Kailash Kora Trek & Trek to Indus River

Mount Kailash lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal, and also lies near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia: the Indus River, the Sutlej River (a major tributary of the Indus River), the Brahmaputra River, and the Karnali River (a tributary of the Ganges River). It is considered a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. In Hinduism, it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva and a place of eternal bliss.

A winter camp site

Mount Kailash lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal, and also lies near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia: the Indus River, the Sutlej River (a major tributary of the Indus River), the Brahmaputra River, and the Karnali River (a tributary of the Ganges River). It is considered a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. In Hinduism, it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva and a place of eternal bliss.

Kailash Kora trek & trek to Indus River (TT03)

West Tibet, home to the premier pilgrimage site of Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, also has some ofTibet’s most significant art and architecture. Most travelers make the strenuous and expensive trip to West Tibet, In order to pay homage to Kailash, the holiest mountain for both Buddhists and Hindus. 30km away from Kailash to the south, the other important site for pilgrims is Lake Manasarovar is located. Guge Kingdom, another site for the cultural and artistic interest, is located northwest of Kailash, nearly 200km away.

D1: Arrive in Chengdu: After arrival in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People’s park.

D2: Chengdu to Lhasa: Fly to Lhasa, the guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to Lhasa city with about 1h30 driving (100 km). On the way, we’ll visit to Nie Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the mountain face. Afternoon an easy walking visit to Luophuk lingkar – the summer palace of Dalai Lama.

D3: Lhasa: We visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazar.
Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa’s most holy destination for a pilgrimage. Winding up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels lining the path a clockwise spin as they make their way up to the entrance. The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statutes are magnificently robed in colorful brocade adorned with pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of yuen (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.

D4: Lhasa: Visit Sera, Drepung, Nechung monasteries.
Sera, one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, sits at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a longer history. Sera in Tibetan means Wild Rose Garden since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it.
Drepung monastery. Drepung once housed 10,000 monks, If we’re lucky, we’ll quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.
Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet’s State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.

D5: Lhasa to Gyantse: Departure for gyantse, enroute visit to Yamdrok Lake, and Karola glacier, arrive at Gyantse at the late afternoon.

D6: Gyantse to Shigartse: In the morning, visit to Gyantse Pelkor monastery, then departure for Shigartse for visiting Tashilhunphuk monastery; en route detour of Shalu monastery.

D7: Shigartse to Lhatse via Sakya: Departure from Shigartse to Sakya, where to visit the seat of Sakya Pa monastery, then return to the main road, heading west to Lhatse;

D8: Lhatse to Saga: today is a full day drive, enjoy the stunning view of West Tibet

D9: Saga to Paryang: today is also a full day drive, enjoy the stunning view of West Tibet.

D10: Paryang to Manasarovar Lake: As per Hindu theology, Lake Manasa Sarovar is a personification of purity, and one who drinks water from the lake will go to the Abode of Lord Shiva after death, this holy lake lies at 4556m above mean sea level, making it the highest freshwater lake in the world. The lake freezes in winter and melts only in the spring. It is the source of the Sutlej River which is the easternmost large tributary of the Indus. Nearby are the sources of the Brahmaputra River, the Indus River, and the Karnali River (Ghaghara) which is an important tributary of the Ganges River.

D11: Manasarovar Lake to Darchen: It takes about 1hour to cover the 30km from Manasarovar Lake to Darchen, where the trek begins with; after arriving at Darchen, get ready for trekking.

D12: Trekking to Drira Phuk monastery: Departure from Darchen, by vehicle to Darpoche, the entrance of Lha-chu valley, where we can see the south face of Kailash. Load up all gear to our pack animal at Tarpoche, then start trekking, about 4 hours hike following La-chu valley take north bank of the stream to the camp that opposte to Drira Phuk monastery.

D13: Trekking to Zutrul Phuk monastery: This is the second day of trek, also is the hardest day. The highest spot of this trek of Drolma La pass is about 5700 above the sea level. Start from the camp, the trail is steep, strenuous, the altitude goes up rapaidly, plan about 3 or 4 hours to cover this ascending hiking of 6km around is necessary. When reach top of Drolma la pass, descending southeastward from this pass. This trail is rocky and steep, around 4 km to reach at Lham-chu valley, where we continually southward for about 8km, Zutrul phuk is located by the trail on the slop of the mountain.

D14: Trekking – regain Darchen: Along Zhong-chu heading southwest, for about 3 hours around, reach a trail junction, where our vehicle wait, return to Darchen.

D15: Darchen to Guge Kingdom: Full day drive from Darchen to Guge Kingdom.

D16: Guge Kingdom: The Guge Kingdom was founded in about the 10th century by a descendant of King Lang Darma, and was survived for about 700 years before disappearing mysteriously in the 17th century. The ruins lie on a hilltop near a river and cover 180,000 square meters. The Guge Kingdom is famous for its murals, sculptures and stone inscriptions, which are attached to the surviving structures. Around the ruins are weapons of the Guge people and mummies, which are probably Guge soliders, the only traces of the once glorious kingdom.

D17: Guge kingdom to Hor: this is a full day drive, en route passing though Darchen and Manasarovar Lake again.

D18: Hor to Dzongpa: this sourhtern road is with much better condition; enjoy the view on the road;

D19: Dzongpa to shigartse via Lhatse: today is the longest day of this trip in vehicle, after arriving in Shigartse, rest;

D20: Shigartse to Lhasa: Return to Lhasa by driving along the Brahmaputra River;

D21: Lhasa to Chengdu: Drive from Tsetang to Lhasa Gangkar airport, by morning flight from Lhasa to Chengdu, after arrive in Chengdu, transfer to Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, one of the most important centers in the world for the conservation of the Giant Panda.

D22: Chengdu to the airport for departure: After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timings will depend on the flight schedule).

Optional trek of going to Indus River Source
D1: Trekking to Drira Phuk monastery
D2: Trekking to the junction of three valleys
D3: Trekking to Senge Buk
D4: Trekking to Indus source
D5: Trekking to Camp 1 (beside 4 closed glacial lakes)
D6: Trekking to Camp 2 (at somewhere in a long and narrow valley beneath the highest pass of this trek 6200m)
D7: Trekking to Zutrul Phuk monastery
D8: Trekking – regain Darchen