Shoton Festival, Kailash kora and Guge Kingdom

Route: Lhasa ⇒ Yamdrok Lake ⇒ Gyantse ⇒ Shigatse ⇒ Lake Manasarovar ⇒ Chiu Hotspring ⇒ Zhada ⇒ Guge Kingdom ⇒ Mt. Kailash trek ⇒ Kyirong Border ⇒ Nepal or Lhasa.

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Aug 3/Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa (3658 m)

Welcome to Lhasa! Transfer to your hotel and get settled.

Aug 4/Day 2: Shoton Festival and sightseeing

In the morning, go to Drepung Monastery to attending Shoton Festival. The Shoton Festival in Tibet features the unveiling of large Thangka, vibrant Tibetan opera performances, and the consumption of yogurt. It is a time for people to enjoy cultural events, partake in religious activities, and celebrate the conclusion of the monastic retreat. Then visit Drepung Monastery, one of the three most famous monasteries in Lhasa. 

In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery: visit Sera monastery, which is one of the three the greatest monastic learning centers in Tibet. From Monday to Saturday,  you can watch monks debate in the courtyard in the late afternoon. 

Aug 5/Day 3: Lhasa sightseeing

In the morning, visit the Potala Palace, the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Also visit the Jokhang Temple, which is located in Barkhor Square in Lhasa. The Barkhor is a famous shopping street filled with goods and souvenirs from Tibet, Nepal, and India. Pilgrims from all over Tibet visit the Barkhor to pray in front of the Jokhang. Afterward, visit Ramoche, a small monastery located in the city center.

Aug 6/Day 4: Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake (4442 m) – Samding monastery – Karo La Glaicer – Gyantse (3900m)

Beginning your adventure in the Himalayas, drive to Gyantse. Along the way cross over the Kamba la (4794m) and the Karo la passes (5010m), which boast spectacular views. After Kamba la, arrive at Yamdrok Lake, a holy turquoise-colored lake with stunning scenery. If time allows, stop by Samding monastery located at the lake shore. Continue drive west, you will reach Semi-la pass and Norjin Kangsang glacier. We will stop to enjoy these landscapes. Then finally we reach Gyantse town. Gyantse is a midsize town in the southwest of Lhasa. When you entry town of Gyantse, the first landmark will be Gyantse Dzong or Gyantse Castle which once used as the residence of Gyantse Kings. The famous Pelkor Chode and Kumbum Stupa are at the north end of the town. The Pelkor Choede once was the largest non-sectoring Buddhism learning center, but today only two main temples are left. Next to the main temple is the Kumbum Stupa, this  Mandala (Buddhism cosmos) shaped stupa is largest in it’s kind in Tibet. There are many chapels which you can visit each of these chapels walk clock-wise from one storey to another. Once you made up to the top storey, Gyantse Old town and Dzong castle can be seen not far distance.Stay the night in Gyantse.

Aug 7/Day 5: Gyantse – Shalu Monastery – Shigatse (3836 m)

In the morning, there is option to visit a handmade carpet factory to see how Tibetan carpet are  made. Followed by a two-hour drive to Shigatse. Along the way, we will make a detour to visit Shalu Monastery. Shalu monastery is a small monastery about 22 km south of Shigatse City and 78km west of Gyantse. Founded in 1003 by Jetsun Sherab Jungnay, an eleventh-century Tibetan abbot and scholar. Shalu became the first among the major monasteries and learning centers during Tibet’s great revival of Buddhism and an important center of the Sakya tradition. Then we drive to Shigatse, here, see the giant Buddha in the famous Tashilunpo monastery. Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of six great monasteries in Tibet, it is also home to Panchen Lamas. You will spend about 1.5- 2 hours to visit all the temples.

Note: your guide may take some time to do the paperwork for the group in Shigatse.

Aug 8/Day 6: Shigatse – Langtso Lake – Saga (4640 m)

Drive up to high mountain passes with a great view of the Himalayas. You’ll be driving through the countryside and grasslands, where you can see small lakes and nomads camping with their yaks and sheep. About 180km you will reach a beautiful alpine lake called the Langtso at an elevation of 4300m. There are yaks and sheep scattering at the lakeside. This is a great place to have a short break and stretch your legs for this long driving journey. In the late afternoon, cross over the Brahmaputra River on the way to typical Chinese and Tibetan town. Spend the night in Saga.

