Lhasa and Kailash Tour

Welcome to Nepal! Our team will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, you’ll meet your group and guide for a briefing.

After breakfast, begin your day with a guided city tour that takes you through some of the most revered religious and cultural sites in the Kathmandu Valley. Visit the Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), perched on a hilltop with panoramic views of the valley and a mystical air filled with spinning prayer wheels and fluttering flags. Continue to the massive Boudhanath Stupa, where the scent of incense and rhythmic chants of monks surround you. Later, visit the sacred Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River, where you may witness Hindu cremation rituals and gain insight into Nepal’s deep spiritual traditions.

In the afternoon, you will return to the hotel for lunch and final trip preparations. Our staff will review your travel permits, brief you on high-altitude precautions, and assist with any equipment needs. This is the time to purchase or rent any final essentials such as warm clothing, medications for altitude, or trekking gear. You may also meet your fellow travelers, making this a great opportunity to form connections before embarking on the shared spiritual journey. Overnight again at your hotel in Kathmandu, as you prepare for the scenic flight to Tibet the following day.

Today you’ll experience one of the most breathtaking flights in the world as you cross the Himalayas en route to Lhasa. If the weather is clear, you’ll see stunning aerial views of peaks like Mount Everest and Makalu before landing at Lhasa Gonggar Airport. Upon arrival, our Tibetan guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Lhasa. The drive into the city takes you through a high-altitude desert landscape marked by rolling hills, dramatic skies, and the occasional flutter of prayer flags in the wind. It is essential to take the rest of the day slowly to allow your body to begin adjusting to the higher elevation.

After checking into your hotel, hydrate well and take plenty of rest. While the city outside is alive with color and culture, avoid physical exertion today to ensure smooth acclimatization. You may take a gentle stroll around your hotel or observe life in Lhasa from a local teahouse. The Tibetan plateau’s thin air can be taxing, and following acclimatization protocols is key to a safe and enjoyable trip. Overnight stay in Lhasa at a hotel that combines comfort with traditional Tibetan charm.

Your first full day in Lhasa starts with a visit to the iconic Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. This architectural wonder towers above the city with white and red buildings perched on a hilltop, filled with over a thousand rooms, chapels, and ancient relics. Climbing the stairs is a slow process due to the altitude, but it offers dramatic views over Lhasa and insights into Tibetan spirituality and governance. Within its halls are golden stupas, murals, meditation chambers, and artifacts that date back centuries.

From Potala, continue your cultural immersion at Jokhang Temple, the most sacred site for Tibetan Buddhists. Pilgrims from across Tibet prostrate themselves in prayer outside its gates, a powerful reminder of the devotion this temple inspires. Inside, the air is thick with incense, and the central statue of Jowo Sakyamuni radiates spiritual significance. Surrounding Jokhang is Barkhor Street, a lively circumambulation path where locals spin prayer wheels, chant mantras, and shop for spiritual items. It’s a perfect place to observe Tibetan life and pick up meaningful souvenirs. Overnight in Lhasa.

Today, the journey transitions from city exploration to highland road travel as you drive from Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse, witnessing dramatic changes in scenery. Depart early and ascend the Kamba La Pass (4,794m), stopping for photos of the awe-inspiring Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, with its mesmerizing turquoise hue. The road skirts the lake and continues through vast plains, high passes, and villages that offer a peek into rural Tibetan life. This part of the journey introduces you to the grand scale and spiritual pulse of the Tibetan plateau.

Stop in Gyantse to visit the historic Pelkor Chode Monastery and its towering Kumbum Stupa, a unique multi-tiered structure filled with murals and chapels representing the stages of Buddhist enlightenment. After lunch, continue to Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city and the seat of the Panchen Lama. Arrive by late afternoon, check into your hotel, and take a well-deserved rest. Shigatse offers slightly better oxygen levels than Lhasa due to its broader valley setting, aiding your acclimatization. Overnight stay at a comfortable hotel in Shigatse.

Leaving Shigatse behind, you’ll now head west through some of the most remote and visually arresting landscapes of Tibet. The road winds through rolling plateaus, barren stretches of sand dunes, and expansive grazing lands where yaks and nomadic herders share space under the vast blue sky. Crossing the Brahmaputra River and high passes such as the Lhakpa La, you’ll reach the town of Saga by late afternoon. The drive is long but filled with epic vistas and brief encounters with shepherd communities along the way.

Saga is a small but strategically important town for travelers heading to Kailash. You’ll rest here overnight to help your body prepare for the higher altitudes to come. The accommodations are basic but adequate, and hot meals and rest are most welcome after a long day on the road. Here, you’ll feel the increasing proximity to the sacred Mount Kailash as the air gets thinner and the sky somehow feels even higher. Overnight in Saga.

Today’s drive takes you to the holiest lake in Tibet, Lake Manasarovar, situated at the foot of Mount Kailash. The journey crosses the Mayum La Pass and reveals views of distant mountains, crystal rivers, and wide plains scattered with nomadic tents. As you approach Manasarovar, the sacred peaks of Gurla Mandhata and the silhouette of Mount Kailash may come into view, depending on weather conditions. The atmosphere becomes palpably spiritual as you near this revered destination.

Lake Manasarovar is believed to be the highest freshwater lake in the world and holds deep spiritual significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. Pilgrims bathe in its icy waters to cleanse sins and perform rituals along its shores. Upon arrival, you’ll walk along part of the lake, meditate, or simply absorb the serenity. Spend the night near the lake in a guesthouse, surrounded by barren beauty, silence, and spiritual energy that inspires awe and introspection. This is one of the holiest nights of your journey.

The next three days are dedicated to the sacred Kailash Kora – the 52-kilometer circumambulation of Mount Kailash, starting from Darchen

Each day includes rugged hikes over high passes like Drolma La (5,630m), with breathtaking views and spiritual stops at monasteries and prayer sites. You will be accompanied by local guides and yak porters. After completing the Kora,

Cross the challenging Dolma La Pass and descend to Zuthulphuk. This is the most difficult yet spiritually rewarding day.

Finish the Kora and return to Saga for rest after the spiritually intense trek.

After completing the Kora, you will retrace the route back to Saga, Shigatse, and Lhasa by vehicle. Each return leg allows for reflection, rest, and appreciation of the journey’s spiritual significance.

you will take your return flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu for a relaxing end to your transformative journey. Spend your final evening in Nepal reflecting, sharing experiences with fellow travelers, or exploring the capital one last time before departure.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Take with you the memories of a once-in-a-lifetime journey.