panorama from Gawula Pass (5198m). Continue to Everest Base Camp (5200m), where sunset may color the summit gold in clear weather. Stay overnight at the tent camp.

Everest Base Camp

Day 6Everest Base Camp – Saga (450km)

Drive to Saga, far look to Mt. Shishapangma, Peikutso Lake

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Saga

Today, you will be transfer to Saga from Mt. Everest (10hrs driving & 450KM).

Weather permitting, watch sunrise over Everest from the lodging area. On the road to Saga, view Mt. Shishapangma, the world's 14th-highest mountain at 8012m, from a distance and stop at Peikutso Lake (4590m).

Saga is the final established town before Mount Kailash, allowing time for a full meal, a hot shower and rest before the journey continues. Stay overnight in Saga.

Peikutso Lake

Day 7Saga – Darchen (450km)

Drive to Darchen, Manasarover Lake

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Darchen

Today, you will be transfer to Darchen from Saga (10hrs driving & 450km).

Travel through open grassland and traditional villages on the way to Darchen. After crossing Mayomla Pass (5112M), see Manasarover Lake, one of Tibet's sacred lakes. Arrive in Darchen with Mount Kailash visible to the north and stay overnight.

Manasarover Lake & Mt. Kailash

Day 8Mt. Kailash Kora: Darchen – Drirapuk (driving 7km, trek 13km)

Mt. Kailash Kora

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Guesthouse

Today, it is the first day of Mt. Kailash Kora.

Take the eco-bus from the western edge of Darchen to Sarshung Valley, where yaks and porters are available in Sarshung Village at additional cost. Begin the 13km trek to Drirapuk Monastery through the Lachu Valley beside the river. Finish at the monastery's hillside setting, directly facing the northern side of Mount Kailash.

Stay overnight in Guest House.

Mt. Kailash

Day 9Mt. Kailash Kora: Drirapuk-Dzutrpuk (Trek 18km)

Mt. Kailash Kora

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Guesthouse

Today, it is the second day of Mt. Kailash Kora.

Begin with views of Mount Kailash, then trek across Dromala Pass (5630m), the highest point on the pilgrimage circuit. Rest at a teahouse before descending past local pilgrims and Kadoe Lake. Finish at Dzutulpuk Monastery, where the cave behind the main hall is associated with the monastery's name and the footprints and handprints of Milarepa. Stay overnight in the guesthouse.

Day 10Mt. Kailash Kora: Dzutripuk-Darchen (Trek 7km & driving 5km)

Mt. Kailash Kora

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Guesthouse

Today, it is the last day of Mt. Kailash Kora.

Trek 7km to Zongto, passing piles of mani stones along the route. Finish around noon and take the shuttle bus back to Darchen for a rest. An optional bath in Lake Manasarova and a hot-spring visit are available at your own expense. Stay overnight in Darchen.

Mt. Kailash

Day 11Darchen-Saga (450km)

Transfer to Saga

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Saga

Retrace the overland route and transfer from Darchen to Saga (10hrs driving & 450km).

Arrive at Saga at night and stay overnight at hotel.

Day 12Saga to Sakya (350km)

Transfer to Sakya

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Sakya

Transfer from Saga to Sakya (6hrs driving & 350km).

Stay overnight at the hotel in Sakya.

Day 13Sakya to Shigatse (170km)

Drive back to Shigatse

Meals: No Meal
Accommodation: In Shigatse

Sakya County is known for hot springs and monasteries. In the morning, explore the old town and visit Sakya Monastery, whose collection includes murals, Buddhist scriptures and statues.

Continue in the afternoon with the 3-hour drive to Shigatse and stay overnight at the hotel.

Sakya Monastery

Day 14Shigatse-Lhasa (280km)

Back to Lhasa

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Lhasa

After breakfast at hotel, please check out and you will be transferred back to Lhasa around 08:00 am. Due to the speed-limit, it will take around 6 hours by driving. You will not need to pass Gyantse but will follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa, and you will also see the Yalong River from the platform. Drop off at the hotel in Lhasa.

Day 15Departure Lhasa

Transfer to airport or train station

Meals: No Meal

Meet your guide and driver in the hotel lobby according to the flight schedule and transfer to the airport. Your guide will assist with check-in and accompany you to the security entrance before departure.

Service ends

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Notice:

Due to the uncertainties of this tour, such as special local conditions , the changes of accommodation rate, etc, the tour has to be tailor-made and its price is on request. Please tell us in advance your group information inclusive of departure date, number of pax, and other individual needs, which will be helpful to work out a fit program and the right price.

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Why Choose Us

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Yun Sky Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Yun Sky Travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Yun Sky Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

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