15 Days Lhasa to Ngari Mount Kailash and Lake Manasaovar Small Group Tour with EBC
Promo: 3 Days Pilgrimage tour to kora around Mount Kailash
Duration: 15 Days 14 Nights
Destinations: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Drepung Temple, Yamdrok Lake, Korola Glacier, Tashilunpo Monastery, Everest Base Camp, Lake Manasarover, Mount Kailash
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Group Type: 4-15 clients small group
Trip Level: 5 stars
Highlights:
1) Do 3 days pilgrimage kora around the holy Mount Kailash 2) Face the challenging visit to Mount Everest, enjoy the sunset and sunrise at EBC 3) Historic Potala Palace, traditional home of the Dalai Lama
15 days western Tibet Lhasa to Ngari group tour is one of the popular Tibet pilgrimage tours. Tourists can kora around the holy Mt. Kailash and see the sacred Lake Manasarovar on full moon dates, which brings you ultimate experience. Because there will be three days trek and about 50km, you need a healthy body to join this group.
After arriving at Lhasa, you will have first three days acclimatizing visit in Lhasa allows you to see the Potala Palace, Johkang Temple and other famous places at this holy sunny city. Then, we set out on a thrilling journey across Shigatse via historical Gyantse to EBC. The first part of the adventure overlaps the classic travel route of Lhasa to EBC tour and will leave you in awe with amazing Himalayan mountain ranges. Then we head westward to Darchen via Saga and holy Lake Manasaovar for the long-awaited Mt.Kailash kora. Our Tibetan guide will accompany you to experience the ultimate hoy trek around the sacred Mt.Kailash. Then drive back to Lhasa for departure. On the road, you will not miss Sakya monastery with amazing murals and huge collection of scriptures and statues.
Lhasa to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasaovar small group tour is the western Tibet Pilgrimage tour. If you are pilgrim or prefer trekking, this tour is worthwhile.
Saga to Darchen (4600m), via Lake Manasarover (450km, 8-9hrs)
Lake Manasarover
Tarchen Chongqing Hotel
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8
Darchen-Drirapuk driving 7km, Trek 13km
Mount Kailash
guestroom bed during trekking
/
9
Drirapuk-Dzutrpuk Trek 18km
Mount Kailash
guestroom bed during trekking
/
10
Dzutripuk-Darchen Trek 7km, driving 5km
Mount Kailash
Tarchen Chongqing Hotel
/
11
Darchen-Saga (450km)
Lake Manasaovar
Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen hotel
/
12
Saga-Kyirong (200km)
Scenery along Gyirong Valley
Pencuo Kangsang Hotel or Similar
/
13
Kyirong-Tingri (260km)
Scenery on the road
Tingri Everest Hotel or Similar
/
14
Tingri-Lhasa (500km)
Yarlung Zangbo River
Lhasa, 3★/4★
B
15
Depart from Lhasa
Send off to train/airport
/
B
Daily Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Lhasa (3650m)
Attractions: No Meals: No Hotel: 3★/4★ hotel in Lhasa
Welcome to Lhasa! Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your professional Tibetan guide will meet you right in the hall on time, with your name sign. Then a comfortable private car and experienced driver will take you to Lhasa hotel safely. It is about 65km from the airport to Lhasa city and takes less than an hour through the Airport Expressway. It is only 25km from the railway station and takes about half an hour.
After arriving at hotel, tour guide will help you check in. You can take a rest and get acclimatized to high altitude.
Tips: 1. To adapt to the high altitude ( over 3,600m ), you are recommended to have a good rest in the hotel, no running and intense activity, no smoking and no alcohol, no shower. 2. Please drink sufficient water and eat more vegetable, fruits, meat and eggs for more energy. 3. For the first-time visitors, it is common to have different degrees of high altitude sickness symptom.
Day 2: Lhasa tour
Attractions: Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery Meals: Breakfast Hotel: 3★/4★ hotel in Lhasa
After breakfast at your hotel, driven to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery was ever the largest monastery with more than 10 thousand monks, and now is one of three great monasteries in Lhasa. Seen from the distant, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice.
In the afternoon, driven to visit Sera Monastery, which is famous for the unique “Daily Scriptures Debating” activity held from 3:30pm to 5pm in the central courtyard. Then transfer back to the hotel.
