Leisurely Kailash Tour Without Trekking
- Duration:
- 13 Days
- Price:
- From USD2900
- Route:
- Lhasa – Shigatse - EBC - Leisurely Kailash Hike - Lake Manasarovar – Saga - Shigatse - Lhasa
- Season:
-
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
- Winter
- Tour Type:
- Private Tour
Overview
Day | Route | Attractions & Activities |
---|---|---|
1 | Arrival in Lhasa (3650m) | Pick up and transfer to the hotel |
2 | Lhasa Suburb | Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery |
3 | Lhasa Sightseeing | Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street |
4 | Lhasa- Gyantse(4040m)- Shigatse(3840m), 360km, Approx. 6hrs | Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum, Far view of Gyantse Fortress |
5 | Shigatse - Tingri - EBC(5100m), 350km, Approx. 8hrs | Rongbuk Monastery, Sunset of Golden Everest Peak |
6 | EBC-Saga (4600m), 450km, Approx. 9hrs | sunrise of Everest Peak, Everest Base Camp, Far view of the Mt.Shishapangma, Peikutso Lake |
7 | Saga to Darchen, via Lake Manasarover, 450km, Approx. 9hrs | Lake Manasarovar |
8 | Day trek at Darchen, 2.6km, Approx. 4-5hrs | Mount Kailash |
9 | Darchen to Manasarovar Lake, 30km, Approx. 1hr | Manasarovar Lake, Chiu monastery |
10 | Pulan to Saga, 560km, Approx. 8hrs | Langtso Lake |
11 | Saga - Lhatse - Shigatse, 450km, Approx. 9hrs | Drive to Shigatse |
12 | Shigatse - Lhasa, 300km, Approx.6hrs | Tashilunpo Monastery |
13 | Lhasa departure | Send off to the airport/railway station |
Daily Itinerary
CollapseOur staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport / Railway Station to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, it usually takes about 1.5hrs; from Lhasa Railway Station, abt 20mins. After you get to the hotel, for the rest of the day you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not to take a shower if you can help it.
Stay overnight in Lhasa
In the morning, we will go to visit Norbulingka. Norbulingka park is considered the premier park of all such horticultural parks in similar ethnic settings in Tibet. During the summer and autumn months, the parks in Tibet including the Norbulingka, become hubs of entertainment with dancing, singing, music, and festivities. The park is where the annual Sho Dun or 'Yoghurt Festival' is held.
In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and covers the hillsides. They look like huge rice heaps in the distance, so it is called Drepung. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.
Stay overnight in Lhasa


- Attraction:
- Norbulingka
- Drepung Monastery
On your third day, you will be feeling much more acclimatized to Lhasa’s high elevation. It is an excellent idea to spend the day exploring the Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The superb collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. It is best to explore the inside of the Potala in the morning for 2-3 hours. Afterward, you can walk the pilgrimage route around the Potala Palace.
In the afternoon, you will head to the Jokhang Temple, which is well known as the center of the Tibetan Buddhism, features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers. Also, you can see a great many of pilgrims praying in front of the temple and do kora with local pilgrims.
After visiting the Jokhang Temple, you can stroll in the old alleys of Barkhor Street, where you may drink the sweet tea, chat with locals to experience the real-life in Lhasa.
Stay overnight in Lhasa


- Attraction:
- Potala Palace
- Jokhang Temple
- Barkhor Street
You will go to Shigatse from Lhasa via Gyantse today.
Firstly, you can have a glimpse of Yamdroktso Lake during the way to Gampala pass(4790m). This is the holy lake surrounded by plenty of snow-capped mountains. And special views of Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar(7191m), the highest mountain near Lhasa, comes out later soon.
You will see the Korala Glacier when we pass it on the roadside. After hanging pray flag at Simila Mountain Pass, we will arrive in Gyantse, the third-largest city in Tibet after Lhasa and Shigatse. We shall visit Pelkor Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum and then see the Gyantse Fortress from a distance.
It normally takes one and a half hours to drive from Gyantse to Shigatse.
Stay overnight in Shigatse


- Attraction:
- Yamdroktso Lake
- Karola Glacier
- Pelkor Chode Monastery
In the morning, you will leave Shigatse to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass Tsola Pass(4600M), and Gyatsola Pass(5248M). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5198m). Then we drive along the zigzag road to Rongbuk Monastery or the Everest Base Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of golden Everest peak.
If it’s summertime (usually May~Oct), we will stay overnight at the nomad tents of the Everest Base Camp; if winter time (usually Nov~Apr), we will stay at Rongbuk Monastery’s guesthouse. Both places have but only the dorm bed lodging available. From both places, you can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good.
Stay overnight in Rongbuk guesthouse or Nomad Tent, (Dorm Bed)

- Attraction:
- Rongbuk Monastery
You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at Everest Base Camp if the weather is good. After that, drive to saga, on the way, you can view of the worlds’14th highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8012m). Later, you will reach Lake Peikutso(4590m) and have a rest there. Then continue to Saga, If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like the wild donkey, wild antelope, etc.
Stay overnight in Saga, Guesthouse

- Attraction:
- Peikutso Lake
You can appreciate the stunning view of Gangdise Mountain Range and Himayala Mountain Range on the way to Darchen, pass by a desert area filled with sand dunes, and enjoy vast grassland and Tibetan villages along the way. While crossing the Mayomla Pass (5,112m), you can admire the stunning Mt.Naimonany (7,694M). Then you’ll pass by the holy Lake Manasarovar and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt.Kailash, the holiest mountain in Tibet.
Stay overnight in Darchen.

