Lhasa to Mount Kailash Luxury Tour with views of Mount KailashLhasa to Mount Kailash Luxury Tour with views of Mount Kailash

Lhasa to Mount Kailash Luxury Tour

  • Duration10 Days
  • Route Grade Exploratory Travel
  • Trip Style Luxury Pilgrimage Tour
  • Starting City Lhasa
  • Ending City Lhasa
Lhasa to Mount Kailash Luxury Tour map

Trip Overview

The Mount Kailash Luxury Tour is a comfortable, well organized pilgrimage to Holy Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in the Ngari Prefecture of western Tibet. The journey begins in Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet, before flying to Purang/Ngari and driving onward to Lake Manasarovar and Darchen, the starting point of the Kailash Kora. From Darchen, pilgrims complete the sacred circuit around Mount Kailash on foot over three days, passing Dirapuk monastery and crossing the Dolma La Pass before returning to Darchen and flying back to Lhasa.

This 10 day itinerary is designed for pilgrims who want to experience Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar without the long overland drive from Lhasa, using a direct flight connection to Purang/Ngari instead. The route combines the cultural and religious sites of Lhasa with comfortable hotel stays in Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, and mountain lodge accommodation during the Kailash Kora trek.

Trip Detail

Information
Detail

Trip Code

 

Starting Point / End Point

Lhasa to Lhasa

Accommodations

Comfortable hotels in Lhasa and Purang or Ngari, comfortable mountain hotels and lodges along the pilgrimage route

Max Altitude

Approximately 5,630 m at Dolma La Pass

Duration

10 Days, 09 Nights

Country

Tibet Autonomous Region, China

Trip Grade

Strenuous, suitable for pilgrims and trekkers with good fitness and some previous high altitude experience

Activities

Lhasa sightseeing, Lake Manasarovar, Chiu Gompa, Kailash Kora trek, Dolma La Pass crossing

Best Time to Visit 

May to June and September to October

Region

Ngari Prefecture and Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

Transportation

Domestic flight between Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, private vehicle for overland sections, trekking on foot during the Kailash Kora

Meals

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included throughout the trip

Itinerary Overview

This 10 day luxury pilgrimage tour begins with arrival and sightseeing and acclimatization in Lhasa, followed by a flight to Purang/Ngari. From there, the route drives to Lake Manasarovar and Darchen, then follows the Kailash Kora on foot over three days before returning to Purang/Ngari and flying back to Lhasa.

Here is a quick look at how your 10 day tour unfolds.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa and stay overnight at a hotel.

  • Day 2: Full day sightseeing and acclimatization in Lhasa

  • Day 3: Second full day sightseeing and acclimatization in Lhasa

  • Day 4: Flight from Lhasa to Purang or Ngari and overnight at a comfortable hotel

  • Day 5: Drive to Holy Lake Manasarovar, optional hike to Chui Gompa, continue to Darchen

  • Day 6: Begin Mount Kailash Parikrama and trek to Derapuk

  • Day 7: Continue the Mount Kailash Parikrama and cross the most challenging section of the Kora

  • Day 8: Complete the Mount Kailash Parikrama, return to Darchen, and drive to Purang or Ngari.

  • Day 9: Flight from Purang or Ngari to Lhasa and overnight at a comfortable hotel

  • Day 10: Departure to onward destination

Why You Will Love This Trip

  • Fly directly to the Kailash region: Instead of driving for several days across the Tibetan plateau, you take a flight from Lhasa straight to Purang/Ngari. This saves significant travel time and gets you closer to Mount Kailash while you are still fresh, rather than tired from days on the road.

  • Two full days to acclimatize and explore Lhasa: Before heading to higher altitude, you spend two full days in Lhasa. This includes the Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas and one of the most recognizable buildings in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, considered the most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism, and Barkhor Street, the old pilgrim circuit around the Jokhang lined with shops and stalls. These two days also give your body real time to adjust to the elevation, which matters because the trip only gets higher from here.

