Lhasa to Mount Kailash and Guge Kingdom
Lhasa to Mount Kailash and Guge Kingdom
The Lhasa to Mount Kailash and Guge Kingdom Group Tour will start in Tibet’s holy city, Lhasa at 3,600 meters. After 3 days exploring the most renowned sites of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, and the Barkhor Square, and Tibet’s holiest temple, the Jokhang, we will make our way to Mount Kailash and the Guge Kingdom.
Trip Details
- Trip Duration
- 17 day
- Group Size
- 4-12
- Trip Type
- Trekking
- Trip Location
- Central Tibet
The Lhasa to Mount Kailash and Guge Kingdom Group Tour will start in Tibet’s holy city, Lhasa at 3,600 meters. After 3 days exploring the most renowned sites of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, and the Barkhor Square, and Tibet’s holiest temple, the Jokhang, we will make our way to Mount Kailash and the Guge Kingdom.
Trip Details
- Trip Duration
- 17 day
- Group Size
- 4-12
- Trip Type
- Trekking
- Trip Location
- Central Tibet
From Lhasa you will then drive across the rugged plains of Central Tibet to the wilderness of western Tibet. Along the way, you will visit incredible high altitude landscapes and holy Buddhist sites including the pristine turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse town, and Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse.
At Mount Kailash, you will trek for 3 days starting and finishing in Darchen town at 4,650 meters and crossing a the highest point of the trek at Dolma La pass at 5,636 meters. As you trek around the holy mountain you will walk shoulder to shoulder with devout Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims along the sacred kora.
Our group journeys are a great way to travel economically in Tibet with a small group of people. They are ideal for solo travelers who are looking to share costs of a journey to Tibet or a small group looking to travel with others. Our group tours are high-quality and are led by our expert local Tibetan guides
Day 1
When you arrive in Lhasa, you will be greeted by our guide and will escort you to your hotel. It is highly recommended to take a good rest and try to avoid heavy works. Later you can wander around the Barkhor street. it is an Ancient Tibetan market surrounding the Jokhang temple and it is a popular destination both tourist and pilgrims.
Day 2
You will explore the Jokhang, the holiest Buddhist temple in the Himalaya’s. Founded nearly 1400 years ago, Jokhang Temple houses the most sacred statue of Buddha. You will work your way through this fascinating temple alongside Buddhist pilgrims from the faraway regions of Tibet. The sound of pilgrims chanting mantras fills the air as does the smell of yak butter candle offerings.
In the Afternoon we will visit the Potala Palace, Tibet’s most iconic building. Towering above Lhasa with more than 1000 rooms, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama’s for hundreds of years. After lunch, you will go to Ramoche Temple, another of historic Temple in Lhasa.
In the evening, participate in an inspirational and enlightening talk by a renowned local Tibetan expert over a dinner. The theme varies between tradition and culture, architecture and festivals, costume and Tibetan symbols. Speakers are experts from Tibet University, Academic of Social Science or Tibetan Traditional Medical.
Day 3
Today we have a very special arrangement for you. We will visit a Tibetan family in their village home and we will visit the nomad camp above the village. During this visit, you will be joined by one of our office staff to arrange proper in-depth conversation with Tibetan villagers about their life, culture, and spiritual life.
After the family visit, we will visit the600 year old Sera, one of Tibet’s largest Buddhist monasteries. Each weekday afternoon starting at 3pm, monks engage in Buddhist philosophy debates, which are fun to photograph. After the monastery is a visit to Shol Tolpa Handicraft center to see and learn about the extraordinary array of authentic Tibetan traditional and contemporary crafts, like Tibetan pottery, Thangka painting, sewing work, paper arts, and Buddhist statue fabrications. Get an up-close-and-personal look at the selected materials, elaborate design, and color matching strategies.
Day 4
In the early morning, you will depart Lhasa and drive to Yamdrok, one of Tibet’s most beautiful lakes. From the lake, you can see the 7191-meter peak of Nojin Kangtsang in the distance. You will then travel along the lakeshore and drive up to the amazing Karo La Glacier before arriving in the town of Gyantse.
In Gyantse, you will visit the Pelkhor Chode Monastery where you can see the largest stupa (Buddhist pagoda) in Tibet. From Gyantse, you will then make the short drive to Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. Between Gyantse and Shigatse, you will stop at a couple of traditional farming villages. In Shigatse, you will explore the large monastery complex of Tashi Lhunpo.
Day 5
From Shigatse, you will continue driving through the rugged and beautiful landscape of central Tibet. During this 3 hour journey, we will drive trough the wilderness of Tibet. We will also visit the great Sakya monastery, the principal seat of Sakyapa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. these Mongolian style structures are very different that what you will see in Lhasa region.
Day 6
Today we will drive 340 kilometers of wilderness and if we are lucky we might spot some wildlife or beautiful landscape with the heavenly display of light.
Day 7
This Day marks the beginning of wild western Tibet. We will surely have a spectacular view of Tibetan Plateau landscapes, We will drive along the Yarlung Tsangpo river. we will stop at the Manasarovar lake. the lake is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet. Hindus believe taking bath in this holy lake could wash away sins from many lives. I would recommend travelers to take a little opportunity of sit in silence and Mediate for sometimes. After the Manasarovar, we will continue Darchen. the Base camp for Kailash trekking. We will take a good rest for the trekking tomorrow.