- Attraction:
- Lake Manasarovar
You will take an eco-bus ride (about 15mins, 6km) from Darchen to Serlung Chu Valley, the trailhead of Mt. Kailash Kora. Start your hiking at the terminal of the bus, walk through the Two-legged Stupa adorned by colorful prayer flags, and keep hiking to Qugu Temple about 2.6km away. You can see prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and enjoy the grand Serlung Valley with the spear-shaped summit of Mt. Kailash in the background. After enjoying sweet tea at tents around Qugu Temple, you can circumambulate Guqu Temple before heading back to Darchen.
If you don't want to hike at all, we can drive to Lake Manasarover today and cut one day from the itinerary.
Stay overnight in Darchen.

- Attraction:
- Mount Kailash
In the morning, we will drive to the holy Manasarovar Lake (4558m). As one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, it is said that Manasarovar Lake is the holiest one. The sacred water can wash away the troubles and obstacles in the soul. You may take a leisurely kora around the Manasarovar, meditate beside the tranquil lake, or even take a holy dip, etc.
In the afternoon, we will visit the 8th century Chiu Monastery. Although it is located in the west of the lake, it's between the holy lake and the ghost lake. Standing on the mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the two lakes. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava once meditated in a cave of the temple and there are also his footprints inside. When the sun sets in the afternoon, the setting sun is reflected in the temple, which has a special flavor. Alternatively, you can visit a hot spring (approximately 10 min walk). The hot spring provides bathtubs and clean facilities.
Stay overnight in Pulan County


- Attraction:
- Lake Manasarovar
- Chui Monastery
In the morning, we will leave Pulan county and start driving back to Saga. On the way, we'll make a stop at Langtso Lake. Then, drive approximately 4 hours to Payang. From there you can enjoy the view of the mountains in the distance, as well as yaks and herds. Sometimes, we can spot wild donkeys or antelopes grazing in the grasslands.
After lunch, we continue to Saga. We are driving through vast grasslands, where many nomads set up their tents.
Stay overnight in Saga

- Attraction:
- Langtso Lake
We will be driving back from Saga to Shigatse via Lhatse. Along the way, the road curves and stretches, and the mountains are endless. Every time you pass a mountain pass, the altitude drops a little bit, and you'll see villages and farmland at Lhatse.
Stay overnight in Shigatse

In Shigatse, we will visit the Tashilunpo Monastery - the home of Panchen Lama. It was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447 and is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse. It's located in the central hill of the city, the full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory".
In the afternoon, we will drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse along the Friendship Highway, via the northern route to Lhasa. It is the most direct route and usually takes around five hours to reach the capital. We will make several stops on the way in order to enjoy the views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley.
Stay overnight in Lhasa

- Attraction:
- Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tour Price and Service
From US$2900 p/p
Based on 3-star hotels for 2 people in low seasons. Price varies according to travel season, number of people and level of accommodation.
INCLUSIONS
- Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) and all other necessary permits to Tibet;
- All entrance tickets fee for tourist attractions listed in the itinerary;
- Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
- Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
- All lodging listed in the itinerary; it’s your decision about the accommodation class: luxury 5-star international hotel, comfortable 4-star hotel, economic 3-star hotel, or guesthouse. Please tell us your preference;
- All meals listed in the above itinerary;
- Pick-up & Drop-off service from Airport/railway station;
- Travel Agency Liability insurance;
- Government tax;
- Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
- Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
- Oxygen tank for emergency use;
- Sleeping bags;
- Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.
EXCLUSIONS
- International flight to and out of China;
- Chinese Visa/China Group Visa; (Note: we could help you by providing the hotel or domestic flight reservation copies for your Chinese Visa or the invitation letter for your China Group Visa)
- Domestic flight/train to and out of Lhasa; (We can help you book the domestic flight/train ticket at the BEST price. Please contact us for details.)
- Meals are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 3-10 USD per person for each meal.
- While the gratuity for guide and driver is NOT mandatory, it is expected. Based on their service, you can tip them on the last day of the tour. Each of you is suggested to tip them 5-10 USD/day in total;
- All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.2%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
- Personal expenses, like laundry, phone call, snacks, soft drinks, optional tour activities, etc.
- Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions.