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TIBET MOUNTAIN LAKE

Travel in a spectacular journey across rarely-visited and sparsely-uninhabited northern Tibet, a wild and beautiful place of high mountains that hold many brackish lakes in their cusps. Wildlife abounds – you will see a lot of Tibetan antelopes and black-necked cranes – and the area is the fount of the Tibetan-Bon religion, a religion that is symbolised at Dangra Tso, a holy lake to Bon Tibetans. We will then make a detour of the ruins of the lost Guge Kingdom, and then we finally reach the place regarded as the ‘centre of the world’ by Hindus and Buddhists – we are talking about Kailash mountains, a holy mountain that towers at a dizzying 6,714 metres high. On the way we drive over a high pass, affording great views of the mountains tumbling to infinity in all directions, and then we do a three-day trek in Kailash: we follow the pilgrims’ route, a circumambulation around the mountains. After the wilds of Kailash we return to civilisation at Lhasa, where we explore the Potala Palace and other temples, as well as the old town.

Highlights of Tour:

• Jeep journey across northern Tibet
• Wildlife & brackish lakes
• Ruins of Guge Kingdom
• Hiking along the shoers of Manasarovar holy lake
• Three-day trek around Kailash, a Tibetan holy mountains
• Explorations of the Potala Palace, as well as other temples and town-sights in the Lhasa, Shigatse, and Gyantse

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Lhasa

We spent three days in Lhasa, giving you a chance to explore the sights of the city, which is the capital of Tibet, and acclimitise to the high altitude. Accommodation: 3 nights in three-star hotel.

Day 2 Lhasa

Full day guided tour in Lhasa: in the morning, we visit the Potala Palace, the winder residence of the Dalai Lamas as well as the religious-political nexus of traditional Tibet; in the afternoon, a visit to Jokhang monastery, one of the most important monasteries in Tibet, which teems with pilgrims. More bustle is found in the perimeter Barkhor Street, which is cluttered by market stalls selling religious trinkets and local food. 

Day 3 Lhasa

Another breezy day, visiting the Drepung monastery – the sacred nerve centre of the Gelug Sect – and afterwards we go to Norbulinka, the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. And in the afternoon you can see the playful philosophical debates of the monks in Sera Monastery, which has an important Buddhist seminary, and it is home to about 200 monks.

Day 4 Lhasa – Nam Tso Lake

Drive to Nam Tso, which translates as “Heavenly Lake” in Tibetan, one of three holy lakes in Tibet and, at an elevation of 4,718 metres, the highest lake in the world. The lake is 70kms long, making it the largest lake in Tibet. We will explore Tashi island and a nunnery, as well as frescoes and rock art, then sleep by the lake’s shore in a campsite.

Day 5 Nam Tso

We spent an entire day exploring the vast lake – driving, walking, visiting small temples, and marvelling at the vistas from vantage points. Then we sleep in the campsite again.

Day 6 Nam Tso – Baingoin Tso – Serling Tso

A day hopping from one lake to the next, visiting two other spectacular lakes – one of which teems with waterbirds – and then camping near the shore of Serling Tso, a lake set at 4,530 metres high.

Day 7 Serling Tso – Kanglung Tso – Nyima

A day taken up by a scenic drive, stopping along the way to explore the small town of Nyima, and Kanglung Lake. The night is spent in a basic guesthouse.

Day 8 Nyima – Dangra Tso

We visit yet another holy lake – which is revered by the local Bonpa Tibetans, a people who are legendary for their hospitality and outlandishness of their customs. The lake is also home to wild ass, antelopes and deer – animals that we can explore upclose when we camp overnight near the shoreline.

Day 9 Dangra Tso – Nyima

Rest day in Dangra Tso before driving back to Nyima – you are free to take it easy in the morning, taking pictures and ambling near the lake – and then back at Nyima, we overnight in the basic guesthouse again.

Day 10 Nyima – Tong Tso – Gertse

Another scenic drive, pausing to explore a Wild West town, and then reaching Dong Tso lake – which has deep-blue water and a sparkling appearance – and that night we stay in a guesthouse.