Tips: 1. The road condition to Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery is good. 2. Pack plenty of drinking water, sun glasses, suncream and some food.
Day 3: Lhasa tour
Attractions: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: 3★/4★ hotel in Lhasa
After breakfast, your tour guide & driver will pick you and drive to visit the splendid Potala Palace, which is Lhasa’s cardinal landmarks. You will have a whole morning to explore this world-level architectural works: White Palace, Red Palace, corridors and stairs and countless lama’s dormitory. Others include: Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devoted, murals, etc.
In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, as the spiritual center of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha; learning Tibetan Buddhism; hearing the red-robed Lamas praying; taking photos of the gold roof and enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa.
Finally, you will have a relaxing walk around Jokhang Temple at Barkhor Street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa, and full of religious atmosphere, showcasing Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. Then transfer back to the hotel.
Tips: 1. In Potala Palace, your visiting time is limited on 1 hour. Climb up there, you might experience slight shortness of breath, please take your time and rest when needed. 2. Don’t disturb pilgrims and Lama. Don’t take photos of them without permission. 3. In Barkhor Street, remember to bargain and compare the price in different shops for the souvenirs if you are purchasing.
Attractions: Yamdrok lake, Karuola Glacier, Pelkhor Chode monastery Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: 3★/4★ hotel in Shigatse
On leaving the Tibetan capital, we will first drive southwest towards the beauty of Lake Yamdrok taking the winding road up to the crest of the Gampa La pass at 4794 meters. From the pass you get the first glimpse of the beauty of Lake Yamdrok below ringed by snowy mountain peaks and stretching out across the whole landscape before you. In the distance the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar stands tall in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain Range. We will drop down to the lake shore for a closer look before continuing on to Nagartse for a delicious local lunch.
On the way to Gyantse, after lunch, we cross over the pass at Karo La (5159m) where we can view the beautiful glacier that falls from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar. In Gyantse we will stop at the Pelkor Chode Monastery to explore both the monastery and the outstanding 32-meter stupa that is the highlight of the day. Known as the Kumbum Stupa this one-of-a-kind stupa has nine floors and 108 chapels which contain thousands of images and statues throughout. Then we will continue on in the late afternoon to reach Shigatse before nightfall.
Day 5: Shigatse - EBC (5200m) (350km, 7-8hrs)
Attractions: Tashilunpo Monastery, Rongbuk monastery, Mt. Everest base camp Meals: Breakfast Hotel: guestroom bed at EBC
In the morning, we will visit the home of Panchan Lama - Tashilunpo Monastery. Then, we’ll leave Shigatse after getting your Alien’s travel permit, and then drive direct to the base Camp of Mount Everest near the Rongbuk Monastery. The route takes us over several high passes and the first outstanding view you will see is from the Gyatso La pass at 5400 meters. From the viewpoint at the crest of the pass you can see Mount Everest standing tall in the distance.
At Old Tingri we will turn off the Friendship Highway and take the Zhufeng Road over the Gawu La Pass (5250m) from which you get an amazing view of the Himalayan panorama. The view of the peaks includes several mountains above 8000 meters including Mount Everest (8848m) Mt. Lhotse (8516m) Mt. Makalu (8463m) Mt. Shishapangma (8020m) and Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m).
On our arrival at the Rongbuk Monastery we will first check into the tent guesthouse or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse depending on the time of year. The tent guesthouses are not available in the winter months from November to March and are sometimes full in the peak months of summer. After a light lunch we will get time to explore the famous Rongbuk Monastery the official highest Buddhist monastery in the world. Housing both monks and nuns the monastery was a regular stopping point for explorers heading for Mount Everest in the early days after it was first discovered.
Tips: 1. The road condition from Shigatse to EBC is a mixture of paved and rough road around mountains. 2. Staying overnight near the Rongbuk Monastery will be quite cold, please pack warm clothes. 3. Remember to get up early in the morning to see the sunrise over Mt. Everest.
Day 6: EBC–Saga(4500m) (450km, 8-9hrs)
Attractions: Mt.Shishapangma, Lake Peiku tso Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen hotel or same star
In the morning, we can enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at lodging area if weather permits; 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.
