Lhasa to Mount Kailash
3 865,00 €
This exclusive journey covers the immensities of the Tibetan plateau from the cultural highlights of the Lhasa region to Mount Kailash, a grandiose setting for a pilgrimage where 3 religions, Hinduism, Bönpo and Buddhism, come together: This great discovery, which is preferably carried out from May to September, is aimed at lovers of Tibetan culture, the wild expanses of the roof of the world and the Kora of Mount Kailash can be done by everyone in good shape on foot, on horseback or the back of a horse. yak…
- Tibet Country
- Hiking and trekking Thématique
- Difficult Difficulté
- 14 days Duration
- 5 700 m Max. altitude
- Yes Guide
- Guest house, Hôtel Hébergement
- Lhasa Departure / Arrival
Itinerary
Arrive at Gongkar airport, welcome by your driver and your Tibetan guide then transfer to Lhasa, depending on the weather and your fitness, and go for a stroll in the old Barkor district. Lubhum Tsang Boutique Hotel or similar B&B
Morning visit to Potala Palace, Lhasa’s most imposing attraction, once the center of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Discovery in the afternoon of the Jokhang monastery, built in 647 when Buddhism was introduced to Tibet, the supposed cradle and sacred house of Tibetan Buddhism. Free time then for a pleasant stroll in the fascinating Barkhor street surrounding the Jokhang temple, as well as a nunnery and the Ramoche temple. Lubhum Tsang Boutique Hotel or similar B&B
Morning visit to Potala Palace, Lhasa’s most imposing attraction, once the center of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Discovery in the afternoon of the Jokhang monastery, built in 647 when Buddhism was introduced to Tibet, the supposed cradle and sacred house of Tibetan Buddhism. Free time then for a pleasant stroll in the fascinating Barkhor street surrounding the Jokhang temple, as well as a nunnery and the Ramoche temple. Lubhum Tsang Boutique Hotel or similar B&B
Departure towards Gyantse passing by the superb Yamdrok Lake, one of the holy lakes of Tibet. Passage of 3 passes between 4500 and 5045m. View of a pretty glacier en route. Visit the lost monastery of Ralung. On arrival, visit the monastery of Pelkhor, a fusion of Nepalese, Tibetan and Han styles; it presents an impressive wealth of symbols and architectural elements. Then discovered the old town of Gyantsé and the ruins of Zhongshan, a citadel marked by the resistance against the British invasion of 1904 (visit according to time available, otherwise the next day). Yeti Hotel or similar B&B
Morning drive to Sakya with a stop on the way at the pretty village and monastery of Shalu Shalu (built in the 11th century and renovated in the 15th). In the afternoon, visit the Shigatsé market, as well as the Tashilunbo monastery: the residence of the Panchen Lama, it houses the largest bronze statue in the world, which was built in 1904 for the Buddha of the future Maitreya. Continuation to Sakya – the black earth. Headquarters of the eponymous school which emphasizes scholarship. Night at Yuanfu Hotel in Sakya
Drive to Saga via Gyatso la at 5210 m. In good weather, you can admire Everest from Tingri. Continuation passing near Shisha Pangma another 8000 m then on the banks of Lake Pegu Tso. Continuation across the plateau and the vast pastures where nomads raise sheep and yaks. Night at the Grand Western Post Hotel in Saga
By the southern route, we reach the high Tibetan plateau at more than 4000 m, still very wild and apart from a few nomads, populated by herds of Kyangs, gazelles, antelopes and packs of jackals and soliarian wolves. We follow the road to the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. A fossil on site was seen from Chaktsalkang. Walk on the banks of the lake and visit the Chiu Gompa monastery perched on a rocky outcrop.
After breakfast departure for Dharchen and day at leisure for acclimatization and preparations for the Kora.
On the pilgrimage path of the Kora (tour) of Mount Kailash, 3 days of walk to perform the ritual circumambulation and enjoy the atmosphere exceptional of this spiritual high place for the Buddhist religions Hindus and Bön. The tour is completed in one day by some pilgrims, others in great prostration take much more time and others settle down to practice meditation at the foot of the sacred mountain. We set up camp near the Diraphuk Monastery (4,910 m).
Basic guest house on BB
The highlight of our journey: The passage of Dolma La above 5700 m. Descent on sometimes uneven terrain to bivouac near the Milarepa cave. Basic guest house on BB
3 hours of walking to reach the end point of the Kora in Dharchen where we let’s find our vehicle. Return route to Saga.
Continue to Shigatse and visit the Tashilumpho monastery. Night at the Shiga Yangsha hotel in BB
Along the Yarlung Tsangpo road to Lhasa Kyichu Hotel or similar B&B
Transfer to Lhasa airport for the return flight.
Practical Info
What is included
- All transfers by private vehicle according to the itinerary.
- Stay in Tibet with accommodation according to the program (Kyichu or similar in Lhasa, Yuthok, Shiba Yangsha, Grand Hotel of Western Post, The Faraway home in Dharchen,…)
- Breakfasts in Tibet
- English-speaking Tibetan guide for the entire Tibet stay
- Permits and authorisation to enter sites in Tibet
- Entrances to national sites and parks in Tibet
- Staff insurance
- Oxygen is available in the vehicle.
- Delivery of permits to the transit point in China
- Online payment in France without bank fees
What is not included
- Repas au Tibet hors petit déjeuner
- Séjour au Népal ou en Chine
- Visa Chine (gratuit pour 15 jrs en 2025) à obtenir au préalable
- Vols
- Assurance rapatriement obligatoire
- Pourboires, dépenses et équipement personnels, boissons,…
FAQ
Mount Kailash (6,638 m), the legendary summit of the Tibetan plateau, is a pilgrimage site like no other, where three great spiritual traditions meet: Hinduism, Buddhism and Bon. Completing the kora, the 52-kilometre ritual circuit around the sacred mountain, is a deeply symbolic act accessible to any fit walker. At its foot, the supernaturally blue Lake Manasarovar is considered one of the most sacred lakes in Asia. Steeped in a mystical atmosphere, these landscapes offer an intense inner experience, between spirituality, isolation and raw beauty.
Before reaching the vast spaces of western Tibet, this journey passes through the iconic cities of central Tibet. In Lhasa, the Potala Palace, residence of the Dalai Lama, dominates the city and symbolises the richness of Tibetan Buddhism. The Jokhang, a major place of devotion, and the Barkhor, its sacred quarter, immerse you in the spiritual daily life of the pilgrims. Further on, Gyantse and Shigatse reveal their fortresses, stupas and monasteries, such as Tashilhunpo, seat of the Panchen Lama. A journey to the heart of Tibetan culture, between art, history and religious fervour.
At the end of the road, the now-ruined Guge kingdom bears witness to an ancient, little-known and mysterious Tibet. Perched in the desert valleys of western Tibet, this major archaeological site shelters ancient cave monasteries, sacred frescoes and collapsed palaces. Once prosperous at the crossroads of trade routes between India and China, Guge offers a journey through time amid hypnotically beautiful lunar landscapes. Rarely visited, this stage is one of the rarest and most striking moments of the trip.
