17 Days Kailash Manasarovar Full Moon Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration

When you arrive in Lhasa either by train or flight, your guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Tourists may view the Yarlung Tsangpo River/ Bhamaputra river (the Longest and largest river in Tibet) and Lhasa river on their way to Lhasa.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude. If you feel to go out, then you can go to the Potala Square, where you will enjoy the fountain with different colors and get amazing photos of the Potala and around.

Insider Tips:
For the new-comers of Tibet,  to get acclimatized to the high altitude in Tibet. Having a good sleep in your hotel is a good option.  Don not rush to visit attractions inside Lhasa city.

Stay overnight in Lhasa.

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. Inside you can see the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni at the age of twelve. Outside, you can see pilgrims making prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple. Around the temple is Barkhor street, where you can do kora (a religious circle of a building or mountain) with pilgrims and locals, and explore the old market.

Besides, We can taste Tibetan tea with locals in tea house; The welcome dinner will also be arranged accordingly;

Optional:
With time permitting, you may go with tour guide to visit Tibetan handicraft art or Tibetan Traditional Medicine center. You can upgrade your service to enjoy Tibetan Culture Show in the evening (fr. 60USD)

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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. You can visit biggest monastery kitchen inside the monastery and enjoy Buddhist Sculpture Carving workshop near Drepung. 

In the Afternoon, Tourists will visit Sera Monastery which is another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. The hot attraction is the Monks debate at around 3 - 5 in the afternoon. In addition, you can tour  the Tibetan religious scripture printing house; inside the monastery, you can see three sand Mandalas and colorful Rock Painting of Buddha.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

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

Start your day with an exhilarating tour to the famous Tashi Lhunpo monastery where you can see the well-preserved largest statue of Jampa (future Buddha) in the world. This monastery is the seat of Tibet's second highest incarnation, the Panchen Lama.

Then in the afternoon, we are about to head to the Sakya County where tourists can visit the famous Sakya monastery. It was founded in 1073 and was the principal monastery of the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Sakya monastery has an invaluable collection of sacred Buddhist scripts. It’s a treasure house of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture and history. After that, our journey leads to the next stop Tingri, the gateway to Mt.Everest. Have a good sleep for the real hook tomorrow.

Stay overnight in a guest house.


Have an early rise and continue to head south to enter the Qomolangma (Mt.Everest) National Nature Preserve. Though the long drive takes around 5-6hrs, the spectacular vista of Himalayan Range, esp when you stop at incredible Gawu La Pass (5198m)for the top 4 highest peaks along the Himalayas, will make your jaw drop.

Before all your breath is taken away by the amazing Himalayan view, our tour vehicle will safely bring you to the Rongbuk Monastery (5154m), the world's highest Buddhist compound. The EBC is right beside the Rongbuk Monastery. From here, you literally stand right under the nose of giant Mt.Everest. Do walk slowly and have a good sleep to catch the first sunlight over the world's highest peak tomorrow morning.

Saty overnight in the tented yak tent or guesthouse of Rongbuk Monastery

In the morning, we can enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits; and explore the Rongbuk Monastery. Then As we head to saga, you can view of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m), and Turquoise Lake Peiku tso(4590m). If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like wild donkey, wild antelope etc.

Stay overnight in the guest house.


On the way to Darchen, you will have a chance to appreciate the stunning view of the Saga valley between Gangdise Range and Himayala Range. Meanwhile, the beautiful grassland and local's villages can also be seen. As we cross the Mayomla Pass(5112M), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694M). Then we are supposed to pass by the holy Lake Manasarover and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt.Kailash, the holiest mountain in Tibet.

Stay overnight in the guest house.

In the morning, we are supposed to take eco-bus from Darchen to Sarshung valley. Then we will meet Yaks and porters at Sarshung village. (the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package) After that, we can begain the trek (Around 13km) from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu valley and rivers. You can enjoy the both west and north face of mountain Kailash today. Finally, we will visit Drirapuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in the guest house.


Today, we will trek over Dromala pass(5630m), the highest pass of the Kora. On the way you can have a rest in a teahouse. All the way, you can see locals Tibetans prostrating in the Kora path and beautiful Kadoe Lake when walk downhill. We may also visit Zutulpuk Monastery.

Stay overnight in guesthouse

On the day three of the kora. you will trek 7km to Zongto where you can take tour vehicle to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. We will end the Trek around noon, and later keep traveling to our next destination Zada. 

stay overnight at the guesthouse

Today's tour will focus on the attractions around Guge Kingdom, such as Tirthapuri monastery, Tsaparang, and Dungkar cave city, etc. Tsamda county is the current name for the region and was known as Guge kingdom. The capital of the county is located at Toling. Toling monastery, founded by Richen zangpo in the 10th century, was once Ngari's most important monastic complex. It was due to the influence of Richen Zangpo that Toling became the main religious centre of Guge kingdom after inviting the great Indian master ATISHA. The kings of Guge replaced the city as a political center of power by establishing capital slightly closer to the Indo-Tibetan trade routes. But the monastery is still an important cultural heritage of Ngari.

Stay overnight in the guest house.



In the morning, a long drive back to the enchanting Manasarovar, where you will visit the Chewu cave near lake Manasarovar.

Stay overnight in the guest house.



Sit back in the seat of your tour vehicle, and say farewell to the holy lake. We will move back Saga. 

Stay overnight in the guest house.


The long ride will bring you back to Shigatse, the second biggest city in Tibet.

Stay overnight in the hotel.


Today, we will drive back to Lhasa by following Yalong Valley. You can stand on the viewing platform and view the vast Yalong River bed. Finally the guide will transfer you back to your hotels in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in the hotel.


The guide will transfer you to the airport or train station and help you get on board. The tour ends.