Day 7: Saga to Darchen (4600m), via Lake Manasarover (450km, 8-9hrs)
Attractions: Lake Manasarover Meals: No Hotel: Tarchen Chongqing Hotel or same star
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 most holy mountain in Tibet.
Day 8: Darchen-Drirapuk (driving 7km, Trek 13km)
Attractions: Mount Kailash Meals: No Hotel: guestroom bed during trekking
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.
Day 9: Drirapuk-Dzutrpuk (Trek 18km)
Attractions: Mount Kailash Meals: No Hotel: guestroom bed during trekking
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.
Day 10: Dzutripuk-Darchen (Trek 7km, driving 5km)
Attractions: Mount Kailash Meals: No Hotel: Tarchen Chongqing Hotel or same star
On the day three of the kora. you will trek 7km to Zongto where you can take bus to Darchen. Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani Stones. We will end the Trek around noon, rest in the lodging place.
(Optional): Taking bath in Lake Manasarova and enjoy hot spring
Day 11: Darchen-Saga (450km)
Attractions: Lake Manasaovar Meals: No Hotel: Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen hotel or same star
Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasaovar
Stay overnight in Saga Xibuyizhan Hotel or Mu Linsen hotel
Day 12: Saga to Kyirong
Attractions: No Meals: No Hotel: Pencuo Kangsang Hotel or same star
Having been to the highest peak in the world, we will take you to the lowest altitude place in western Tibet – Kyirong Valley. High snow mountains at an altitude of 2,800 meters is surrounded by dense forests, crisscrossed canyons, and abundant oxygen. Here you can have a good rest, hike in the countryside surrounded by forests, and breathe in the fresh oxygen in the forest to relieve the fatigue of the journey. If there are tourists in the tour group heading to the Nepalese border, you can also go with them to visit the border between China and Nepal and take photos in front of China’s majestic national Gate.
Day 13: Kyirong to Tingri
Attractions: Scenery on the road Meals: No Hotel: Tingri Everest Hotel or similar
You will return to the snowy expanses of the Himalayas, once again enjoying the breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountain range. Along the way, you will pass by peaks such as Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, and Mount Everest. The foothills of the Himalayas are abundant with lush meadows, herds of cattle and sheep, and the snowy peaks against the backdrop of the blue sky provide an eternal and unchanging scenery.
Day 14: Tingri to Lhasa
Attractions: Scenery on the road Meals: Breakfast Hotel: 3★/4★ hotel in Lhasa
You will return to the snowy expanses of the Himalayas, once again enjoying the breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountain range. Along the way, you will pass by peaks such as Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, and Mount Everest. The foothills of the Himalayas are abundant with lush meadows, herds of cattle and sheep, and the snowy peaks against the backdrop of the blue sky provide an eternal and unchanging scenery.
Day 15: Depart from Lhasa
Activity: See off to Lhasa Airport or Railway Station Meals: Breakfast Hotel: No
Today is free for you until you are escorted to the airport or railway station for departure and the guide will help you get on board.
Cost & Calendar
* All prices are in US Dollar / Person
Economic Class (3-Star Hotels)
Jan.1 - March 31
Apr.1 - June 25
June 26 - Aug.25
Aug.26 - Oct.15
Oct.16 - Dec.31
/
USD1880
USD2090
USD2090
USD1780
Confortable Class (4-Star Hotels)
Jan.1 - March 31
Apr.1 - June 25
June 26 - Aug.25
Aug.26 - Oct.15
Oct.16 - Dec.31
/
USD1990
USD2255
USD2255
USD1850
Discount Policy:
Option A
Option B
Option C
3 persons or more to Join the Same Group
Book the group 3 months in advance
Book the group 6 months in advance
5% Off of tour cost for per person
5% Off of tour cost for per person
8% Off of tour cost for per person
* Note: the above discount policies can only be enjoyed either one of them, not A,B,C together.)
