Nepal18 days
Tibet: Lhasa, Mount Kailash & the Guge Kingdom — 18 Days
Kathmandu to Lhasa overland via Lake Manasarovar, the three-day Kailash Kora at 5,613 m, and the ancient ruins of western Tibet's Guge Kingdom
This 18-day circuit moves from Kathmandu across the Tibetan Plateau to some of western Tibet's most historically and spiritually significant sites before returning via the cultural centers of Shigatse, Gyantse, and Lhasa. The route enters Tibet overland at the Friendship Bridge, climbs through Nyalam for acclimatization, and continues westward across high-altitude plains to Lake Manasarovar — a freshwater lake sitting at 4,558 m, ringed by the peaks of Mount Kailash and Gurla Mandhata. Three days are dedicated to the Kailash Kora (also called Parikrama), a circumambulation that crosses the Dolma La pass at 5,613 m, venerated in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Bön traditions alike. After completing the Kora, the route continues west to the Guge Kingdom — a medieval Tibetan polity centered on the cliffs above Tsaparang and the Tholing monastery complex, roughly 2,000 km west of Lhasa and close to the Sutlej River. Hot springs at Tirthapuri, ruins of palace and monastic structures, and cave temples mark this lesser-visited corridor. The return east passes through Saga and along the Brahmaputra valley to Shigatse, home to Tashilhunpo Monastery, then Gyantse with its Kumbum Stupa, and finally Lhasa, where Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Square, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, and Norbulingka Palace form a two-day program. The itinerary concludes with a scenic Himalayan flight from Lhasa's Gongar Airport back to Kathmandu.
Highlights
- Three-day Kailash Kora (Parikrama), crossing Dolma La pass at 5,613 m — the circuit's highest and most demanding point
- Lake Manasarovar at 4,558 m, a high-altitude freshwater lake sacred across four religious traditions
- Guge Kingdom ruins at Tsaparang and Tholing monastery complex, western Tibet's ancient Buddhist capital
- Tirthapuri hot springs and the monastery preserving footprints attributed to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava)
- Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, founded in 1447 by the First Dalai Lama
- Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse — a 35-meter chorten with distinctive white-and-stripe tiers
- Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier at 5,560 m on the Gyantse–Lhasa road
- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Square in Lhasa
- Sera Monastery — historically associated with the Dob-Dob warrior monk tradition — and Drepung Monastery, which housed up to 10,000 monks in the 17th century
- Norbulingka Palace, former summer residence of the Dalai Lamas
- Overland entry from Kathmandu via the Friendship Bridge and high passes, with a return by Himalayan scenic flight from Lhasa
Day by day
1Kathmandu to Nyalam (3,750 m) via the Friendship BridgeKathmandu · Nyalam · Friendship Bridge
Departing Kathmandu after an early breakfast, the route passes through Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel before reaching the Friendship Bridge at the Nepal–Tibet border. Travelers cross the bridge on foot — a walk of roughly 10 minutes — where Tibetan guides and drivers are met and immigration and customs formalities are completed. From the border, the road climbs steeply for approximately 35 km over around three hours of switchbacks to reach Nyalam at 3,700 m. The town serves as the first overnight stop, with accommodation in a guesthouse and a free afternoon to begin adjusting to the altitude.
2Acclimatization at Nyalam — Short Hike to 4,000 mNyalam · hills above Nyalam · Nyalam guesthouse
The day is kept free for altitude acclimatization. A short hike into the hills above Nyalam reaches approximately 4,000 m, giving the body time to adjust before the route pushes further onto the plateau. The town itself can also be explored on foot. Overnight in Nyalam guesthouse.
3Nyalam to New Dongba (4,600 m) — High Plateau DriveNyalam to New Dongba · yak-herder camps and small villages · New Dongba guesthouse
After breakfast, the drive west covers roughly 390 km in five to six hours. The road passes through yak-herder camps and small villages, and the terrain gradually flattens to open plains, making for a relatively comfortable transit day. Snow-capped peaks are visible to the south. Travelers who prefer better accommodation may opt to overnight at Saga instead of New Dongba. Overnight at guesthouse.