  • Lake Manasarovar: On Day 5, you drive along the shore of Lake Manasarovar, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and a site considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers. You have time here to see the lake and its surroundings before continuing to Darchen.

  • Optional hike to Chiu Gompa: Chiu Gompa is a small monastery on a hillside above Lake Manasarovar. If conditions allow and you want to do it, you can hike up for a closer look at the monastery and a wide view over the lake, with Mount Kailash visible in the distance on a clear day.

  • Three days walking the Kailash Kora: This is the main part of the trip, the circuit around Mount Kailash on foot. It is done in three stages over three days, starting and ending at Darchen, with an overnight stop at Dirapuk and another at Zutulpuk along the way.

  • Crossing Dolma La Pass at 5,630 meters: This pass, crossed on the second day of the Kora, is the highest point of the entire trip. It is also the most physically demanding day of walking, and for many pilgrims, reaching the top of this pass is the most meaningful moment of the journey.

  • Comfortable places to stay throughout: Even though the route passes through remote parts of Tibet, you stay in proper hotels in Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, and in lodges or guesthouses during the Kailash Kora. The pilgrimage stays comfortable from start to finish.

Altitude and Activities

The tour begins in Lhasa at 3,650 m, where two days are spent sightseeing and acclimatizing before the flight to Purang/Ngari at 4,500 m. From Purang/Ngari, the route drives past Lake Manasarovar to Darchen, then climbs on foot through the Kailash Kora, reaching its highest point at Dolma La Pass, around 5,630 m, before descending back to Darchen and returning to Purang/Ngari and Lhasa by flight.

Day
Location
Altitude
Activities

Day 1

Lhasa

3,650 m

Arrival and rest

Day 2

Lhasa

3,650 m

Sightseeing and acclimatization

Day 3

Lhasa

3,650 m

Sightseeing and acclimatization

Day 4

Purang/Ngari

4,500 m

Flight from Lhasa

Day 5

Darchen

Approximately 4,560 m

Drive to Lake Manasarovar, optional Chiu Gompa visit, continue to Darchen

Day 6

Dirapuk

Approximately 4,890 m

Trek from Darchen to Dirapuk, first day of the Kailash Kora

Day 7

Zutulpuk

Approximately 4,760 m

Cross Dolma La Pass at approximately 5,630 m, second day of the Kailash Kora

Day 8

Darchen then Purang/Ngari

4,500 m

Complete the Kora, walk to Darchen, drive to Purang/Ngari

Day 9

Lhasa

3,650 m

Flight from Purang/Ngari

Day 10

Departure

3,650 m

Final departure

Accommodation and Meals

You will stay in comfortable hotels in Lhasa and Purang/Ngari and in mountain hotels and lodge accommodations during the Kailash Kora where available. Full board, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included throughout the trip.

Day
Location
Accommodation
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Day 1

Lhasa

Hotel

N/A

N/A

Included

Day 2

Lhasa

Hotel

Included

Included

Included

Day 3

Lhasa

Hotel

Included

Included

Included

Day 4

Purang/Ngari

Hotel

Included

Included

Included

Day 5

Darchen

Hotel or guesthouse

Included

Included

Included

Day 6

Dirapuk

Lodge or guesthouse

Included

Included

Included

Day 7

Zutulpuk

Lodge or guesthouse

Included

Included

Included

Day 8

Purang/Ngari

Hotel

Included

Included

Included

Day 9

Lhasa

Hotel

Included

Included

Included

Day 10

Departure

Not applicable

Included

N/A

N/A

Cost Includes

Cost and Inclusions

This 10 day tour includes hotel accommodation in Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, mountain lodge or hotel stays during the Kailash Kora, domestic flights between Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, all required permits for Tibet and the Ngari region, a private vehicle for overland travel, an experienced guide, and full board meals throughout the trip. The table below outlines what is included in your package and what you will need to arrange separately.

