DAY 01
Arrive in Lhasa
Meet your guide at the airport or station, transfer into Lhasa and rest. Keep your first afternoon free to adjust to the altitude.
Overnight · Lhasa← All journeys
SAMPLE JOURNEY / 17 DAYS
Western Tibet & Guge · 17 Days.
Everest, western Tibet’s Guge heritage and the Mount Kailash circuit.
Photo: Jean-Marie Hullot · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit
Tibet travel documents
International visitors should arrange travel documents before booking transport into Tibet. Requirements depend on nationality, entry status, route and travel dates.
- Passport and China entry status. Have a valid passport and the Chinese visa or visa-free entry eligibility that applies to you. Share copies only through the appointed travel operator's secure process.
- Tibet Travel Permit. Foreign tourists need Tibet-specific travel approval. A qualified local travel operator will check your itinerary, travel dates, arrival and departure points and arrange the approved services. Travelers using a Taiwan compatriot travel permit should ask the operator about their separate document process.
- Extra permissions for some routes. Everest, border areas and other restricted places may require additional travel or border permissions. The operator must confirm what applies to your exact route before accepting a booking.
- Plan ahead. Do not book non-refundable travel until the operator has confirmed entry, permits, route access and timing. Carry the approved documents and follow the approved itinerary.
Official guidance: travel permits for foreign nationals and electronic border-area permits. Please ask us to verify the current rules for your trip.
AT A GLANCE
Lhasa · Shigatse · Everest area · Saga · Darchen · Guge area · Driapuk area · Dzultripuk area · Gyirong · Tingri
Everest, western Tibet’s Guge heritage and the Mount Kailash circuit.
Ask about this routeTHE ITINERARY
Day by day.
DAY 02
Drepung and Sera
Visit the Lhasa monasteries while allowing time for acclimatization.
Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery
Overnight · LhasaDAY 03
Lhasa landmarks
Visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, subject to reservations and local guidance.
Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Barkhor
Overnight · LhasaDAY 04
Yamdrok to Shigatse
Travel past Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier to Shigatse.
Yamdrok Lake Karola Glacier
Overnight · ShigatseDAY 05
Shigatse to Everest
Visit Tashilhunpo if scheduling allows, then continue towards the Everest area.
Tashilhunpo Monastery Everest North Face
Overnight · Everest area
Photo credit
Photo: Jan Kranendonk (https://www.jankranendonk.nl) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit
DAY 06
Everest area to Saga
Travel west via Peiku Lake and views of Shishapangma towards Saga.
Peiku Lake Mount Shishapangma
Overnight · SagaDAY 07
Saga to Darchen
Continue across the western Tibet plateau towards Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.
Lake Manasarovar Mount Kailash
Overnight · DarchenDAY 08
Darchen to Guge area
Travel west towards the Toling and Guge heritage area if extra area permissions are approved.
Tsaparang · Guge heritage
Overnight · Guge areaDAY 09
Guge heritage
Explore the Guge ruins and surrounding plateau if open and permitted.
Tsaparang · Guge heritage Mount Kailash
Overnight · DarchenDAY 10
Kailash circuit: first stage
Begin the guided Kailash circuit from Darchen towards the Driapuk area. The walk is demanding and accommodation is basic.
Mount Kailash
Overnight · Driapuk areaDAY 11
Kailash circuit: Dolma La
Cross the high Dolma La section only with the specialist guide and in safe conditions. This is the most demanding stage.
Mount Kailash
Overnight · Dzultripuk areaDAY 12
Complete the circuit and Manasarovar
Finish the walking circuit and visit Lake Manasarovar if timing and access allow.
Mount Kailash Lake Manasarovar
Overnight · DarchenDAY 13
Darchen back to Saga
Travel east across the plateau towards Saga after the Kailash circuit.
Mount Kailash
Overnight · SagaDAY 14
Saga to Gyirong valley
Continue to Gyirong valley only if road and security restrictions permit; the national gate is excluded while the border corridor remains controlled.
Peiku Lake
Overnight · GyirongDAY 15
Gyirong to Tingri
Return via Peiku Lake and Himalayan viewpoints towards Tingri.
Peiku Lake Mount Shishapangma
Overnight · TingriDAY 16
Tingri to Lhasa
Make the long return drive to Lhasa via Shigatse.
Potala Palace
Overnight · LhasaDAY 17
Depart Lhasa
Transfer to the airport or railway station for your onward journey. Plan the departure time with your guide.
Onward travelThis is a planning outline from a supplied operator itinerary. The local qualified operator must confirm permits, current access, transport, guiding and accommodation before it can be offered. This is a remote specialist trip. The high-altitude trek requires an experienced local operator, medical and fitness assessment, appropriate equipment, and a permit/access review. The public outline is not a confirmed expedition. The source includes a possible Gyirong national-gate side visit; it is excluded while the port corridor remains controlled.
IMAGES FROM THE ROUTE
The places behind the journey.
Photo credit
Photo: Jan Kranendonk (https://www.jankranendonk.nl) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Cropped to fit