4New Dongba to Lake Manasarovar (4,558 m) — First Views of KailashNew Dongba to Lake Manasarovar · Lake Manasarovar · Hor
The 277-km drive to Manasarovar takes four to five hours. By late afternoon, the first views of Mount Kailash and the turquoise expanse of Lake Manasarovar appear. The lake sits at 4,558 m (14,950 ft) and is considered the highest freshwater lake of its kind, surrounded by Mount Kailash to the north, Gurla Mandhata, and Lake Rakshastal. The region is also noted for gold deposits, hot springs, and significant wildlife. A bus circuit of Lake Manasarovar is included. Accommodation is in a mud-house lodge at the village of Hor, on the lake's shore.
5Manasarovar Morning Exploration and Drive to Darchen (4,575 m)Darchen · Chui Gompa · Lake Manasarovar
The morning is spent at the lake, with time for a ceremonial bath and a further exploration of the shoreline — practices observed by Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims alike. The group then drives approximately 40 km (one hour) to Darchen (also called Tarchen), the base settlement for the Kailash Kora at 4,575 m. Depending on timing, a visit to Chui Gompa may be included. During major pilgrimage seasons, Darchen becomes densely populated with tents and traveler camps. Overnight at guesthouse.
6Darchen to Tarboche and Trek to Dirapuk (4,909 m) — Kailash Kora Day 1Tarboche · Dirapuk · Tarboche to Dirapuk
A short drive reaches Tarboche, the traditional starting point of the Kailash Kora, also referred to as the outer Ashtapath. The trek from Tarboche to Dirapuk covers 7 km and takes five to six hours, following a trail through rocky valley walls and past waterfalls beneath a generally clear sky. The south face of Kailash periodically comes into view along the route. Overnight at a mud-house lodge at Dirapuk, elevation 4,909 m.
7Dirapuk over Dolma La (5,613 m) to Zuthulpuk (4,760 m) — Kailash Kora Day 2Zuthulpuk · Dolma La pass · Dirapuk to Zuthulpuk
The most demanding day of the Kora, covering 18 km over nine to ten hours. The route climbs to Dolma La pass at 5,613 m (18,600 ft) — the highest point of the circuit and a major site for ritual offering in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The descent from the pass passes Parvati Stal and Gauri Kunda before arriving by late afternoon at Zuthulpuk at 4,760 m. Overnight at a mud-house lodge.
8Zuthulpuk to Manasarovar via Darchen — Kailash Kora Day 3Milarepa Cave · Lake Manasarovar · Zuthulpuk to Darchen
The final stage of the Kora begins with free time to visit the cave temples and shrines near Milarepa Cave. A three-hour walk across flat ground leads back to Darchen, where vehicles rejoin the group for the onward drive to Lake Manasarovar. Overnight at a guesthouse on the lake's shore.
9Manasarovar to Zanda (3,650 m) via Tirthapuri Hot SpringsZanda · Tirthapuri
The 340-km drive toward Zanda follows the Sutlej River corridor and takes five to six hours. En route, a stop at Tirthapuri — venerated in Hinduism as the site of the Bhasmasur legend and in Vajrayana Buddhism for its association with Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) — includes a hike to a monastery complex said to preserve the guru's footprints. The day ends at Zanda (Thada) town. Overnight at guesthouse.
10Guge Kingdom: Tholing Monastery and Tsaparang Valley RuinsTholing · Tsaparang valley · guesthouse in Zanda
The day covers Tholing and the Tsaparang valley, located approximately 20 km east of Zanda. Both sites formed the core of the Guge Kingdom, a Tibetan Buddhist state that flourished from the 10th century onward. Visits include monastery complexes and palace ruins of considerable historical importance to Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight at guesthouse in Zanda.
11Zanda to Lake Manasarovar — Return Drive EastZanda to Lake Manasarovar · Lake Manasarovar · guesthouse near the lake's bank
The route backtracks from the Guge Kingdom to Lake Manasarovar, with an evening at the guesthouse near the lake's bank. The approach at this hour offers views of both the lake and Mount Kailash. Overnight at guesthouse.