Day 8-10
For more details (including maps, a detailed packing list, and information of elevations, food, and lodging) on these three days of trekking see our blog on Mount Kailash
The first day of our trek will take us 20 kilometers from Darchen around Mt. Kailash to Dira Puk Monastery. You will follow this ancient pilgrimage route with Tibetan Buddhist and Indian Hindu pilgrims. You will stay in a small guesthouse near the monastery. The elevation of Dira Puk Monastery is 5080 meters.
The second day of our trek around Kailash will take us up and over the Dolma La Pass, the highest pass on the circuit at 5630 meters. Excellent mountain and glacier views will follow you for most of the day. From the Dolma La Pass, you will descend to Zutul Puk Monastery, elevation 4820 meters. The total trekking distance this day is 18 kilometers
The third and final day of our trek will cover 14 kilometers from Zutul Puk Monastery back to the town of Darchen. After the trek, we will return for one final night along the shores of scenic Lake Manasarovar.
Day 11
Today we will drive further west to the Kingdom of Guge. The kingdom of Guge is our second hight light of the journey, where we will see the masive ruins of Guge Kingdom. We will stay in a small town near the ruin called Zhanda.
Day 12
First in the morning we will visit the Guge ruin and the Tholing Monastery. After visiting these two spot we will drive back to the Manasarovar Lake for the night
Day 13
We will travel back the Saga along with the same route.
Day 14
Today we are driving to the Rongbuk monastery and walk to the lap of the mighty Mount Everest. At the Pang-la pass we will have a distance view to some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas and the world; Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and the Mount Everest. we will take the zig-zag route to the mount Everest base camp. we will stay a night in Tent guest house near Rongbuk monastery.
Day 15
After watching the sunrise on Mt. Everest, you will begin the journey back to Shigatse. You will stop at some farming villages as well as the small farming town of Lhatse. You will arrive in Shigatse with enough time to explore the main market street there or to hike the pilgrimage path at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery again.
Day 16
The last full day of your Lhasa-Everest and Kailash group tour will take you back to the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa. You will arrive with enough time to do any last minute souvenir shopping and to walk the pilgrimage circuit around Jokhang Temple one more time.
Day 17
In the morning, you will be transferred to the Lhasa airport or train station to depart Tibet.
Price Includes
Your Tibetan Trails journey is designed to provide a seamless and authentic travel experience across the Tibetan Plateau. The tour price includes:
- Accommodation in carefully selected Tibetan boutique hotels, guesthouses, or luxury lodges throughout the itinerary.
- For trekking and backpacking expeditions, all camping arrangements including tents, cooking equipment, pack animals (horses or yaks where required), and support staff. Guests are welcome to bring their own sleeping bag and sleeping pad, though these can also be provided upon request.
- Cultural experiences and nomadic activities as outlined in the itinerary.
- All meals during the tour, typically beginning with lunch or dinner on the first day and continuing through the conclusion of the trip. (Many other travel agencies cut out lunch and dinner for guests to make the prices seem lower, but we believe every traveler should experience the true culinary richness of Tibet and include a generous food budget inside our tours).
- One professional English-speaking Tibetan guide throughout the journey. Our guides have over 15 years of experience with foreigners.
- Private transportation in a comfortable van, SUV, or bus, including all ground transportation specified in the itinerary.
- All entrance fees and permits for attractions, monasteries, parks, and sites included in the itinerary.
- Accommodation and meals for guides, drivers, and support staff.
- Local mountain guides where required for specific trekking routes.
- All required travel permits, legal paperwork, and group insurance required for travel within Tibetan regions.
- Unlimited bottled drinking water throughout the tour.
Price Excludes
The following items are not included in the tour price:
- International or domestic flights and train tickets.
- Personal travel insurance. We require all travelers to obtain their own travel insurance for the duration of their trip. We recommend purchasing coverage through World Nomads or a comparable provider.
- Visa fees, passport fees, and any related travel documentation costs.
- Optional activities or excursions not specifically listed in the itinerary.
- Alcoholic beverages, specialty drinks, and personal snacks.
- Gratuities for guides, drivers, and support staff (recommended for excellent service).
- Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone charges.
- Costs resulting from itinerary changes, flight delays, weather conditions, altitude-related issues, government restrictions, natural disasters, or other force majeure events beyond our control.
Trip Highlights
- Visit the holiest mountain in the world, Mount Kailash, and the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest base camp on the Tibet side
- Experience the power of the Karo La Glacier and the beauty of Yamdrok Lake and then drive through the western wilderness of Tibet to experience the holy waters of Lake Manasarovar at 4,590 m (15,060 ft)
- Visit some of the most popular tourist destinations in Tibet including Potala Palace and Mount Everest Base camp
- Three days trekking around the Mount Kailash right next to hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims
- Drive to the lost kingdom of Guge at 3,700 meters, with 100’s of cave dwellings and 10th century murals carved into the cliffs of one’s of the world’s most remote areas, this is something very few foreigners ever get to experience
- Enjoy local Tibetan food and hospitality during your stay in Tibetan Family guest house