Day 11 Gertse – Gerkyi – Shiquanhe

Finally we reach a semblance of civilisation at Shiquanhe – on this day you get a chance to stay in a comfy hotel and have a hot shower – and then take it easy in the city.

Day 12 Shiquanhe – Tsada

In mountains where the Sutlej River has eroded canyons in the mountains, we reach the impressive ruins of Toling and Tsaparang – the former flourishing hubs of the lost Kingdom Guge. We base ourselves in the basic hotel in the nearby town for two nights while we explore the ruins.

Day 13 Tsada

In Tsaparang, centre of rule of the Guge Kingdom, a group of four temples surround the lower part of the fortress walls. The temples have coffered ceilings and exquisite designs, as well as some fantastic murals that are still intact.

Day 14 Tsada – Tirthapuri – Darchen

After exploring the caves at Tirthapuri, we reach the town closest to Kailash, and make all preparations for the Kailash trek.

Day 15 – 16 Mount Kailash circumambulation

We follow the pilgrims’ trail, walking about 20km daily for the first two days, and 8kms on the third and penultimate day. We encounter many pilgrims along the way – which make an attraction in their own right – and parts of the trail are smothered in prayer flags, and feature heaps of mani stones with holy recitations engraved on the slabs of stone. The second day is the ultimate day: we rise beyond 5,000 metres, and we might as well be in the centre of the universe – that’s what Hindus and Buddhists believe anyway. Hindus believe that Shiva and his wife Parvati live on top of the mountains, which Buddhists believe that the divine Demchog lives in Kailash. And the point of walking around Kailash is to redeem one’s sins. Overnight camping.

Day 17 Kailash trek ending, drive to Manasarovar

On our last day in Kailash, we trek to the place where we end the trek, and then drive to Manasarovar Lake and explore the two charming temples by the lake’s shore, Chiu Gompa and Trugo Gompa. The lake is situated between two spectacular mountain ranges. Overnight camping

Day 18 Manasarovar

We spend a whole day exploring the lake, visiting another temple and communing with monks. We can also optionally do a short hike – this will be discussed with the travellers. Overnight camping.

Day 19 Manasarovar – Paryang

A long scenic drive takes along the southern branch of the Tibet-Xinjiang highway, and sleep in a basic guesthouse.

Day 20 Paryang – Saga

Keep driving to Saga and enjoy wonderful landscapes on the way. In the south the snowy magnificent Himalayas rise; all around us we will see bands of antelopes. Stay in basic guesthouse.

Day 21 Saga – Lhatse – Shigatse

Another drive, with stops at temples and viewpoints along the way, until we reach Shigatse – Tibet’s second largest city and former home of the Panchen Lama. We sleep in the three-star Manasarovar Hotel

Day 22 Shigatse – Shalu – Gyantse

After exploring the Tashilunpo monastery, one of the six grandest Tibetan monasteries, and home of the Maitreya Buddha – the largest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in China – we then proceed to Gyantse, stopping along the way to check out the large Shalu (Xialu) monastery. Stay overnight in the three-star Gyantse Hotel

Day 23 Gyantse – Yamdrok – Lhasa

A varied day – first visiting the Pelkor Chode Monastery and the splendid Kumbum Stupa (100-Thousand-Buddha Pagoda) – and then by afternoon we make it to the Yamdrok Yumtso, a lake that teems with waterbirds and lies in the shadow of the majestic Donang Sangwari, a holy mountain. In Lhasa we spend our last night in the three-star Thangka Hotel

Day 24 End of tour

Morning transfer to the airport or railway station.

Tour Dates in 2011: 

5 May – 29 May

4 Sept – 27 Sept

14 Oct – 6 Nov

Tour price May departure: USD2798 per person (single supplement add $402)

Tour price for Sept and Oct departures: USD2977 per person (single supplement add $436)

Tours are all-inclusive.

NOTE: If you form your own group of at least 6 travellers, you can travel in your own private tour based on the itinerary above at the same price per person quoted here.