16 Days Kailash Everest Group Tour of Tibet for Spain Travelers

Upon arrival in Lhasa, our local Tibetan driver and Tibetan guide will bring you to your hotel. Acclimatization to high altitude: please, drink more water than usual and take plenty of rest, hope you will get acclimatized to the high altitude gradually.

Overnight at Tashi Norta Hotel or Shambhala Palace or House of Shambhala Hotel or similar one if late booking (all these are Tibetan style hotel with good location in downtown)

We begin visiting Jokhang Temple, the most sacred monastery in Tibet. It was founded in the 7th century by the first great Buddhist king Songtsen Gampo. Later you can explore the surrounding Barkhor old quarter and spend time walking around Jokhang Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau. In the afternoon, we go to visit Sera Monastery, one of three great universities of Gelugpa Sect. We will attend the debating session of the monks.

Overnight at Tashi Norta Hotel or Shambhala Palace or House of Shambhala Hotel or similar one if late booking

Today we visit the beautiful Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace. Potala winter palace was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. Provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama. It’s tradition to do picnic in its beautiful garden and perform opera dances during Shoton Festival (August-September).

Overnight at Tashi Norta Hotel or Shambhala Palace or House of Shambhala Hotel or similar one if late booking

Adventure starts: we drive West to reach the second largest city in Tibet. First, we cross Kampala Pass [4797m] and then Karo-la Pass [5050m], where Mt. Noijin Kangsang [7206m] glacier lies near the road. In the middle, we enjoy the unreal turquoise waters of holy lake Yamdrok-Tso. Then we stop in Gyantse town, where we visit the best Tibetan art paintings in Kumbum Stupa inside Pelkhor Chode Monastery. Also, we admire the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) overlooking the valley. Finally, we reach Shigatse before dinner.

Overnight at Tashi Choeta Hotel or Gesar Hotel or Shigatse Manasarovar Hotel or similar one if late booking (it depends on the final group booking situation, we will choose a suitable one according to our final booking status)

The journey to New Tingri involves crossing the high pass of Gyatso La [5220 m] and the opportunity to view Mt. Everest and the Himalayas for the first time. Before, we visit Sakya Monastery which is the principal seat of Sakyapa Sect founded in 1073 and one of four major Schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Its powerful abbots governed Tibet during the whole of the 13th century until they were eclipsed by the rise of the Gelukpa Sect. Its Mongolian architecture is different from that of temples in we seen before.

Overnight at Tingri Everest Hotel or Snowland Hotel

Exciting day today: we reach one of the major highlights of our trip, Mt. Everest North Base Camp [5200m] (trekking or take bus). From New Tingri we continue driving towards Rongbuk Monastery, located at the foot of the Everest and the highest monastery in the world. We enjoy amazing views of several peaks like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Mount Everest from the top of the Pang-la pass [5150m]. Overnight at tourist camp site located a few km after Rongbuk Monastery and from where we have direct views of Mt. Everest.

Overnight at guesthouse tent (dorm bed without bathroom). Sleeping bag is recommended.

After spending some time at the base of Mt. Everest we drive North West crossing high passes with enchanting views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks like Shishapangma and wild Peikutso lake.

Overnight at The Grand Hotel of Western Post or similar

Today early morning we enter in the semi-nomadic regions of Tibet’s far west. We will enjoy the authentic Tibetan landscapes during this long drive journey through the biggest and highest plateau in the world. We follow Yarlung Tsampo river West (also called Brahmaputra in India) until the lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yumtso in Tibetan language), one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet. Hindus believe that whoever bathes in it will clean all their sins and provide good karma.

Overnight at guesthouse (dorm bed without bathroom). Sleeping bag is recommended.

In the morning, we enjoy sunrise at the beautiful holy waters of Lake Manasarovar. After visiting Chiu monastery, we drive to the little city of Darchen, at the foot Mount Kailash, where we will get ready for the trek.

Overnight at Himalaya Kailash Hotel or similar one if late booking

We begin the Pilgrimage Kora of Mount Kailash, most sacred mountain in Asia. Tibetans and Hindu people from all over the World come here for religious reasons. First, we go to an important pilgrimage area called Tarpoche where Saga Dawa Festival takes place every 15th day of the 4th month in the Tibetan calendar to celebrate the day Lord Buddha Sakyamuni was born, achieved enlightenment and passed away. Saga Dawa is the most important festival in Tibet and for this reason we all Tibetans are willing to visit Mt. Kailash and complete its kora during this time. Today, full moon, a giant pole is raised with thousands of prayer flags (lungta) that are hung by crowds of pilgrims. Monks from the near Monastery perform a special ritual during the celebration. Once the pole is raised, around midday, we start trekking around the mountain.

Travel Tips (Saga Dawa Festival & Mt. Kailash Kora [52 Km, max. altitude 5630 m])

Trek to Dira-Puk Monastery [20 Km, 5-6 hours, 5050 m]

Trek to Zuthul Puk Monastery, [18 km, 6-8 hours, 4820 m]

Trek to Darchen [14 km, 3-4 hours, 4670 m]

Overnight at guesthouse dormitory basis without bathroom during trekking (2 nights). Sleeping bag is recommended.

In Darchen, overnight at Himalaya Kailash Hotel or similar one if late booking

Overnight at Gesar Hotel or Tashi Choeta Hotel or Shigatse Manasarovar Hotel in Shigatse.

We visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama. Nowadays seat of the Panchen Lama. We recommend to do Kora around Tashilhunpo Monastery. Also, you can walk around local market. After we finish visits go back to Lhasa.

Overnight at Tashi Norta Hotel or Shambhala Palace or House of Shambhala Hotel or similar one if late booking

Enjoy your last hours in Tibet exploring Lhasa by your own until your guide and driver meet you at the hotel to transfer you to the airport.