14-Day Mount Kailash Kora, Guge Kingdom & Northern Lakes Tour, Lhasa

About this activity

Walk the three-day kora around Mount Kailash, explore the Guge ruins and return across Tibet's northern lakes to Namtso on a small-group trip.

Two weeks through Tibet's far west, by one road out and another back. After Lhasa and Shigatse, two long days across the plateau bring you to Lake Manasarovar and Darchen, the start of the kora around Mount Kailash, sacred to four religions. The walk takes three days: about 40 km in total, crossing the Drolma La at 5,630 meters on the second day, with two nights in basic pilgrim guesthouses. You then drive into the canyons of Zanda for the ruins of the Guge Kingdom and two earth forests. The return crosses the Changtang, Tibet's high northern plateau, past a chain of lakes that few travelers ever see: salt lakes near Shiquanhe, Dangra Yumtso, holy to the Bon religion, and the inland sea of Serling Tso. The trip ends at Namtso's Tashi Dor peninsula and Lhasa. This route does not visit Everest Base Camp.

Multi-day Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours 4WD Tours Walking Tours Nature Walks Small Group Adventure Tours

At a glance

Duration: 14 days
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: English
Operated by: Tibet Trails

Ages: Adults (18–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Simpler hotels further west and 2 nights in basic shared pilgrim guesthouses on the kora
Included: 13 nights twin-share: 4-star hotels with oxygen in Lhasa (3) and Shigatse (1)
Included: Shared licensed tourist vehicle and driver
Included: Entrance fees in the itinerary, including the eco-buses at Mount Kailash and Namtso
Included: Breakfast
Included: Shared station or airport transfers on the first and last day
Included: Government fees: Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and other permits for the far west
Included: Travel accident insurance
Included: English-speaking licensed guide
Included: Breakfast daily except the two kora mornings
Included: A portable oxygen bottle per person, emergency oxygen in the vehicle and daily bottled water

Not included

Not included: Flights or trains to and from Lhasa
Not included: Meals: All lunches and dinners
Not included: Chinese visa
Not included: Horse, yak or porter hire on the kora
Not included: Tips for guide and driver
Not included: Personal expenses

Itinerary

Day 1 · Arrive in Lhasa (3,650 m)

Lhasa

one hour

You are met at Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station and taken to your hotel. Rest well: this route has only two nights in Lhasa before heading west.

Overnight in Lhasa, 4-star hotel (or similar)

Day 2 · Potala Palace, Tibetan crafts and the Barkhor

Potala Palace

2 hours Admission included

Visit the Potala Palace on a timed ticket.
Barkhor Street

3 hours

At a handicraft center you mix Tibetan incense and try woodblock printing, then walk the Barkhor pilgrim circuit.

Overnight in Lhasa, 4-star hotel (or similar)

Day 3 · Yamdrok Lake and the Karola Glacier to Shigatse (3,850 m)

Yamdrok Yumtso Lake

one hour Admission included

Cross the Kamba La (4,790 m) above turquoise Yamdrok Lake.
Karo La Glacier

Passing by

Pass the Karola Glacier and continue through Gyantse to Shigatse.

Overnight in Shigatse, 4-star hotel (or similar)

Day 4 · Across the plateau to Saga or Zhongba (about 4,600 m)

Saga County

30 min

A long drive west across the Sangsang Grassland, with the Himalaya on the southern horizon.

Overnight in Saga or Zhongba, simple hotel

Day 5 · Lake Manasarovar to Darchen (4,675 m)

Lake Manasarovar

45 min Admission included

Pass red and yellow mineral dunes and deep-blue Gongzhu Tso, then stop at the shore of sacred Lake Manasarovar, with Mount Kailash rising beyond it. Overnight at Darchen, the start of the kora.

Overnight in Darchen hotel with oxygen

Day 6 · Kailash kora day 1: Tarboche to Dirapuk (5,100 m)

Mount Kailash

6 hours Admission included

After a short eco-bus ride to Tarboche, walk about 14 km up the Lha Chu valley, past mani stones and pilgrims, to Dirapuk, facing the north face of Kailash.

