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Lhasa Everest Kailash Guge Group Tour

Duration:
17 Days
Price:
From USD2889
Route:
Lhasa - Shigatse - EBC - Mt.Kailash - Guge Kingdom -Saga - Shigatse - Lhasa
Season:
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tour Type:
Group Tour
Group Size:
Max 12
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Overview

This 17-day Lhasa to Western Tibet trip will take you to experience the most famous scenic spots in Tibet and the mysterious Ü-Tsang culture. Especially Ngari is a remote and frontier corner in western Tibet. You will first explore the capital Lhasa and visit the magnificent Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. Departing from Lhasa, you will go to the jasper-like alpine Lake Yamdrok, and visit the most famous glacier in Tibet - Karola Glacier. After a short stay in Shigatse, you will stay overnight at Everest Base Camp and admire the highest Mount Everest in the world up close. From there, this wonderful journey will continue through western Tibet. After enjoying the holy lake Manasarovar, you will take a three-day pilgrimage trek around the sacred Kailash regarded by the four religions, during which you will meet many pilgrims. The later Guge Kingdom and Zada Clay Forest are also highlights of this trip. This ancient civilization that has disappeared for more than 400 years may bury many secrets of Tibet. Get ready to be impressed by the in-depth charm of Tibet!

DayRouteAttractions & Activities AccommodationMeals
1 Arrival in Lhasa (3650m) Pick up and transfer to the hotel Lhasa, 3★/4★
2 Lhasa Sightseeing Drepung Monastery, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka Lhasa, 3★/4★ B
3 Lhasa Sightseeing Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street Lhasa, 3★/4★ B
4 Lhasa- Gyantse- Shigatse, 360km, Approx. 7hrs Yamdroktso Lake, Karola Glacier, Pelkor Chöde Monastery Shigatse, 3★/4★ B
5 Shigatse - Tingri - EBC, 350km, Approx. 8hrs Sunset of Golden Everest Peak Nomad Tent(Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse B
6 EBC - Saga, 450km, Approx. 9hrs Sunrise of Everest Peak, Everest Base Camp, Far view of Mt.Shishapangma and Peikutso Lake Saga, Guesthouse
7 Saga – Darchen, 490km, Approx. 9hrs Sand dunes, beautiful grassland and local's villages, Far view of Mt. Naimonanyi Darchen, Guesthouse/4★
8 Mt Kailash Kora①: Darchen - Dirapuk(4700m), Drive 5km, Trek 15km, Approx. 7~11hrs Mt.Kailash kora Guesthouse (Dorm Bed) B(only 4★)
9 Mt Kailash Kora②: Dirapuk - Zutulpuk(4790m), Trek 22km, Approx. 11~14hrs Mt.Kailash kora Guesthouse (Dorm Bed)
10 Mt Kailash Kora③: Zuktulpuk- Darchen, Trek 9km, Approx. 2~5hrs Mt.Kailash kora Darchen, Guesthouse/4★
11 Darchen - Zanda, 243km, Approx. 5hrs Guge Kingdom Zanda, 3★/4★
12 Zanda - Darchen, 243km, Approx. 5hrs Tholing Monastery Darchen, Guesthouse/4★
13 Darchen - Zhongba, 350km, Approx. 6hrs Manasarovar Lake Zhongba, Guesthouse
14 Zhongba - Lhatse, 470km, approx. 8hrs Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way Lhatse, 3★ B
15 Lhatse - Shigatse, 153km, Approx. 2.5hrs Sakya Monastery Shigatse, 3★/4★
16 Shigatse - Lhasa, 300km, Approx. 5hrs Tashilhunpo Monastery Lhasa, 3★/4★ B
17 Depart from Lhasa Send off to the airport/railway station B

Daily Itinerary

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Our 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 one hour; from Lhasa Railway Station, about 20 minutes. After being transferred to the hotel, you will be free for the rest of the day to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. Your good rest on the first day is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and avoid strenuous activities. As the capital city, Lhasa is the political, economic, cultural, communication and tourism center of Tibet with a history of over 1300 years.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

Today, you will visit the most famous Potala Palace, which is the cardinal landmark of Tibet and the masterpiece of Tibetan architecture. Potala Palace was the winter palace of successive Dalai lamas. It was built by the 33rd great king of Tibet - Songtsen Gangpo in the 7th Century. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. 

At noon, the tour guide will bring you to a good restaurant to have lunch and have a rest. In the afternoon, we will go to visit Jokhang Temple in the center of the Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims since the early days. After that, you will take a walk around the Barkhor Street - one of the most devotional circuits as well as a crowded central market of Lhasa. Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it‘s also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

We will pass by Kampala Pass(4,790m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Standing at the lakeside, you can see its blue water shimmering with charming light, as well as the snow-capped holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar(7,191m) in the distance.  

