13 Days Lhasa Kailash Tour

You will begin the Lhasa Kailash tour from Kathmandu with a scenic flight from kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport to Lhasa. During the flight, you pass directly over the main Himalayan range, and on a clear day, you can see famous peaks like Everest, Makalu, and Cho Oyu from the window. It is one of the most beautiful ways to enter the Tibetan plateau.

After landing at Gonggar Airport in Tibet, our Tibetan team will welcome you and drive you to Lhasa city. The road follows the valley of the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Tsangpo), with wide open landscapes and views very different from Nepal. Since you reach a high altitude on the first day, we keep the program light and relaxed. After checking into the hotel, you can take a short and easy walk near the hotel just to feel the atmosphere of Lhasa, but we will avoid any hard activity.

Today is your first full day in Lhasa, and it is also an important day for acclimatization in 13 days Kailash Lhasa Tibet tour itinerary. We keep the program interesting but not too tiring, so your body can slowly adjust to the high altitude. In the morning, you will visit Potala Palace, the famous winter residence of the Dalai Lama. The walk up the steps is done slowly, giving you time to breathe comfortably, look around, and get used to the altitude while exploring the chapels, old murals, and the wide view over Lhasa city.

Later, in the afternoon, you will visit Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Lhasa, located in the old town. You will walk through the traditional streets and join local Tibetans on the Barkhor Kora. Here you can see pilgrims spinning prayer wheels, chanting, and doing full-body prostrations as they circle the temple.

After breakfast, you will leave Lhasa and begin your overland journey toward western Tibet. The drive to Shigatse follows wide river valleys and slowly rising land, giving you your first real feeling of the open spaces of the Tibetan plateau. Depending on the road condition and time, you may stop at viewpoints or small villages along the way for photos, tea, or short breaks, so the day stays comfortable while you continue moving west.

Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet and an important place for acclimatization before traveling further to Saga and Lake Mansarovar. In the afternoon, you can take a short walk around the town or visit the local market near the hotel to stretch your legs after the long drive. Today you will also visit Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama and one of the most important monasteries in Tibet. Visiting here helps you understand the cultural and spiritual side of the journey.

On day 4 of the Tibet Kailash overland tour, you will leave Shigatse and drive to Saga. The Lhasa to Mount Kailash tour road slowly climbs higher as you pass wide river valleys, rolling hills, and long stretches of open plateau. Along the way, you may see herds of yaks and sheep, small groups of nomad tents, and distant snow-covered mountains on the horizon. These views give you a real feeling of how large and quiet the Kailash region is.

You can make regular stops for toilets, tea, photos, and short walks, so you can stretch your legs and allow your body to adjust to the higher altitude. Saga is mostly a transit town, but it is an important stop on the way to the Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar Tour. After arriving, you will check into the hotel and keep the evening very relaxed, with an early dinner, warm drinks, and plenty of rest. As the altitude increases, your guide will carefully watch how you are feeling, reminding you to drink enough water, stay warm, and move slowly.

Today you will drive from Saga to the holy Lake Mansarovar. This is a very special day for many travelers. The drive is long, but you will see beautiful mountains and wide valleys along the way. If the weather is clear, you might even see the outline of Mount Kailash far in the distance for the first time.

Arriving at the lakeshore near Chiu Gompa is often a moving experience. The air feels crisp, and you will see the light on the water change quickly. After reaching your lodge, you can walk by the water, sit quietly, or pray. We keep everything slow and calm so you can rest, breathe, and get ready for the trek around Mount Kailash.

From today onwards, you will start the Kailash Kora, which is the main highlight of the Tibet Kailash overland tour journey. But to start the sacred Mount Kailash Kora, after breakfast, you will first drive to Yamadwar, known as the “gateway of the god of death.” At Yamadwar, many pilgrims stop to perform rituals before beginning the walk. Before you start trekking, you can leave your heavy bags in the vehicle and carry only a small daypack so you can walk comfortably.

The path starts with a gentle walk through the Lha Chu valley, and you will see Mount Kailash rising on your right side. The walk to Dirapuk is not steep and technically hard, but the high altitude means you should walk slowly and carefully. You can take plenty of breaks for rest, photos, and tea at local teahouses. As you get closer to Dirapuk, the view of the north face of Kailash becomes truly amazing. When you reach the lodge, you can sit outside, stay warm, and enjoy the beautiful mountain view. It is one of the most beautiful evenings you will ever forget.

Day 7 of the Lhasa to Mansarovar overland trip is the hardest and most important day of the Kailash Kora. You will start early from Dirapuk, before sunrise, to take advantage of calm morning weather. At first, the trail goes up slowly and then gets steeper as you climb toward Dolma La, the highest point of the trek. The air at this altitude is thin, so every step feels heavier. You will walk very slowly and take frequent short breaks to breathe, and focus on steady breathing. 

