13-Day Lhasa, Mt. Kailash, Guge Kingdom & Nepal Border Adventure – Sacred Ali & Gyirong
13
Days
12
Nights
Overview
Embark on a soul-stirring 13-day exploration into the deepest corners of the Tibetan plateau. This itinerary is specifically designed for the intrepid traveler seeking a comprehensive "Western Circuit" experience. You won't just see the icons; you will immerse yourself in the profound spirituality of the Kailash Kora, the ancient mysteries of the Guge Kingdom, and the staggering vertical beauty of Mount Everest.
The journey concludes with a dramatic descent into the Gyirong Valley, where the arid plateau suddenly gives way to lush forests, waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks—a stunning finale to Tibet’s most diverse high-altitude adventure.
Trip Highlights
- Everest Base Camp (EBC): Spend a night at 5,200m at the foot of the world’s highest peak. Witness the sunset turn the North Face of Mt. Everest into a glowing pyramid of gold.
- The Sacred Mount Kailash Kora: Undertake the 3-day spiritual pilgrimage around the "Center of the Universe." Cross the 5,630m Dolma La Pass alongside devoted pilgrims from across the world.
- Lake Manasarovar & Peiku Tso: Visit the world’s highest freshwater lake and the sapphire waters of Peiku Tso, where you can see the reflection of the 8,000m Shishapangma peak.
- The Ancient Guge Kingdom: Explore the thousand-year-old cliffside ruins and secret grottoes of a lost civilization in the heart of the Zanda Earth Forest.
- The Gyirong "Back Garden": Experience the shocking contrast of the Gyirong Valley—a subtropical paradise nestled between towering Himalayan giants, providing a breath of fresh, oxygen-rich air after the high plateau.
- Lhasa & Shigatse Culture: Deep-dive into the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the massive Tashilhunpo Monastery, including hands-on Tibetan culture workshops.
Tour Plan
Day 01 :
Arrival in Lhasa – Acclimatization
- Welcome: Your guide will meet you at the airport/station with a traditional welcome.
- Transfer: Private shuttle to your hotel (approx. 1 hour).
- Activity: Rest and relax to allow your body to adjust to the high altitude.
- Pro Tip: Avoid strenuous movement and do not shower on your first night to minimize altitude sickness.
- Cultural Experience: Visit a Tibetan handicraft center to learn traditional incense making and woodblock printing. You will also learn to write your name in Tibetan.
Sera Monastery: Witness the famous Monk Debates (3:00 PM), where monks use dramatic gestures and claps to test their philosophical knowledge.
- Potala Palace: The legendary winter residence of the Dalai Lama.
- Jokhang Temple: The spiritual heart of Lhasa, blending Tibetan, Tang, and Nepalese architectural styles.
- Barkhor Street: Join the pilgrims on the sacred circuit and browse for unique Himalayan handicrafts.
Dinner: Enjoy a special Welcome Dinner featuring authentic Tibetan or Nepalese cuisine.
- Yamdrok Lake: View the turquoise "Swan Lake" from Gampala Pass (4,950m).
- Karola Glacier: See one of Tibet's three major continental glaciers, famously used as a movie filming location.
- Palcho Monastery: A unique temple where three different sects of Tibetan Buddhism coexist.
- Stay: Overnight in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.
Day 05 :
Shigatse – Everest Base Camp
- Gawu La Pass: A 5,200m viewpoint offering a panorama of four 8,000m peaks, including Everest and Lhotse.
- Rongbuk Monastery: The highest monastery in the world.
- Stay: Overnight at Everest Base Camp (Tent or Guesthouse).
- Special Meal: Enjoy a Mini Hotpot at the foot of Mt. Everest.
- Everest Sunrise: Wake up early to catch the first light hitting the world's highest peak.
- Peiku Tso: A stunning high-altitude lake surrounded by the Himalayas.
- Shishapangma: View the only 8,000m peak located entirely within Chinese territory.
- Stay: Saga, a vital outpost on the way to Western Tibet.
- The Route: Drive along Highway 219 through the vast grasslands of Zhongba.
- Mt. Kailash: Reach the foot of the "Center of the World," sacred to four religions.
- Lake Manasarovar: Visit the "Holy Lake" and enjoy the views of Mt. Namnani.
