Early in the morning, after having breakfast, we depart from Kathmandu and head towards the Nepal-Tibet border at Rasuwagadhi. We travel in a 4×4 vehicle, navigating roads that soon transform into rugged, bumpy tracks. The drive lasts for eight to nine hours and takes us through picturesque landscapes before crossing the border into Kerung. Covering a distance of 175 kilometers, we’ll arrive in Kerung for an overnight stay.

Today, the journey continues as you drive towards Saga. You will cross the Gungthang La Pass at an altitude of 5,280 meters. This five-hour drive offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks, wide-open plains, and a sense of the vast, majestic Tibetan plateau. You pass through Sinling, Khunmen Tso, and Peiku Tso Lake. The ride takes around 5 hours to reach Saga.

Today, get ready for a drive across the expansive Tibetan plateau. You will arrive at Darchen, a small village near the base of Mount Kailash. It is an important gateway to the mountain. In Darchen, tourists can choose from various accommodation options, catering services, and transportation. The views from the base camp are highly admired by visitors. Our journey covered a distance of 510 kilometers in approximately seven to eight hours.

Leaving Darchen, we’ll make a stop at the Tirthapuri hot springs. This natural wonder is perfect for relaxation. Tirthapuri is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in western Tibet. Pilgrims come here to bath in pools fed by hot springs after completing the Mt. Kailash kora. They also visit the Tirthapuri Monastery, which contains Guru Rinpoche’s footprint. After this stop, continue your drive to Tsaparang. You’ll spend the night in a family guest house, enjoying the local culture and hospitality.

We spend the day exploring the remains of the ancient Kingdom of Guge. We visit the troglodyte dwellings and the historic Tholing Monastery. This monastery has complex rectangular buildings built of mud bricks and contains portrait paintings of many Buddhist monks dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The night will again be spent in a family guest house.

After we visit the monastery, we will return to Darchen to rest and prepare for the next phase of the journey.

Today, we begin the first stage of the kora, a sacred pilgrimage around Mount Kailash. We hiked for six hours to reach Dhira Phuk, located near the Dhira Monastery at an altitude of 4,800 meters. Along the way, we pass through sites like Tarboche and Lha Cha Valley. On the way, pilgrims take a moment at Charan Sparsh to demonstrate humility and reverence by touching their foreheads to the ground. Upon arrival to Dhira Phuk, we will stay in guest houses with dormitories that can accommodate four to six people.

In the early morning, we packed our gear to leave Lha Cha Valley and enter the Dorma Chu Valley. Today’s trek involved climbing a pass that offered spectacular views of Lake Tuje Dzingbu. Travelers followed the path to Gauri Kund, a sacred location where followers bathe in the cold waters for purification. After five hours of trekking, we arrived at guesthouses in Zuthulpuk. We stayed in a dormitory that accommodated 4 to 6 people. The trek took us a total of 5 hours to complete.

Today’s trek involves crossing several streams and following a trail through impressive gorges, with beautiful views of Mount Kailash. After three hours of trekking, you’ll transfer to Lake Manasarovar. It is a high-altitude freshwater lake fed by the Kailash Glaciers. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is believed that bathing in Manasarovar’s waters cleanses desires, troubled thoughts, and sins.

Drinking the water promotes health while circling the lake brings blessings. Therefore, pilgrims see this as their greatest fortune. Many pilgrims visit the sacred Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar year-round. After worshipping, you’ll stay in guesthouses with dormitories, enjoying the serene beauty of the lake. The trek will take 3 more hours.

We will take a short hike along the shores of Lake Manasarovar, soaking in the peaceful ambiance. After that, we take a long drive to Paryang, covering 300 kilometers in about eleven hours. Depending on the conditions, we will either camp or stay in a guest house, resting for the journey ahead.

The next two days will involve our journey back to Nepal. On Day 11, we will drive from Paryang to Saga, covering 255 kilometers, and the journey takes approximately 10 hours.

Another day we drive to Saga to Kerung, the border town between Tibet and Nepal. The landscape continues to impress, with snow-capped peaks and rugged valleys. Upon reaching Kerung, we’ll complete the border crossing formalities and bid farewell to Tibet.

After we cross the border, we will change vehicles and descend through the terraced hills of Nepal. The road, although sometimes in poor condition, offers a dramatic end to your journey. After a long drive, we arrived in Kathmandu, marking the end of your memorable Mount Kailash and Mansarovar tour. You can join the next program as you wish with GST.