Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport, our guide will meet you after immigration formalities and transfer you to your hotel in downtown Beijing. In the afternoon, visit Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest public squares, covering 440,000 sq. meters. Located in the political and cultural heart of Beijing, it is surrounded by landmarks such as the Forbidden City, Great Hall of the People, and Chairman Mao Memorial Hall.

Later, visit Wangfujing Street, Beijing’s most famous shopping and pedestrian street. It offers a mix of modern shops and traditional culture and is especially known for its street food alley, where you can try local treats, candied fruits, dumplings, and other unique snacks.

*Note – Hotel check In available after 2 pm

In the morning, we drive 70 km north of Beijing to the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China. Built during the Ming Dynasty, Badaling is the most famous, well-preserved, and easily accessible section of the Great Wall. It offers a glimpse into China’s ancient military architecture and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Suitable for travelers of all ages, it is one of China’s most visited attractions.

Later we visit Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is Beijing’s most iconic historical landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the heart of the city, it served as the imperial palace of 24 Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

After visiting Forbidden City we visit the Visit the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, a UNESCO World Heritage Site from the Ming Dynasty. See its ancient buildings, gardens, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and learn about China’s imperial ceremonies and history.

You will be tranfer to the Beijing Capital International Airport on time to take a flight to Gonggar Airport Lhasa. 

Once arrived in Gonggar Airport 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. 

We leave Lhasa today. Our final destination today will be Shigatse, but we will visit several places before we reach there in the late afternoon or early evening. Our first destination is Yamdrok Lake. On our way we will go over the Khambala pass at 4790 meters. Yamdrok Lake is a sacred lake and is one of the three biggest holy lakes in Tibet. The views are stunning. The turquoise lake is 72 km long and surrounded by snow-capped mountains. In the distance, you can see the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7191m).
From the lake, we will continue our journey to Gyantse, the third largest city in Tibet, driving over the Karola Pass at 5050 meters and Simila Pass at 5000 meters. Once we arrive at Gyantse, we can enjoy the far view of Gyantse Fortress. 

Here we will visit Khumbum Stupa and Pelkhor Chorten. Khumbum Stupa is the only Nepalese-style Stupa built in Tibet. The name means ‘hundred thousand images of Buddha, and that name reflects the decorations of the Stupa. The giant octagonal Stupa is one of the outstanding architectural achievements built and decorated by a Gyantse Prince. Rising 35 meters high, the Stupa is said to have 108 Cells in the 9 levels/floor surmounted by a golden dome and contains 77 chapels that line its walls.

Pelkhor Chorten is located next to the Stupa and was built in 1418. The monastery is a mix of Han, Tibetan, and Nepalese architecture. This monastery consists of 15 different chapels and halls and houses three different orders of Tibetan Buddhism. The main temple of the monastery is the Tsulaklakang. This temple has three floors, and you will find murals and images from the 15th century.

The last leg of today’s trip is a drive to Shigatse. This journey will take you about two hours further drive from Gyantse.

After breakfast, we will start with a visit to Tashilimphu Monastery. This monastery was built in 1447 at the time of the 1st Dalia Lama Gendun Drupa, a disciple of Tsongkapa. Hence the monastery is also one of the biggest functioning monasteries of Gelugpa. 

The name of the monastery means ‘heap of glory’. The monastery was attacked by Nepalese Gurkha in 1791, but they were driven out again by the Chinese. The monastery has white walls and golden roofs. You will find the biggest statue of sitting Maitreya Buddha in one of the chapels of this monastery. 

After visiting the monastery, we will see the local markets for shopping and local sightseeing. You will have time to experience daily Tibetan life in the local market. Smell the different fragrances and observe the colors of the local products. Mingle with locals and get a feel of Tibetan life before we drive to Shegar.

The small town of Shegar, also called New Tingri is situated along the Friendship Highway, the main road connecting Lhasa to Kathmandu. The second-largest city in Tibet, Shigatse, is roughly 240 kilometers southwest of it. This place has a dry, chilly environment as it is situated at an elevation of about 4300 meters above sea level. Shegar is a well-liked destination for tourists going to Mount Everest Base Camp and other locations in the Everest region.

We continue our drive uphill, crossing Pang La Pass (5,150 m), from where we enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Himalayan range stretching from Mt. Makalu to Mt. Shishapangma. From here, we drive onward to Tashi Zom Village, where we change vehicles and take an environmental protection (EV) bus to Rongbuk.

We then proceed toward the highest point of our journey — Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters. This is the closest we can get to the highest mountain in the world.