Aug 9/Day 7: Saga – Paryang (4700 m) – Darchen (4575m)

Drive through a wide valley along a scenic river and look out on the grazing lands of yaks and sheep. Towards the south, you can see sand dunes, rocky mountains, and snow-capped peaks. Depending on the season, nomads and other mobile shopkeepers will be attired in beautiful traditional costume. Join them for a cup of hot tea in their home. Continue to drive West. In the late afternoon, you will catch your first sight of Holy Lake Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash. Spend the night at Darchen where you can enjoy a close-up view of Kailash at any point in this one-street town.

Aug 10/ Day 8: Darchen – Tirthapuri – Garuda Vally(optional) –  Tsaparang 

We continue drive west to Tirthapuri. Tirthapuri is said to be the gate of Mt. Kailash and many pilgrims visit Tirthapuri first and then make the Kailash Kora. Tirthapuri, located on the Sutlej River just above the Tirthaburi hotspring, is famous for being the meditation site of Padmasambhava and his consort and student Yeshi Tsogyel. It was a pure meditation cave site 10 years ago, but later two Buddhist temples were built there. If you make a circumambulation around the monastery, you will see some other mediation caves and stupas scattering on the mountain slope. Then if possible, we will try to visit Garuda Valley, but this may not be possible on the bus in August. Then we will continue to the Tsaparang, stay in a family guesthouse. 

Aug 11/ Day 9: Tsaparang, walk to ruins of the Guge Kingdom – Tholing Monastery – Zhada (3630m)

We walk or on the bus to Guge Kingdom. On the way, we will first drive through colorful mountains and then into the world of white clay land formations. Once we arrive in Guge Kingdom, we will have a whole afternoon to explore the ruins of this ancient kingdom dated back to the 10th century. There are four main temples in the lower reaches of the city, where you can see wall paintings and statues display. Some of them are of the earliest examples of Tantric Buddhist art. Above these temples, you can find the citadel of the kings.  Afterwards, drive 15km to Zhada and visit Tholing Monastery. Toling Monastery which consists of two main temples and several other ruins of ancient stupas. Tholing Monastery which is built by Great Tibetan translator Rinchen Zangpo at the beginning of the 10th century. These Buddhist temples became the religious center of the Guge Kingdom. Once you are there, do not miss a small back door which will lead you to the riverside where you can see ancient Toling Monastery and ruins of ancient civilisations .  Stay in Zhada or Toling.

Aug 12: Day 10: Zhada -Dongkar – Piyang Ancient Medication Caves – Darchen (4575m)

It’s about 60km from Zanda to Dungkar, located north from Toling at the small village of Dungkar and about 3 km away from Dungkar to Piyang. Dungkar and Piyang are famous for the wall painting and meditation caves, records shows there were more than 4,000 caves in the valley that was once inhabited. Nowadays, there are about 2000 caves remained at the Dungkar and Piyang Then we drive back to Darchen and prepare for the trek. Stay in Darchen.

Aug 13/Day 11: 1st Day of the Mount Kailash Trekking kora, trekking distance 19km and 6-7 hours. [Full Moon]

Walk along beautiful rocky cliffs, take deep breaths of fresh air. From time to time, the face of Mt. Kailash will appear. The trail passes the stone piled pass with colorful prayer flags, famous Tarpoche Flagpole, sky burial site and then enters Lha Chu valley. At the gate of this rocky canyon, a small monastery called Chugu Monastery with meditation cave of Tibetan Great Yogi Melaripa is on the left side of this canyon across the river. If you are a good trekker and interested in meditation, you can follow the small trail leading to this monastery at the left side of the river while others may continually go on the main trail. Pay a visit to this monastery takes an extra one hour. Afterwards, you can join the main trail across the bridge below the monastery. Both sides of this canyon are high steep rocky mountains which are representing Bodhisattvas. For example, the three high rocky mountains at the left before reach Dirapuk Monastery represent “Rigsum Gonpo” in Tibetan or Three Bodhisattvas (Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani). After half an hour of walking, you will reach sacred Dira Puk monastery which is located at an elevation of 5,000 meters by mid-afternoon. Here you can see the North Face of the Mt. Kailash. This sight is also considered as a birthplace of Shiva – one of the primary forms of God in Hinduism. Spend the night in the monastery guest house.

Aug 14/Day 12: 2nd day of the Mt. Kailash kora – Dolma la pass (5650 m) – Zuthal Puk (4815m), Trekking distance 12km and 7 hours.

This place is the closest place to view Mt. Kailash in entire kora. It’s right behind the guesthouses, so enjoy this last time close-up view of this holy mountain, then we start the day. Hike across a valley up to the Dolma-La Pass. The trail is much more dramatic today as you are ascending from 5050m to 5650m above sea level. Though these numbers are not a big difference but given the altitude in this area, it is the most difficult part of the trek. When you reach the top, make an offering, take a break (or meditate), and leave behind all your problems and worries. Let the prayer flags at the mountain pass bring positive energy to you and your families. Afterwards, begin descending. A mirror-like turquoise lake will appear in front of you in the middle of black rocky mountains, which said to be water offering for the holy mountain. By the late afternoon arrive at Zuthal Puk, the cave of miracles where Milarepa once stayed.

