Mt Kailash Northern Route
20 days -Mt Kailash Northern Route
Northern Mt Kailash Route:The journey starts from the holy city of Lhasa and then to Shigatse, where you can feel the different lifestyles and existing cultures on the roof of the world. you can explore some of the monasteries, mountains ranges & holy lakes for the trip. The extraordinary peak of Mount Kailash is the prime focus of the journey, which lies at the heart of the region. It is the pilgrimage destination of Buddhists, Bon, Hindus, and Jains. After Mt Kailash trek you are driving through the heavily eroded sandstone canyon and valleys of the upper Sutlej river are numerous ruins of ancient cities that once comprised the kingdom of Guge, continuous drive to Ali and through the Northern Kailash route, your camera will be busy with a stunning view of lakes, typical nomads and happy wild animals.
Tour itineary
Day 01: Arrive at Lhasa
Day 02: Lhasa-Jokhang temple-Barkhore Square
Day 03: Lhasa-Ramoche temple-Sera Monastery
Day 04: Lhasa- Potala Palace-Norbulingka summer Palace
Day 05: Lhasa-Yamdrok lake-Gyangtse-Shigatse
Day 06: Shigatse-Lhtase-Saga(457km)
Day 07: Saga-Paryang-Lake Manasarovar-Darchen(256km)
Day 08: Darchen-Diraphuk monastery(Trek)
Day 09: Dirakphuk monastery-Zutrulphuk monastery(Trek)
Day 10: Zultrulphuk -Darchen-Tirthapuri hot spring ( 72km)
Day 11: Tithapuri hotspring -Tsada(160km)
Day 12: Tsada-Guge Kingdom(25km)
Day 13: Tsada-Ali(240km)
Day 14: Ali-Gegye(112km)
Day 15: Gegye-Gertse(368km)
Day 16: Gertse-Tsochen(257km)
Day 17: Tochen-Raka(240km)
Day 18: Raka -Lhatse(280Km)
Day 19: Lhatse-Lhasa(420km)
Day 20: Lhasa airport/ train station dropping off
20Days
Mt Kailash Northern Route
Detail Tour package click here
Day 01: Arrive at Lhasa
Arrive at the train station (20km) or airport(60km) in Lhasa. Our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for acclimatization; you can have your free time hanging out in this holy city to get the first impression of Tibet.
Day 02: Lhasa-Jokhang temple-Barkhore Square
Barkhore square
Morning visits the Jokhang temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet. In the Tibetan language, it refers to Buddha’s house. The most important statue is said to be made by Buddha Sakyamuni himself time. It was built in the 7th-century 32nd king Songtsen Gampo. The Jokhang temple is the convergence of Tibet’s spiritual and secular life. Here you can meet all kinds of tribes from the Tibetan plateau. The surrounding market is called Bakhore. One of the most important religious paths. Evening explores city by yourself.
Overnight night in Hotel (Lhasa)
Day 03: Lhasa-Ramoche temple-Sera Monastery
Sera monastery Monks Debate
Morning visits to the Ramoche temple, It’s the sister temple to the Jokhang, which is completed about the same time. Tradition says that it was built originally to house the much revered Jowo Rinpoche statue, carried to Lhasa via Lhagang in a wooden cart, brought to Tibet when Princess Wencheng came to Lhasa.
Afternoon visits the Sera monastery. All the Gelugpa monasteries history is strongly connected to Master Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the founder of the Gelugpa order, the much venerated and highly learned guru in Buddhist scriptures. The Sera Monastery at the foot of Sera Uste Hill is located 2 kilometers north of Lhasa. It is one of the great three Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet.
Overnight night in Hotel (Lhasa)
Day 04: Lhasa- Potala Palace-Norbulingka summer Palace
Potala Palace
Morning visits the Potala palace towers above the city of Lhasa as the national landmark that allures international visitors. The massive 13-storeyed building used to be the former abode for the Dalai lamas. It looks incredibly magnificent from a distance and can be viewed from various places around town. As the nation’s supreme relic, the palace dates back to the seventh century A.D.
