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Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour

Duration:
15 Days
Price:
From USD1990
Difficult Level:
Medium to Strenuous
Season:
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tour Type:
Group Tour
Group Size:
Max 12
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Overview

This is a pilgrimage trip to take you from Lhasa to the west of Tibet, Nagri and then return to Lhasa. 2-day Lhasa sightseeing lets you have a general understanding of the history of Tibet, the humanities and the lives of the local people. And then you will witness highland scenery and head to the world's highest peak, Mount Everest via Gyantse, Shigatse, and Tingri. Last but not least, you will reach Mt.Kailash. Kailash in Tibetan means the treasure of the snow-capped mountain. Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Bon - native religion in Tibet and Jainism recognize it as the center of the world. Indians also think that this is the center of the world. They believe Lord Shiva lives here, who has the strongest power and the highest position. At the same time, the upper reaches of the Indus and the Ganges originate from here. So, around Mt. Kailash, you can see a large number of Indian pilgrims.

If you go there, you will find a mysterious phenomenon. The sunny side of the mountain is covered by snow all year round, bright and shining. However, no snow on the shadow side of the sacred mountain. Even if it's covered with some snow, it will melt away immediately when the sun begins to shine. For centuries, Mt. Kailash has been a fascinating place in the minds of pilgrims and explorers, but no one has ever been able to board the mountain, or no one has ever dared to break the center of the world. The best trekking time is from late April to June or from September to early October.

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. 7hrs Tashilhunpo Monastery, Golden Everest Peak Rongbuk guesthouse / Nomad Tent(Dorm Bed) B
6 EBC-Saga (4600m), 450km, Approx. 9hrs Sunrise of Everest Peak, Everest Base Camp, Far view of Mt.Shishapangma and Peikutso Lake Saga, Guesthouse
7 Saga – Darchen (4560m), 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: Zutulpuk- Darchen, Trek 9km, Approx. 2~5hrs; Drive from Darchen -Manasarovar (4560m)-Zhongba, 340km, Approx. 5.5hrs Manasarovar Lake Zhongba, 3★
11 Zhongba - Lhatse, 470km, Approx. 8hrs Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way Lhatse, 3★ B
12 Lhatse(4000m )- Shigatse, 153km, Approx. 2.5hrs Sakya Monastery Shigatse, 3★/4★ B
13 Shigatse – Lhasa, 280km, Approx. 5hrs The Yarlung Tsangpo, Tibetan Incense Workshop in Nyemo Lhasa, 3★/4★ B
14 Lhasa Sightseeing Free time with the tour guide Lhasa, 3★/4★ B
15 Lhasa Departure Send off to the airport/railway station B

Daily Itinerary

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Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, usually, it takes about one hour. It’s about 20 mins drive from Lhasa Railway Station to your hotel. In order to adapt to the high altitude in Tibet, you'd better have rest and don’t do strenuous exercise. If you feel good, you can visit the Potala Palace Square, a far view the Yaowang Mountain and take a panoramic view of the Potala Palace. Remember to drink lots of water, and eat light and high carbohydrate foods to adapt to the high altitude better.

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 covers 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 visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery and then drive 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(4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass(5,248m). In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. You can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass (5,198m). Then you'll drive along the New Zigzag road to Everest Base Camp to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of the Golden Everest Peak.

Stay overnight in Rongbuk guesthouse or Nomad Tent(Dorm Bed)

  • 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 (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

Today, you will spend a lot of time on the way, but it’s worthy to see the landscape along the way.You’ll have stunning views of the great Himalayans 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, a small nomadic village and 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 trekking 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 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 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 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. We will drive you from Darchen to Mansarovar, the top holy lake in Tibet. It’s 40km to the southwest of Darchen. If the weather is good, you can see the splendid scenery of the lake Manasarovar. If you feel good, you can do a trek along the shore of the lake for a while. And then you'll head to Zhongba.

Stay overnight in Zhongba

Today we will drive from Zhongba to Lhasa. 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

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

You will get back to Shigatse via Sakya County. There is a famous Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Sakya County - Sakya Monastery, the main monastery of Sakyapa. It was built in the 1360s. The walls around this monastery were mainly in 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

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

Today, we will 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. In Nyemo, you’ll have a chance to visit the Tibetan Incense Workshop. Nyemo County has a history of more than 1,000 years. Except for sacrificial ceremonies, this fragrant incense also can be used to prevent infectious diseases like flu and influenza, for its ingredients contain herbal medicines such as saffron, Sandalwood, Chinese Usnea, and borneol.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

We don’t arrange any tourist attractions today. You could have free time in Lhasa city with your tour guide. If you want to have some activities, we need to get other members' permission and do it together. Because according to the regulations, foreigners are not allowed to travel to Tibet alone but must be escorted by a tour guide.

Of course, you could also choose to leave Lhasa today. We will drop you off at the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

Your tour ends today. You will be transferred to the Lhasa airport or railway station for your next destination.

