Kailash Mansarovar Overland Tour from Lhasa

Itinerary

• Day 01 : Arrive Lhasa (3650 m)

  Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport, Lhasa, the group shall meet our local staff/representative, who will escort the group to the pre-booked hotel in Lhasa. It will take about 2 hours for the group to reach the hotel. Spend the first day free to acclimatize with the altitude as Kathmandu is at 1400 m above sea level and Lhasa is at 3650m. Spend the night at Four Points by Sheraton or similar in Lhasa.

• Day 02 : Lhasa - after breakfast take a tour of Lhasa visiting Jokhang temple, Barkhor street and Potala palace

  Jokhang Temple: This huge building structure consists of three floors and an open roof, all dotted with chapels and chambers. The Jokhang Temple has undergone massive additions and reconstructions since the 7th century, particularly during the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. While parts of the existing temple structure date from Potala Palace Tibet's earlier times, most of the murals are from the 18th and 19th centuries, and few statues (except Joyo Sakyamuni) are older than the 1980s. The temple was sacked several times during Mongol incursions, but its worst treatment has been at the hands of the Chinese since their occupation of Tibet in 1959. The Jokhang is the most celebrated temple in Tibet. Because a particular sect of Tibetan Buddhism does not control the temple, it attracts adherents of all the sects as well as followers of Bon-Po, Tibet's indigenous religion. Three pilgrimage circuits exist in Lhasa, each directing pilgrims to the Jowo Sakyamuni statue: the Lingkhor, which encircles the city’s sacred district; the Barkhor, which encloses the Jokhang temple; and the Nangkhor, a ritual corridor inside the Jokhang. Hundreds of pilgrims daily throughout the year circumambulate each of these three circuits. Some pilgrims will cover the entire distance by prostrating every few feet, and others will walk slowly, chanting sacred mantras and spinning hand-held prayer wheels. For more than a thousand years, millions of pilgrims have trod these sacred paths with devotion in their hearts; this cumulative focus of intention and love has charged the Jokhang with an enormously powerful field of sanctity.

  Barkhor Street: The center of the old Lhasa, Barkhor is a circular street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan Norbulinka Palace culture, economy, religion, and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid. It was said that in the seventh century Songtsen Gampo, the first Tibetan King (617 or 650) who unified Tibet, married Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepal princess Tritsun. Later, Princess Tritsun built the Jokhang Temple to accommodate the Jowo Sakyamuni, aged 12, brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng. Barkhor is the road which pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night. They comprise most of Lhasa's floating population.

  Potala Palace: The Potala Palace was the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, which was originally built in the 7th century by King Sotsen Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai lama in the 17th century. Built in the mid-18th century by the 7th Dalai lama, Norbulingka, the Jewel Park was the Dalai lama's summer palace, it covers 100 acres with palaces, pavilions, and a zoo. Spend the night at Four Points by Sheraton or similar in Lhasa.

• Day 03 : Drive to Shigatse (3843 m) - 272 km/ 7-8 hrs.

  After breakfast in your hotel, visit Norbulinka Palace and take a drive to Shigatse, which is the 2nd largest city in Tibet. Built in 1447 by the first Dalai lama, the Tashillunpo Monastery in Shigatse is a very important monastery in China as it is known as the seat of the Panchen Lama. Overnight stay at Hotel in Shigatse.

• Day 04 : Drive from Shigatse to Saga(4487 m) /8-9 Hrs

  Early breakfast in the hotel and continue drive to Saga. The drive is quite long today. A packed lunch will be served by our representative en route. On arrival, check into your pre-booked hotel/guest house or equivalent for dinner and overnight stay at Saga.

• Day 05 : Saga to Manasarovar Lake(4599 m) 490 Kms/ 8 Hrs

  Today is the day for the lifetime that you are going to have Darshan of the Holy “Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasarover” - The day's program is as usual: after breakfast at around 8 am, we drive through Mayum - la pass ( 17000ft ) - the highest point of the driving. On the way, pack Lunch. Upon Arrival at Mansarovar, we had to change our transport and use a Chinese government bus for the Kailash Mansarovar Region. Mansarovar Parikrama by Bus. (125 KM approx) Overnight at Mansarovar in Dormitory Guest House.

• Day 06 : Lake Manasarovar to Darchen (4731m) – 40 kms drive / 1.5 hours

  After Breakfast, Drive around 1 hrs to Darchen. Ashtapad excursion can be done at extra cost, then a full day for leisure. You can stroll around the small market in Darchen in the afternoon. Stay in a guesthouse in a dormitory-style.

• Day 07 : Drive to Yam Dwar. Mt. Kailash outer kora first day to Dirapukh (4909m) – 12 kms / 5 hours

  After Breakfast, drive to Dharboche Yamdwar Darshan and start Parikrama of Mt. Kailash will start Trekking. Today is the first day of your Kailash Parikrama, where you have to Trek for about 5 hours. You will visit the North Face of Mt Kailash and touch the feet of Mt. Kailash (Charan Sparsh). Reach Diraphuk 16300ft. Overnight stay – Lodge. Those who do not wish to go for Parikrama can go back to Dharchen after Pooja O/N stay at the Dormitory Guest House.

• Day 08 : Dirapukh to Zuthulphukh(4790m) 22 Kms Trek/10 Hrs via Dolma–La Pass (5630m/18,471 feet)

  We will trek around 8 km and reach the point where the Coach will be waiting for us. Then we will drive to Darchen. After lunch, we will drive to Dongba. O/N stay at Dormitory Guest House.

• Day 09 : Zhuthulphuk to New Dongba(4600 m) – 340 Kms/8 hrs drive

  From today we will be leaving this holy place and returning Overnight to stay at the Dormitory Guest House.

• Day 10 : New Dongba to Saga(4487m) – 232 kms/4-5 hrs drive

  Morning drive back to Shigatse. Overnight Hotel.

• Day 11 : Saga to Shigatse (3843m) - 448 km. / 8-9 hrs scenic drive

  Morning after breakfast drive back towards Lhasa and stay overnight in hotel

• Day 12 : Shigatse to Lhasa (3661m) 272 km/ 5-6 hrs

  Drive to Lhasa for overnight stay.

• Day 13 : Fly back to home

  Intime you will be transfered to Lhasa international airport to board flight back to home.