12Manasarovar to Saga — Final Views of KailashLake Manasarovar · guesthouse in Saga · Lake Manasarovar to Saga
A final morning at Lake Manasarovar provides a last opportunity to take in the view of Kailash before the drive east to Saga along the same road used on the outward journey. Overnight at guesthouse in Saga.
13Saga to Shigatse (3,900 m) via the Brahmaputra ValleySaga to Shigatse · Shigatse
The longest driving day of the return route, covering 447 km in six to seven hours via Lhatse. The road tracks alongside the Brahmaputra River through open valleys, agricultural fields, and lake margins. Shigatse is Tibet's second-largest city. Overnight at hotel.
14Shigatse: Tashilhunpo Monastery, then Drive to Gyantse (4,025 m)Tashilhunpo Monastery · Palcho Monastery · Kumbum Stupa · Shigatse to Gyantse
The morning begins at Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the First Dalai Lama, which remains one of the largest functioning monastic institutions in Tibet. The 94-km drive to Gyantse takes approximately four hours. In Gyantse, the visit centers on Palcho Monastery and the adjacent Kumbum Stupa — a 35-meter chorten whose white tiers are trimmed with painted decorative bands. Overnight at hotel.
15Gyantse to Lhasa (3,650 m) via Yamdrok Lake and Karola GlacierLhasa · Yamdrok Lake · Karola Glacier
The 264-km drive to Lhasa takes six to seven hours and passes two landmark sites: Yamdrok Lake, one of the four sacred lakes of Tibet, known for its deep blue color; and Karola Glacier at 5,560 m, visible directly from the road. The day ends with arrival in Lhasa and transfer to hotel.
16Lhasa: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple & Barkhor SquarePotala Palace · Jokhang Temple · Barkhor Square
Sightseeing begins at Potala Palace, the whitewashed, 13-story fortress-palace built primarily in the 17th century that served as both the spiritual and administrative center of Tibetan governance. The interior encompasses assembly halls, chapels, tombs of past Dalai Lamas, and ceremonial rooms. The afternoon moves to Jokhang Temple in the old quarter of Lhasa — built in the 7th century and considered the most sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism, marked by a constant circuit of circumambulating pilgrims, rows of butter lamps, and dense incense smoke. Barkhor Square, surrounding the temple and serving as the main devotional circumambulation route, is visited before returning to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
17Lhasa: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery & Norbulingka PalaceDrepung Monastery · Sera Monastery · Norbulingka
The morning visit is to Drepung Monastery, one of the largest in Tibet, which held four colleges and reportedly 10,000 monks at its peak in the 17th century. The complex of white buildings is set on the slopes below Mount Gambo Utse and offers a broad view over Lhasa. Sera Monastery follows — historically notable for its Dob-Dob warrior-monk tradition and still active as a place of study and debate. The final stop is Norbulingka, the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, a compound encompassing several palaces, chapels, and garden pavilions. Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
18Lhasa: Departure from Gongar Airport to Kathmandu or Mainland ChinaGongar Airport · mainland China
Transfer to Gongar Airport for onward flights to Kathmandu or mainland China. Travelers also have the option to depart Tibet by train to mainland China.
Where you go
- 1Kathmandu
Included
- Private transportation for the entire tour
- Tibet travel permit and group visa
- Accommodation in Tibet and Kailash on twin-sharing and group-sharing hotels and guest houses
- Breakfast in Tibet (Shigatse, Gyantse, Lhasa, and EBC part)
- An English-speaking Tibetan guide
- Entrance fees for Manasarovar and the Guge Kingdom
- Sightseeing in major monuments and their entrance fees
- Yaks or helpers to carry goods during the Kailash parikrama
- Emergency evacuation arrangement
- Service charge and government taxes
Not included
- Lunch and Dinner in Tibet part (Shigatse, Gyantse, Lhasa, and EBC part)
- All the foods (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) in the Kailash part
- Personal horse and helper during Kailash parikrama
- Personal equipment, Insurance, Medical expenses
- Cost of emergency evacuation