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overland Lhasa to Kashgar |
 Highlights of this route
-By 4WD vehicle from central Tibet to Kailash and to Xinjiang province
-Visit three biggest city: Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse.
-3 days Kailash kora and ancient Kingdom of Guge.
-From the Tibetan highland to the Kunlun mountains.
-Finally drive to Oasis city Kashgar and fly to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang province.
Itinerary day by day
Day01 Air Chengdu - Lhasa
In the morning transfer to airport, fly to Lhasa. Upon arrival at the Gongga airport, take another 1.5-hour-drive to the city proper (3650 m). On the way you will enjoy the spectacular scenery, and the typical Tibetan villages.
Day02 Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor street
The first day of sightseeing starts from Lhasa's cardinal landmark- Potala Palace, a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. It takes at least a good 2-hour to visit those rooms, halls and chapels
In the afternoon, we will drop a visit of the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Everyday, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Then we will visit Barkhor, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet
Day03 Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastey
About 8km west of central Lhasa is the Drepung, once world's largest monastery with about 10,000 monks. This day's sightseeing begins with these white monastic buildings piled up on the hillside. Walking up to the hill is a pleasant thing, an easy break from the solemn ambience inside the halls and chapels. At the plat roof of hillside, you can have very good views of the whole Lhasa city and the distant mountains.
Drepung is one of Lhasa's two great Gelugpa monasteries, the other is Sera. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, Sera may not be as grandiose as Drepung, but is more serene surrounded by many small temples. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous.
Day04 Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse
In the morning drive to Gyantse along the Kyichu River. On the Kamba La (4.796 m) have a fantastic view of the holy lake of Yamdrok Yumtso (4441 m), one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. Pass by the 5.010 m high Karo La and the Simi La to Gyantse (approx. 3.900 m). In the afternoon visit Pelkor Chode Monastery as well as the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) nearby.
In the afternoon drive about 90 kilometers to Shigatse, (3880m), the second largest city with 40,000 inhabitants in Tibet and the traditional capital of the Tsang.
Day05 Shigatse - Lhatse
In the morning visit Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama built in 1447 and one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. After the visit drive along the south route to enjoy wonderful landscapes on the way. We reach Lhatse finally.
Day06 Lhatse-Saga
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 Saga-Paryang
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 Paryang - Manasarovar Lake
Today come to the Manasarovar lake. The fresh water lake is 4,588 meters high above sea level and covers an area of 330 square kilometers. The depth of the lake is 81.8 meters. The lake is situated between two snow-covered mountain ranges is extremely beautiful. It is an important part for the Tibetan pilgrims to orbit and take a bath in the lake.
Day09 Manasarovar Lake - Darchen
In the morning walking and visiting by the lake. The small monastery Chiu Gompa standing on rock, offers a splendid view over the lake. In the afternoon take the jeep to Darchen (4.800 m). In Darchen there are only a few stones houses. Here we prepare for the Kailash orbiting.
Day10 KAILASH CIRCUIT TREK - DIRAPHUK : (6 hrs)
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
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
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 Tirthapuri - Tsada
Northwest from Trithapuri, in the middle of the canyon erosion landscape of the Sutlej River, lie the impressive ruins of Toling and Tsaparang - flourishing centers of the former Kingdom Guge. Tsaparang disappeared in the middle of 17. Century; the Toling monastery, our today's goal was until the 1960's religious center. Fortunately, despite of devastations by the Culture Revolution some buildings and temple remained.
Day14 Tsada
Early in the morning we drive to Tsaparang (10 km, 3.800 m), the oldest center of Guge Kingdom. A group of four temples surround the lower part of the fortress walls, one fifth of which lie above the remains of the city, the former Summer Palace of the kings.
Day15 Tsada - Shiquanhe
Experience various landscape on the way to Shiquanhe (280 km), the capital of Ngari Prefecture in West Tibet a city at the confluence of Indus and Gar. Shiquanhe River the main source of the Indus, originates from the Kailash.
Day16 Shiquanhe - Pangong Tso - Dorma
Drive northwards to Dorma. On the way we visit the Pangong Tso, a long and narrow lake, situated on the border of Indian and China. Fresh air with fantastic view.
Day17 Dorma - Dahongliutan
Start driving early in the morning because the road becomes more difficult from Dorma. Soon after drive along a river valley we again stand on the land 5,000 to 5.300 m high. Now and then we have to try hard to deal with the rugged road resulted from the heavy trucks. Get across the Tialongtan La (about 5.000 m) and keep on driving 203 km in 7-8 hours to Dahongliutan.
Day18 Dahongliutan - Mazar
We will drive 253 km to Mazar. We are now on the Lingzi Thang Plains; the Kunlun mountain ranges are on the right and the Karakorum mountain range left. The road is very straight, and the landscape fantastic: out of the window scenery appears in brown and red alternatively; emerald small lakes shine under the sunlight.
Day19 Mazar - Yecheng
Soon after pass by Mazar we begin to cross the Kunlun mountains. The Chiragsaldi (4.960 m) is the last pass we have to cross on the way. Afterwards we drive downward along the Yecheng ravine to Xinjiang. Situated at the edge of the Taklamakan desert, Yecheng is a city with a pretty Bazar inhabited by Uigur and Han Chinese.
Day20 Yecheng - Kashgar
Early in the morning we drive about 250 km to Kashgar (1.300 m), the largest oasis of China. The tar road runs at the edge of the Taklamakan desert. On the way enjoy the landscape of the Kunlun.
In the afternoon we visit the Sundays market of Kashgar, one of the largest weekly markets of Asia.
Day21 Air Kashgar - Urumqi
Fly from Kashgar to Urumqi. Tour ends when arrive in Urumqi.
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