LHASA : MOUNT KAILASH AND THE GUGE KINGDOM
LHASA: MOUNT KAILASH AND THE GUGE KINGDOM
This is a great adventure, a spiritual journey through the vast, arid Tibetan plateau visiting all the shrines and palaces, high mountain lakes, crossing passes, stopping at hot springs, and visiting ruins in the Guge Kingdom. A challenging time is faced on the way to Mount Kailash, the holy pilgrimage site for three religions. A drive to Holy Lake Manasarovar and then down to Nepal, with a night halt at historic Nuwakot. A fascinating journey!
This is a unique adventure, a physically challenging spiritual journey from the verdant hillsides of Nepal to the arid desert landscape of Tibet. Traveling in the high altitude of the Tibetan plateau, there are many challenges to face before reaching Mount Kailash, the holy pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists, and followers of the Bon religion. Along the way, we visit temples and monasteries that have shaped the lives of countless devout people of Tibet. Arriving in Kathmandu, we already feel the strong vibes of religious fervor shared by Hindus and Buddhists living side by side in perfect harmony.A spectacular flight with views of the Himalayas from Mount Everest all the way to Kangchenjunga takes us to Lhasa in Tibet. For two days, we lose ourselves in the ancient world of monasteries and bazaars: the Potala Palace, Jokhang, the Barkhor Market, and the great monastic universities of Drepung and Sera are some of the attractions. Then, traveling large distances, we go across the high Tibetan Plateau to the Guge Kingdom. We cross the Dolma La Pass, (more than 5,700m high) and reach the sacred Mount Kailash.
- The tour of Kailash and the holy Lake Manasarovar.
- The Guge Kingdom: the Tholing Monastery and the Tsaparang Ruins.
- The heart of Tibet: Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse.
- The wilderness and the vast range of landscapes: turquoise lakes, the mythical Himalayan peaks, and the steep descent to Nepal.
Gallery
Itinerary
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- Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya on BB basis
- Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya on BB basis
Days reserved for visa formalities.
- Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya on BB basis
Days reserved for visa formalities.
- Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya on BB basis
We catch the morning flight to Lhasa. We circle and admire the Everest range from the north side during the flight. Then from the airport, we drive for 1½ hours to reach Lhasa city (3,650 m). Check-in and acclimatization walk through the old town.
- Accommodation: Hotel Kyichu on a BB basis.
We start our tour with visits to the most popular cultural sites of the ancient Tibetan capital. We first head for the Potala Palace, the residence of the Dalai Lama before he left Tibet in1959. Next, we visit the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred temple in central Tibet, and a renowned pilgrimage site. From there we go on to the Barkhor Market and finally visit the Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace, the Norbulinka built within a 36-hectare garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Accommodation: Same hotel as the previous day.
Today we visit the other well-known cultural monuments of Lhasa, the monastic complex of Drepung, the largest of Tibetan monasteries, and a Gelug university monastery. We then move on to the Sera Monastery, which is 2 km north of Lhasa. It is also a Gelug university monastery.
- Accommodation: Kyichu on a BB basis.
We carry on to Gyantse in the Nyang Chu valley along the old trade route to Sikkim. We visit the monastery and the famous Kumbum stupa. We finally head towards Shigatse, 280 km southwest of Lhasa.
- Accommodation: Hotel Manasarovar on a BB basis.
We drive along the South Tibetan highway and reach the high Tibetan Plateau at more than 4000 m, between the Himalayas and the Brahmaputra River (Tsangpo). We encounter many nomad camps, herds of kiangs, gazelles and antelopes, sometimes even packs of jackals, or lone wolves.
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House.
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
Its territory included the valleys of Zanskar, Upper Kinnaur, Lahul and Spiti, currently in Himachal Pradesh, India. Its two capitals used to be Tholing and Tsaparang. It was founded by a grandson of King Langdarma (803-841), the last ruler of the Yarlung dynasty. The Bengali sage Atisha, the architect of this Renaissance, was invited to the Guge Kingdom in the 12th century.
- Accommodation: Himalaya Hotel
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
We get on the Kora (tour) pilgrimage route of Mount Kailash. It takes three days of walking to perform the ritual circumambulation and to enjoy the extraordinary ambiance of this religious site which is important to Buddhists, Hindus, and Bönpo followers.
Some pilgrims do the tour in one day, while others who prostrate themselves all the way, take much longer. Some even settle down at the foot of the sacred mountain to meditate.
We set up camp near the Diraphuk Monastery (4,910m).
- Duration of hike: 5 hr
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
We head for the highest spot on our trip, the Dolma La Pass at 5,700 m.
Once we are through the pass, we descend through rough terrain to bivouac near the Milarepa Cave.
- Duration of hike: 8 hrs
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
We spend the early hours of the morning on the shores of the lake where, sometimes, Indian sadhus do their ablutions. We head back to Baryand on the East.
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
- Accommodation: Basic Guest House
- Accommodation: Famous Farm on half board.
From Nuwakot we drive for 5 hours to reach Kathmandu. Free day in the city.
- Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya on BB basis.
End of our services.
NOTES
01. Contact us for accommodation classification with a supplement to Darchen and Saga.02. It is not possible to have a single room and there will be only guest house with toilet non attach with room and also
without bathroom provision during nights in the guest house at Kailash
What's included
- 5 nights at the Holy Himalaya hotel on BB in Kathmandu
- 1 night at Famous Farmhouse on half board in Nuwakot
- Permit Langtang
- Accompaniment by an English speaking guide during border transfer
- stay on BB in Tibet
- Accommodation according to the itinerary in hotel and guest house
- An English-speaking Tibetan guide for the whole of stay in Tibet
- Permit required from Tibet
- Site visits and entries according to the itinerary
- Oxygen bottles available
- Permission livraison during your transit in China
What's not included
- International flight and train
- Visa for Nepal
- Chinese Visa
- Compulsory repatriation insurance
- Expenditures and personal equipment, tips, drinks, etc.
