17 Days Kailash Yatra with Lhasa Tour
Duration: 16 Nights / 17 Days
Places to Visit: Kathmandu – Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse – Lhatse - New Dzongba - Lake Manasarovar – Darchen - Yama Dwar - Lake Manasarovar - New Dzongba – Nyalam - Kathmandu
His tour is a fusion of culture & pilgrimage. After finishing normal schedule program in Kathmandu, your journey commences with a spectacular flight to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China. This is probably the best flight in the World; right from Kathmandu the flight makes its route parallel with the Himalayan range up to the Mt. Everest, then crosses over the jagged mountain range and enters into the arid plateau of Tibet.
The tour consists of a two-days sightseeing tour of Lhasa; visiting Potala Palace (the winter Palace of his holy highness Dalai Lama), Norbulinkha (the summer Palace), Jokhang temple (the oldest Monastery of Lhasa), Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. After finishing tour in Lhasa, you will head out to the west (Kailash region) via the highlighted cities of Tibet; Gyantse, Shigatse, Lhatse and eventually Saga. From Saga, your route merges with the main trail of Kailash-Manasarovar.
ITINERARY
DAY 01: KATHMANDU ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Kathmandu. We meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport / Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. Evening, tour briefing + dinner. O/N Hotel
DAY 02: SIGHTSEEING TOUR IN KATHMANDU
Morning, sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath temple, Budhanilkantha (sleeping Bishnu) and monkey temple, afternoon free on your own. O/N Hotel
DAY 03: FLY, KATHMANDU TO LHASA (3650 m)
Early morning, transfer to Airport for flying to Lhasa. The flight takes about 1 hour to reach Gonggar airport / Lhasa. The airport is approximately 30 minutes drive from the main city. Our guide will meet & greet you at the airport then transfer to hotel. O/N Hotel
DAY 04: LHASA SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Today, you will visit Norbulinkha Palace (the summer palace of Dalai Lama), Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. Evening stroll around the Barkhor Square. O/N Hotel
DAY 05: LHASA SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Today, you will visit the most highlighted place of Lhasa, Potala Palace. You may take time as long as you like today. Some of the chambers inside potala is restricted to visit for tourists, however there are plenty of things to see inside. After lunch, you will visit Jokhang temple & Barkhor Square where you may but some Tibetan antiques. Evening, stroll around the Barkhor Square or spare your time for shopping on your own. O/N Hotel
DAY 06: DRIVE, LHASA TO GYANTSE (3950 m)
Today you will set off for Gyantse via Lake Yamdruk (Yamdruk Tso). Yamdruk is the largest fresh water lake in Tibet. Apart from the lake Yamdruk Tso, you will be crossing over the high passes(Kamba-La and Karo-La), both passes are nearly 5000 m. While approaching the main city of Gyantse, you will see an artificial reservoir that looks extremely superb.
Gyantse is an ancient trading hub of Tibet. British government invaded this city in 1904 under the leadership of Francis Younghusband. There was a massacre of 700 Tibet people during the raid. British then established a business post in Gyantse. Gyantse is probably the fourth largest city of Tibet jeweled with ancient monasteries and stupas. The Khumbum stupa, Gyantse Dzong and Palkor Choide Monastery are monuments to visit. O/N Hotel
DAY 07: DRIVE, GYANTSE - SHIGATSE (3900 m) - LHATSE (3950 m.)
The driving distance from Gyantse to Shigatse is only 90 km. Shigatse is the second largest city of Tibet and the Tashilungpu Monastery is its landmark. Tashilungpu is the largest Monastery in Tibet and the abode of Panchen Lama. After spending sometime visiting Tashilungpu Monastery, you will continue your journey to Lhatse. Lhatse is a small growing city that is situated in a junction, from where the Friendship Highway heads out to the south and the highway to Kailash runs to the west. O/N Hotel
DAY 08: DRIVE, LHATSE - NEW DZONGBA (4460 m.)
Today, our route and the main route to Kailash-Mansarovar by overland from Kathmandu merges together in Saga. After breakfast, you will set off for Saga. As usual, you may see the peculiar landscape of Tibet on the way. Saga is situated in the bank of River Bramhaputra, the river emerges from the Kailash and crosses thousands of kilometers in the arid land of Tibet to reach the bay of Bengal via Arunchal Pradesh of India.
After having lunch in Saga continue drive to New Dzongba. It will take another 3 hours to reach New Dznogba. Your stay will be here today. O/N Hotel
DAY 09: DRIVE, DONGBA TO LAKE MANASAROVAR (4550 m.)