Next we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is about 300m from the main highway on your way to Gyantse.

Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

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 through the first high mountain pass - Tsola Pass(4,600m), then the second one-Gyatsola Pass(5,248m), the mountain pass of Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, with countless prayer flags flying in the wind. Afterward, you will keep ascending to Gawula Pass (5,198m), where you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you will drive along the zigzag road to the Everest Base Camp(5,200m) to stay overnight. You can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good.

Stay overnight in Nomad Tent(Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

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 (8,012m). Later, you will reach Lake Peikutso(4,590m) and have a rest there. Then continue to Saga(4,600m), 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

Today, you will spend a lot of time on the way, but it’s worth seeing the landscape along the way.You’ll have stunning views of the great Himalayas to the south and Trans-Himalayan to the north as we drive across the vast plains. This region is home to nomads, you’ll see the beautiful grassland and local's villages. As we cross the Mayomla Pass (5112M), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi(7694M).

During this thrilling journey, you’ll pass by sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valleys before we reach the Darchen(4560M), a small nomadic village and an important launch point for pilgrimages around Mt. Kailash. Upon your arrival, you can explore the Darchen town on your own. If you need porters and yaks, your tour guide will arrange it for you this afternoon.

Stay overnight in Darchen

In the morning, you will take an eco-bus (included in the cost) to Sarshung Valley and start the Mt. Kailash trek from there. Then you will meet your porters and yaks at Sarshung Valley(the cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters are not included in the package). You’ll trek about 15 km from Sarshung Valley to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu River Valleys. During your trekking today, you can see both the west and north face of Mt.Kailash. Finally, you will visit Drirapuk Monastery and stay overnight here.

Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed

Today is the most challenging day of the trekking, you’ll climb over the highest pass of the Kailash Kora, the Dromala pass(5630m). After a short rest at the top, we will climb down into the long valley and stop for lunch at the Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent. On the way, you can have a rest in a teahouse. Then you will continue to the Zultulpuk, built by two important religious figures, Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. At last, you will visit Zutulpuk Monastery. You will find the footprint and handprint of Milarepa inside the cave. 

Stay overnight in Guesthouse, Dorm Bed

It's an easy day of the trek. You'll trek 9km to complete the Kora then take the eco bus back to Darchen. According to Buddhism theory, doing a kora around a holy mountain for one circle can get rid of the sins and miseries for the whole life. Only after going through lots of hardships, you can feel the happiness and gratification brought by kora. Then you take the shuttle bus back to Darchen, about 3km. And you are going back to the town and taking a break in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Darchen

Today you will drive from Darchen to Zanda. It takes about 5 hours by car, yet the distance is only about 243 kilometers. And then it takes a long way of winding up and down along fantastically eroded gorges and gullies.

At about 5 pm, you will arrive in the Guge Kingdom to explore the ruins of the lost civilization under the sunset. It's a famous kingdom in the history of Tibet and created a very glorious history in the Ngari region, as well as a splendid culture in the "second propagation of Buddhism". It was not only the continuation of the Tubo lineage but it's also believed to have inherited the legacy of the Xiangxiong Kingdom in ancient times. Remote location, magical clay forest land and splendid civilization have made these ruins become an important part of western Tibet tourism.

Stay overnight in Zanda

Zanda (3760m), Zhada or Tsamda, is the bland, one-street town that has been built up alongside Thöling Monastery. You will visit the Monastery in the morning, and then drive backward. The 122km from Zanda to Ba'er is full of gorges and ravines. Another 50km stretches from there to the Mincer, where the road branches north. After a 65 kilometers long paved road, you will return to Darchen. Alternatively, you can choose to enjoy bathing and stay overnight in Tirthapuri Hot Spring but the cost is not included in the tour cost. the cost is not included in the tour cost.

Stay overnight in Darchen

Today we're driving back to Zhongba via Lake Manasarovar. 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.

Stay overnight in Zhongba

Today we will drive from Zhongba to Lhatse. Although there is no famous scenic spot on the way, the scenery is endless. On the way, you will see a lot of unnamed lakes and rivers, cross 7 high mountain passes, and experience different weather. You will see natural scenery, rural cattle and sheep, wild animals, and unknown purple flowers all over the mountains all the way.

If any group members would like to continue to Kathmandu, we will send them off at the Gyirong border. Therefore you'll have a chance to explore the Gyriong Valley, called the backyard of the Himalayan Mountains.

