Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, covers an area of 544 square kilometers and is "The Land of Gods" in Tibetan, sits on the north bank of River Lhasa, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangbo River, at an altitude of 3,700 meters. It has a history of over 13 centuries. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, Lhasa is famed as "the City of Sunshine". It is the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region and the center of Tibet's political, economic, cultural and religious activities. There are many historic sites and famous relics in the city proper and its suburbs, among which the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery are world famous.

This route is quite fit for those people:

1)who always live in the comparatively low altitude and come to Tibet for the first time
2)who will bring children to Tibet
3)elder travelers
4)The people who don't have limited time of traveling.

Interested in this tour?
Contact us for a quotation.

Itinerary day by day:

Day01 Fly in Lhasa

Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor Street Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery

Arrive in Gonggar airport. Be greeted and offered a white scarf (called Kada) in a Tibet traditional way which brings you good luck. And then transfer 100 km away to Lhasa . Check in the hotel and take a rest for acclimatization of high altitude.

Day02 In Lhasa

Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhasa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa's most holy destination for a pilgrimage. We will also visit the Drepgung monastery. Drepgung once housed 10,000 monks, If we're lucky, we'll quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.

Day03In Lhasa

We start off with a walking tour of Jokhang Monastery and the bustling Barkhor market. The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. Guided tour of the Norbulinka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama and a tour of the Tibetan Medical Center.

Day04 Lhasa ¨CShigatse (Via Yamdrok Yamtso)

We drive to Chushul bridge and via the Yamdrok Yamtso Lhasa.one of the holy lake of Tibet. Then we drive to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, which is also the hometown of Panchen Lama. Afternoon visit Tashilumpo monastery.

Day05 SHIGATSE-NGAMRING (5220 M), 160 KMS, 6-7 HRS

Drive to Ngamring. En route visit Sakya Monastery.

Day06 SAGA, 4280 M, 190 KMS , 7-8 HRS

The road follows south of the Pelgu-Tso, continues across the plain with stunning Himalayan views. The route then follows a narrow gorge before climbing to a pass and dropping steeply down to a ferry crossing over the Yarlung Tsangpo.

Day07 PARYANG, 4750 M, 250 KMS, 8-9 HRS

From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road is good and the trip can be completed in 4-5 hrs. There is also a small monastery at the western end of town on a hill. From Zhongba onwards the southern road deteriorates. There is also danger of vehicles getting stuck. But this section of the road has panoramic views of mountains on either side of the road.

Day08 LAKE MANASOROVAR, 4560 M, 260 KMS, 10 HRS

From Paryang to Lake Mansorovar is a long drive of 10 hrs or more. There will be several river crossings and we drive past Mayum la pass (4600 M). The scenery is stunningly beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalayas.

Day09 DARCHEN (4560 M), 30 KM

About 30 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen, the main gateway and the village. The monastery at Darchen, Darchen Gon, is a part of the Drukpa sect. The two-story monastery structure in the center of the town serves as a trading post and shelter for pilgrims. Within the dukhang assembly hall are new and old thangka paintings and some statues, the main image being Sakyamuni. West of the gompa is the Mani Lhakhang that has a large, new mani prayer wheel. This is the site where the original old flagpole (a darchen is a flagpole for prayer flags) of Darchen was located. When beginning their kora pilgrimage around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate the Darchen Gon monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before setting out.
We organize yaks or ponies for the Kailash circuit trek at Darchen.

Day10 KAILASH CIRCUIT TREK - DIRAPHUK : (6 hrs) (B+L+D)

This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms and can be done in 3 days. We head west in clockwise direction and after a few kilometers the trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from where the southern face of Mt. Kailash comes to view. En route visit Tarboche where annual flagpole raising ceremony takes place during Saga Dawa.

Day11 DIRAPHUK - ZUTRULPHUK , 4790, 6 hrs (B+L+D)

Today we cross Drolma la pass (5630 M) and Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m) where Hindus worship and immerse themselves in the icy waters of the lake.

Day12 DARCHEN - TIRDAPURI (B+L+D)

The final end of the parikrama is an easy 2-3 hrs walk down to where the river emerges on to the Barga plain. We complete the 3 day circuit trek of Mt. Kailash and drive to Tirdapuri where there is a hot spring. Pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash is not complete without visiting Tirdapuri for the Tibetan Buddhists.

Day13 TIRDAPURI - KHOJARNATH - PURANG

Visit Tirdapuri Monastery and the pilgrim circuit and drive to Purang. En route visit Khojarnath Monastery.

Day14 PURANG-LAKE MANASOROVAR (Chiu Gompa) and LAKE MANASORVAR

Excursion around the Lake.

Day15 PARYANG

Day16 SAGA

Excursion around the Lake.

Day17 SAGA / NYLAM

We rejoin the main Lhasa to Kathmandu Highway where we get to see Everest as the road climbs to the Lalung La (5124m) before descending and climbing again to the Tong La at 5120m. We finally reach Nyalam and overnight at a basic hotel.

Day18 NYLAM / KATHMANDU

In the early mornong we drive to Zhangmu first, after you go through all the formalities of China Customers. You will be met in Kodari of Kathmandu Side. Tour ends.

If you have one or two more days, the tour can be extended like this:

Extension optional tours

A. one more day to Yamdrok Lake or Yampacheng for the grassland

Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake: On the old road between Gyanste and Lhasa, dazzling Yamdrok lake can be seen from the summit of the Kamba-la (4794m). The lake lies several hundred metres below the road, and in clear weather is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise. Far in the distance is the huge massif of Mt. Nojin Kangtsang (7191m).

B. one more day to Namsto Lake

Namtso Lake

Namsto Lake: Namsto, approximately 190km north-west of Lhasa, is the second-largest saltwater lake in China. It is over 70km long and reaches a width of 30km. They Nyenchen Tangula range, with peaks of more than 7000m, towers over the lake to the south. Namtso is a tidal lake and the ring marks of earlier lake levels are clearly visible by the shoreline. In clear weather the water is a miraculous shade of turquoise and there are magnificent views of the nearby mountains. The wide open spaces, dotted with tents of local nomads, are intoxicating.

C. one more day to Gandan Monastery or Tsurphu Monastery

Gandan Monastery

Gandan Monastery: Gandan, just 40km north-east of Lhasa, was the first Gelugpa monastery. If you only have time for one monastery excursion outside Lhasa, Ganden would probably be the best choice. With its stupendous views of the surrounding Kyi-chu Valley and fascinating kora, Ganden is an experience unlike the other major Gelugpa monasteries in the Lhasa area.

Tsurphu Monastery: Tsurphu Monastery around 70km west of Lhasa, is the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. The Karmapa are also known as the Black Hats, a title that dates back to 1256.

Interested in this tour?
Contact us for a quotation.