13-Day Tibet Flights & Qinghai-Tibet Railway: Lhasa, EBC., Nyingchi & Namtso
Classic Route
Details
Kathmandu (1,340m) to Gyirong Border (2,600m) — 183 km, 7–8 hrs
The tour begins with a morning departure from Kathmandu for the long drive to the Nepal–Tibet border crossing at Gyirong, a journey of roughly 7 to 8 hours. Once you clear customs on the Tibetan side, your Tibetan guide and driver will be waiting to greet you and take you onward to Gyirong town. The rest of the day is left free for you to rest and begin adjusting to the higher elevation before the trip continues deeper into the plateau.
Accommodation: Gyirong Town
Acclimatization Day at Gyirong Town (2,600m)
With Gyirong sitting near the Friendship Bridge that connects Tibet and Nepal, this second day is built entirely around acclimatization. Rather than pushing further into higher terrain right away, you’ll spend the day resting in town, drinking plenty of water, and doing light exercise to help your body adjust. This pause is an important safety step before the drive to significantly higher altitudes over the coming days.
Accommodation: Gyirong Town
Gyirong Town to Saga (4,450m) — 170 km, 4.5 hrs
Today’s drive carries you across Tibet’s sandy, rock-strewn high plateau, a landscape that shifts dramatically from the greener valley around Gyirong. Along the way, you’ll pass Pelku Tso Lake and take in distant views of Mount Shishapangma, which rises to 8,020 meters. It’s also common to see nomadic herders moving yaks and sheep across the open land. By the afternoon, the route crosses the Brahmaputra River as you make your way into Saga, a small town with a mix of Chinese and Tibetan character.
Accommodation: Saga
Saga (4,500m) to Lake Manasarovar (4,558m) via Paryang (4,700m) — 506 km, 7–8 hrs
This is one of the longer driving days of the trip. Leaving Saga, the route crosses windswept, open terrain dotted with small villages and the seasonal camps of yak herders, with snow-capped peaks visible in the distance. After a lunch stop in Paryang — traditionally used by nomads as summer grazing ground for their herds — the drive continues for roughly four more hours toward Lake Manasarovar. This stretch passes through remote territory where, with some luck, you may spot a herd of kyang (Tibetan wild ass). The most memorable moment comes at Mayum La Pass (5,280m), which offers your very first view of Mount Kailash, followed by your arrival at Lake Manasarovar in time to watch the sunset over its waters.
Accommodation: Local Guesthouse
Rest at Lake Manasarovar, then Onward to Darchen (4,600m) — 60 km, 1.5 hrs
The morning is left open to spend time at Lake Manasarovar itself. Considered one of Tibet’s three holy lakes, it is regarded — together with Mount Kailash — as a spiritual center of the world, revered by more than a billion Buddhists and Hindus. You may also pass or visit the White Stupa near Chiu Monastery on the lake’s shore. In the afternoon, you’ll drive to Darchen, the small settlement that serves as the starting and finishing point of the Mount Kailash trek. This is where final trekking preparations happen, including arranging yaks or porters if you need them.
Accommodation: Darchen
Trek from Darchen to Dirapuk Monastery — 20 km, 6 hrs
The trek proper begins today, starting from Sershong and following a gradual path alongside a steady stream of local pilgrims chanting and praying as they walk. Choku Monastery is visible up on the hillside as you go. The trail has a few ups and downs before reaching the overnight stop at Dirapuk (4,750m). Along the way, you’ll likely encounter Bon pilgrims walking the kora in the opposite, counter-clockwise direction — a reminder that Mount Kailash is sacred to four different traditions: Buddhists, Bons, Hindus, and Jains.
Accommodation: Dirapuk (guesthouse or camping)
Trek from Dirapuk Monastery to Zutulpuk Monastery via Drolma La Pass — 15 km, 6–7 hrs
This is the most physically demanding day of the kora. The trail climbs to the highest point of the entire trek at Drolma La Pass (5,200m), directly beneath Mount Kailash, before descending into a gradual valley toward Zutulpuk for the night. The name Zutulpuk translates to “magical cave” in Tibetan, and the small monastery here is linked to the legendary story of a spiritual contest between the great yogi Milarepa (Buddhist) and Naropa (Bon).
Accommodation: Zutulpuk (guesthouse or camping)
Trek back to Darchen — 14 km, 4–5 hrs
The final stretch of the kora winds out of the valley and follows the river down onto the Barka plain. The trekking portion ends at Trangser Trangmar, where your vehicle will be waiting to drive you the rest of the way back to Darchen. The afternoon is free to rest after three demanding days on the trail.
Accommodation: Darchen
Darchen to Saga via Paryang — 528 km, 7–8 hrs
With the kora complete, today is dedicated to the long drive back toward Saga, retracing the same scenic route across the windswept plateau. It’s your last chance to take in views of both Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar before they fade into the distance behind you.
Accommodation: Saga
Saga to Gyirong Town — 170 km, 4–5 hrs
The journey continues back toward the Nepal border, arriving in Gyirong town by the afternoon. This is your last night in Tibet before crossing back into Nepal the following day.
Accommodation: Gyirong Town
Gyirong to Kathmandu — 183 km, 7–8 hrs
After your Tibetan guide helps you complete customs formalities at the border, a Nepalese driver will take over for the final leg to Kathmandu. The drive offers scenic views, including glimpses of roaring white-water rapids along the way. The tour officially ends on arrival in Kathmandu — sharing your hotel details in advance allows the driver to drop you off directly.
Dates & Prices
| Month | Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul | 2026-07 | $ 1435 | Book now |
| Aug | 2026-08 | $ 1435 | Book now |
| Sep | 2026-09 | $ 1435 | Book now |
| Oct | 2026-10 | $ 1435 | Book now |
You are consulting 2025-04-12 11-Day Mount Kailash Tour from Kathmandu: Sacred Kora & Lake Manasarovar
Fee Description
Tour Notes
Prices are quoted in CNY (Chinese Yuan).
What’s Included
- All required government taxes and fees
- Meal allowance for your guide and driver
- Necessary oxygen and medicine for acute high-altitude sickness
- 2 bottles of mineral water provided daily
- All required Tibet permits and domestic travel documents
- Airport and/or train station pick-up and drop-off
- Comfortable 7–8 seat minivan for groups of up to 5; larger groups will use a minibus or coach (no private vehicle on walking-tour days)
- Nepal border transfer service to your hotel in Kathmandu
- Admission tickets for all attractions included in the itinerary
- Professional licensed English-speaking local Tibetan guide (other languages, including Spanish, German, and Japanese, available on request)
- Standard 3-star hotels (upgrade available on request); where unavailable, local budget hotels or guesthouses (e.g., dormitory bed, no private bath) will be provided
What’s Excluded
- Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, internet access, fax, and telephone calls
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Optional activities during the trip, such as personal horse or yak riding
- Optional attractions not specified in the itinerary
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
