17 Day Tibet Mount Kailash Tour from Hong Kong by Train
(HTT007) Hong Kong - Xining - Lhasa - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Darchen - Mt. Kailash - Drirapuk - Dzultripuk - Lhasa
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Tour Type:
Escorted by private guide and vehicle; leave 365 days a year!
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Trip Level:
Easy - suitable for all levels of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.
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Trip Level Guide:
- Easy - suitable for all level of fitness, family with kids and senior groups.
- Moderate - suitable for ones with average level fitness, family with kids bigger than 12 yrs.
- Moderate to Strenous - suitable for ones physically fit; have experiences of high altitude trek.
- Strenuous: suitable for adventures and individual with physically fit and healthy.
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Season:春
Spring夏
Summer秋
Autumn冬
Winter
Overview
This tour will lead you to the holiest mountain in the world, Mount Kailash, which is worshipped by numerous believers each year. Starting with a Hong Kong to Xining flight, you will travel overland from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp and then on to the scared Kailash Peak. This is a high-quality journey including a 3-day Mount Kailash kora, a once-upon-a-lifetime experience for anyone to remember. In addition, you will also enjoy exciting sightseeing in Xining, Lhasa and Shigatse, visiting the historic palaces and holy monasteries, as you take in the sweeping landscape of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
At a Glance
Day 1Xining Arrival
Day 2Qinghai Lake Day Tour and Take overnight Train to Lhasa
Day 3Enjoy beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and arrive in Lhasa
Day 4Lhasa Tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barker Street
Day 5Lhasa Tour: Drepung and Sera Monastery
Day 6Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse
Day 7Shigatse to EBC via Tingri
Day 8Everest Base Camp to Saga
Day 9Saga to Lake Manasarovar to Darchen
Day 10Trek Day One - Darchen to Drirapuk (20km, 6.5 hours)
Day 11Trek Day Two - Drirapuk to Dzultripuk (18km, 7-8 hours)
Day 12Trek Day Three - Dzultripuk to Darchen (14km, 3-4 hours)
Day 13Drive from Darchen to Saga (450km)
Day 14Saga to Sakya (350km)
Day 15Sakya to Shigatse (170km)
Day 16Shigatse to Lhasa
Day 17Lhasa Departure
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Xining Arrival
From Hong Kong you need to take a connecting flight to Xining, in Qinghai province of China. On arrival in Xining, our guide will transfer you to your reserved hotel. The rest of the day is for you to explore the surroundings or take a rest in the hotel.
Stay overnight in Xining
Day 2: Qinghai Lake Day Tour and Take overnight Train to Lhasa
In the early morning, drive about 2.5 hours from Xining to Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland salt water lake. The ellipse-shaped lake looks like a huge poplar leaf sitting on the alpine prairie. Scenery in Qinghai Lake varies according to seasons. Summer and autumn have the most comfortable weather conditions and the lake's scenery is most beautiful during these seasons. The most charming and attractive place in Qinghai Lake is the Bird Island. It situates on the western shore of the Lake. Cruising for about 30 minutes is a popular way to appreciate the lake. On the way to this charming lake, you can get a view of Riyue Mountain.
In the afternoon, drive back to Xining. Then, transfer to railway station for your overnight train to Lhasa.
Stay overnight in the train
Day 3: Enjoy beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway and arrive in Lhasa
Today, you will enjoy the most beautiful scenery of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, spectacular land of snows, boundless desert, vast grassland, and grand snow-capped mountains, beautiful lakes that will continually appear and strongly attract your heart. You will arrive in Lhasa at about 12:00. Your tour guide will hold a welcome sign with your name on it to greet you at the exit of the train station and escort you from the train station to your reserved hotel in Lhasa. The rest of the day is for you to get acclimatized to the altitude of Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 4: Lhasa Tour: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barker Street
Today's tour will first bring you to the Potala Palace which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It was put to use since the 7th Century by the 33rd great king of Tibet. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.