At the top of the Dolma La Pass, you will see many prayer flags and feel a strong spiritual atmosphere as pilgrims cross, pray, and honor loved ones. After Dolma La, the trail drops steeply toward Gauri Kund (Tso Tuk). This part of the trail can be rocky and sometimes has snow or ice, so you need to walk carefully to protect your knees. Once the path becomes flatter, you can relax and enjoy the wide valley views. By the time you reach Zuthulphuk, the hardest part is behind you, and most people feel a mix of relief, gratitude, and quiet satisfaction.

After the big effort of yesterday, today’s walk feels much easier. From Zuthulphuk, the trail gradually descends through a wide valley, and you will see the north face of Mount Kailash slowly disappear behind you. The air feels easier to breathe as you go lower, and you can enjoy the peaceful valley, the flowing river, and the surrounding scenery. There are small tea shops along the way where you can rest and look back at the path you have finished.

By late morning or around midday, you will reach the spot where the vehicles are waiting to take you back to Mansarovar. Darchen marks the end of the Kailash circumambulation (Kora). From Darchen, you will drive back to the shores of Lake Mansarovar. When at Mansarovar, many people take a quiet walk along the lake or sit to reflect on the Kora, offer prayers, or simply soak in the calm. It’s a gentle, relaxing day that lets your body and mind recover after the climb over Dolma La.

This extra day at Mansarovar is a very important part of your Kailash and Mansarovar pilgrimage tour. After the long trek, your body needs real rest, and your mind needs time to remember everything you have seen. You can spend this day however you like. You can either take a short walk by the water, visit the nearby Chiu Gompa monastery, or sit quietly to pray and meditate. The lake looks different throughout the day as the light changes, and many people find these quiet moments very special.

Practically, this day also helps everyone stay healthy. If you need more sleep or more water to recover from the high climb, this is the perfect time. We want to make sure everyone feels strong and well before we start the long drive back to Saga. We have found that this extra day helps our guests sleep better, eat better, and feel much more relaxed instead of rushed.

After a final morning at Mansarovar, you will leave the lake and start driving back toward Saga. The drive back route is familiar, but the feeling is different now because you’ve completed the Kailash Kora. The long roads and grazing yaks will feel more familiar. Many travelers spend this time looking out the window and thinking about their memories from the mountain and the lakeshore. We make regular stops for breaks, tea, and snacks so the long drive feels comfortable.

By mid to late afternoon, you will reach Saga, where the lower altitude makes breathing a little easier. After checking into the hotel, you can take a short walk around town or rest with a warm drink. This day is all about relaxing and letting your body recover before the final drive back to Shigatse and Lhasa.

Today, you continue east from Saga back to Shigatse, gradually leaving the remote western plateau behind. The road feels smoother and more familiar, and as the hours pass, you slowly lose altitude, which usually improves sleep and appetite. You will again follow river valleys and rolling terrain, crossing occasional passes with wide views.

Reaching Shigatse, you come back to a larger Tibetan city with more facilities and a slightly milder climate compared to the Kailash region. After hotel check‑in, you can stretch your legs with a short walk in town, visit local shops for small souvenirs, or simply rest. If Tashilhunpo Monastery was not fully explored earlier, you may have time to visit or at least walk in its surrounding area.

From Shigatse, you will take the last drive back to Lhasa, completing your big journey. The road today is smoother and shorter than the last two days. You will drive along the beautiful Yarlung Tsangpo and other river valleys. It is a calm day where you can talk with your group and discuss your favorite parts of the trip. We usually arrive in Lhasa by mid-afternoon.

Back in Lhasa, the lower altitude and better facilities feel very comfortable after the basic lodges near Kailash. Later in the day, you can take a walk around Barkhor Street, shop for souvenirs like prayer flags or Tibetan handicrafts, or just relax at the hotel. This is also a good time to check your belongings, charge devices, and get ready for your flight back to Kathmandu the next day.

On the final day of the Kailash trek, we transfer you from the hotel to Lhasa Gonggar Airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. The drive to the airport follows the river valley once again, giving you a last look at the Tibetan landscape. If the weather is clear, the flight offers another beautiful view of the Himalayan range. After landing in Kathmandu, our team from Himalaya Guide Nepal will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Back at Kathmandu’s lower altitude, the warm air, busy streets, and city sounds feel very different from the quiet plateau of Tibet and the peaceful shore of Mansarovar. Your Lhasa Kailash Mansarovar Yatra officially ends here. If you plan to stay longer in Nepal, we are happy to help arrange additional travel, whether it is a short city tour, a sightseeing trip, or a trek to Everest Base Camp, so you can also experience the Nepali side of the Himalaya.