Available Dates of this Trip
*Price Based on Above 3 stars Hotels
Inclusion & Exclusion
Inclusions:
1. Permit: All necessary Tibet Travel Permits (Incl. Tibet Entry Permit, Alien Travel Permit, Boarder Pass, etc.);
2. Accommodation: 6 nights, twin room in 3★/4★; 3 nights, EBC and trekking guestroom; 5 nights, twin room in local hotels;
3. Ticket: All entrance tickets fees for all tourist sites listed in the itinerary;
4. Guide: Professional English-speaking Tibetan local tour guide;
5. Vehicle: 5-29 seats Comfortable Tibet tourist vehicle with licensed and experienced driver;
6. Meal: Breakfasts in the hotel; A Welcome Dinner in local restaurant;
10. Accommodation and meal allowance to the guide & driver;
11. Arrangements include planning, handling, operational and communication charges;
12. Free Airport to hotel shuttle pickup schedule: 10:00 am; 13:30 pm; 17:00 pm; Free Hotel to Airport shuttle pickup schedule: 06:30 am; 08:00 am; 12:00 pm; Free transfer between Train Station and hotel.
Exclusion:
1. Meal: not specified in the itinerary (All lunches & dinners).
2. Single room supplement: If you are a solo traveler, you need to share twin room with another tourist (same sex in most cases). You can pay the single room supplement to stay in one room by yourself. And the exact cost depends on market fluctuation in high and off season of Tibet tourism.
3. Tips: If you are satisfied with the service of guide, driver and waiters, you may consider tipping them appropriately ( Tips is not required but expected).
4. International and domestic flight/train (we can offer the ticket booking service at the competitive price).
5. Personal expenses such as laundry, drink, fax, telephone call, optional tour activities, etc.
6. Any losses incurred from the force majeure factor like government control, natural disaster etc.
Addional Info
Knows before You Book
1. Book at least 20 days in advance so tour operator may apply for your Tibet Permit. Tibet Permit will be delivered to your delivery address / hotel address in one city of China.
2. Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level. Patients with serious hypertension, heart disease, asthma, bronchities, diabetes and cold should be restricted from going to Tibet.
3. Your airport/train station pick-up and drop-off in Lhasa need to be arranged by the tour supplier.
4. If you fly to Lhasa from Kathmandu, please do not apply for China L Visa in advance. You need to apply for Tibet Group Visa from China Embassy in Kathmandu via travel agency. If you have your China L Visa, it will be automatically expired when applying for Tibet Group Visa.
5. Price is based on double occupancy. Single room supplement is subject to availability and additional charge.
6. Please read the Payment Methods, Terms and Conditions and Cancellation policies.
Knows after You Book
1. Travelers are required to provide photocopy of passports and China L visas at least 15 days prior to travel date, letting tour operator to have enough to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit. If you have other type visas, please contact with your travel consultant.
2. Normally, it takes around 8-9 days to process your Tibet Permit from Tibet Tourism Bureau. Then, we will have it delivered to your address in mainland China.
3. You should wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes.
4. It is better to bring spending cash for a whole trip. In Lhasa and Shigatse, it is OK to withdraw money with foreign bank card or change your foreign currency into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, CNY).
5. The insurance is provided by The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited (www.epicc.com.cn), which covers only tourist accident risks in China. We recommend that tourists purchase additional insurance on their own.
6. We understand you may worry about the High Altitude Sickness. It is common reaction in the plateau. It is better to consult your own doctor and bring some medicine, such as: Hongjingtian and Gaoyuanan; Acetazolamide, Dexamethasone, Vitamin and Nutrient Supplements.
7. Please keep a relaxed and happy mood, avoid drinking alcohol and doing strenuous exercises. First-timers at high altitude may have symptoms like headache, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, and loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, etc. It is common. Normally such symptoms will disappear in 2 days.
8. During your trip in Tibet, please obey the law; respect the local’s religion and customs. Do not do things that are beyond your tourist identity, such as photograph military facilities, and other politically sensitive areas; Do not accept any news media’s interview; Do not collect secret intelligence; Do not wave antisocial banners, yelling antisocial slogans; Do not use aerial camera; Do not venture into areas beyond planned itineraries.
9. Some souvenirs like Knife, antique, animal skulls, etc. are not allowed to take out of China at custom, please don’t buy this kind of souvenirs.
10. The train ticket to Lhasa is normally issued 15-60 days before departure. During the Tibet’s Peak Tourism Season (from June to Mid-October, during Chinese Spring Festival and other public holidays in China), the train tickets may be issued only 1-9 days before departure