Then after lunch, tourists head to Jokhang Temple which was founded by the 33rd great king of Tibet in the 7th century, in order to promote the Buddhist religion. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve, perhaps the only most venerated object in Tibetan Buddhism. Around the temple is Barkhor Street where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, in the meantime you can buy souvenirs.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 5: Lhasa Tour: Drepung and Sera Monastery
In the morning, you are going to visit Drepung Monastery which is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1416 by Jamyang choge, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. Ganden palace used to be Dalai Lama’s palace in the Drepung before he moved to the Potala palace.
In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, one of the Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
Day 6: Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse
In the morning, drive from Lhasa to Shigatse .On the way, drive over the Gampala pass (4790 m), and you will have a glimpse of Yamdrok-tso (4400m) .The Lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and in the distance you can have spectacular views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa.
Later, we will pass and enjoy the Korola Glacier on the roadside; At Manak Dam Lake, you can hang pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass; then, we will arrive in Gyantse, historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigatse). In Gyantse, we will visit the famous Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum and enjoy the far view of Gyangtse Fortress.
After one and a half driving, we arrive in Shigatse, which is the second largest city in Tibet. In Shigatse, we may visit traditional Barley Mill and view the landscape of Barley Field (in summer).
Stay overnight in Shigatse
Day 7: Shigatse to EBC via Tingri
In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive to Lhatse, it is a small town where you can have lunch.
After that, we will pass Tsola Pass (4600M), and Gyatsola Pass (5248M). Shortly after we enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, tourists can enjoy the panorama of Himalaya at Gawula Pass (5198m).Then we drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5200m). You can get closer to gaze at the Mt. Everest peak. The sunset of golden Everest peak if time and weather permits at the lodging area.
Stay overnight at Rongbuk monastery guest house
Day 8: Everest Base Camp to Saga
We need to take the old tingri road to Saga County. From the old Tingri, you can see the Mt. Everest and Mt. Shishapangma which is at 8012m was the least of the world's 8000m peaks to be climbed. The road condition worsens from old tingri and runs parallel to the Himalayan ranges and Nepalian sides called Anapurna ranges.
The main road passes through the desolate plain of Digur tang, with its enormous sand dunes and the closely neighboring snow peaks of Shishapangma and langtang to the south. Leaving the bum-chu basin, it then descends into the depression of Pelkhutso Lake (4600m), a cobalt blue lake. Today we drive to Saga, a small town 69km from the Phelgutso.
Stay overnight at local guesthouse of Saga
<p>We need to take the old tingri road to Saga County. From the old Tingri, you can see the Mt. Everest and Mt. Shishapangma which is at 8012m was the least of the world's 8000m peaks to be climbed. The road condition worsens from old tingri and runs parallel to the Himalayan ranges and Nepalian sides called Anapurna ranges.
<p>The main road passes through the desolate plain of Digur tang, with its enormous sand dunes and the closely neighboring snow peaks of Shishapangma and langtang to the south. Leaving the bum-chu basin, it then descends into the depression of Pelkhutso Lake (4600m), a cobalt blue lake. Today we drive to Saga, a small town 69km from the Phelgutso.
<p>Stay overnight at local guesthouse of Saga
Day 9: Saga to Lake Manasarovar to Darchen
Moving towards the Drongpa County, the region around the sources of Brahmaputra River, which is about 167km from the Saga town. At about 50km from today’s destination Darchen, we will make a small detour to Lake Manasarovar, the holy lake of Tibetan and Hinduism. You can relax around the lake shore and experience the natural beauty of the lake. In the summer time, flocks of swans will gather on the lake, bringing grace and life to the area.
You can also see so many Tibetans and Hindus praying and circling around the lake shore, snow-capped mountains on the background and hundreds of swans gathering on the lake, attracting hundreds and thousands of tourists from all over the world. In late afternoon, we will reach Tarchen, a small town at the foot of Mt. Kailash. Tour guide will assist tourists to arrange trekking yaks and porters and doing some preparation for your following 3 days trekking around Mt. Kailash.
Overnight at local guesthouse in Darchen town
Day 10: Trek Day One - Darchen to Drirapuk (20km, 6.5 hours)
The Traditionally pilgrims undertake 52 km trekking circuit around Mount Kailash, commencing at Darchen (4574m) and crossing the Dolma-la pass on the second day of the three day walk. 8 kilometers after leaving Darchen with environment-friendly bus (40minutes), we get to a village called Sarshung, where porters are waiting for their clients.