Stay overnight in Lhatse

On the way back to Shigatse, if the time that day is enough, you can go to visit Sakya Monastery. There is a famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Sakya County - Sakya Monastery, the main monastery of Sakyapa. It was built in the 1360s. The walls around this monastery were mainly gray, but the top part of the walls was painted in red and white stripes. That’s why Sakyapa is also called Variegated Buddhism. There are many cultural relics such as seals, Buddha statues, a large collection of books, exquisite murals, etc. The murals of the Yuan Dynasty are the most distinctive, which makes Sakya Monastery known as the "second Dunhuang".

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In Shigatse, we will visit Tashilhunpo 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 on 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". Drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse along the Friendship Highway, the northern route to Lhasa. On the way, you’ll see the Yarlung Tsangpo Valley.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

Today your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for your next destination. Before your departure, we would appreciate it if you could spend a few minutes evaluating our services either by filling out the feedback form or simply sending us an email when you get back home. Your whole trip has officially ended.

Cost & Calendar

All prices are in US Dollar / Person

Economic Class (3-Star Hotels)

2025-04-01 ~ 2025-06-30 2025-07-01 ~ 2025-10-10
USD2889 USD3482

Comfortable Class (4-Star Hotels)

2025-04-01 ~ 2025-06-30 2025-07-01 ~ 2025-10-10
USD2994 USD3578

Schedule

Starting DatePrice FromBookedBook Now
2024-10-14 USD open for booking Book
2024-10-17 USD open for booking Book
2024-10-21 USD open for booking Book
2024-10-28 USD open for booking Book
2024-11-04 USD open for booking Book
2024-11-11 USD open for booking Book
2024-11-18 USD open for booking Book
2024-11-25 USD open for booking Book

No desired date of departure? Please send us an inquiry and we will try to arrange your tour according to your plan.

Discount Policy

You may only enjoy one of the advantageous policy, not both.

Option A:3 or More from You Join Together$30 Off / person
Option B:Tour in Apr~Oct
  • To book 6-month prior tour starts 5% Off / person
  • To book 3-month prior tour starts 3% Off / person

Our Service

INCLUSIONS

* Comfortable Hotel Accommodations as listed in the itinerary;
* Meals as listed in the itinerary;
* Travel-licensed vehicle according to group size & season as itinerary needed including gas and parking fee;
* Lhasa Railway Station transfer at all times on the first & last day;
* Pick-up from Lhasa Gonggar Airport to your hotel at 9:30 am, 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on the first day;
* Drop-off from your hotel to Lhasa Gonggar Airport at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm on the last day;
* Shuttle Bus fee go to Kailash: USD10/person;
* Shuttle Bus fee back from Kailash: USD10/person;
* Experienced local English-speaking tour guide;
* All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary;
* All necessary permits to Tibet;
* Sleeping bags;
* Travel Agency Liability insurance;
* Government Tax;
* Express delivery fee of Permit (eg. SF. Express);
* Food & lodgings for guide & driver;
* Oxygen tank for emergency use;
* Two bottles of mineral water per person per day;

EXCLUSIONS

* Yaks & herders during 3-Day Mt Kailash Kora;
* Shuttle Bus fee at Lake Manasarovar: USD 43/person;
* International flight to and out of China;
* 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.);
* If you miss the free transfer schedule due to flight delay or cancelation, then you are required to pay a private transfer from USD 80/vehicle/time;
* Lunch & Dinner are not included but we will recommend some good ones for you according to your requirements. Usually, it takes 5-15 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. You are suggested to tip each of them 8-15 USD/day in total;
* All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. Wire transfer --- 2%);
* Personal expenses;
* Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions;

Note

* Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB) & Military Permit usually takes about 30-working-day to apply. If you couldn’t provide the required docs & info on time, an extra handling fee will be charged. Please consult your travel consultant for details;
* During the 3-day Mt Kailash Kora—
Lodgings: clean dorm-bed guesthouse; in peak season, we provide the tent in case the guesthouses are fully booked by Indian pilgrims;
Food: locals sell Tibetan noodles (USD 5) & instant noodles(USD 2) along the way;
Luggage: leave most of your luggage in our vehicle, bring only the necessary;
* We reserve the right to change the itinerary order and attractions in Lhasa;
* If you prefer to book your own hotels over those included in our group tour, please meet the rest of the group at their daily hotel on time. We don’t include the transfers to your own hotels;
* We need to pick up and drop off all members of the group on the first & last day from Lhasa Airport/Railway Station,thus there may not always have a guide present but a driver;
* Due to the special nature of Tibet travel, any unforeseeable and unavoidable objective circumstances, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, riot, civil commotion, strikes, public health emergencies, government action, major traffic jams, delay or cancellation of flight/train, attractions temporarily closed. etc., resulting in a change of itinerary, the increased cost will be paid by travelers; if any attraction visits have to be canceled due to the same reasons above, GTT won't be held responsible for a refund except for certain attraction entrance fees which will be solely decided by GTT;
*  If you want to start your tour from Lhasa and continue to Kathmandu via the Gyirong border, it's also applicable. So if any group members would like to end their tour at the Gyirong border, we will see them off at the Sino-Nepal border. Therefore, on Day 14th, we will have a valuable detour to Gyirong, which gives you a chance to explore the most beautiful Gyirong Valley at the foot of the Himalayan Mountain Range. You can get back to Lhasa as per the original plan;
* Single Supplement: our quote is based on twin rooms. For single travelers, a single supplement is required at the time of booking. If there is another traveler to share the room with you,  the single supplement will be refunded;
* All members of the same group must be with the same tour guide during the whole trip. So all members must follow the same itinerary and visit the same attractions. If anyone requests to change the scheduled arrangement for own reasons, you need to get permission from other members and accept the possible payment change if any;

Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients

Asked by Poli***

I would like to start in Xian for 2 days and with train to Lhasa. I think it’s better for acclimatisation

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Poli***, 

For 17 Days Lhasa Everest Kailash Guge Group Tour, we can open one for you on 16 Sep. but it needs further confirmation. If there are not enough tourists to join this 17 days group tour, will you consider 15 days Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour departing on 17 Sep.?

Asked by glor***

Good evening, I wanted to know if it was possible to do this tour but privately. We would be two 32 year old guys. we would like to leave towards the end of July arriving in Lhasa by train. Thank you

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Glor****, 

We can arrange 17 days Lhasa Everest Kailash Guge private tour at the end of July for you.

 

Asked by Prab***

We want to do Kailash Manaswarovar in July 24.

Please would you clarify if the Tibet Permit (and is there another permit for Ngari prefecture to enter Kailash Manaswarovar region?) - is something we can have in place before we start our journey?

I would quite like to have a night spent at the Chiu Monastery by the side of Manaswarovar and I have heard it is possible to drive round Manaswarovar (circumambulation) - the following morning we can proceed to Darchen and continue with the itinerary suggested on your website.

Another question: after completing the Kailash kora, is it possible to visit Zanda/ Guge Kingdom/ Pangong Lake before returning to Saga?

Also wanted to ask if there is minimum number of guests that you need for such a trip? Please provide an estimated quote for 4 British Adults. (There is another family of 4 British adults who expressed interest- does the cost per person change if it is a group of 4 vs group of 8)

Jennie
Answered by Jennie

Dear Prab****,

We can arrange the 17-day Lhasa Everest Kailash Guge Tour for you in July. We can drive you around Manaswarovar and arrange the guesthouse near Chiu Monastery. I suggest you consider staying overnight near the Chiu Monastery on Day 11 and driving around Manaswarovar Lake on Day 12 then returning to Zhongba.

After completing the Kailash Kora, we can arrange a visit to Zanda and Guge Kingdom for you. The group itinerary is fixed. If you want these adjustments, I suggest you consider the private tour. For 4 pax, the cost of a private tour is near the group tour, and for more pax, the cost more lower.

We will help you apply for the Tibet Travel Permit along with your passports and China Visa around one month in advance before the tour, and the permit includes the Nagri region. You need to offer your China Visa before we process the application for the permit.

 

Asked by Susa***

Hello! I am interested in the Lhasa-Everest Kailash Guge Group Tour. I plan to travel either in May or June. Do you offer the group tour then? I did not find any exact dates on your website. You state that the cost for porters ect. on the Kora is not included in the price. How much cost ist to be expected for that? Thanks in advance.

beatrice
Answered by Beatrice

Dear Susa,The group tour Lhasa Everest Kailash Guge Group Tour is based on 3 occupancies. Right now, all group tours are open for booking. If you can book it firstly, we will try to recruit another 2 people to make it applicable. If not, we will refund you and there's no transfer fee.

Another two guys are also interested in this group tour in May or June but they don't want to be the first ones to book it. If you three book together, the group tour will depart as per your request. 

Asked by Sudh***

I am flexible anytime between Jun 20 to August 20. I am looking for lot of trekking and Kailash and Manasoravar holy visits.

Catherine
Answered by Catherine

In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to have 17 Days Lhasa Everest Kailash Guge Group Tour next summer. We can arrange the tour as Tibet would probably be open for international tourists next year. The booking of this tour is open now. And a 5% off will be provided for a 6-month early booking. 

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What Our Customers Say

I am well thankyou. It turned out to be a great trip. I have two excellent guides and the driver. Especially as Lakdun (not sure how to spell her name) was there to help me at the airport when my flight got cancelled. You might also be interested to know that I run spiritual retreats and pilgrimages ....

Read more testimonials...
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