Cost Includes
Cost Excludes

Airport transfers in Lhasa

International and domestic flights to and from Lhasa

Hotel accommodation in Lhasa and Purang/Ngari with full board

China visa fee

Mountain Lodge accommodation during the Kailash Kora

Travel insurance

Experienced guide throughout the journey

Tips for guide and driver

Domestic flight between Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, return sector included

Personal expenses such as drinks, snacks, and phone or internet charges

Full board meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the trip

Extra nights due to flight delays or changes in the itinerary

Tibet Travel Permit, Alien Travel Permit, and other permits required for the Ngari region

 

Private vehicle for all overland sections of the route

 
Itinerary

Welcome to Tibet. On arrival in Lhasa, our representative will meet you right outside the arrival terminal holding a board with our company name and logo, and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest and begin adjusting to the altitude. In the evening, your guide will meet you for a trip briefing followed by a welcome dinner.

  • Route: Airport to hotel in Lhasa

  • Altitude: 3,650 m

  • Accommodation: Hotel

  • Meals: Welcome Dinner

  • Highlights: Arrival in Tibet, hotel check in, and trip briefing

    Your first full day in Lhasa covers two of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism. In the morning, you visit the Potala Palace, the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, built high on Marpo Ri hill with over a thousand rooms, chapels, and tombs of past Dalai Lamas inside. In the afternoon, you walk through Jokhang Temple, considered the most sacred temple in Tibet and the spiritual center of the old city, followed by a walk around Barkhor Street, the ancient pilgrim circuit surrounding the temple, lined with shops, stalls, and pilgrims walking clockwise with prayer wheels.

    • Route: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street in Lhasa

    • Altitude: 3,650 m

    • Accommodation: Hotel

    • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

    • Highlights: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, and continued acclimatization

      Your second day in Lhasa focuses on two of the city's great monasteries. In the morning, you visit Drepung Monastery, once one of the largest monasteries in the world and an important center of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. In the afternoon, you visit Sera Monastery, well known for its courtyard debates, where monks gather each afternoon to practice Buddhist philosophy through structured debate. This second acclimatization day helps prepare your body for the flight to Purang/Ngari tomorrow.

      • Route: Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery in Lhasa

      • Altitude: 3,650 m

      • Accommodation: Hotel

      • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

      • Highlights: Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery monk debates, and final acclimatization day

        A flight takes you from Lhasa directly to Purang/Ngari, bringing you into the remote western region of Tibet where Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are located. The rest of the day is free to rest after the flight and continue adjusting to the higher elevation.

        • Route: Lhasa to Purang/Ngari by domestic flight

        • Altitude: 4,500 m

        • Accommodation: Hotel

        • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

        • Highlights: Flight into the remote Ngari region

          Today you drive from Purang/Ngari toward Lake Manasarovar, with the option to hike up to Chiu Gompa, a small monastery on the hillside above the lake with views toward Mount Kailash. From here, the drive continues to Darchen, the starting point for tomorrow's Kailash Kora.

          • Route: Purang/Ngari to Lake Manasarovar to Darchen

          • Altitude: Approximately 4,560 m at Darchen

          • Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse

          • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

          • Highlights: Lake Manasarovar, optional hike to Chiu Gompa, arrival in Darchen

            The Kailash Kora begins today with a trek from Darchen to Dirapuk monastery, a distance of approximately 20 km. Along the way, the trail offers close views of the north face of Mount Kailash. This is the first of three days walking the circuit around the mountain.

            • Route: Darchen to Dirapuk

            • Altitude: Approximately 4,890 m

            • Accommodation: Lodge or guesthouse

            • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

            • Highlights: Beginning the Kailash Kora, views of the north face of Mount Kailash

              This is the most demanding day of the Kailash Kora, crossing the Dolma La Pass at around 5,630 m, the highest point of the entire trip. The climb to the pass is followed by a long descent to Zutulpuk, where the day's walk ends.

