15 Days Mt Everest and Mt Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa(3680m)

1. 1 day
   Pick up and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Lhasa Sightseeing

1. Drepung Monastery (Zhebang Si)
   2h · Admission ticket included
   After enjoying your breakfast, you will have the chance to explore some of Lhasa's famous attractions. There are three great Gelug monasteries in Tibet, and today you will visit two of them. The first site is the Drepung Monastery, located approximately 45 km north of Lhasa.
2. Tibet Museum
   1h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs.
3. Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden)
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

Day 3: Lhasa Sightseeing

1. Potala Palace
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Wandering in the warm sunshine in the morning, you are now standing in front of the Lhasa city landmark, the Potala Palace. In the past, the Potala Palace served as the Dalai Lama's winter palace. Currently, it is a modern museum that collects thousands of traditional Tibetan antiques and objects. It is the best place to learn about its history.
2. Jokhang Temple
   2h · Admission ticket included
   After lunch, your guide will take you to visit the Jokhang Temple. Jokhang Temple, built in the seventh century, is considered the most sacred temple in Tibet. The highlight of the Jokhang Temple is the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve.
3. Barkhor Street
   2h
   Barkhor Street is one of Lhasa's busiest streets where you can purchase unique and traditional Tibetan souvenirs.

Day 4: Lhasa- Gyantse – Shigatse

1. Yamdrok Yumtso Lake
   1h
   Today, your guide will drive you to Shigatse from Lhasa City. Along the way to Shigatse, there is a holy lake, Yamdrok Lake, where the natural scenery is stunning and attractive. It is said that travelers can get rid of all sins and miseries when they are washed by the water in this lake.
2. Karo La Glacier
   Pass by
   Next, we will pass by the Karola Glacier and enjoy it on the roadside. It is about 300m from the main highway on your way to Gyantse.
3. 2h · Admission ticket included
   Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, known for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.

Day 5: Shigatse -Tingri –EBC

1. Tashilunpo Monastery
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, you will visit Panchen Lama's home, the Tashilunpo Monastery, then drive to Lhatse, a small town 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch at a local restaurant.
2. Qomolangma National Nature Preserve
   10h · Admission ticket included
   After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass Tsola Pass(4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass(5,248m). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5,198m). Then you'll drive along the New Zigzag road to Everest Base Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of the Golden Everest Peak.

Day 6: EBC-Saga

1. Peikucuo Lake
   2h · Admission ticket included
   If the weather is good, you can rise early and enjoy the sunrise at Everest Base Camp. After that, drive to Saga and on the way, you can view the world's 14th highest peak , Mt.Shishapangma (8012m). Later, you will reach Lake Peikutso (4590m) and take a break there. Then continue to Saga. If you are lucky , you 'll likely see wild animals like the wild donkey, wild antelope, etc.

Day 7: Saga – Darchen

1. 1 day
   Today, you will spend a lot of time on the way, but it's worth seeing the landscape along the way.You'll have stunning views of the great Himalayas to the south and Trans-Himalayan to the north as we drive across the vast plains. This region is home to nomads and you'll see beautiful grasslands and local villages. As we cross the Mayomla Pass (5112M), you can enjoy the breathtaking view of Mt. Naimonanyi (7694M).
   
   During this exciting journey, you'll pass by sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valleys before reaching the Darchen, a small nomadic village and a crucial launch point for pilgrimages around Mt. Kailash. Upon your arrival, you can explore Darchen town on your own. If you need porters and yaks, your tour guide will arrange it for you this afternoon.

Day 8: Mt Kailash Kora①: Darchen - Dirapuk(4700m), Drive 5km, Trek 15km, Approx. 7~11hrs

1. Mount Kailash
   1 day · Admission ticket included
   In the morning, you will take an eco-bus (which is included in the cost) to Sarshung valley and start your trek from there. Then you will meet your porters and yaks at Sarshung Valley (the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters is not included in the package). You'll trek about 15 km from Sarshung Valley to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu River Valleys. During your trek, you can see both the west and north faces of Mount Kailash. Finally, you will visit the Drirapuk Monastery and stay overnight here.

Day 9: Mt Kailash Kora②: Dirapuk - Zutulpuk(4790m), Trek 22km, Approx. 11~14hrs

1. Mount Kailash
   1 day · Admission ticket included
   Today is the most challenging day of the trek, as you will climb over the highest pass of the Kora, the Dromala pass (5630m). After a brief break at the top, we will descend into the long valley and stop for lunch at the Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent. On your way, you can take a break at a tea house. Then you will continue on to the Zultulpuk , built by two important religious figures, Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. Finally, you will visit the Zutulpuk Monastery. Inside the cave, you will find the footprint and handprint of Milarepa.