Before reaching Base Camp, we visit the famous Rongbuk Monastery. At 4,980 meters, Rongbuk is the highest monastery in the world. From here, you will enjoy stunning views of Mount Everest. Long before the monastery was built, nuns and monks lived in this area for meditation. Even today, you can find meditation caves scattered around the monastery and throughout the valley. As you explore, walk on the left side of the mani stone walls, which are carved with sacred syllables and prayers.

After spending time at Base Camp, taking in the breathtaking views of Everest and the surrounding peaks, we will either return to Shegar or stay overnight in Rongbuk.

After breakfast, we will start our long drive to Saga. Saga is a small town in western Tibet near the bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra River). It serves as a hub for pilgrims and visitors traveling to Lake Manasarovar and the holy Mount Kailash. Saga provides tourists with basic facilities and conveniences despite its remote location. Standard hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, retail shops & stores, and healthcare facilities are among them. It is one of the few places in this remote region where travelers can restock supplies and obtain necessities.

Even though it's a lengthy drive, the recently surfaced road will make it safer and faster for us to travel.

After breakfast, we travel to Lake Manasarovar, which is around 450 km away and takes about 6 to 7 hours of drive. Stunning views of the Tibetan plateau, snow-capped mountains, and wide grasslands can be seen during the journey. A well-maintained highway will make the journey comfortable in the rugged terrain. The route follows the Brahmaputra River for a certain part of the journey, providing beautiful views of the river and the surrounding countryside and the high Pass (Mayum La 5210 meters). 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. Traveling from Saga to Lake Manasarovar provides an unforgettable cultural experience. Travelers may feel the region's mysticism, see the small monastery, and encounter nomadic Tibetan herders. 

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.

We will have breathtaking views here. The best time to take photos is just before and after sunrise and sunset. As we stay here overnight we will have two opportunities.

The morning after breakfast, 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.  After completion of the trip, we drive 45 kilometers, or around a 1-hour drive to Darchen. 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.

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 Saga after lunch. We travel the same route back to Saga. After a quite lengthy journey, relax in the hotel.

After breakfast, today’s journey begins by heading southwest from Saga to Kyirong. This is the last day to enjoy the Tibetan scenery. We will pass magnificent valleys and several Tibetan villages on our way. We will have enchanting views of Mount Shishapangma and Pekutso Lake. After the Ghungtang Lhamo pass (5236 meters) we will start descending to the Kyirong valley. You will feel the climate changing, it gets warmer. We are approaching the Indian subcontinent. We will arrive in Kyirong in the late afternoon.

Upon arrival, check in to the hotel walk around Kyirong town, and visit the Pakba Monastery there. 

Pakba monastery is the only four-tiered Nepali-style pagoda temple in Tibet. The temple was built more than one thousand years ago. The main relic in the monastery is the self-rise sandal statue of Lokeshvara. At the present day, it resides in the Dharamsala and the main statue here is a copy of the main statue of Lokeshvara.

Today is already the last day of your trip. We will leave Tibet and enter Nepal again. We Drive 24 km, one and a half hours downhill to reach the Chinese immigration (Rasuwa Gadi Bridge), after the immigration process we walk through the Bridge where vehicles from the Nepal side will be waiting, After driving for about 1.5 km we do immigration formality on Nepal side, and continue drive to Kathmandu which will take about seven hours of drive. From the border, we will have a long bumpy ride back to Kathmandu. Enjoy the Nepalese side of the villages during this ride.

After breakfast, we visit Pashupatinath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, it features traditional pagoda-style architecture with gilded roofs and detailed wood carvings. Non-Hindus can view the temple from the opposite riverbank while experiencing its spiritual and cultural atmosphere. The complex also includes cremation ghats along the river and smaller shrines dedicated to various Hindu deities.

Later we visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world and an important center of Tibetan Buddhism. Its large white dome and golden spire, decorated with the Buddha’s all-seeing eyes, make it instantly recognizable. The stupa is surrounded by monasteries, prayer wheels, and shops selling traditional Tibetan artifacts. Visitors can walk around the stupa clockwise, spin the prayer wheels, and enjoy the peaceful spiritual atmosphere. It is a hub of prayer, meditation, and cultural activity, offering a unique insight into Nepal’s Buddhist heritage.

After lunch, transfer to Budhanilkantha Temple for your next sightseeing.

Budhanilkantha Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples in Kathmandu, Nepal, located at the base of the Shivapuri Hills. The temple is renowned for its 5-meter-long stone statue of Lord Vishnu, known as Jal Narayan & Sacred Sleeping Vishnu of Kathmandu reclining on the cosmic serpent in a sacred pond.

Today is already the last day of your trip. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu to catch your flight back home or to your onward destination.