Day 01: Arrival in Lhasa (3,650m/11,972ft)
A Himalayan Glacier representative will pick us up from the Lhasa airport and drop us off at our hotel. Alternately, we can also come to Lhasa via the train route connecting mainland China to Tibet. Next, we check into our hotel and unpack. We spend the rest of the day resting at our hotel room as this will give us the much need rest and help us acclimatize to the high altitude of Lhasa, Tibet. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 02: Lhasa sightseeing: Potala Palace, Norbulingka Palace and Tibet Traditional Hospital: 5 - 6 hours
We begin sightseeing in Lhasa after breakfast. Today we visit the beautiful Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala Palace is a relic of the 17th century and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels. It also offers us excellent views of the entire city. Norbulingka Palace is a summer palace and boasts what is considered to be the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Next, we visit the Tibet Traditional Hospital which is the center for the treatment, training, research and production of Tibetan medicine. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 03: Lhasa Sightseeing: Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar: 5 - 6 hours
After breakfast we visit Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Bazaar. Drepung Monastery, which was built in the 14th century, is believed to have sheltered around 10,000 monks in the past but as of now there has been quite a declination resulting in only a few hundred. The history, culture, and religious beliefs of the Tibetan people are strongly concentrated and centered in this marvelous monastery. Sera Monastery is a preserved monastery of white-washed walls and golden roofs. Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site which unravels more deep-seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. We further stroll through Barkhor Bazaar (market). With its open air stalls, shops and crowd of pilgrims, it is the nerve centre of Lhasa. Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 04: Lhasa to Shigatse (3,900m/12,795 ft) via Gyantse: 8 - 9 hours
After breakfast, we embark on a pleasant drive to Shigatse, the second biggest city in Tibet via Gyantse. We drive past Khamba La (4,794m) pass and savor the enthralling views of Yomdrok-Tso (Turquoise Lake), one of the Holy Lakes in Tibet and Mt. Nazin Kang Sa (7,252m). Further to the west, we come across another pass, Karo La (5,045m) and take in amazing views of the majestic glaciers. Upon reaching Gyantse, we visit the Khumbum Stupa, Phalkot Monastery and Gyantse Dzong (fortress), which is one of the best preserved dzongs in Tibet. From Gyantse, we continue to Shigatse enjoying a captivating mountain landscape along the way. Overnight in Shigatse.
Day 05: Shigatse to Rongbuk (5,000m/16,400ft) via Sakya: 8 - 9 hours
After breakfast, we leave Shigatse for Rongbuk. On the way, we visit the Sakya Monastery which is the ancestral temple of the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. After the visit to Sakya Monastery, we continue driving towards Rongbuk. Here, we visit the Rongbuk monastery, which is located at the foot of the mighty Everest and is the highest monastery in the world. While here, we also enjoy the stunning mountainous scenery all around us. Overnight in Rongbuk.
Day 06: Acclimatization and exploration at Everest Base Camp
Being so close to the world’s highest mountain is exhilarating. We spend the whole day exploring the base camp area and taking pictures. Spending one full day at Everest Base Camp will also help greatly in acclimatization. We can climb and explore beautiful hills nearby and enjoy the company of high Himalayan peaks. Overnight at Everest Base Camp.
Day 07: Everest Base Camp to Saga: 7-8 hours
We leave the Everest base camp for Saga after breakfast. We drive to Saga via Paigu-Tso Lake and cross over the Yarlung La pass. We reach Saga, a small Tibetan town around evening. Overnight in Saga.
Day 08: Saga to Mansarovar (4,557m/14,954ft): 6 – 7 hours
Today we see Mt. Kailash for the first time. We continue towards Lake Mansarover which holds religious significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. As per Hindu theology, Lake Mansarovar is a personification of purity, and one who drinks water from the lake is believed to go to the abode of Lord Shiva after death. Buddhists also associate the lake with the legendary lake known as Anavatapta in Sanskrit where Queen Maya is believed to have conceived Buddha. Overnight in Mansarovar.
Day 09: Mansarover to Darchen (4,600m/15091ft): 50 km, 1hour
We take a Kora around the Manasarovar Lake which is a sacred circuit following the edge of the Lake Manasarovar which displays brilliant colors at the height of 4560m. After completing the kora, we head for Darchen which is located at the foot of the sacred Mt. Kailash. Overnight in Darchen.
Day 10: First day of Kora: hiking to Dira Puk Monastery (5120m/16,792ft), 5 - 6 hours
Today, we begin our kora of Mt. Kailash. The first day out of Darchen involves a six-hour hike in a deep valley through walls of red rock. We continue across the plain to Shershong. We further cross a bridge leading to Chhuku Gompa high on the hill visible from the valley. The trail leads to Dirapuk from where we will have a stunning view of the north face of Mt. Kailash. Overnight in Dirapuk.
Day 11: Second day of Kora: hike to Dzutul-puk (4790m/15,765ft): 18km, 6 - 7 hours
Today will be the most difficult section of our journey. We climb Drolma-la Pass at 5,750m/19,910ft. The pass whose name literally means the pass of Tara is beautiful and is filled with five-colored praying flags. From Drolma-la Pass, we descend to Dzutul-puk. At Dzutul-puk, we come across the incredible Thugje Zinbu (Lake of Compassion) and a few ancient meditative caves. Overnight in Dzutul-puk.
Day 12: Kora ends, back to Saga: 495 km, 7-8 hours
We cover around 10km distance and end our kora around Mt. Kailash today. After the completion of kora, we drive to Darchen and pick participants who did not complete the kora. From Darchen we drive to Saga to spend the night. Overnight in Saga.
Day 13: Saga to Shigatse: 8-9 hours
From Saga we travel to Shigatse via Latse. Our trail will be along the Tsangpo River in a region crisscrossed by the upper Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Upon reaching Shigatse we freshen up and later visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery which was founded by Pachen Lama in 1447. Overnight in Shigatse.
Day 14: Shigatse to Lhasa: 4-5 hours
After breakfast, we drive towards Lhasa. On the way, we visit Shalu Monastery. Founded in 1040, Shalu Monastery is known for its beautiful and ancient mural paintings. After the tour we continue to Lhasa. On the way, we come across the Karo La Pass (5,045m). Before reaching Lhasa, we also cross the Khamba La Pass (4,794m) with a brief halt to savor the beauty of the Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise Lake), one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet and the beautiful Nazin Kang Sang glacier (7,252m). Overnight in Lhasa.
Day 15: Final departure
Our journey on Tibet also known as the “Roof of the World” ends today. A representative from Himalayan Glacier will take us to the airport or the train station for our next journey.