Afternoon visits the Norbulingka summer palace, the former summer palace of Dalai Lamas built-in during the 18th century by seven Dalai lamas. Explore the beautiful gardens and experience one of the holiest sites in Tibetan Buddhism while soaking up the rich history.
Overnight night in Hotel (Lhasa)
Day 05: Lhasa-Yamdrok lake-Gyangtse-Shigatse
Shigatse city: (ELEV 3900M)
Yamdrok Lake
Morning visit Kumbum stupa and Phelchoe monastery Gyantse’s pride is the Gyantse Dzong and Kumbum. Gyantse Dzong is a historical fort built in the 14th century and overlooks a mesmerizing view of the entire Gyantse and surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. Kumbum has a large gold-domed stupa and houses several chapels and Tibetan Buddhist murals. After you enjoy exploring Gyantse, you will take a 90 km drive to Shigatse. Having driven to an altitude of 3900 meters, you find yourself at Shigatse, the second-largest city of Tibet.
Overnight night in Hotel (shigatse)
Day 06: Shigatse-Lhtase-Saga(457km)
ELEV:4610m
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Morning drive from Shigatse to Saga, enjoying the stunning landscape along the way. Drive through typical Tibetan villages where you can see how the local Tibetans live surviving. Saga’s altitude is 4,640m above sea level. Saga is the last stop for pilgrims and travelers on their way to Mt. Kailash
Overnight night in Hotel OR Guesthouse (saga)
Day 07: Saga-Paryang-Lake Manasarovar-Darchen(256km)
ELEV:4670m
Way to Mt Kailash
Today the thrilling journey across the dry and vast plain with stunning views of great Himalaya in the south and Trans-Himalayan in the north. The moonscape plain of the region is home to nomads whose lifestyle remains close to what it has been for centuries and numbers of plateau wild lives. Different natural landscapes like sand dunes, picturesque and mountain views also holy lakes and mountains. Then we will reach Manasarovar Lake (victorious lake). Which is one of the holiest lakes in Tibet, and every year it receives hundreds of hundreds of pilgrims from all corners of the Tibetan plateau, India, and Russia. The Manasarovar lake is surrounded by several prominent peaks like Gurla Mandata (7760m). Then we will further drive to Darchen where we the starting point of the Mt Kailash (7762m) trekking. You will also have a great view of the Kailash from the front. Darchen is a small nomadic village and now an increasing number of guesthouses and restaurants make it more commercial. On your arrival, you have plenty of time to explore around the town and prepare for trekking. You can also hike around the hills to get physically ready for trekking. Afternoon, your guide will arrange other trekking necessities like porters and yaks for your luggage transportation. You can find different restaurants according to your taste or your guide will help you to find some better ones.
Overnight night in Hotel OR Guesthouse(Darchen)
Day 08: Darchen-Diraphuk monastery(Trek)
6HOURS/20KM/200M/ASCENT
Frist day of Mt Kailash trek
First day of the trek from Darchen to Dira Puk Monastery. It takes 6 hours walk. Further ahead, verdant meadows and picturesque streams lie en route to Lha Chu Valley. The trail overlooks a turquoise river cascading over a narrow canyon with high steep cliffs. En route, the north face of Kailash comes into vision. The trail will approach the 13th-century monastery of Dira-Puk. We recommended you to visit the Dira-Puk Monastery and from there you can have a nice view of Mt Kailash. For the accommodation in here is tent guesthouse, Shishpangma hotel and monasteries guesthouse.
Overnight night in Guesthouse (Dira puk)
Mt Kailash North Face
Day 09: Dirakphuk monastery-Zutrulphuk monastery(Trek)
7-8HOURS/18KM/550M ASCENT/600M
Dromala pass
Today we cross Drolma la pass (5630 M) and Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m). From the top of the Dromala pass, you can have a view of Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion, at the summit, you realize that this tough and challenging ascent has indeed been very worthwhile and fruitful. Further on, the trail descends to the flat fields of Zutul-Puk monastery and several fascinating caves. The caves at this locale are most popular for meditation; Milarepa’s cave is one of them with Milarepa’s footprints and elbow prints believed to be imprinted all over this cave of mani stones. Accommodation here is quite simple and you can have a local guesthouse or monastery guesthouse.