It is a long drive today to reach Lake Manasarovar. The River Brahmaputra will appear once right after leaving Dongba, but after a while it will disappear. After a while of driving, you will be crossing over a small pass then, the highway gently descends to the valley floor and crosses through a place where there are some sand dunes. The area is quite open and wide, so it is windy as well.
Lunch will be served before Mayum-La Pass but after the military check post aside the Highway in the Bank of River. After lunch, you will be crossing over the highest motorable pass of this journey (Mayum-La - 5200 m.). The Highway gradually descends to the other side of mountain and passes through a long lake, with toxic water (as per the tale of local Tibetan) and eventually reaches Lake Manasarovar. O/N Camp/ Guest House
DAY 10: LAKE MANASAROVAR - DARCHEN (4664 m.)
Morning you will take holy dip in the lake then perform Pooja & other rituals that you desire. After lunch, we will set off for Darchen but doing Parikrama (clockwise) of Lake Manasarovar. The complete circumference of this lake is 88 km (55 miles) and it requires nearly two hours to complete the Parikrama then reach Darchen.
After reaching Darchen, you will spare your time having rest or by doing mild walk around the city on your own.
O/N Hotel
DAY 11: DRIVE TO YAMA DWAR & START PARIKRAMA TO DERAPHUK GOMBA (4920 m.)
Drive to Yam Dwar from Darchen; you will meet your horse, if you have booked it in advance, then start trekking to Driraphuk. If you are performing Parikrama by walk, you can leave your main baggage in the vehicle then start trekking to Driraphuk by carrying your own day pack.
The distance between Yama Dwar and Driraphuk is 10 km. The trail is flat and easy. The last bit of this trek is a bump. It will take approximately 5 hours to reach Driraphuk.
O/N Camp/ Guest House
Darchen to Yama Dwar: 8 km (30 minutes drive)
Yam Dwar to Deraphuk Gomba: 10 km (5 hours walk)
DAY 12: CONTINUE PARIKRAMA TO ZUTULPHUK (4760 m.)
Today, you have to cross an extensive distance, 22 km. Also, the trail is difficult than yesterday. Right from the beginning, you will trek uphill till the top of Dolma-La (5600 m.). However, some portion in between are reasonably easy.
From Dolma Pass, a mild descend-walk takes you to the shore of a tiny & superb lake, Gaurikunda. The water of this lake is almost frozen round the year. As per the Hindus, this is the lake where Mata Parvati takes bath.
The passage in between Gaurikunda and the bottom of the valley is tough & rapid descend with boulders and lose rocks. After reaching the bottom to the valley floor, the trail becomes flat and easy. Another one hour need to walk to reach our camp site. O/N Hotel
- Deraphuk Gomba to Zutulphuk Gomba: 9 hours (22 km)
- High pass on the way (Dolama-La): 5600 m.
DAY 13: END PARIKRAMA NEAR DARCHEN AND DRIVE BACK TO LAKE MANSAROVAR (HORA QUI)
The trail today is easy & flat, short too. You need to trek approximately 10 km to reach the pickup point. It will require approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete the Parikrama. Our vehicle will fetch you near Darchen, a couple of kilometers further to Zutulphuk side. After picking you up, we will drop you to Lake Manasarovar. Overnight in tented camp. - Zutulphuk to the ending point: 10 km (3 hours) - Ending point to Lake Manasarovar: 45 hour
DAY 14: RETURN JOURNEY TO NEW DONGPA
(Lake Manasarovar to Dongba: 8 hours (320 km) Early morning after breakfast, we set off our journey back to New Dongpa.
DAY 15: RETURN JOURNEY TO NYALAM,
( Dongba to Nyalam: 8 hours (500 km) You will follow the same route till Saga. From Saga, your trail diverts with the main Highway then heads out to the south by crossing the River Bramha Putra. You will continue drive to Nyalam via Peiku lake and Lablung-La Pass (5100 m). Evening rest in the Guesthouse of Nyalam.
DAY 16: RETURN JOURNEY TO KATHMANDU
( Nyalam to Kathmandu: 145 km 6 hours ) Early morning, drive to friendship bridge, cross the border and do some immigration formalities in Nepal side then continue drive to Kathmandu. The distance between friendship bridge and Kathmandu is about 115 km and it requires four & half hours to get back to Kathmandu. Lunch will be served on the way. Evening at leisure, dinner and overnight hotel.
DAY 17: RETURN HOME
Transfer to Tribhuvan international Airport for your flight back home.
