19 Days Discover the Mystery of Holy Mt.Kailash from India and Nepal

Arrive at the international airport in New Delhi; you will be warmly received by our local Indian guide and get transferred to the hotel. You can relax and explore around for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, we are expected to explore the historical Old and New Delhi. The first stop will be Jama Mosque, one of the largest mosques in India. You may enjoy the stunning architecture and enjoy the crowds for praying, esp. on Friday. Afterwards, you can take rickshaw ride via old Chandni Chowk Bazaar to visit Old Delhi and one of the largest spice markets in Asia.

Then we keep moving to Raj Ghat, the memorial of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. You can enjoy the peace and tranquility while strolling the enchanting garden and monument. Later, we head to New Delhi, built by the British. You will pass the official office and residence of the president of India and visit the iconic India Gate, which is a memorial to patriotic Indian soldiers who died in WWI. Finally, we will cover the Qutub Minar, a magnificent UNESCO world heritage site in New Delhi.

After, dinner we enjoy the cozy ride to Agra for the sunrise in Taj Mahal tomorrow. The drive takes around 3hrs. Our guide will help you check-in in Agra and have a tight sleep for the early rise.

We will have an early rise to enjoy the sunrise at well-known Taj Mahal, believed to be one of the 7 wonders of the world. You may enjoy the spectacular architecture, take some brilliant pictures, and listen to the love story of Shah Jahan and his wife. Later, we drive back to the hotel for breakfast and after check out from the hotel. We manage to explore Agra Fort, the awesome military fort situated downriver from the Taj Mahal. Later, we will drive back to Delhi (3hrs’ ride). You may do some shopping and enjoy the last night in India.

Enjoy our private transfer to New Delhi’s airport and take the morning flight from Delhi to Kathmandu. The non-stop flight normally takes around 1h40m. Then our Nepali guide will be greeting you and transfer you to hotel. The rest of the day is for free exploration.

Start your day by visiting the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square. It’s the Royal Palace square in the city surrounded by ancient buildings from the early 16th century. You can take a glimpse of the house of the virgin goddess and admire exquisite decorations. The intensity of historical items gives a great insight into Nepali culture.

Then continue the tour and hike to the Swayambhunath Pagoda also known as monkey temple, which is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal. You can see many monkeys playing around and walk the kora around Buddha’s eyes and enjoy the great panorama of Kathmandu there.

After lunch, let’s head to Patan City, the second-largest city in the Kathmandu Valley area. Patan City has one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nepal that dates back to the 12th century and is a great place to explore the Buddhist culture of Nepal. You can explore the exquisitely-made woodwork and statues in Patan Museum and discover the amazing artwork at the Golden Temple, etc. before driving back.

Your first stop is the Pashupatinath Temple. This temple, a prime site for cremations, is one of the holiest for Hindus. You'll experience a divine sense of calm and gives a fascinating insight into an aspect of Hinduism. Then we walk to tour Bouddhanath, which is among the largest stupas in South Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries.

Next, the 37min’s drive will take you to Bhaktapur's Dubar Square featuring the Victorian illustrations style with temples and temples complex. Take your time to wander around Varsala Devi Temple, 55 Windows Palace, Dattatreya Temple, Nyatapola Temple, Taumadhi Square, Pottery Square, etc. Finally, drive back to Kathmandu.

Enjoy the easy transfer to the airport and take a flight to Lhasa, which is expected to last around 1h30m. Do take the left window seat, you can enjoy stunning bird’s eye view of Mt. Everest while flying past Great Himalayan Range.

Our expert local leader and your friendly drivers have been expecting you at the designated places at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport. Kindly accept our auspicious white Hada and simply leave your luggage to our driver to take care, then enjoy the scenic ride to your hotel in Lhasa city. Your handful Tibetan guide will help you check-in and remind you of the tour plan the next day. Then enjoy the comfy stay at your hotels in Lhasa for a fresh exploration tomorrow.

After a delightful breakfast in the hotel, you will be exploring the prestigious Jokhang Temple, the most sacred Buddhist site in Lhasa with our local leader. Walk past the prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and move in the dimly-lit rooms; you can hear the constant mumbling of Buddhist chanting and see local Tibetans adding butter oil to the oil lamps. Never miss the chance to worship the life-size statue of 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni.

Then, you will walk clockwise along the most renowned Barkhor pilgrimage circuit and discover the bustling Barkhor Street that mirrors the past and present of Tibet. Find yourself ravenous? No worries. Let’s delve into the quiet alleys to the teahouse of Tsamkhung Nunnery, a peaceful spiritual haven where great local cuisines are found.

Sit beside a beloved Tibetan granny on a bench chair and enjoy the authentic local sweet tea and Tibetan momos and yak noodle soups, pickled radish, etc; you find yourself getting one step closer to the lives of local Tibetans.

