(Lhasa – Gyantse – Shigatse – Saga – Manasarovar – Mt. Kailash - Zhangmu)
Trip Facts:
Tour Code: BATE TIB08
Tour name: 17 days Central Tibet & Holy Mt. Kailash
Entry / Exit: Fly in / Drive out
Grade: Strenuous
Max Elevation: 5470m/17942ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Camp/Guesthouse
Meal: Full board in Kailash en-route & BB in cities
Transport: Flight & Private vehicle
Tour Days: 18
Total Days: 22
Highlights:
- One hour Trans-Himalaya flight and breath taking aerial view of Everest and other highest peaks.
- Visit of Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, Drepung monastery, Jokhang.
- Pelkhor and Choden in Gyantse, Tashilumphu in Shigatse.
- Manasarovar Lake.
- Kailash trekking or Kora.
- Luxury 4WD Land Cruiser.
Trip summary:
The beauty of the 6700-meter high Mount Kailash that looks like a symmetrical cone shaped rock capped by pure crystalline ice is equally venerated as the holiest pilgrimage site by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bön-Po. Tibetans regard this mountain as the manifestation of Mount Meru, “the navel of the earth” where founder of Bon religion, Tonpa Shenrab, is believed to have descended from heaven, Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva, Buddhists as the abode of Samvara and Jains as a scared site where their prophet, Rishaba attained spiritual enlightenment. With its four sheer walls, distinctive snow-capped peak, and valleys interspersed with brightly-clad Tibetan pilgrims, Mount Kailash or Khang Rimpoche (‘precious snow-peak’, as known by the Tibetans) is an awe-inspiring sight.
Four great rivers of Asia: the Karnali, the Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) originate from here. A three-day trek (Parikrama or Kora) around Mount Kailash over a 5630m/18466ft Drolma La (pass), clockwise for Buddhists and Hindus, and anti-clockwise followers of the ancient Bon religion, is said to erase the sins of a lifetime. To complete the Kailash pilgrimage one should bath in the sacred Lake Manasarovar, stunningly set on the Tibetan plateau bordered by the majestic Gurla Mandata.
The tour begins with a comprehensive trip briefing in Kathmandu followed by a sensational trans Himalayan flight to Lhasa that passes over Mt. Everest and many highest peaks of the world (if you join the tour in Kathmandu). This is the only flight fly over Mt. Everest and other highest peaks. In case you wish to start the tour in Lhasa arriving from anywhere in mainland China or taking a new train from Beijing you will be briefed about the tour by your Tibetan Guide.
Upon arrival in Lhasa, you enjoy sightseeing tour of Lhasa visiting all the Palaces and Monasteries. After visit of all the major places and proper acclimatization, your Kailash trip begins by luxury 4WD Land Cruiser, you get to explore colorful mosaic of Tibetan arts, crafts, history, culture, custom, tradition, lifestyle and cuisine and in the process attain profound spirituality. You become a witness to a host of indigenous cultures en-route to Gyantse, Shigatse and other significant ancient cities. Further drive across the wide open spaces of the Tibetan Plateau brings you to Holy Lake Manasarovar, before completing a Trek (Kora) around Mt Kailash passing highest pass of the trip Dolmala Pass 5630m/18466ft. From there, you re-cross the vast arid plains before heading south to the Nepalese border and returning to Kathmandu.
This is truly the trip of a lifetime with stunning scenery and cultural highlights. You will be received by BATE representative in Nepalese border and transferred to Dhulikhel back to the modern comfort spending at resort before entering into the busy Kathmandu city.
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