              • Route: Dirapuk to Zutulpuk via Dolma La Pass

              • Altitude: Approximately 5,630 m at the pass, descending to approximately 4,760 m at Zutulpuk

              • Accommodation: Lodge or guesthouse

              • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

              • Highlights: Crossing Dolma La Pass, the highest point of the Kailash Kora

                The final stretch of the Kailash Kora brings you back to Darchen, completing the circuit around Mount Kailash. From Darchen, you drive back to Purang/Ngari, marking the end of the trekking portion of your journey.

                • Route: Zutulpuk to Darchen, then drive to Purang/Ngari

                • Altitude: 4,500 m

                • Accommodation: Hotel

                • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

                • Highlights: Completion of the Kailash Kora, return to Purang/Ngari

                  An early flight returns you from Purang/Ngari to Lhasa. The rest of the day is free to rest at your hotel after the pilgrimage.

                  • Route: Purang/Ngari to Lhasa by domestic flight

                  • Altitude: 3,650 m

                  • Accommodation: Hotel

                  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

                  • Highlights: Return flight to Lhasa, end of the remote part of the journey

                    After breakfast at the hotel, our representative will transfer you to Lhasa airport for your onward flight, bringing your Mount Kailash Luxury Tour to an end.

                    • Route: Hotel in Lhasa to Lhasa airport

                    • Altitude: 3,650 m

                    • Meals: Breakfast

                    • Highlights: Final transfer and departure from Tibet

                      Trip Information

                      Know Before You Book

                      • Visa Requirement: You need a valid Chinese visa to enter Tibet. Since this tour starts and ends in Lhasa, your agency will arrange a Chinese Group Visa or standard tourist visa depending on your nationality and entry point. This requires your passport, a passport photo, and your confirmed flight details. Details on Chinese visa applications are available at https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb_663304/zwjg_665342/2490_665344/

                      • Permit Requirement: Entering Tibet requires a Tibet Travel Permit, arranged by your agency once your visa is confirmed. Since this tour travels to Ngari for Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, an Alien's Travel Permit and a Military Area Permit are also required, as Ngari is a restricted border region. These are issued only through a licensed agency, so your passport details should be submitted well ahead of travel. More on permit categories is available at https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741445/n741507/index.html

                      • Passport Validity: Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date, with sufficient blank pages for your visa and permit stamps.

                      • Fitness Level: This trip includes three days of trekking during the Kailash Kora, with one day crossing a pass above 5,600 m. Good fitness and some previous experience at altitude are recommended.

                      • Flight Reliability: Flights to and from Purang/Ngari can be affected by weather. It is advisable to keep some flexibility in your onward travel plans around Day 4 and Day 9.

                      • Guide Requirements: A licensed guide is required throughout Tibet and the Ngari region, and our agency manages all related registration on your behalf.

                      • Travel Insurance: This region is remote with limited medical facilities. Travel insurance that covers high altitude evacuation and medical emergencies is strongly recommended.
                         

                      Accommodations, Meals, and Transportation

                      • Typical Accommodation Used: You will stay in comfortable hotels in Lhasa and Purang/Ngari, and in mountain lodge or guesthouse accommodation at Darchen, Dirapuk, and Zutulpuk during the Kailash Kora.

                      • Meals: Full board, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, included throughout the trip, with a welcome dinner on Day 1.

                      • Guide Support: An experienced guide accompanies you for the whole trip, managing permits, route planning, and acclimatization, including the Kailash Kora and the Dolma La Pass crossing.

                      • Transportation: This package includes airport transfers in Lhasa, a domestic flight between Lhasa and Purang/Ngari with the return sector, and private vehicle transport for all overland sections. The Kailash Kora is completed on foot.
                         