  • Meals:
  • Breakfast

Cost & Calendar

All prices are in US Dollar / Person

Economic Class (3-Star Hotels)

2024-04-01 ~ 2024-05-31 2024-06-01 ~ 2024-06-30 2024-07-01 ~ 2024-08-31 2024-09-01 ~ 2024-10-07 2024-10-08 ~ 2024-10-31
USD1990 USD2150 USD2240 USD2160 USD1990

Comfortable Class (4-Star Hotels)

2024-04-01 ~ 2024-05-31 2024-06-01 ~ 2024-06-30 2024-07-01 ~ 2024-08-31 2024-09-01 ~ 2024-10-07 2024-10-08 ~ 2024-10-31
USD2080 USD2240 USD2330 USD2290 USD2090

Schedule

Starting DatePrice FromBookedBook Now
2024-04-22 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-04-29 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-05-06 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-05-11 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-05-13 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-05-16 USD1990 10 Book
2024-05-20 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-05-23 USD1990 4 Book
2024-05-27 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-06-03 USD2150 open for booking Book
2024-06-10 USD2150 open for booking Book
2024-06-13 USD2150 open for booking Book
2024-06-16 USD2150 7 Book
2024-06-17 USD2150 open for booking Book
2024-06-24 USD2150 open for booking Book
2024-07-01 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-07-08 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-07-15 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-07-22 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-07-29 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-08-05 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-08-08 USD2240 1 Book
2024-08-12 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-08-19 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-08-26 USD2240 open for booking Book
2024-09-02 USD2160 open for booking Book
2024-09-09 USD2160 open for booking Book
2024-09-16 USD2160 open for booking Book
2024-09-23 USD2160 open for booking Book
2024-09-30 USD2160 open for booking Book
2024-10-07 USD2160 open for booking Book
2024-10-14 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-10-21 USD1990 open for booking Book
2024-10-28 USD1990 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 to Join the Same Group$105 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;

* Breakfasts provided by hotels;

* 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 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. You are suggested to tip each of them 5-10 USD/day in total;

* All the commission and tax charged by PayPal, Bank, and government when making payment. (e.g. PayPal --- 4.4%. 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 can’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;

* On Day 14, you could also choose to leave Lhasa. We will drop you off at the Lhasa airport or railway station for departure but the price cost is the same as the 15-day tour;

* 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, thus there may not always be 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 12th, 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 the 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 Mr. ***

We are interesting in a booking. Can you tell us what the costs are of a yak + sherpa. And what is the price for a private tour and the more luxury version? We like to travel with a jeep (not a bus) is that possible?

beatrice
Answered by Beatrice

Dear Mr. Ayan****,

We can arrange your luxury Tibet tour to Mt.Kailash by jeep and include a porter and yak as mentioned. Regarding Sherpas, they are usually located in the Himalayas. I will check if there are any Sherpas around the Kailash area. To make it easy, we also can arrange horse riding during your Kailash kora. Just 8km distance cannot go through, near Dolma La Pass, at an altitude of 5600M.

 

Asked by Heim***

Dear all, we are three friends wishing to visit Tibet in August this year (2024). What tours could you arrange for us at that time? I can see that all tours start from Lhasa. Since we will be arriving from Italy, where do you suggest that we should land first? China? Nepal? Also, we will need to apply for the Tourist visa, are you able to hep us with that and how long is the process? Is there a chance to get a single room? At least for most of the trip?

Jennie
Answered by Jennie

Dear Heim****,

We can arrange the Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour for you in August 2024.

If you depart from Italy, I suggest you fly to mainland China first, like Beijing/Shanghai/Chengdu. Then you can take a flight or train to Lhasa. Italian passport holders can stay in China(including Tibet) within 15 days without a China Visa. I suggest you consider our 12-day Lhasa Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Kathmandu Pilgrimage Group Tour then you can fly from Kathmandu to your hometown after the tour.

If you consider the tour in August, we will help you apply for the Tibet Travel Permit around June.

For the hotels, if you don't choose the triple room, we will arrange twin rooms and big rooms for you. The third pax will pay the single supplement.

 

Asked by Raje***

Please share some dates in the month of May along with a sample itinerary. Also share visa requirements for US citizen

beatrice
Answered by Beatrice

Dear Raje****,

We can arrange the 15 days Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour for you in May. Right now, we have a group departure on 16 May and it will start the Kailash trek on the full moon day. If you want to stay the full moon night at the lakeside of Manasarovar, we can open a departure on 15 May for you. But the living conditions at the lakeside are very basic and most travelers choose to go to Darchen to stay overnight. We also have group departures on 11 May and 23 May for your choices.

For US citizens, you need a China visa, which takes around one month including online application and interview. We can help you with your China visa application by providing supporting documents after you book with us. Then we can apply for your Tibet travel permit to go to Kailash, which takes another month.

Asked by Laet***

Hi there,
I am interested in your tour to Mt. Kailiash. Is it possible for me as a Dutch citizin to join? At what number of participants will a trip take place?

Jennie
Answered by Jennie

Dear Laetitia***,

We can arrange the 15-day Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Tour for you from late April to early October. You can join our group as a Dutch citizen. There are usually 3-12 pax in a group.

 

Asked by Vija***

is Mt Kailash Kora that you are arranging a inner or outer kora?

Merry
Answered by Merry

Dear Vija***, 

For 15 Days Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage group tour, we arrange outer Kora. If you want to do inner Kora, we can arrange a private tour for you. Or we can arrange both outer Karo and inner Karo for you as a private tour. 

Read More ...

What Our Customers Say

Now that our tour is over, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all your help in organizing this great experience! We would like to point out that we really liked the driver who picked us up from the train station on our first day! Of course we only interacted with him shortly b ....

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