After enjoying the laidback hours at the teahouse, you will enjoy a fabulous cooking class at popular Tibetan Family Kitchen. Choose a specific local dish you find interesting with, then follow your cook to Tromsikhang Market to pick up the ingredients. And get back to Family Kitchen and learn to transform the chosen ingredients into a savory masterpiece.

The highlights would be enjoying the communal feast, including your handiwork, at the rooftop terrace of the Family Kitchen overlooking the Jokhang Temple. Then, get transferred to the epic outdoor musical - Princess Wencheng, a grand feast to eyes. The romance between princess Wencheng and Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo and many Tibetan customs will come alive via the dramatic modern choreography.

Today, it’s time to tick off your bucket list by having a selfie with magnificent Potala Palace as the backdrop; the follow the footsteps of your guide to hike the long stairs of impressive Potala Palace for the commanding view of Lhasa city; the UNESCO heritage site perched on the Red hill used to be the winter palace of the generations of Dalai Lama. You will explore the residence of Dalai Lama in White Palace and religious chambers in the Red Palace and gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas, etc.

Shortly after lunch, let’s head to Sera Monastery, one of the Great Three Gelugpa monasteries best-known for its lively monk debate. Sit at the outer perimeter of debate courtyard and watch attentively how monks debate with each other by yelling, slapping of hands, jumping and rolling of Buddhist mala, etc. Though you may not understand what they say, the animated debate scene gives you another side of intriguing Buddhist study in Tibet.

Besides, you may also enjoy exquisite sand mandala and Buddhist scripture printing press and take your time to visit the main assembly hall in this Buddhist academy.

The journey from Lhasa to Shigatse (3900m) would be a feast to your eyes. After 2hrs’ drive, around the bend appears the glittering turquoise Yamdrok Lake; Following the winding road along the holy lake, we will reach Gampala pass (4790 m), where you can enjoy the stunning panorama of Yamdrok with the backdrop of snowy Mt. Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m). You may also pet the tamed Tibetan mastiff for a lovely shot.

After passing Nagarze, the massive Karola Glacier comes into sight. Stop briefly to view this incredible land glaciers cascading from the peak, right beside the highway. Then, the continuing journey will take us to Manla Reservoir where you can enjoy the turquoise lake and hang the auspicious prayer flags at Simila Pass (4200m). Soon, the awe-inspiring Gyantse looms ahead. Here we are. Gyantse, the third-largest city connecting Lhasa with Shigatse.

Visit the famous Pelkor Monastery where multiple Tibetan Buddhism schools coexist in a single monastery; climb multi-story Gyantse Kumbum Stupa, the symbol of Gyantse County, for an amazing vista of Gyantse fortress. With more time to spend, you may take a leisurely stroll in the old street nearby. Shortly after one and a half-hour drive, we will finally reach Shigatse(3900m), Tibet’s second-largest city, and the gateway to Mt. Everest.

Have an early start to visit the celebrated Tashilunpo Monastery, home to successive Panchen Lamas; roam over the alleys of this massive Buddhist academy and explore the tremendous golden statue of Future Buddha (26.2m high) and visit the golden stupas of Panchen Lamas and Amitabha Buddha; you may even join the monk’s chanting at assembly hall or quietly watch the monk debate at the courtyard.

Then, we will leave Shigatse for EBC. The long yet exhilarating drive (350km) promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to you. The idyllic farmland scene gradually gives way to the barren land and rolling Himalayan Range.

Feel the adrenaline rush as you follow the dozens of hairpin bends to awe-inspiring Gawu La Pass (5198m), where the top 4 highest peaks along the Himalayas may take your breath away. Stay briefly here for an epic selfie with the giants of the world.

The final leg of the journey will take your past Rongbuk Monastery (5154m) to the tented camp of EBC (5200m) nearby. Enjoy your stay in a traditional yak tent; at night, if you dare to brave the cold, get out of the cozy tent to enjoy the stunning galaxy above the EBC which will make your jaw drop.

Have an early rise for the dramatic spectacle of the sunrise over the summit of Mt. Everest; you will find that you are not alone for the long-awaited sunrise over the world’s highest peak, together with dozens of well-equipped photographers. Do bundle up for the biting wind outside.

Later, stroll to tour the legendary Rongbuk Monastery (5154m), the world’s highest Buddhist site where pious nuns and monks coexist. You will also be awarded a certificate for making it to EBC.

Say farewell to the lofty Mt. Everest through the rear mirror as the tour vehicle runs westward to Saga County. The route to Saga takes us right past the stunning Lake Peiku Tso, which lies at 4,591 meters above sea level, which is surrounded by the high mountains of the Himalayas. One of those high mountains is Mount Shishapangma (8,012m), the 14th highest peak in the world, and the only peak above 8,000 meters that is wholly inside Tibet. As we drive along the highway towards Saga, the mountain is clearly visible to the north.