Day 10: Mt Kailash Kora③: Zutulpuk- Darchen, Trek 9km, Approx. 2~5hrs; Drive Darchen -Manasarovar-Zhongba, 340km, Approx. 5.5hrs

1. Lake Manasarovar
   2h
   Today is an easy day to trek. You will trek 9km to complete the Kora, then take the eco bus back to Darchen. According to Buddhism, doing a kora around a holy mountain for one circle can rid one of the sins and miseries of life. Only after facing many hardships can you experience the happiness and satisfaction brought by kora. Take the shuttle bus back to Darchen, which is about 3 km away. We will take you from Darchen to Mansarovar, the highest holy lake in Tibet. It's 40km southwest of Darchen. If the weather is good, you can admire the picturesque scenery of Lake Manasarovar. If you feel good, you can take a walk along the lake for a while. Then you will go to Zhongba.

Day 11: Zhongba - Lhatse

1. Mount Kailash
   1 day
   Today, we will drive from Zhongba to Lhatse. Although there are no famous scenic spots on the way, the scenery is endless. On your journey, you will see many unnamed lakes and rivers, cross 7 high mountain passes, and experience various weather conditions. You will see natural scenery, rural cattle and sheep, wild animals, and purple flowers all over the mountains all the way.

Day 12: Lhatse- Shigatse

1. Sakya Monastery
   2h · Admission ticket included
   You will return to Shigatse via Sakya County. There is a well-known Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Sakya County, the main monastery of Sakyapa. It was built in the 1360s. The walls around this monastery were mostly gray, but the top part of the walls were painted red and white stripes. That's why Variegated Buddhism is also known as Sakyapa.
   
   There are many cultural treasures such as seals, Buddha statues, a vast collection of books, exquisite murals, etc. The murals of the Yuan Dynasty are the most distinctive, making Sakya Monastery known as the "second Dunhuang".

Day 13: Shigatse- Lhasa

1. 2h
   Today, we will drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse along the northern route to Lhasa. On your way, you'll see the Yarlung Tsangpo valley. In Nyemo, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Tibetan Incense Workshop. Nyemo County has a rich history of over 1,000 years. This fragrant incense can also be used to prevent infectious diseases such as flu and influenza, as its ingredients contain herbal medicines such as saffron, sandalwood, Chinese Usnea, and borneol. This is the case, except for sacrificial ceremonies.

Day 14: Lhasa Tour

1. 1 day
   We don't have any tourist attractions planned for you today. You could have free time in Lhasa city with your tour guide. If you want to have some activities, we need to get the approval of other members and do it together. According to regulations, foreigners are not allowed to travel to Tibet alone but must be accompanied by a tour guide.
   
   Of course, you could also choose to leave Lhasa today. We will drop you off at either Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station.

Day 15: Lhasa Departure

1. 12h
   Your tour will end today. You will be transferred to either the Lhasa airport or the railway station for your next destination.

Pickup details

* Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all times on the first & last day;
* Pick-up from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to your hotel at 9:30 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on the first day;
* Drop-off from your hotel to Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm on the last day.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
• Book at least 12 working days ahead of time if you want to join in a group which has booked by other tourists.
• We accept Solo traveler but remember to book more than 50 days in advance.
• If you need to book a tour which starts less than 12 days, please contact us as quickly as possible so that we can try our best to arrange everything for you.
• The price of the tour may increase and a visiting to some tourist sites may cancel due to any Force Majeure Event. GTT reserves the right to change attractions and the itinerary order.
• Travelers need to provide the copy of passports and China visa in advance.
• Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) often takes about 12-working-day to apply. If you couldn’t provide the required docs and information on time, an extra fee for USD 50~80/permit will be charged.
• If you're flying into Tibet from mainland China: You need the original copy of the Tibet travel permit, so we will send it to your hotel in China.
• If you're taking a train to Tibet from mainland China: You will need a printed copy of the Tibet permit to enter Tibet, so we will send it by email.
• If you fly into Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal: You will not need to have a Chinese visa, but a Tibet Group Visa which applies for the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. When you send the copy of your passport to us, we will help you to get the Tibet Group Visa.
• Single Supplement: Our quote is based on twin rooms. If you are a single traveler, you will pay a single supplement at the time of booking. If you like, we will try best to match you with another traveler to share the twin rooms, then the single supplement will be refunded.