                      Seasonal Weather Notes

                      • Late Spring to Early Summer (May to June): Widely regarded as one of the best periods for this tour. Snow melts from the trekking trail and Dolma La Pass, daytime temperatures at Kailash range roughly from 10°C to 20°C, and skies are generally clear. This period also coincides with the Saga Dawa Festival, one of the most important Buddhist festivals in Tibet, which brings a strong pilgrim presence to the region.

                      • Summer (July to August): This is the monsoon period in most of Tibet, but Ngari sits in a rain shadow and receives comparatively little rainfall, usually around 20 to 25 mm per month. Daytime temperatures are the warmest of the year, often between 15°C and 25°C, though nights can still drop close to freezing. Occasional cloud cover can reduce visibility of Mount Kailash on some days.

                      • Autumn (September to October): Considered by many operators to be the most favorable window for the Kailash Kora, with clear post monsoon skies, good visibility, and drier trail conditions. Daytime temperatures gradually cool from around 20°C in September to the low teens by October, with nights dropping below freezing, especially at Dirapuk and Zutulpuk. Winds tend to pick up later in October, so early to mid autumn is generally more comfortable than late October.
                         

                      Health and Safety

                      • General Wellbeing: This trip spends extended time above 3,500 m and crosses a pass above 5,600 m. Know the signs of altitude sickness and inform your guide immediately if you notice any symptoms.

                      • Healthcare Facilities: Medical facilities in the Ngari region are limited. Your guide carries a basic first aid kit, and emergency evacuation can be arranged if needed.

                      • Pacing: The two acclimatization days in Lhasa and the gradual approach to Darchen are important parts of adjusting safely to altitude before the Kailash Kora.

                      • Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids throughout the trip, particularly during the three days of the Kailash Kora.
                         

                      Packing Checklist

                      • Essential Clothing: Warm, layered clothing suitable for high altitude, including a down jacket for cold mornings, evenings, and the Dolma La Pass crossing.

                      • Footwear: Sturdy trekking boots with good ankle support and grip for the Kailash Kora trail.

                      • Trail Gear: A sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a rain jacket, and trekking poles for the pass crossing and descents.

                      • Personal Items: A small daypack, a reusable water bottle, personal toiletries, a headlamp, any personal medicines you need, and a warm sleeping bag for cold nights during the Kora.
                         

                      Important Notices

                      • Travel Advisories: Please check current travel guidance for Tibet before you travel. Our team can share local updates closer to your trip date.

                      • Remote Terrain: The Ngari region is remote, with limited shops, no reliable ATM access, and limited phone or internet coverage once you leave Lhasa. Please carry sufficient cash for the trip.

                      • Responsible Travel: Please respect local customs and religious practices, ask before photographing pilgrims or monks, and support the local economy of the Ngari region during your visit.

                      Trip Preparations

                      • What is the highest point of this tour?

                        The highest point is Dolma La Pass, at approximately 5,630 m, crossed on Day 7 during the second day of the Kailash Kora.

                      • No. This itinerary flies from Lhasa to Purang/Ngari on Day 4, which cuts out the multi day overland drive used on most other Kailash routes. All overland travel from Purang/Ngari onward is by private vehicle.

                      • Three days, from Darchen to Dirapuk on Day 6, Dirapuk to Zutulpuk via Dolma La Pass on Day 7, and back to Darchen on Day 8.

                      • Yes. The route passes along Lake Manasarovar on Day 5, with an optional hike to Chiu Gompa, before continuing to Darchen.

                      • A Chinese visa, a Tibet Travel Permit, an Alien's Travel Permit, and a Military Area Permit are required, since the route travels into Ngari, a restricted border region. These are arranged by the agency once your passport details are submitted.

                      • Some previous experience at high altitude is recommended. While the Kora is walked at a manageable pace with lodge accommodation, it still involves three consecutive days of walking and crossing a pass above 5,600 m.

                      • Flights in this region depend on weather and can be delayed at short notice. It is advisable to keep some flexibility around Day 4 and Day 9 in case of schedule changes.

                      Similar Trips
                      View All Trips

                      Ask a Question