Leisurely Kailash Tour Without Trekking

Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport / Railway Station to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, it usually takes about 1 hour; from Lhasa Railway Station, about 20 minutes. After you get to the hotel, for the rest of the day you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not take a shower if you can help it.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

In the morning, we will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama. There are a lot of towering trees, exotic flowers and plants in the garden, as well as many collections of cultural relics, Buddha statues, pagodas, thangkas, murals, etc. They are all very precious treasures.

In the afternoon, you are heading to Drepung Monastery, which means Monastery of Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. Drepung monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery, also the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

On your third day, you will be feeling much more acclimatized to Lhasa’s high elevation. It is an excellent idea to spend the day exploring the Potala Palace, which is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. The superb collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet. It is best to explore the inside of the Potala in the morning for 2-3 hours. Afterward, you can walk the pilgrimage route around the Potala Palace.

In the afternoon, you will head to the Jokhang Temple, which is well known as the center of Tibetan Buddhism, and features Buddhist prayer wheels, reclining deer, and golden sutra streamers. Also, you can see a great many pilgrims praying in front of the temple and doing kora with local pilgrims.

After visiting the Jokhang Temple, you can stroll in the old alleys of Barkhor Street, where you may drink sweet tea, chat with locals to experience real life in Lhasa.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

You will go to Shigatse from Lhasa via Gyantse today. Firstly, you can have a glimpse of Yamdroktso Lake at Gampala Pass (4,790m), from there you will be amazed by the breathtaking view of the holy Yamdrok Lake with its turquoise color and snow-capped mount Nyenchen Khangsar in the distance.

Then you will see the Korala Glacier when we pass it on the roadside. After that, we will arrive in Gyantse. Here we'll visit Palkhor Chode monastery. This magnificent multi-door structure is the largest stupa in Tibet, not only well known for its architecture but also for its old sculptures and paintings all around its inner walls.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In the morning, you will leave Shigatse to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri. You will pass through the first high mountain pass - Tsola Pass (4,600m), then the second one-Gyatsola Pass (5,248m), the mountain pass of Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve, with countless prayer flags flying in the wind. Afterward, you will keep ascending to Gawula Pass (5,198m), where you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you will drive along the zigzag road to the Everest Base Camp (5,200m) to stay overnight. You can see the glorious Everest sunset if the weather is good.

Stay overnight in Nomad Tent (Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse

You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak if the weather is good. After that, you will go to the Rongbuk Monastery, which is the highest monastery in the world. Then drive to Saga, on the way, you can view the worlds’ 14th-highest peak Mt.Shishapangma (8,012m). Later, you will have a far view of the huge sapphire-like Lake Peikutso (4,590m) beneath the Shishpangma peaks, and finally arrive in Saga (4,600m). If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals like the wild donkey, wild antelope, etc.

Stay overnight in Saga, Guesthouse

You can appreciate the stunning view of Gangdise Mountain Range and Himayala Mountain Range on the way to Darchen, pass by a desert area filled with sand dunes, and enjoy vast grassland and Tibetan villages along the way. While crossing the Mayomla Pass (5,112m), you can admire the stunning Mt.Naimonany (7,694m). Then you’ll pass by the holy Lake Manasarovar and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt.Kailash, the holiest mountain in Tibet.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

You will take an eco-bus ride (about 6km for 15min) from Darchen to Prayer Flag Square (Serlung Chu Valley), the trailhead of Mt. Kailash Kora. Start your hiking at the terminal of the bus, walk through the Two-legged Stupa adorned by colorful prayer flags, and keep hiking to Qugu Temple about 2.6km away. You can see prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and enjoy the grand Serlung Valley with the spear-shaped summit of Mt. Kailash in the background. After enjoying sweet tea at tents around Qugu Temple, you can circumambulate Guqu Temple before heading back to Darchen.

If you don't want to hike at all, we can drive to Lake Manasarover today and cut one day from the itinerary.

Stay overnight in Darchen.

In the morning, we will drive to the holy Lake Manasarovar (4,558m). As one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, it is said that Manasarovar Lake is the holiest one. The sacred water can wash away the troubles and obstacles in the soul. You may take a leisurely kora around the Manasarovar, meditate beside the tranquil lake, or even take a holy dip, etc.

In the afternoon, we will visit the 8th-century Chiu Monastery. Although it is located in the west of the lake, it's between the holy lake and the ghost lake. Standing on the mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the two lakes. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava once meditated in a cave of the temple and there are also his footprints inside. When the sun sets in the afternoon, the setting sun is reflected in the temple, which has a special flavor. Alternatively, you can visit a hot spring (approximately 10 min walk). The hot spring provides bathtubs and clean facilities.

Stay overnight in Darchen

In the morning, we will leave Darchen and start driving back to Saga. On the way, we'll make a stop at Langtso Lake. Then, drive approximately 4 hours to Payang. From there you can enjoy the view of the mountains in the distance, as well as yaks and herds. Sometimes, we can spot wild donkeys or antelopes grazing in the grasslands.

After lunch, we continue to Saga. We are driving through vast grasslands, where many nomads set up their tents.

Stay overnight in Saga

We will be driving back from Saga to Shigatse via Lhatse. Along the way, the road curves and stretches, and the mountains are endless. Every time you pass a mountain pass, the altitude drops a little bit, and you'll see villages and farmland at Lhatse.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

In Shigatse, we will visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery - the home of Panchen Lama. It was founded by the 1st Dalai Lama in 1447 and is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse. It's located on the central hill of the city, the full name in Tibetan of the monastery means "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory".

In the afternoon, we will drive back to Lhasa from Shigatse along the Friendship Highway, via the northern route to Lhasa. It is the most direct route and usually takes around five hours to reach the capital. We will make several stops on the way to enjoy the views of the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley.

Stay overnight in Lhasa