The Most Sacred Mountain: On… (trip)

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The Most Sacred Mountain: On the Pilgrimage Trail of Mt. Kailash

  • Lhasa Airport, China
  • Culture & Nature
China, Tibet, Asia

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Period offered: Year-round. The provider (view their profile) can provide you with specific departure dates, final prices, and other information.


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from $5,520* per person16 DaysYear-round
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: WildChina 12 people max
Situated in a far western corner of one of the most remote plateaus in Asia, Mt. Kailash (with a peak at 6,638 meters / 21,778 feet) has long been a sacred pilgrimage destination for no fewer than four major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön. Every year, thousands of pilgrims make the holy trek to and around the base of Mt. Kailash.

After exploring the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and Tibet’s second largest city, Shigatse, we embark on our own journey to Mt. Kailash, crossing the rugged Tibetan plateau in four-wheel-drive vehicles. We stop by isolated monasteries and take the time to savor the endless horizon and staggering snow-capped peaks. Arriving at Darchen, the starting point of the pilgrimage trail, we set off on a three-day hike on the pilgrimage path, or kora, around Mt. Kailash. In the company of pious pilgrims, we camp out each night under the stars.

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Locations visited/nearby

China, Tibet, Asia

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Lhasa:
Arrive in Lhasa; Barkhor Street and acclimatize; overnight in Lhasa.

Tibetan-style Boutique Hotel (D)

Day 2 - Lhasa:
Visit Potala Palace; explore Drepung Monastery; visit Jokhang Temple; visit artisan workshops
at Dropenling Handicraft Development Center (local NGO); overnight in Lhasa.

Tibetan-style Boutique Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 3 - Lhasa:
Drive to and explore Pabongka Monastery; hike downhill to Chupsang Nunnery; walk to Sera Monastery, where we have a picnic lunch; depending on availability, make your own prayer flag at Sera’s printing center and witness monks debate age-old scripts in the courtyard; overnight in Lhasa.

Tibetan-style Boutique Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Yamdrok Tso Lake - Shigatse:
5-6 hour drive to Shigatse via Yamdrok Tso Lake and Gyantse; visit Shigatse local market; walk pilgrimage route around Tashi Lhunpo Monastery; overnight in Shigatse.

Local Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Tashi Lhunpo Monastery – Saga (4,580 meters / 15,026 feet):
Return to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery for morning prayers; drive about 6 hours to Saga; camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Saga – Paryang (4,500 meters / 14,764 feet):
Drive 4 hours to Paryang, views of 4 rivers; camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 7 – Paryang – Mayum La Pass (5,280 meters / 17,322 feet) – Foot of Mt. Kailash (Darchen, 4,560 meters / 14,961 feet):
Drive 5 hours through Mayum La Pass; arrive at foot of Mt. Kailash in Darchen; camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 8 – Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage Trail (5,400 meters / 17,717 feet):
Start of pilgrimage trail; hike from Darchen to Drirapuk (22.5 kilometers / 14 miles, about 6 hours of trekking); camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 9 – Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage Trail (5,723 meters / 18,776 feet):
Hike to Zutrulpuk via Dolmala Pass (22.9 kilometers / 14.23 miles, about 6.5 hours of trekking); camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 10 – Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage Trail:
Hike to Darchen (11.3 kilometers / 7 miles, about 5 hours of easy walking); camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 11 – Mt. Kailash - Lake Manasarovar:
Hike back to Darchen; drive to Lake Manasarovar, visit Chiu Monastery and hike near lake; camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 12 – Lake Manasarovar – Zhada (3,728 meters / 12,231 feet):
Drive about 6 hours to Zhada; overnight in Zhada.

Local Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 13 – Zhada - Tsaparang:
Drive to Tsaparang, en route visit ruins of Guge Kingdom, sand-rock formations; overnight in Tsaparang.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 14 – Lake Manasarovar:
Drive back to Lake Manasrovar; camp.

Camping (B, L, D)

Day 15 – Lake Mansarovar - Shigatse:
Drive to Shigatse; overnight in Shigatse.

Local Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 16 – Depart Lhasa:
Transfer to Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport; journey ends.

N/A (B)

B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner

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