Mt. Kailash (6714m), Asia's most sacred mountain, is located in a high and isolated enclave of West Tibet. It is one of three pilgrimages sites in the area, known collectively as Kangri Tsosum. All are said to be at the heart of the ancient Shangshung kingdom, the supposed land of origin of the pre-Buddist Bonpos. Mt Kailash is their sould-mountain, which they also call Yungdrung Gu Tse, the Nine-story Swastika Mountain.
It is a 53-km pilgrim path around Mt. Kailash. It begins and ends at Darchen, a small settlement at the mountain's south base and in the process visits four monasteries ad crosses the high Drolma La Pass (5636m). Three days is perhaps the minimum time required to walk leisurely around the mountain: spend two nights in or near Drira Phuk and Zutrul Phuk Monasteries. If conditions permit, try to stay four or five days, which would allow time for short trips to the inner regions of the area.
 
Itinerary day by day
Day1 Fly Lhasa from Chengdu
After breakfast you will fly to Tibet. 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.
Day2 Sightseeing 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 Drepung monastery. Drepung 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.
Day3 Sightseeing in 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.
Day4 Lhasa-Gyanste-Shigatse
In the morning the group departs for Gyantse; We will get through the Karo La Pass (5010m) and the Khamba La Pass (4800m) with a beautiful panorama of the Yamdrok Yum Tso Lake.
Then we drive to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, which is also the hometown of Panchen Lama. Afternoon visit Tashilumpo monastery.
Day5 SHIGATSE-NGAMRING (5220 M), 160 KMS, 6-7 HRS
Drive to Ngamring. En route visit Sakya Monastery.
Day6 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.
Day7 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.
Day8 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.
Day9 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
Rest day and excursion around the Lake.
Day15 PARYANG
Accommodation: Budget guesthouse
Day16 SAGA
Accommodation: Budget guesthouse
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. Service ends.
If time permits, you can extend this itinerary to visit Guge Kingdom and Troling Monastery. Please contact us for a detailed itinerary and price quotation. |
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