Overnight in Dirapuk, basic pilgrim guesthouse (shared rooms)

Day 7 · Kailash kora day 2: over the Drolma La (5,630 m) to Zutulpuk

Zhuomala Mountain Pass

10 hours Admission included

The big day: about 20 km on foot, climbing to the Drolma La, the highest point of the kora, then descending past Gauri Kund to Zutulpuk and Milarepa's cave. Tea houses on the route sell drinks and noodles.

Overnight in Zutulpuk, basic pilgrim guesthouse (shared rooms)

Day 8 · Kailash kora day 3, then west to Zanda

Mount Kailash

3 hours Admission included

Walk about 7 km downhill to the end of the kora, return to Darchen and drive into the canyon country of Zanda (about 3,700 m).

Overnight in Zanda hotel

Day 9 · Guge Kingdom ruins and earth forests to Shiquanhe (4,300 m)

Guge Kingdom

2 h 30 min Admission included

Explore the tiered ruins of the Guge Kingdom, seat of a western Tibetan kingdom from the 10th to the 17th century.
Zhada Earth Forest National Geopark

1 h 30 min Admission included

Then explore the Zanda and Xiayigou earth forests.

Overnight in Shiquanhe hotel with oxygen

Day 10 · Salt lakes of the north to Gaize (4,500 m)

Gar County

Passing by

Cross the northern plateau past Nyer Tso, a salt lake glittering with crystals.
Gerze County

30 min

Pass the Pero Tsetso viewpoint and nomad pastures on the way to Gaize.

Overnight in Gaize hotel with oxygen

Day 11 · Dangra Yumtso and Wenbu village (4,700 m)

Stop 1

2 hours

Drive across the Changtang grasslands past Tong Tso to Dangra Yumtso, the holiest lake of the Bon religion. The night is in Wenbu, a village between red cliffs and the lakeshore.

Overnight in Wenbu village hotel

Day 12 · Serling Tso and the lakes to Baingoin (4,750 m)

Selincuo National Nature Reserve

2 hours

Pass Tangqung Tso, a salt flat known as the Sky Tree, vast Serling Tso and Bangkog Tso, where Tibetan gazelles and waterbirds are often seen.

Overnight in Baingoin hotel with oxygen

Day 13 · Namtso Lake and back to Lhasa

Lake Namtso

3 hours Admission included

Walk on Namtso's Tashi Dor peninsula below the Nyenchen Tanglha range, then cross the Nagen La (5,190 m) back to Lhasa.

Overnight in Lhasa, 4-star hotel (or similar)

Day 14 · Depart Lhasa

Lhasa

one hour

After breakfast, shared transfer to Gonggar Airport or Lhasa railway station.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Lhasa Airport

On Day 1 your Tibetan guide meets your arriving flight or train at Lhasa and transfers you to your hotel. After booking, please share your flight or train arrival details and your Lhasa hotel so we can confirm the exact pickup time. The final day includes a transfer back to Lhasa airport or railway station for your departure.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

If you cancel	You get back
At least 6 days before	100%
At least 2 days before	50%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Send a passport scan and your Chinese visa as soon as you book. The Tibet permits are applied for about four weeks before arrival.
These are shared group tours (up to 12 travelers). The guide or vehicle may change during the trip.
The Potala Palace is closed on Mondays, so the order of sightseeing may change.
Luggage: one suitcase (26 in max) and one small backpack per person.
Free shared transfers cover any train, flights arriving 08:00–22:00 and flights departing 08:30–22:30.
March is a sensitive month for foreign groups. If a departure cannot run for policy reasons, the tour price is refunded.
A very remote, high-altitude trip, with nights from 4,300 to 5,100 m and the kora up to 5,630 m. You need good fitness and should consult a doctor if you have heart or lung conditions. Arriving in Lhasa a day or two early helps. There are no departures from November to mid-April.
This is a high-altitude trip. Travelers with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor.