We understand that you have limited time and days. However, please note that you must present the original Tibet permit at the airline check-in counter before flying to Tibet.
You may fly from your home country to any convenient airport in Mainland China. It is our responsibility to deliver the original Tibet permit to you.
Please allow at least 4 hours of transit time before your domestic flight to Gonggar Airport, Lhasa. This will give you enough time to meet our representative at the airport, receive the original permit, and complete the check-in process smoothly without any rush.

Once arrived in Gonggar the guide will wait for you after immigration. The guide will greet you in a traditional way offering you Khada. From the airport you will go directly to your hotel in Lhasa. The drive from the airport to Lhasa takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The guide will help you with the hotel check in. For the remaining part of the day we advise you to take a rest in order to acclimatize to the altitude at 3600 meter above sea level. 

Today we have a busy day ahead. After our breakfast we start with a visit to the Potala Palace. This is the  winter home of the Dalai Lamas and a famous landmark in the world. Potala Palace is build on the mountain Marpori (the red mountain). You have probably seen the Potala Palace on photos, but today you will experience that the palace is in real life even more impressive. We start our visit with a walk up the stairs and through the gardens. Once we enter the palace we will find our way through the labyrinth of small corridors and tiny staircases.  Not all parts of the Potala Palace are open for tourists, but you will get the opportunity to visit some if its chapels including the audience hall and the golden burial Chorten (Tomb) of Past Dalai Lamas. You will see a  tremendous number of murals, painted scrolls, sculptures, carpets, canopies, porcelain and more on your way through the palace. We will use the whole morning to visit the palace. 

After lunch it is time to visit the Jokhang Temple. This temple is an important sacred site and is seen as the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism.  King Songtsen Gampo built this temple in 652 for his two brides; Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Princes Bhrikuti of Nepal. Based on stories we believe that both brought important Buddhist images and statues from their home countries as part of their dowries. The rest of the afternoon you will have time to explore the surroundings of Barkhor. Bhakor is a busy market area, but also the area where pilgrims walk the clockwise circuit around the temple. Explore Lhasa a bit more by walking around the narrow alleys. 

Today we drive to the Drepung Monastery 8 km northwest of Lhasa. The Drepung Monastery is one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet. This monastery was  founded by Jamyang Choje in 1416. The Drepung Monastery was the winter palace for hundreds of monks from all Gelug monasteries in Tibet. There is enough place for as many as 10.000 monks. Nowadays only a couple of hundred monks live in this monastery. 

In the afternoon we drive to the Sera Monastery. This is also one of the “ great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet and was founded three years later than the Drepung Monastery. The monastery is well known for the debates that take place each afternoon in the garden of the monastery. Observe the way the monks clap their hands during the debate. Can you guess what the claps mean?

Morning transfer to Gonggar Airport to take a flight to Ngari Gunsa Airport. This journey by flight is nearly two hours. Upon arrival, the guide will arrange the transfers to Darchen. This trip is roughly 300 kilometers long and will take three hours of drive.

Darchen is a small town that serves as the primary gateway for pilgrims and trekkers heading to Mount Kailash. This small town is also known as the base camp of the Mount Kailash.

The morning after breakfast, we drive 45 kilometers, or around a 1-hour drive to Lake Manasarovar. You can see the magnificent Gurla Mandhata Mountain, which is 7,694 meters high, as you get closer to Lake Manasarovar.

In Buddhism, Jainism, Bon, and Hinduism, Lake Manasarovar is regarded as one of the holiest lakes. Pilgrims believe that drinking or bathing in its waters can cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit. Lake Manasarovar is well known for its tranquil surroundings and pristine blue water. Situated at a height of 4,590 meters, the lake spans an approximate area of 320 square kilometers. 

Near Lake Manasarovar there is also another lake named Rakshastal Lake, also referred to as the "Demon Lake", the myth says, this is the place where Ravana met Shiva and prayed. It is frequently visited by pilgrims and is regarded as sacred.

Upon arrival at Lake Manasarovar, the guide will take you to the bus station to take a hop-in and hop-out electric bus to explore Lake Manasarovar from all directions as well as visit the monastery around the lake. You will not have enough time to explore all the monasteries, visit the major monasteries as suggested by the guide. Seralung Gompa, Trugo Gompa, and Gossul Gompa are the monasteries worth it to visit. Once the journey is completed, we take the same roadway back to Darchen.

Today we will start with our three-day kora. Do you know that some of the Tibetans do this kora in one day? This is one of the most challenging koras especially due to the location at 5000 meters above sea level. We will take our time at this high altitude which will also give us ample opportunities to take in the stunning scenery of this remote and rugged area. As Mount Kailash is considered a very sacred place we will meet a lot of pilgrims during the trek. 

After a good breakfast, we travel roughly 13 km to the Tarboche. In Hinduism, it is also known as Yam Dwar, the gateway to the deity of death. It is the starting point of the kora located on the southern side of Mount Kailash. Tarboche is particularly well-known for its flagpole, which is a crucial component of the Saga Dawa celebration, honoring Buddha Sakyamuni's birth, enlightenment, and death. Tarboche provides a glimpse of breathtaking natural scenery, which includes the towering view of Mount Kailash above us.

Today, we have to walk 7 kilometers around the mountain on this first day of Kora. It might take 5 – 6 hours. The trail continues into the Lha Chu Valley, providing breathtaking views of the Lha Chu River and the surrounding mountains. This stretch of the trail is flatter than the others, so the walk is more comfortable. You'll pass Chuku Monastery, which is set on a slope, about halfway. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The monastery offers a calm setting for meditation as well as an insight into regional religious customs. The final section is increasingly difficult to climb as you get closer to Dira Puk. Dira Puk is located on the north side of Mount Kailash. The trail becomes steeper, and the altitude may start to take a toll. Ensure you pace yourself and stay hydrated. The facilities at Dira Puk are basic, with few guesthouses and guesthouses run by the monastery. They provide essential services only. We should pack appropriately for the cold and bring any required supplies.

Trekking to Dira Puk is an essential part of the kora around Mount Kailash, offering pilgrims and trekkers a deeply spiritual and physically demanding journey.

Those who wish not to go for a kora around Kailash can return to Darchen from Tarboche and wait for the Kora group to return.

Today is the second day of the Kora around Mount Kailash. It is considered the toughest part of the expedition. We hike from Dira Puk to Zhutul Puk today, which is a roughly 18-kilometer trip, and depending on our walking pace, it might take 9 – 10 hours to hike. 

The journey starts with a strenuous climb up to Dolma-La Pass, 5,650 meters high, the highest point of the kora. This portion of the journey requires a gradual, steady pace due to its physical demands. Before reaching the Dolma La Pass, you will pass Shiva-stal, a famous place where pilgrims undertake symbolic gestures, such as leaving behind old goods to symbolize the shedding of sins and former lives.

Just beyond the Dolma La Pass is Gauri Kund, a turquoise lake sacred to Hindus. It is believed that drinking its waters or taking a bath in this Pond will purify one’s soul.

Especially when there is snow, the descent from Dolma-La Pass can be steep and slippery. Trekking poles and careful footing are essential in this part of the trek.

On your descent, you will enter a stunning valley that is popularly called the Valley of Shambhala because of its quiet and stunning scenery. Views of Mount Kailash, especially its east and south faces, are seen today. 

The facilities at Zhutul Puk are basic, with few guesthouses and guesthouses run by the monastery. They provide essential services only. We should pack appropriately for the cold and bring any required supplies.

Trekking to Zhutul Puk is an essential part of the kora around Mount Kailash, offering pilgrims and trekkers a deeply spiritual and physically demanding journey.

Today is the final day of Kora. We hike from Zhutul Puk to Darchen today, which is a roughly 10-kilometer trip, and depending on our walking pace, it might take 4 – 5 hours to hike. On the final day of the kora with a moderate descent, the journey follows the river valley with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and landscapes. The trail continues alongside the river. This is a quiet area with rocky terrain, the walk gets more flat and the valley progressively opens up as you go, making it a more leisurely hike. Along the walk, there will be several prayer flags and little stupas to indicate the path's spiritual significance. The village will become visible in the distance as you approach Darchen, indicating the finish of the kora. Completing the kora is a significant spiritual achievement. Take time to celebrate and reflect on your journey. Finishing the kora is a significant spiritual achievement. Give yourself some time to enjoy and consider your journey then resume our journey back to Ali Town.

Ali, the capital of Ngari Prefecture in Tibet, is also known as Shiquanhe and Senggekanbab. Ali is located on the Changthang Plateau, a protected region with unique wildlife. The town's development started in 1964 when the Xinjiang Tibet Highway opened. Now Ali is a modern town with good infrastructure, and modern amenities, including transportation, healthcare, and educational facilities. Situated at an elevation of approximately 4,255 meters, Ali experiences lengthy daylight hours and a cold desert climate. 

Today we will drive to Ngari Gunsa Airport from where we will fly to Lhasa. It is nearly a two-hour flight. The famous Ngari Gunsa Airport is just 57 kilometers, an hour-long drive from the modern Ali Town. 

Afternoon at leisure take a rest at the hotel or explore Lhasa a bit more by walking around the narrow alleys.

Today is already the last day of your trip. We will drive to Gonggar Airport where you can catch your flight back to Kathmandu or to onward destination.