Aug 15/Day 13: 3rd day of the Mt. Kailash kora, view of Mt. Nemo Nani and drive to lake Manasarovar

Start the day by following one of the clearest rivers you have ever seen. The trail is flat and much greener. At the end of the valley before turning right, a stunning view of snow mountain Nemo Nani (altitude 7728m) will appear in your eyes. After finishing your circuit of Mt. Kailash, your car will pick you up and take you to the Lake Manasarovar – one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. This turquoise-colored lake is full of fish and swans. Holy Mt. Kailash, Mt. Gurula-Mandala, and Lake Rashekshi surround Manasarovar. The region is considered rich in gold and other minerals, hot springs and hundreds of wild living creatures. Then visit Rakshas Tal lake and Chiu Monastery, a small monastery located upper on a hillside. You can dip into a hot spring there. If your group stay until sunrise, a walk to the mountain slope to see the full view of the lake is recommended.

Optional: Manasarovar lake bus kora / depend on time and bus availability

Aug 16/Day 14: Holy Lake Manasarovar – Paryang – Saga

Begin the journey back to Lhasa. Enjoy a beautiful view of Himalaya ranges. Most travelers usually take this long driving road back as rest time after 3 days of the incredible trek. But this zig-zag scenic drive always bring some surprises such as suddenly appear rain bowls in front of your vehicle, flock of yaks or sheep may stop your bus which gives you a chance to close-up look at this animals, a wild animal running across the road, a beautiful lake or snowy, sunrise or sunset.etc. make your journey alive.

Aug 17/Day 15: Saga – Kyirong (Nepal border), 2800m

Continually drive in the Himalayas. If weather permits you will have a great view of Mt. Shishapangma and other snow peaks. After ascending up to Gongtang La pass which is the last highest point of this trip with an elevation of 5300m / 17400ft, the zig-zag road will lead us down to the valley. The attitude is getting lower dramatically as you descend to the valley, and the geography changes from desert-like grassland into the greenish forest. You start to feel the gentle air full of oxygen. Right before reaching Kyirong town, we will stop at a waterfall that falls from atop of the rocky mountain. The water said to be blessed by Guru Rinpoche. If time allows, we will visit Guru Rinpoche’s caves and Milarepa’s monastery. Once you get to newly built border town of Kyirong, you can fully rest in a restaurant, or wonder around the town. There is a Nepali style temple called Pakba Monastery which hosts about 30 nuns. Overnight in a guesthouse in Kyirong.

Aug 18/Day 16: Kyirong – Rasuwa Gadi (Cross border) – Kathmandu / Shigatse 

Drive 23km towards the border between China and Nepal. The customs opens at 10 am and closes by 17:30 pm. It may take around 1-2 hours to cross the border and go through customs formalities. After crossing the bridge, you need to go through Nepali customs. Finally,  you will get to Nepal border town of Rasuwa Gadhi. Our Tibetan guide will help you to go through border formalities on Chinese side of the border. On the way to Kathmandu, you will see Langtang National Park, snow peaks, farm terrains and Rasuwa ethnic group of Nepal. You will arrive at Kathmandu in the evening. It takes about 8-9 hours to reach Kathmandu. Note: there are unpaved parts of the road.

Those who return back to Lhasa, continue to drive to Shigatse via Peikutso Lake and Old Tingri. This is another long driving journey. Due to the traffic speed limit, your vehicle will stop several minutes from time to time, so you will have a chance to stretch your legs or walk around. Along the way, you will again see Peikutso lake and some of the World’s highest mountains including Mt. Shishapangma, Mt. Cho Oyu, etc.  Arrive in Shigatse in the evening.

Aug 19/Day 17: Shigatse – Yundrongling Monastery(optional) – Lhasa

Today, we continue to drive on the friendship highway. After 80km we will make a detour to visit Yundrunling Monastery, this monastery is the biggest Bonpo monastery in Tibet and it was once the second most influential monastery in Tibet. This is the only monastery you need to walk counter-clockwise on this trip. The main Chapels are Assembly Hall, Protector Hall. Note, female travelers are not allowed to go inside the Protector Hall. Finally, we will make our way back to Lhasa.

Aug 20/Day 18: Depart from Lhasa

Say goodbye to Tibet!

Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.