14-Day Mount Kailash Kora, Guge Kingdom & Northern Lakes Tour

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14 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Walk the three-day kora around Mount Kailash, explore the Guge ruins and return across Tibet's northern lakes to Namtso on a small-group trip.

Two weeks through Tibet's far west, by one road out and another back. After Lhasa and Shigatse, two long days across the plateau bring you to Lake Manasarovar and Darchen, the start of the kora around Mount Kailash, sacred to four religions. The walk takes three days: about 40 km in total, crossing the Drolma La at 5,630 meters on the second day, with two nights in basic pilgrim guesthouses. You then drive into the canyons of Zanda for the ruins of the Guge Kingdom and two earth forests. The return crosses the Changtang, Tibet's high northern plateau, past a chain of lakes that few travelers ever see: salt lakes near Shiquanhe, Dangra Yumtso, holy to the Bon religion, and the inland sea of Serling Tso. The trip ends at Namtso's Tashi Dor peninsula and Lhasa. This route does not visit Everest Base Camp.

What's Included

Simpler hotels further west and 2 nights in basic shared pilgrim guesthouses on the kora
13 nights twin-share: 4-star hotels with oxygen in Lhasa (3) and Shigatse (1)
Shared licensed tourist vehicle and driver
Entrance fees in the itinerary, including the eco-buses at Mount Kailash and Namtso
Breakfast (Optional[11])
Breakfast
Shared station or airport transfers on the first and last day
Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and other permits for the far west
Travel accident insurance
English-speaking licensed guide
Breakfast daily except the two kora mornings
A portable oxygen bottle per person, emergency oxygen in the vehicle and daily bottled water
Flights or trains to and from Lhasa
All lunches and dinners
Chinese visa
Horse, yak or porter hire on the kora
Tips for guide and driver
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

On Day 1 your Tibetan guide meets your arriving flight or train at Lhasa and transfers you to your hotel. After booking, please share your flight or train arrival details and your Lhasa hotel so we can confirm the exact pickup time. The final day includes a transfer back to Lhasa airport or railway station for your departure.

Itinerary

Duration: 14 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arrive in Lhasa (3,650 m)

    1 stop
  • 1
    Lhasa

    You are met at Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station and taken to your hotel. Rest well: this route has only two nights in Lhasa before heading west.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Potala Palace, Tibetan crafts and the Barkhor

    2 stops
  • 2
    Potala Palace

    Visit the Potala Palace on a timed ticket.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 3
    Barkhor Street

    At a handicraft center you mix Tibetan incense and try woodblock printing, then walk the Barkhor pilgrim circuit.

    3 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 3

    Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier to Shigatse (3,850 m)

    2 stops
  • 4
    Yamdrok Yumtso Lake

    Cross the Kamba La (4,790 m) above turquoise Yamdrok Lake.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
  • Karo La Glacier (Pass by)

    Pass the Karola Glacier and continue through Gyantse to Shigatse.

    • Day 4

    Across the plateau to Saga or Zhongba (about 4,600 m)

    1 stop
  • 5
    Saga County

    A long drive west across the Sangsang Grassland, with the Himalaya on the southern horizon.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 5

    Lake Manasarovar to Darchen (4,675 m)

    1 stop
  • 6
    Lake Manasarovar

    Pass red and yellow mineral dunes and deep-blue Gongzhu Tso, then stop at the shore of sacred Lake Manasarovar, with Mount Kailash rising beyond it. Overnight at Darchen, the start of the kora.

    45 minutes • Admission ticket included
    • Day 6

    Kailash kora day 1: Tarboche to Dirapuk (5,100 m)

    1 stop
  • 7
    Mount Kailash

    After a short eco-bus ride to Tarboche, walk about 14 km up the Lha Chu valley, past mani stones and pilgrims, to Dirapuk, facing the north face of Kailash.

    6 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 7

    Kailash kora day 2: over the Drolma La (5,630 m) to Zutulpuk

    1 stop
  • 8
    Zhuomala Mountain Pass

    The big day: about 20 km on foot, climbing to the Drolma La, the highest point of the kora, then descending past Gauri Kund to Zutulpuk and Milarepa's cave. Tea houses on the route sell drinks and noodles.

    10 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 8

    Kailash kora day 3, then west to Zanda

    1 stop
  • 9
    Mount Kailash

    Walk about 7 km downhill to the end of the kora, return to Darchen and drive into the canyon country of Zanda (about 3,700 m).

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 9

    Guge Kingdom ruins and earth forests to Shiquanhe (4,300 m)

    2 stops
  • 10

    Explore the tiered ruins of the Guge Kingdom, seat of a western Tibetan kingdom from the 10th to the 17th century.

    2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 11

    Then explore the Zanda and Xiayigou earth forests.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
    • Day 10

    Salt lakes of the north to Gaize (4,500 m)

    2 stops
  • (Pass by)

    Cross the northern plateau past Nyer Tso, a salt lake glittering with crystals.

  • 12

    Pass the Pero Tsetso viewpoint and nomad pastures on the way to Gaize.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 11

    Dangra Yumtso and Wenbu village (4,700 m)

    1 stop
  • 13

    Drive across the Changtang grasslands past Tong Tso to Dangra Yumtso, the holiest lake of the Bon religion. The night is in Wenbu, a village between red cliffs and the lakeshore.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 12

    Serling Tso and the lakes to Baingoin (4,750 m)

    1 stop
  • 14

    Pass Tangqung Tso, a salt flat known as the Sky Tree, vast Serling Tso and Bangkog Tso, where Tibetan gazelles and waterbirds are often seen.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 13

    Namtso Lake and back to Lhasa

    1 stop
  • 15
    Lake Namtso

    Walk on Namtso's Tashi Dor peninsula below the Nyenchen Tanglha range, then cross the Nagen La (5,190 m) back to Lhasa.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 14

    Depart Lhasa

    1 stop
  • 16
    Lhasa

    After breakfast, shared transfer to Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
  • Send a passport scan and your Chinese visa as soon as you book. The Tibet permits are applied for about four weeks before arrival.
  • These are shared group tours (up to 12 travelers). The guide or vehicle may change during the trip.
  • The Potala Palace is closed on Mondays, so the order of sightseeing may change.
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Tags

Multi-day Tours
Private and Luxury
Cultural Tours
4WD Tours
Walking Tours
Nature Walks
Small Group
Adventure Tours

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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