Overview
Short Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU - SIGHTSEEING WITHIN KATHMANDU
DAY 2: FLY KATHMANDU TO LHASA
DAY 3: LHASA STAY- SIGHTSEEING TOUR
DAY 4: DRIVE, LHASA TO SHIGATSE (VIA NORTHERN HIGHWAY)
DAY 5: DRIVE, SHIGATSE TO SAGA
DAY 6: DRIVE, SAGA TO LAKE MANASAROVAR
DAY 7: DRIVE, LAKE MANASAROVAR TO YAMA DWAR - START PARIKRAMA TO DHIRAPUK
DAY 8: TREK TO SHIVASTHAL, GAURIKUNDA (5620 m) THEN ZUTULPHUK
DAY 9: END TREK IN ZONGDAU, THEN DRIVE BACK TO DARCHEN
DAY 10: DRIVE BACK TO SAGA
DAY 11: DRIVE, SAGA TO SHIGATSE
DAY 12: DRIVE, SHIGATSE TO LHASA
DAY 13: FLY, LHASA TO KATHMANDU
DAY 14: DEPARTURE FROM KATHMANDU
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU - SIGHTSEEING WITHIN KATHMANDU
Upon arrival at Kathmandu international airport. You will be met at the airport & transferred to your hotel. After lunch sightseeing tour within Kathmandu valley. You will visit Pashupatinath temple, Guheshowri Mata temple, Budhanilkantha temple (Jal Narayan or Sesh Narayan) and Monkey temple, if time permits.
DAY 2: FLY KATHMANDU TO LHASA
The morning after breakfast, proceed to the international airport for your flight to Lhasa. The journey time from Kathmandu is about one hour & 10 minutes. In Lhasa, our Chinese guide meets and greets you at the airport and escorts you to Hotel in Lhasa. Gonggar airport to Lhasa city: 65 km | 1 hr. The altitude of Lhasa: 3650 m. | 11972 ft.
DAY 3: LHASA STAY- SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Full day sightseeing tour within Lhasa. Today, you will visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple, Barkhor Square and Norbulingka Palace. Evening, you will have free time & wander around the city on your own. The altitude of Lhasa: 3650 m. | 11972 ft.
DAY 4: DRIVE, LHASA TO SHIGATSE (VIA NORTHERN HIGHWAY)
The journey starts in the morning time. Today, you will drive to Shigatse along the riverbank of Yarlung Tsangpo (river Bramhaputra). The drive takes about 5 hours but the distance is only 270 km to reach Shigatse. It is because of highway speed-limit applied by the police for the safety of people. Evening, you will stroll around the city on your own. Shigatse is administrative headquarter of Shigatse prefecture of Tibet. Hence, we have to take permission from local police authority before we travel further west. Morning, we take permission from PSB (Public Security Bureau of Police) Lhasa to Shigatse: 270 km | 5 hrs. – speed limit - Altitude of Shigatse: 3900 m. | 12793 ft.
DAY 5: DRIVE, SHIGATSE TO SAGA
The journey of today is fabulous. You will drive through many beautiful villages, lush pastures, valleys of Tibet. As well as you will cross over at least four beautiful highpasses before you reach Sag. Saga it situated at the Bank of mighty river Bramhaputra. It is a small town with a few Guesthouses and hotels. Saga is the town where roadways from Kyirong and Zhang Mu (Overland tour starting point) as well as the highway from Lhasa merges together. The total journey takes about 6 hours to reach Saga from Lhatse. En route, we will make a brief halt to have picnic lunch. Lhatse to Saga: 316 km, 6 hrs.The altitude of Saga: 4480 m.|14695 ft.
DAY 6: DRIVE, SAGA TO LAKE MANASAROVAR
It, indeed, is a long journey today; hence, we have to set off from our hotel early morning. Today’s destiny is holy Lake Manasarovar. As per the Hindu mythology, the lake was first created in the Bramha’s mind and later it was manifested on Earth. The Hindu Mythology indicated that one who drinks the water of Manasarovar will purify his/her life and reach the abode of Lord Shiva (Kailash). Also, those who will bath in Lake Manasarovar will wash away their sins of 100 lifetimes. We will reach Lake Manasarovar afternoon around 2 P.M. We will stop somewhere in the lakeshore where people can take a holy dip and perform prayers and worships. Evening, we drive to Chiugompa (west shore of Lake Manasarovar) making circumambulation of the lake from clockwise direction. NOTE:-Today is the day that you will inform to your Chinese guide whether, or not, you will require a horse OR porter or both for Parikrama part. Horse and porter need to be managed in advance. Last moment on the spot is impossible. WE HAVE NO CONTROL IN THIS SERVICE, HENCE WE/ OUR COMPANY DON’T DEAL WITH HORSE/ PORTER ISSUE. SO, PLEASE FIX THE PRICE BEFOREHAND WITH CHINESE GUIDE AND BE VERY CLEARED WITH THEIR LOCAL RULES & REGULATIONS AND TERMS & CONDITIONS. OUR COMPANY WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FINANCIAL DEAL OR ANY OTHER ISSUE. But, definitely, our staff team will help you to organize this. Saga to Lake Manasarovar: 490 km | 7 hrs. The altitude of Lake Manasarovar: 4500 m. | 15250 ft.
DAY 7: DRIVE, LAKE MANASAROVAR TO YAMA DWAR - START PARIKRAMA TO DHIRAPUK
The morning after breakfast, we commence our journey to Yama Dwar (45 minutes drive). From Yama Dwar, the parikrama starts. Our stay is in Dhirapuk (the north face of Kailash) which is 10 km away from Yama Dwar. The trail is easy and flat with the mild ascent. You are above 15,000 ft. above the sea level so it is no wonder to have tiredness while walking. Please make a slow & steady pace. Goin glow is the secret of success in the mountain. Evening, reach Driraphuk and stay overnight in a basic guesthouse with dormitory bedrooms with no toilet facility inside guesthouse-building. Please be prepared for going out in nature. Lake Manasarovar to Yama Dwar: 45 minutes drive. Yama Dwar to Dhirapuk: 10km | 5 to 6 hrs trek. Elevation of Dhiraphuk: 4820 m. | 15810 ft.
