Introduction

Mt.Kailash Kora is a pilgrim circumambulation around Mount Kailash. Many pilgrims of all religions come to worship the mountain. All along the pilgrimage route are places of historical and spiritual interest, therefore it also becomes a very popular trekking route for tourists. One loop around the mountain is 53km (33 miles) long, starting at the town of Darchen (4575m/15,009ft) just south of the mountain, going up the western valley, then crossing Dolma La Pass (5723m/18,776ft) to the north of the mountain, and walking down the valley to the east of the mountain all the way back to Darchen, completing a 3-day trek. Kailash kora is normally followed by a trek the same duration around the beautiful turquoise Lake Mansarovar. The journey is then completed with a rest and camp at the hot springs and geysers of Tirthapuri, a few hours' drive away. The Kailash kora is best during May to middle October.

Because of its remote location, Mt.Kailash and Lake Mansarovar Kora is a physically demanding trek. Food is basic and needs to be supplemente and a large degree of self-reliance and fortitude is essential.

This tour will take you from the cultural center of Tibet - Lhasa for an insightful tour before the trek.

Grade
Challenging

Day 1 Arrive Lhasa (3660 m)
On arrival at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, you will be met by your Tibetan guide. After immigration formalities take a 1.5-hour drive along 93 km road leading to Lhasa lying at an altitude of 3660 meters. It’s advisable to rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day due to Lhasa’s altitude.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Lhasa
After breakfast, You will be guided to tour the famous Potala Palace dominating Lhasa's skyline. You will immerse yourself in an array of intricate Tibetan murals, temples, sculptures and tombs of eight past Dalai Lamas. Potala Palace was first built in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 13th century. After lunch, you will visit the most sacred shrine in Tibet - Jokhang Temple. Surrounding the Jokhang is the Barkhor Street - a maze of narrow cobbled streets with stalls of Tibetan merchandise and souvenirs. Enjoy a Tibetan dinner and a traditional Tibetan dance show (optional).

Day 3 Sightseeing in Lhasa
On this day you will get more acquainted with the mystiques of Lhasa. After breakfast, you will visit  Drepung Monastery where you can observe nuns and monks chanting and performing religious discourses. In the afternoon, you will visit Sera Monastery. You can do the Sera Kora walk for 1 hour and catch the famous debate session of the monks before returning to Lhasa.

Day 4 Free day in Lhasa
A free day for rest and acclimatization. After proper rest, you can either indulge in sightseeing, shop or optional day excursion at extra cost.

Day 5: Lhasa to Gyantse via Yamdrok (3950m/12,960ft)
In the morning, you will depart Lhasa to Gyantse.  En route, we will pass the spectacular Khamba La pass (4,794m/15,728ft) from which we’ll get stunning views of the snowy summit of Nazin Kang Sa (7,252m/23,792ft) looking across the waters of the Yamdrok-tso Lake. We then continue westwards over another high pass, the Karo La Pass (5,045m/16,551ft), from which you can see a huge spectacular glacier tumbling down to within a few hundred meters off the road. After passing through beautiful valleys and colorful Tibetan villages we arrive in the town of Gyantse.

Day 6: Gyantse Sightseeing and drive to Shigatse (3900m/12,795ft)
You will visit Gyantse Dzong and Kumbum Stupa in the moring. Gyantse Dzong is a historical fort built in the 14th century that overlooks the town of Gyantse. Visit Pelkhor Tsode Temple which is famous for its arrays of buddhas, hence the nickname "10 thousand Buddha Temple". After exploring Gyantse, we will then drive 90km to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Day 7 Drive to Lhatse (4050m/13,287ft)
After visiting Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama, we will continue to drive to Lhaste.  Good restaurants, well-resourced shops and guesthouses are available in Lhatse. En route, you can also visit Sakya Monastery.

Day 8 Drive to Saga (4600m/15,092ft 300km/188mi 7~8 hrs)
Leaving Lhaste, the trail follows Brahmaputra River. Further ahead, a river valley sprawls over and then traditional villages come into picture. This scenic route provides plenty of opportunities for photography.

Day 9 Drive to Paryang (4750m/15,584ft, 250km/156mi 7~8 hrs)
Driving from Saga to Paryang through the windswept territory passing many villages and camps of Yak herders with the distance view of snow capped mountains.

Day 10 Drive to Manasarovar (4560m/14,960ft)
Before getting to Mount Kailash you will pass Lake Manasarovar. This route penetrates the very essence of Lake Manasarovar amid extraordinary landscape. As you near this breathtaking sacred lake, historic Chiu Monastery becomes visible on the North West shore of the lake. From there you can get a glimpse of the majestic Mount Kailash. Overnight at the village Hore or Chiu Monastery.

Day 11 Free day at Manasarovar
Free day at Lake Manasarovar to relax self explore. Overnight at the village Hore or Chiu Monastery.

Day 12 Drive to Darchen (45600m/14,960ft, 60km/38mi)
After relaxing at Lake Manasarovar with the view of snowy peak of Gurla Mandata (Memo Nani) towering at 7694m (25,243ft) just across the lake, you drive along the jeep trail to the start of the trek at Darchen. You will camp here tonight to prepare for a 53km Kailash Kora (trekking around the foot of the mountain).

Day 13 Trek to Dira-puk Monastery (4900m/16,076ft, 21km/13mi)
After meeting your team of yaks and Tibetan yak drivers who will escort you around the kora, you will trek pass verdant meadows and picturesque streams to Lha Chu Valley, with the chanting and praying of pilgrims. The trail leads a few ups and downs till we reach our camp at the 13th century monastery - Dirapuk - with a view of Mount Kailash north face.

Day 14 Trek to Zutul-Puk (4790m/15,715ft 16km/10mi)
Today you will trek from Dira puk monastery and ascend to Drolma La (5630m), the highest point of the trek. Enjoy breathtaking view from the pass.  Further on, the trail descends gradually to Zutul-Puk monastery for the overnight camp. The caves are most popular for meditation; Milarepa’s cave being one of them with Milarepa’s footprints and elbow prints believed to be imprinted all over this cave of mani stones.

Day 15 Trek to Darchen (4560m/14,960ft 16km/10mi), drive to Manasarovar
Away from Zutul-Puk, you follow an easy trail along some impressive gorges and around many mani stones back to the Bharka Plains and Darchen, where we complete our kora. Shortly after arriving at Darchen you board the waiting vehicle for a short drive to Manasarovar.

Day 16 Drive to Paryang (4750m/15,584ft)
After Mount Kailash tour you take a 300 km (188 miles) drive crossing Mayum-la and several rivers. The scenery along this section is some of the most beautiful of the entire journey.

Day 17 Drive to Saga (4600m/15,092ft)
You continue driving for another 255km (160 miles) to Saga passing through dusty town of Zhongba and a few smaller passes.

Day 18 Drive to Nyalam (3750m/12,303ft)
Crossing Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River) by a ferry, you continue driving 250 km (158 miles) to Nyalam. En route, you will pass Peiku-Tso with spectacular view of Shishapangma (8027m/26,335ft) as the backdrop.

Day 19 Drive to Kathmandu (1400m/4,593ft)
From Nyalam, you drive down to the border city of Zhangmu, from where we will cross the China-Nepal border to Kathmandu.

Notes: From Saga, you have the option of returning to Lhasa to depart Tibet.

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