After two hours, we come upon a grassy plain populated by nomads. For this turn in the valley it is another two hours at least before reaching Drirapuk(4920m). You need to camp or can rest in monastery's guest house made from cement with a few good facilities than others in Drirapuk. At the opposite side of Drirapuk, there you can see small monastery with its guest house little cleaner than others.
Stay overnight at the tent guesthouse of monastery
Travel Tips: Mt. Kailash kora is a true test of body and soul. You trek at an average altitude of 4675m during 3-day kora, the highest mountain pass being 5630m. And the accommodation facility is pretty bad. You stay in makeshift guesthouse with poor sanitation. Sleeping bag is a must. However, all your physical misery will be compromised, compared with the divine experience around Mt. Kailash.
Day 11: Trek Day Two - Drirapuk to Dzultripuk (18km, 7-8 hours)
The second day is the hardest and most tough circuit with the Dolma-la pass lying 6.4km ahead but 762m above Drirapuk. The peak of Dolma-la pass is about 5630m above sea level, so it is better to set off early in the morning as the sun rays break over the ridges above. After taking a rest at the peak of Dolma-la pass, you will descend staircase bringing you to Lhachu valley floor, taking about one hour from the pass.
From here it is still four hours trekking to the today's final destination with no shelters on the way. It is better to walk on the right side of the river and finally get to Dzultripuk (with miracle cave of milarepa). It is advisable to get there before other groups because limited numbers of rooms are available there in Dzultripuk. Take a good rest in the guest room and prepare for next morning's departure.
Stay overnight at the tent guesthouse of monastery
Day 12: Trek Day Three - Dzultripuk to Darchen (14km, 3-4 hours)
Today, we will go through Milarepa's cave, where the temple and shrines have been built around. Then we walk back to Darchen is easy and the exit from the valley can be reached within three hours. At the ending point of the valley, the driver will come to pick you and take you back to Darchen.
Stay overnight at the local guesthouse at Darchen
Day 13: Drive from Darchen to Saga (450km)
Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasorova
Stay overnight in Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen hotel
Day 14: Saga to Sakya (350km)
Drive from Saga to Sakya
Stay overnight in Sakya Yuan Fu Hotel
Day 15: Sakya to Shigatse (170km)
In the morning, we will visit ancient Sakya town and you can tour Sakya Monastery with amazing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues. Then we are about to drive from Sakya to Shigatse.
Stay overnight in Manasarovar Hotel
Day 16: Shigatse to Lhasa
We will follow Yalong Valley back to Lhasa. On the way, you can stand on the viewing platform to view the vast Yalong River bed and visit Water Mill making Tibetan Incense material (in summer, if time permits). Drop off at hotel in Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa (3-star Hotel)
Day 17: Lhasa Departure
The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board.
Service Guide
Service Included:
- Tibet travel permit and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance ticket fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
- Personal knowledgeable English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
- Personal comfortable, clean and safe vehicle with reliable Tibetan local driver; vehicle ranging from 4WD land cruiser to minibus depending on your group size;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel or budget hostel, guesthouse or tent. Please tell us your accommodation preference when submitting the enquiry; we will arrange the best-value hotels for you.
- Domestic flight/train tickets listed in the itinerary;
- All meals listed in the above itinerary;
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance;
- First aid kit;
Service Excluded:
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese visa (Note: we could help you with the Chinese visa application, like providing the invitation letter, presenting the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies, etc that you may need. )
- Domestic flight/train not listed in the itinerary. (We can provide you the domestic flight/train ticket booking service at the BEST discount price; please contact us our travel experts for the details.)
- Meals not specified in the itinerary; usually it costs about USD3-15 per person for one meal in TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region).
- Tips and gratitude to tour guide and driver;
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks (please do the best to avoid the alcoholic beverages during your Tibet trip), optional tour activities, etc.
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Most Frequently Asked Questions from our Clients
Challenge yourself to trek the Mount Kailash, whose peak has never been climbed, to fulfill a devout pilgrimage of strong wills and sincere wishes
Tibetan Travel Guru,Master Kungga Dundruk
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