Take a short time to explore the views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley, the longest river in Tibet and the source of the mighty Brahmaputra River. Then we will head out on the road to drive the 493 kilometers to Lake Manasarovar and Darchen, at the foot of Mount Kailash.

The valley between the mountains of the Himalayas and the Gangdise ranges quickly changes from lush grasslands to a desolate desert valley, and the road to Darchen skirts along the edge of this as it passes through Zhongba County, the largest county in Shigatse Prefecture. The views of the massive peaks on either side of the valley are a stark contrast to the desolate landscape in the valley itself, and the scenery in this remote desert area is spectacular.

While the area may be remote, the road passes through several small Tibetan village communities, in both the grassland area and the desert area, and we will have the chance to stop briefly at some and get out to take a look.

Before reaching Darchen, we will pass through the small town of Hor Qu, on the northeastern shores of Lake Manasarovar. We will stop at the lakeshore for a while to enjoy the beauty of what is considered to be the most sacred lake in Tibet. Lying at an altitude of 4,590 meters, and is said to be the location where Maya Devi conceived Buddha.

Before it gets dark, we will make the last part of the journey to Darchen (4,575m), the small village community that lies at the foot of Mount Kailash.

Begin our first-day trek from the Darchen; for the initial 4km’s trek, try to find your own pace of walking, and follow the guide to reaching prayer square. You will see fluttering prayer flags hanging around the two legs pagoda. Crossing the pagada, the trail leads to Lha-Chu Valley. From here on, the narrow Lha-chu River provides a steady supply of water all the way to Dira-puk Monastery.

After passing a series of ruined chörtens and a number of long mani (prayer) walls, the trail reaches a small bridge across the Lha-chu at 4710m. Just take your time between Chuku Monastery and Dira-puk Monastery as this stretch has some of the best scenery of the entire kora.

Head off to the east, crossing the Lha-chu again by the bridge and climbing on to a moraine to meet the trail on the east bank. It is a long ascent to Drölma-la, so bring water to last a few hours.

Walking for about two hours, you will reach a rocky expanse of Shiva-tsal (5330m). Pilgrims are supposed to undergo a symbolic death at this point, entering in the realm of the Lord of the Dead, until they reach the top of the Drölma-la and are reborn again.

About 30 minutes from Shiva-tsal the trail turns eastward for the completion of the ascent to the highest point of this train - 5630m Drölma-la. Weather permitting, most pilgrims and trekkers pause at the pass for a rest and refreshments before starting the steep descent. It takes approximately an hour to make the long and very steep 400m descent to the grassy banks of the Tuoji Lake.

About three hours on, grassy fields appear alongside the river affording those with tents endless spots to set up camp. An hour or so from the start of the camping fields is the Dzutul-puk Monastery (4790m).

From the monastery, the trail follows the river closely for an hour or so then climbs above the river and enters a narrow canyon. When the canyon narrows look for holes gouged into the cliff walls. These are not natural but made by pilgrims looking for holy stones. Also look for prayer flags festooned across the river, and in the far distance the blue waters of the lake Raksas Tal.

When the trail emerges onto the Barkha plain, it’s now an easy one-hour walk back to Darchen along a dirt road. And you will finish one of the most important pilgrimages in Asia.

The road from Darchen to Saga is a long one and travels back along the same route we took to come to Darchen, passing over the Mayomla Pass (5,112m), where we can stop for photos of the nearby Mt. Naimonanyi (7,694m). We will also pass through several small local villages on the beautiful grasslands to the south of Manasarovar, in the Saga valley between the Gangdise and Himalaya Ranges. We will reach Saga in the lake afternoon.

Today, you will exit China in the afternoon after 5-6 hours driving from Saga to the Chinese Kyirong border, also called Rashuwaghadi in Nepal. Spend one night at the prearranged hotel at the border region, and the next day the Nepalese driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel in Kathmandu.

From Saga to Kyirong border, you can enjoy the tranquil Peiku-tso in the distance against snow-capped Mt. Shishapangma and enjoy the vibrant forest in the deep valley. You will find a whole new world quite different than the snow land, waterfall, flourish forest, deep gorges accompany you traveling all the way.

In the morning, our Nepali driver will pick you up at the Rashuwaghadi and transfer you to Kathmandu. The road to Kathmandu is bumpy but the scenery is quite beautiful, you can see the deep gorges, falls and remote Nepali villages, etc. all along the way. Since the road condition is so treacherous and bumpy, it takes a whole day for the drive. Then you will be transferred to the hotel you booked in Kathmandu. The tour ends.