The great temples and palaces of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse - alive with atmosphere, teeming with pilgrims - are an experience you will not soon forget. High passes topped with colorful prayer flags, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, nomad herders and stunningly clear rivers make the drive west equally memorable.

Sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Bonpos as the earthly manifestation of Mount Meru, a pilgrimage circuit of the mountain is one of the most effective means of acquiring merit in this life. Add a circumambulation of the sacred Lake Manasarovar nearby for an incredible pilgrim experience.

Tour length: 14Nights/15Days

Tour Highlights
• Explore the unique Tibet culture
• Breathtaking Landscape
• Snow cap mountains
• Beautiful Monasteries
• Colorful Lakes

Suggested Tour Itinerary
Days 1-2: Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience with the Himalaya spread out before you. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel. In the morning of day 2 a half-day city tour will introduce you to some of the highlights of Kathmandu.

Days 3-4: A long day as we drive, complete border formalities at Kodari and Zhangmu. It is then a steep and spectacular drive up the gorge and on to the Tibetan Plateau. Expect to feel the effects of altitude as you ascend.
We spend a day at Nyalam to help with acclimatization; they are many short walks possible in the area for those feeling up to it.

Days 5-7: Long, yet spectacular days as we head west. Even along the road settlements are few as we cross vast, open valleys and prayer flag topped passes. Depending on the season there may be families of nomadic dropka moving their herds of sheep, yaks, goats and horses across the plateau.

Days 8-10: The 53-kilometer kora of Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred of pilgrimage circuits in the world. Kailash (Kang Rinpoche in Tibetan) is the earthly manifestation of Mount Meru and is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Bonpo and Jains – the entire route is lined with prostration points, places to check you sin-level, drink or immerse yourself in sacred waters, make offerings and hang prayer flags. The high point, both physically and spiritually is the Drolma Pass (5636m) on the second day. 

(On day 10 it is a short walk to Darchen before heading to Chiu Gompa on the shores of Lake Manasarovar to soak in the hot springs. )

Days 11-12: The drive retraces the outward route as far as Saga.

Day 13: Another long day's drive, but again scenically magical as we take a barge-ferry across the Yarlung Tsangpo and head south via Pelkhu Lake. Rejoining the Friendship Highway you will cross the Lalung Pass and head to Nyalum.

Day 14 : Dropping suddenly and steeply off the Tibetan Plateau descend through the Himalaya to cross the China/Nepal border at Zhangmu – Kodari before continuing the descent to Kathmandu.

Day 15: Departure to your onward destination