DAY 8: TREK TO SHIVASTHAL, GAURIKUNDA (5620 m) THEN ZUTULPHUK
Today is the toughest with full of challenges and the longest day of this trip. We have to trek almost 22 km through rugged highland to reach Zutulphuk, our next camp. Literally, we have to pack up our gear and set off from Deraphuk at 5 a.m. Chinese time. Initially, it is an uphill trek from Deraphuk but after walking for two hours or so, the trail easy with mild ascend. Half of the trail passes through an elevation of 4900 m./16,000 ft. or above, so there is no wonder if we get suffered from breathlessness or headache. Though, we should try to keep our pace slow & steady. Please do not forget to carry a small bag where you will put a water bottle, personal medicine, dry fruits & chocolates. Also, please keep down jacket & raincoat always with you. The weather is unpredictable in this region. Everybody has a different pace of walk and people might not be around you when you need them. So, you have to be self-dependent on basic things. After marching uphill for about 4 hours or so, we will reach to a high pass with full of Tibetan prayers flags fluttering. This is called ‘Dolma La pass’ (5800 m.). This is the ultimate highest point of this divine trip. After making a gentle descent from this pass, we will spot a tiny glacial lake on the right side of our trail. This is ‘Gauri Kunda From Gauri Kunda, the trail leads us rapidly down through the icy region for a while then we follow the trail with full of boulders and loose pebbles. Going down can be more difficult than coming up, so please pay much attention while walking down. If someone has taken a horse, he/she can’t even use it after Dolma La pass. After trekking down for another 1 & half hour from Gauri Kunda, we will eventually land at the valley floor. From this point on, the trail becomes flat & easy up to Zutulphuk. Evening, we reach Zutulphuk and stay overnight in a very basic guesthouse with dormitory bedrooms with no toilet facility inside the guesthouse-building. We have to be mentally ready for going out to answer the nature’s call. Deraphuk to Zutulphuk: 22 km | 9 hours, Elevation of Zutulphuk: 4820 m./15810 feet.
DAY 9: END TREK IN ZONGDAU, THEN DRIVE BACK TO DARCHEN
After breakfast, we start trekking to the ending point (Zhongdau), near Darchen. The trail is very easy and flat up to the ending point. It will take just 3 hours (more or less) to reach the complete the trek. After, all group members get assembled at ending point (Zongdau); we board on the Bus and move for Darchen. You can take a hot shower and have a leisure time in Darchen today. Zutulphuk to Zhongdou (ending point): 3 hours Zongdau to Darchen: 4 km (20 minutes)
DAY 10: DRIVE BACK TO SAGA
The morning after breakfast, we drive back to Shigatse following the same route Mayum La, Paryang and old Dongba. Evening, we reach Shigatse. Darchen to Saga- 460 km | 7 hrs drive.
DAY 11: DRIVE, SAGA TO SHIGATSE
It is a long drive again via many high passes and pastures land en route, as well as Lhatse, a small city where we stayed overnight while coming. The drive takes about 8 hours to reach Shigatse. Evening, stroll around the city on your own Saga to Shigatse: 491 km. | 7 hrs
DAY 12: DRIVE, SHIGATSE TO LHASA
Drive back to Lhasa via northern highway. The drive takes about 5 hours because of the speed limit. Evening, you can do shopping or stroll around the city on your own … Shigatse to Lhasa: 270 km | 5 hrs
DAY 13: FLY, LHASA TO KATHMANDU
Early morning, you will be escorted to Gonggar airport. The drive takes about one hour. It is time to say goodbye to our Tibetan staff team and fly back to Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, you will be met by our staff & transferred to the hotel. Evening, free time for shopping or other independent activities on your own.
DAY 14: DEPARTURE FROM KATHMANDU
Transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for your flight back home. We should be reporting at the airport check-in counter three hours prior to the departure time.
Inclusions:
1. Two nights hotel in Kathmandu on twin sharing basis
2. All meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) in Kathmandu
3. Sightseeing tour within Kathmandu valley as per the program
4. Kathmandu- Lhasa- Kathmandu flight ticket
5. Sightseeing tour within Lhasa (Potala, Jokhang and Norbulinkha temple)
6. Sightseeing entry fees for Jokhang temple and Norbulinkha Palace
7. Chinese group visa
8. All necessary travel permits and other necessary documents
9. Lhasa- Kailash- Lhasa transfer by luxury Bus
10. English/ Hindi speaking Chinese guide
11. Entry fees for Kailash & Manasarovar area
12. Yak and Yak man during the parikrama to bring food & logistics
13. Accommodation in Tibet in Hotel and guesthouses on sharing basis (as mentioned)
14. Nepali staff team (Cook, tour manager and sherpas)
15. Supporting truck for carrying foods & equipment
16. All vegetarian foods & bottled drinking water for the entire journey
17. Oxygen and medical kit bag
18. All applicable taxes and service charge
Exclusions:
1. Your travel insurance
2. Tips & gratitude for the staff
3. Emergency rescue and evacuation services if required
4. Entry fees to explore inside Potala Palace
5. Laundry bill/ telephone bill/ personal expenses
6. Horse & porter
7. Drinks & beverages such as coke, Fanta, juice, red bull etc.
8. Any additional expenses that occur due to natural calamity and unforeseen circumstances
9. Any service that is not mentioned above