Kailash and Everest (Back to Lhasa or Nepal border)

Itinerary & Daily Schedule

The 16 day tour from Lhasa to Lake Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash is one of the longest overland trips Tibet has to offer. This journey begins in Lhasa, the cultural and religious heart of Tibet. Lhasa is home to Tibet’s most famous and holiest temples. Each day, thousands of pilgrims prostrate around Jokhang Temple. Along with the famous monasteries of Sera and Drepung, Lhasa is a must see for anyone interested in Tibet! Mt. Kailash is the holiest and most famous mountain in Tibet. Each year, thousands of Tibetan pilgrims prostrate around the mountain. This tour will take you from Lhasa all the way to the start of the pilgrimage circuit. Lake Manasarovar is a holy lake to Tibetans as well as Hindu’s. From it’s turquoise colored waters, you can see Kailash in the distance. This itinerary is just a suggestion and can be modified in any way.

Best time to travel: April to October

Please email or call us for more information.

Day 1

Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel

Welcome to Lhasa! Your guide and driver will meet you at the train station or airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 2

Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor Circuit and Drepung monastery

Lhasa, elevation 3650m, is the holiest city in Tibet and each day pilgrims from across the Tibetan Plateau arrive in the city to worship at one of the many temples found there. You will spend 2 full days exploring the city. The first day you will visit Jokhang Temple, the most famous temple in Tibet. From the rooftop you will see religious pilgrims prostrating in front to the Jowo Buddha statue inside the monastery. Afterwards, you will explore the endless maze of markets and restaurants that line the ancient Barkhor circuit. While exploring the Barkhor circuit, you will rub elbows with Tibetan pilgrims who are prostrating their way around the Tibetan Quarter.

Day 3

Potala Palace and Sera Monastery

In the morning, you will visit the Potala Palace, the most recognizable structure in Tibet. Built in the year 637, the Potala Palace rises 13 stories and has more than 1000 rooms. In the afternoon, you will visit the great monastery of Sera, where monk debates take place each day. If you are interested in hiking, there is a pilgrimage circuit around the monastery that takes about an hour to complete.

Day 4

Lhasa - Yamdrok Lake - Gyantse

You will travel from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s holiest and most beautiful lakes. Yamdrok Lake sits at 4450m and is an amazing turquoise color. The 7191m Mt. Nojin Kangtsang can be seen in the distance. After visiting the lake, you will drive to the mid-sized town of Gyantse. Gyantse, elevation 3950m, is famous for its massive hilltop military fort and for the Pelkor Chode Monastery, which has the tallest Tibetan Buddhist stupa in Tibet.

260kms, 5.5 hours

Day 5

Gyantse - Shigatse - Saga

In the morning, you will depart Gyantse for Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city. Shigatse, elevation 3840m, is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Along with exploring the monastery, you can also hike the ancient pilgrim circuit along with hundreds of Tibetan worshippers. From Shigatse, you will drive to Lhatse, which lies at 4020m. In Lhatse, you can wander around the Lhatse Chode Monastery and observe the local Tibetan culture found in town.This route will begin to take you through the nomadic regions of Tibet’s far west. You will pass by the turquoise waters of Namring Lake and cross numerous river valleys before arriving in the small town of Saga, elevation 4490m.

540 kms, 9 hours

Day 6

Saga - Paryang

You will continue following the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra River going through vast expanses of grasslands home to yaks and sheep before arriving in Paryang, elevation 4590m.

230kms, 5 hours

Day 7

Paryang - Lake Manasarovar

After driving through wide expanse of high altitude grasslands, you will arrive at the holy lake of Manasarovar, which lies at 4585m. Manasarovar is an important pilgrimage destination not only for Tibetans, but also for Hindu’s from India and Nepal. From the lake, you can see Mt. Kailash in the distance.

250kms, 6 hours

Day 8

Lake Manasarovar - Darchen

In the late morning, you will make the short drive from Lake Manasarovar to Darchen, the starting point of the Kailash trek. Darchen sits at 4670m. In Darchen, you can stock up on supplies for the trek.

35kms, 1 hour

Day 9

Trek from Darchen - Dira Phug

Walk along beautiful rocky cliffs and take pictures of breathtaking waterfalls. Take deep breaths of fresh air. From time to time, the face of Mt. Kailash will appear. Dira Phug sits at 5050m.

18kms, 5 to 6 hours

Day 10

Trek from Dira Phug - Dolma La Pass

Hike across a valley up to the Dolma-La Pass. By the late afternoon arrive at Zuthal Puk, the cave of miracles where the Tibetan poet-saint Milarepa once stayed.

22kms, 8 hours

Day 11

Trek from Dolma La Pass - Darchen

After finishing your circuit of Mt. Kailash, your car will pick you up and take you to Darchen.

14kms, 4 hours

Stay overnight at Darchen

Day 12

Darchen – Lake Manasarowa – Saga

Heading back to Lhasa

Day 13

Saga - Phikutso Lake - Old Tingri - Everest Base Camp

Drive through the Phikutso lake National park and view of Mount Shishapangma(8012m) only 8000m mountain fully planted in Tibet and drive to Old Tingri (view of Mount Everest and Mount Cho Oyo) drive to Gara valley to Rongbuk monastery.

Option: going to Nepal border or to Everest Base Camp

Day 14

Everest base camp – Rongbuk monastery – Shigatse

On the scenic drive from Everest Base Camp to Shigatse, we will cross the Gau-la Pass (5200m) and see 4 mountains above 8,000 meters, such as Mt. Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Cho-oyo (8201m), and Mt. Makalu (8463m).

350km, 7-8 hours

Day 15

Shigatse - Lhasa

Returning to Lhasa

280 km, 4-5 hours

Day 16

Depart from Lhasa

Tour Details

  • All Tibet Travel permits
  • English speaking Tibetan tour guide
  • Pick up and drop off by airport bus
  • All administrative fees
  • All meals and accommodations for your guide
  • All lodging listed in the itinerary.
  • Breakfast each morning
  • Entrance fees for the places listed in the Itinerary
  • One time welcome meal for the group
  • One box of mineral water plus shared Oxygen tank in car.
  • Transportation costs to and from Tibet
  • Chinese visa fees and passport fees
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Personal expenses (laundry, photography fees, souvenirs etc)
  • Tips to the driver and guide
  • Single supplement: 50$