Overnight night in Guesthousel (Zutrul puk)
Decedent to Zultrul puk monastery
Day 10: Zultrulphuk -Darchen-Tirthapuri hot spring ( 72km)
3-4HOURS/14KM/150M DESCENT
Decedent to Darchen
The third and final trek of Mt Kailash is an easy 2-3hrs walk down you follow the trail through Barkha plain leading to Darchen crossing several streams along the picturesque gorge. Enchanting view of Mount Kailash accompanies through this Mount Kailash tour and trek and finely reach to Darchen and drive to Tirdapuri where there is a hot spring. Pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash is not complete without visiting Tirdapuri for the Tibetan Buddhists.
Overnight night in Guesthouse(Tirthapur hotspring)
Day 11: Tithapuri hotspring -Tsada(160km)
ELEV:3760M
way to Tsada
Northwest from Trithapuri, in the middle of the canyon erosion landscape of the Sutlej River, lie the impressive ruins of Toling and Tsaparang – flourishing centers of the former Kingdom Guge. Tsaparang disappeared in the middle of 17. Century; the Toling monastery, our today’s goal was until the 1960’s religious center.
Overnight night in Hotel or Guesthouse(Tsada)
Day 12: Tsada-Guge Kingdom(25km)
Toiling monastery
Early in the morning, we drive to Tsaparang (10 km, 3.800 m), the oldest center of the Guge Kingdom. A group of four temples surrounds the lower part of the fortress walls, one-fifth of which lie above the remains of the city, the former Summer Palace of the kings.
Overnight night in Hotel OR Guesthouse (Tsada)
Day 13: Tsada-Ali(240km)
ELEV:4280M
Ali
Drive from Zanda to Ali, pass Laochi-la and Lalung-la over 5000m, the road is equally tough going.
Overnight night in Hotel(Ali)
Day 14: Ali-Gegye(112km)
ELEV:4520M
Drive to Gegye in the afternoon and through the valley follows its way to Gegye, it’s a gently looping river spreading out in multiple channels across teh valley floor. Gegye is the best and most reliable place to spend the night until Gertse.
Overnight night in Guest house(Gegye)
Day 15: Gegye Gertse(368km)
ELEV:4445M
Drive from Gegye to Gertse, the road becomes wider. Today you will be driven on Tibetan Northern nomad’s land, have a great view of the wild animals and fantastic landscapes,before you get to Getse, you will pass several small lakes set in a wide plain.
Overnight night in Guest house(Gertse)
Day 16: Gertse-Tsochen(257km)
ELEV:4680M
Drive from Gertse to Tsochen, on the way you will see some small lakes, today pass beautiful valleys one after another and turquoise water lake Dawa tso is a wonderful part of the day trip.
Overnight night in Guest house(Gegye)
Day 17: Tsochen Raka(240km)
ELEV:5070M
Drive from Tsochen to Raka, along the valley, pass Songma-la pass (5500m), then you will see Tagyel-tso, and other small lakes, Raka is situated on the junction of the road with Northern road to Ali or Mt.Kailash.
Overnight night in Guest house(Raka)
Day 18: Raka-Lhatse(280km)
ELEV:3950M
In the morning trace the road back to Lhatse via Sangsang.
Overnight night in Hotel(Lhatse)
Day 19: Lhatse-Lhasa(420km)
ELEV:3650M
Today it is a bit long drive, from Shigatse it will drive along the Brahmaputra river via the northern friendship highway to Lhasa.
Overnight night in Hotel(Lhasa)
Day 20: Lhasa airport/ train station dropping off
Morning Lhasa airport or train station dropping off, the time comes to say your farewells to your guide and driver, end the trip.
Tour includes:
- All the necessaries Tibet Travel Permit
- All the necessaries entrance fees
- Your accommodation with included breakfast
- Tibetan English Speaking guide
- Car and driver for the whole trip
- Agency service fee
- guide and driver accommodation and meal
- permit shipping fee
Tour Excludes:
- Your lunch and dinner
- your flight or train ticket both way
- personal expenses
- guide and driver tips
Feel free to ask if you have any further questions.
