Classic Tibet Expedition: Mount Kailash & Mount Everest

Trip Overview

This immersive 17-day journey takes you deep into the spiritual and geographical heart of Tibet. Traveling from the ancient capital of Lhasa to the sacred peaks of Mount Kailash, the turquoise waters of Lake Manasarovar, the dramatic canyon landscapes of Guge Kingdom, and the legendary Everest Base Camp, this expedition is a rare blend of pilgrimage, culture, history, and high-altitude adventure.

Designed with gradual acclimatization and rich cultural encounters, the journey offers profound insight into Tibetan Buddhism, ancient Himalayan civilizations, and some of the most remote landscapes on Earth.
 

Trip Highlights

• Explore Lhasa’s iconic landmarks: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street

• Enjoy gentle acclimatization walks through Lhasa’s old town and local neighborhoods

• Witness the stunning turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake and historic towns of Gyantse and Shigatse

• Complete the sacred Mount Kailash Kora, crossing the revered Dolma La Pass (5,630 m)

• Visit the holy Lake Manasarovar, sacred to Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon, and Jainism

• Discover the remote treasures of Western Tibet: Tholing Monastery, Tsaparang, and the Guge Kingdom Ruins

• Experience sunset at Everest Base Camp with views of the world’s highest peak

• Travel through vast high-altitude plains, nomadic grasslands, glacial lakes, and dramatic canyon landscapes

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Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa. 
Upon arrival, meet your local Tibetan guide and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and begin acclimatizing to Tibet’s high altitude.
Day 2: Lhasa City Tour
Explore the spiritual heart of Tibet. Visit the magnificent Potala Palace, former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, followed by Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s most sacred shrine. Walk along Barkhor Street, a vibrant pilgrimage circuit filled with local life, prayer wheels, and traditional markets.
Day 3: Lhasa - Old Town Acclimatization Walk
Enjoy a relaxed walking tour through Lhasa’s old quarter. Wander narrow alleyways, visit small neighborhood chapels, local markets, and traditional teahouses. Observe pilgrims performing circumambulations before returning to the hotel for an afternoon rest.
Day 4: Lhasa -Yamdrok Lake - Gyantse - Shigatse
Drive over Kamba La Pass for breathtaking views of Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s most beautiful sacred lakes. Continue to Gyantse, known for its historic fort and traditional townscape, then drive onward to Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city.
Day 5: Shigatse - Saga
Journey westward across vast high-altitude plains, passing nomadic settlements, herds of yaks, and wide river valleys. Arrive in Saga, an important crossroads town in Western Tibet.
Day 6: Saga - Lake Manasarovar
Drive deeper into remote Western Tibet toward Lake Manasarovar, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. The lake is revered by multiple religions and offers an atmosphere of deep serenity against the backdrop of the Himalayas.
Day 7: Lake Manasarovar - Darchen
Enjoy a peaceful sunrise by the lakeshore. Continue the drive past Tashigang to Darchen, the base town for pilgrims preparing to undertake the Mount Kailash Kora.
Day 8: Darchen - Mount Kailash – Start of Kora
Begin the Mount Kailash Kora, one of the world’s most sacred pilgrimage treks. Hike through the Lha Chu Valley toward Dira Phuk Monastery, with awe-inspiring views of Mount Kailash’s north face.
Day 9: Kailash Kora - Dolma La Pass
Cross the sacred Dolma La Pass (5,630 m), the highest and most challenging point of the trek. Descend through dramatic glacial valleys and prayer-flag-covered landscapes to Zutul Phuk Monastery.
Day 10: Complete Kora - Darchen - Tirthapuri
Complete the final section of the kora and return to Darchen for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Tirthapuri, a powerful tantric pilgrimage site known for its hot springs and spiritual significance. Overnight in Mencier.
Day 11: Tirthapuri / Mencier - Tsada (Zanda)
Travel through striking canyon landscapes and eroded earth formations to Tsada (Zanda). This region marks the heartland of the ancient Guge Kingdom. Overnight in Tsada.
Day 12: Guge Kingdom Exploration
Full-day exploration of Western Tibet’s cultural treasures. Visit Tholing Monastery, once a major center of Buddhist learning, Tsaparang Monastery, and the impressive Guge Kingdom Ruins, dramatically perched above the Zanda Canyon.
Day 13: Tsada - Paryang
Drive across the remote western plateau toward Paryang, passing vast open landscapes and isolated settlements. Overnight in Paryang.
Day 14: Paryang - Saga - Old Tingri - Everest Base Camp
Travel eastward, crossing the Brahmaputra River and passing Paiku Tso Lake, with views of Mount Shishapangma. Continue to Old Tingri for panoramic views of Cho Oyu and Mount Everest, then proceed to Rongbuk Monastery and Everest Base Camp for a breathtaking sunset.
Day 15: Everest Base Camp - Sakya
Depart Everest Base Camp and drive to Sakya, home to the distinctive fortress-style Sakya Monastery, renowned for its vast collection of ancient scriptures and murals.
Day 16: Sakya - Lhasa
Return to Lhasa via the scenic Friendship Highway, passing river valleys, traditional villages, and expansive plateau landscapes.
Day 17:Fly out
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home, concluding your unforgettable Tibet expedition.



Tour Price
​Starting from RMB 14,890 per person

Price Includes

• Accommodation

• Private transportation throughout the tour

• Services of a local English-speaking guide

• All travel permits and applications

• Entrance fees for site visits

• Bottled water during the tour

• Company service fee

Price Does Not Include

• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

• International or domestic flights and train tickets