Lhasa - Mt. Kailash and Guge Kingdom - Kathmandu
"Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse-Lhatse-Saga-Mount Kailash-Tirthapuri-Guge Kingdom-Lake Manasarovara-Saga-Nyalam-Kathmandu"
The Kingdom of Guge, founded in the mid 9th century and became a focal point for the preservation of Buddhism in Tibet until the 17th century. Tholing and Tsaparang are the ruined former capitals of the ancient Guge Kingdom of Western Tibet and are rarely visited by the western travelers. Tholing, once Western Tibet’s most important monastic complex exists today in ruins. It was founded by Rinchen Zangpo, an India returned scholar and the greatest Sanskrit translators who played the key role in reviving Buddhism across the Tibetan plateau. Tholing is accessible in one day by jeep from Mount Kailash. Tsaparang, about an hour's drive west of Tholing is most probably the greatest interest to those with some knowledge of early Buddhist art. The ruins of Tsaparang extend along a ridge with two main areas of interest: the Red and White chapels and the Tsaparang Dzong. The ruins consist of ancient summer and winter palaces. The Red and White Chapels have the best of Tsaparang's murals.
We spend three nights in Lhasa a Buddhist Capital visiting the famous Potala Palace, the Jokhang, great monasteries and walk through the bustling Barkor market before taking drive towards Manasorvar. We drive through central Tibet via Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise Lake) and visit the cultural and religious centers of Gyantse and Shigatse.
We then drive across the wide-open spaces of the Tibetan Plateau to Lake Manasarovar. At Lake Manasarovara, you will have an extra day to explore the shores of the holy Lake. Religious travelers will perform rituals and meditation at the lakeside. We complete the parikrama or the circumambulation trek in 4 days, unlike other regular trekkers who complete it in 3 days. Then, we head west towards the Guge Kingdom. Explore the ruins of Guge Kingdom in Tsaparang and Tholing and retrace drive all the way to Saga from where you will head towards Nepal via Nyalam.
Itinerary
Day 01: Flight to Lhasa (3,595m):
Day 02-03: At Lhasa:
Day 04: Drive to Gyantse.( 3,950m, 260km, 6 hrs):
Day 05: Drive to Shigatse (3,900m, 90km, 2 hrs):
Day 06: Drive to Lhatse (4,050m, 150km, 5 hrs):
Day 07: Drive to Saga (4,600m, 306km, 7-8 hrs):
Day 08: Drive to Paryang (4750 m, 250 km, 8 hrs):
Day 09: To Lake Manasarovara (4,560m, 260 KMS, 8 hrs):
Day 10: An extra day in the Lake Manasarovara:
Day 11: To Darchen (4,560m, 30 km):
Day 12: Commence the Circumambulation Trek (6 hrs):
Day 13: At Driraphuk Gompa.:
Day 14: Trek to Zuthulphuk Gompa (4,790, 6 hrs):
Day 15: Finish trek and drive to Tirthapuri:
Day 16-17: Explore the ruins of Guge Kingdom:
Day 18-19-20: Drive back to Saga.:
Day 21: To Nyalam:
Day 22: Drive to Kathmandu:
Day 23: Departure