Stay: Darchen (4,675m), the starting point for the Kailash Kora.
- Trek: ~14km (7–8 hours).
- Experience: Trek through the Lha-chu Valley with constant views of the Western and Northern faces of the pyramid-shaped Mt. Kailash.
- Stay: Basic guesthouse near Drirapuk Monastery (5,100m).
- Trek: ~20km (10–11 hours).
- Highlight: Cross the Dolma La Pass (5,650m), the highest and most challenging point of the pilgrimage.
- Mercy Lake: See the high-altitude lake just below the pass before descending.
Stay: Basic guesthouse near Zutulpuk Monastery.
Day 10 :
Mt. Kailash Kora Day 3 – Zanda
- Trek: Final 6.6km trek to the pickup point.
- Stay: Drive to Zanda, famous for its surreal "Earth Forest" landscapes.
- Tholing Monastery: A 900-year-old temple with murals blending Indian and Nepalese styles.
- Guge Kingdom: Explore the massive ruins of an ancient kingdom that vanished in the 17th century.
- Zanda Earth Forest: Drive through the geological wonders created by millions of years of erosion.
Return: Head back to Darchen for the night.
Day 12 :
Darchen – Saga
The Return: Drive back east across the nomadic heartlands of Saga County. Enjoy views of the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo) headwaters.
- Gyirong Valley: Descend into the "Back Garden of the Himalayas." The scenery changes from barren plateau to lush green forests and waterfalls.
- The Border: Visit the Gyirong Port.
Note: For guests continuing to Nepal, you will process through customs here to finish your Tibet journey and enter Kathmandu.
Include/Exclude
- • Transportation: * Licensed tourist vehicles (7–26 seats) for all scheduled land travel.
- o Note: For Lhasa city sightseeing with fewer than 4 people, local taxi transfers will be arranged and paid for by the agency.
- • Accommodation: * 8 nights in standard twin-share rooms (based on double occupancy).
- o Note: Single "King" rooms are not guaranteed. Breakfast is not provided for children or guests not occupying a dedicated bed.
- • Meals: * 8 Hotel Breakfasts + 2 Specialty Feature Dinners.
- o Complimentary Bonus Meals: Authentic Lulang Stone Pot Chicken and a Lhasa Specialty Meal (Tibetan or Nepalese cuisine). Note: These are gift meals and are non-refundable if skipped.
- • Professional Staff: * Expert guides fluent in English, Chinese, or Bilingual (English/Chinese).
- • Entrance Fees: * All-inclusive access to: Kading Valley, Lulang Forest, Basum Tso, Tibetan Culture Experience, Sera Monastery, Potala Palace (including reservation service), Jokhang Temple, Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, and Tashilhunpo Monastery.
- • Travel Permits: * Full handling of the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), Alien's Travel Permit, and any necessary Military/Regional documents.
- • Insurance: * Comprehensive 3-tier coverage: Travel Accident Insurance, Vehicle Seat Insurance, and Travel Agency Liability Insurance.
- • Transfer Service: * Complimentary airport/station pickup and drop-off on the official group start and end dates.
- • Health & Comfort Extras:
- o One portable oxygen bottle per person.
- o Two bottles of mineral water (300ml) per person, per day.
- o One emergency medical oxygen tank (4L) equipped in the vehicle for backup.
- • Single Supplement: Prices are based on twin-sharing. A surcharge applies for solo travelers requesting a private room.
- • Room Forfeiture Fees: Due to full pre-payment of hotel bookings, any mid-trip changes resulting in room cancellations are the responsibility of the traveler.
- • Personal Expenses: Laundry, phone calls, faxes, pay-per-view TV, beverages, snacks, alcohol, and other personal incidentals.
- • Force Majeure & Emergencies: The agency reserves the right to cancel or modify the itinerary due to uncontrollable factors (natural disasters, strikes, pandemics), airline changes, or insufficient group numbers. Any additional resulting costs will be the responsibility of the traveler.
- • Gratuities (Tipping): We suggest a tip of 30 RMB per person, per day for the driver and the guide respectively.
- • Major Transport: Round-trip airfare or train tickets to and from Tibet are not included. We can assist with these bookings for a separate service fee.
