- Cultural Treks & Expedition
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Mount Kailash, located in the far western region of Tibet, is one of the most significant and sacred peaks associated with Asia’s ancient religions. Rising to an elevation of 6,700 meters, Mount Kailash is renowned for its striking symmetrical shape and year-round crown of crystalline snow and ice. Its beauty and spiritual significance have been celebrated in numerous mythological and literary traditions.
Towering north of the Himalayan range, Mount Kailash (also known as Mt. Kailas) is revered as the holiest pilgrimage site by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the ancient Bön religion. Tibetans regard it as the earthly manifestation of Mount Meru, the “Navel of the Earth,” where the founder of the Bön religion, Tonpa Shenrab, is believed to have descended from heaven. Hindus consider it the abode of Lord Shiva, Buddhists revere it as the home of Samvara, and Jains honor it as the sacred site where their first Tirthankara, Rishaba, attained enlightenment.
Known to Tibetans as Kang Rinpoche, meaning “Precious Snow Peak,” Mount Kailash is a breathtaking sight with its four sheer faces, snow-covered summit, and valleys filled with devoted pilgrims. The region is also the source of four major rivers of Asia: the Karnali, Indus, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra (Tsangpo).
A sacred three-day trek, known as the Kailash Kora or Parikrama, circles the mountain and crosses the 5,630-meter Drolma La Pass. Pilgrims walk clockwise in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, while followers of the Bön faith walk counterclockwise. Completing the circuit is believed to cleanse the sins of a lifetime.
For many Tibetans, Mount Meru is depicted as a mandala, and its image appears throughout Buddhist and Hindu cultures across Asia. There is also an Inner Kora route that passes two sacred lakes south of Kailash. Tradition permits only those who have completed 13 circumambulations of Mount Kailash to undertake this inner pilgrimage. The sanctity of this route is deeply respected by Tibetans and remains an important aspect of the pilgrimage tradition.
Join Cultural Treks and Expedition for a spiritual journey to this sacred mountain and return home with unforgettable memories and blessings to cherish for a lifetime.
Day 01: Kathmandu – Kyirung (3750m)
Day 02: At Kyirung Rest day for acclimatization
Day 03: Kyirung – Saga (4600m)
Day 04: Saga - Manasarovar (4560m) – 4-5 hours drive
Day 05: Manasarovar – Darchen: (4560m)
Day 06: Darchen – Dirapuk (4900m)
Day 07: Dirapuk – Zutulpuk (4790m) - 8 hrs.
Day 08: Zutulpuk - Darchen - Saga
Day 09: Saga – Lhatse (4050m)
Day 10: Lhatse – Shigatse (3900m) / 244 km, approx. 06-08 hours drive
Day 11: Shigatse –Gyantse (3950m) / 90 km, approx. 2 hours drive
Day 12: Gyantse – Lhasa (3650m) /261 km
Day 13: In Lhasa (3660m)
Day 14: Lhasa – Kathmandu flight.
Enjoy an early morning drive from Kathmandu to Kyirung (145 km, approximately 8 hours), passing through Nepal’s scenic rural landscapes. After completing immigration and customs formalities at the border, continue uphill to Kyirung, a Tibetan border town. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your Tibetan guide and transferred to your guesthouse for an overnight stay.
This day is reserved for rest and acclimatization to help you adjust to higher altitudes. Overnight stay at the guesthouse.
After breakfast, we depart Kyirung for Saga, following a scenic route alongside the Brahmaputra River. The journey passes through wide river valleys and traditional villages, creating excellent opportunities for photography and video. The road then continues along the northern route.
After covering approximately 295 km and reaching an altitude of around 4,600 meters, we arrive in Saga. Upon finding a suitable campsite, we set up camp for the night, or alternatively, stay in a hotel.
Before beginning the Mount Kailash tour and trek, you will drive approximately 270 km from Saga to Lake Mansarovar. The route passes through dramatic landscapes and offers a deep sense of the region’s natural and spiritual essence.
As you approach the sacred lake, the historic Chiu Monastery becomes visible on the northwestern shore. From this vantage point, you may also catch your first glimpse of majestic Mount Kailash. This journey is both scenic and deeply spiritual.
Upon arrival, we set up camp for the night or stay in a guesthouse.
Lake Mansarovar, the highest freshwater lake, is known for its turquoise waters and is home to fish and swans. The surrounding region offers views of sacred sites such as Mount Kailash (Kailash Parbat), Gurla Mandhata, and Lake Rakshastal. It is also believed to be rich in mineral deposits, hot springs, and diverse wildlife.
We spend the day exploring Lake Mansarovar before driving approximately one hour to Darchen. Overnight stay at a guesthouse.
Early in the morning after breakfast, your trek begins. You will meet your team of yaks and Tibetan yak drivers who will accompany you on the Kailash Kora. From Darchen, the trail passes through verdant meadows and scenic streams into the Lha Chu Valley.
The route overlooks the turquoise river flowing through a narrow canyon with steep cliffs, and along the way, the north face of Mount Kailash comes into view. The trail then approaches the 13th-century Dira-Puk Monastery, a site considered a spiritual highlight of the journey.
The day concludes with an overnight stay at Dira-Puk, either in a campsite or guesthouse.
The Lha Chu Valley gradually transitions into the Drolma Chu Valley as you continue your trek. Ascending toward Drolma La Pass (5,630m), the highest point of the Kailash Kora, you are rewarded with breathtaking views, including Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, also known as the Lake of Compassion.
Prayer flags flutter at the summit, marking this sacred and challenging milestone. From here, the trail descends into the valley of Zutul-Puk, which is home to a monastery and several meditation caves.
Among them is Milarepa’s Cave, believed to bear the footprints and handprints of the saint Milarepa, surrounded by carved mani stones. Continuing the Parikrama, we reach Zutul-Puk for an overnight stay in a campsite or guesthouse.
Our pilgrimage trek concludes at Darchen, after which we drive to Saga for an overnight stay. Completing the Parikrama brings a deep sense of spiritual fulfillment and satisfaction from the sacred journey. After a long and demanding day, we retire to rest with a feeling of gratitude and contentment.
Today, you continue along the Friendship Highway to Lhatse. After a 157 km drive, you arrive in the small, dusty town of Lhatse. The town offers restaurants, well-stocked shops, and guesthouses.
Lhatse may be of particular interest to archaeologists, with its ruined dzongs and the small Changmoche Monastery located at the western end of the town. Overnight stay at a guesthouse.
Enjoy a scenic drive over Gyatchu La Pass (5,220m), en route to Lhasa via Lhatse and the Shakya Muni Monastery. Continue for approximately 90 km to Shigatse.
At an altitude of around 3,900 meters, you arrive in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. The Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the largest functioning monasteries in the region, is a major highlight of the city. Overnight stay at a hotel.
You drive through Tibet’s vast agricultural fields to Gyantse, known for Gyantse Dzong and the Kumbum Stupa. Gyantse Dzong is a historic 14th-century fortress offering panoramic views of Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley.
The Kumbum features a large gold-domed stupa and houses numerous chapels with intricate Tibetan Buddhist murals. You also visit Palkhor Monastery, an important cultural and religious landmark in the region. Overnight stay at a hotel.
Enjoy a full-day scenic drive along the stunning turquoise Yamdrok Lake, crossing Kampa La Pass (4,790m) and the cool waters of the Brahmaputra River, known in Tibetan as the Yarlung Tsangpo.
We then arrive in Lhasa, where you can refresh, enjoy snacks, and relax while acclimatizing to the altitude. Overnight stay at a hotel.
Two full days of sightseeing in Lhasa including Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Bazaar, Potala Palace, Drepung, and Sera Monasteries.
Drepung Monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden (1397–1449), one of Tsongkhapa’s main disciples. It was named after the sacred abode of Shridhanyakataka in South India. Drepung served as the principal seat of the Gelugpa School until the Great Fifth Dalai Lama constructed the Potala Palace. It retained a premier position among the four great Gelugpa monasteries. Drepung was known for its high academic standards and was often called the “Nalanda of Tibet,” a reference to the great Buddhist monastic university of India.
We then stroll down Barkhor Street, which has a history of over 1,000 years and surrounds the Jokhang Temple. It was originally an important route for Tibetan Buddhists to walk clockwise as an expression of devotion. This religious practice is known as “Barkhor” in the Tibetan language. As one of the most bustling areas in Lhasa today, Barkhor Street features a wide variety of handicrafts and daily necessities from local regions, as well as goods from neighboring India and Nepal. Overnight at your hotel.
Note: Since only a limited number of visitors are allowed to enter the Potala Palace each day, the order of sightseeing may be adjusted by your guide.
Early in the morning after breakfast, we drive to Gonggar Airport for your departure flight to Kathmandu or your onward destination of choice. We are sure you will have enjoyed this trip to the fullest and will return home with blessed memories of God and a truly once-in-a-lifetime journey.
