Customized Tour: 8-Day Pilgrimage Tour Yamdrok Lake, Mount Everest & Mount Kailash

Lhasa – Yamdrok Lake – Palkor Monastery – Shigatse 360km

After breakfast, we set out to cross the [Gangbala Mountain] at an altitude of 4,900 meters. At the entrance, the jade-like [Yamdrok Lake] appeared in front of us. Yamdrok Lake is the highest freshwater lake in the world and is also known as the holy lake in the sky. Under the sunlight at different times, it will show extremely rich layers of blue, like a dream. We walked close to Yamdrok Lake for about dozens of kilometers and enjoyed its beauty to our heart’s content. Then we came to the ancient city of Kangying – Gyantse, and after looking at the Zongshan Castle from afar, we went to Shigatse, an important town in the rear Tibet. After that, we visited the largest temple in the rear Tibet – Zhaxi Lhunpo Monastery. Stay in Shigatse at night.

Accommodation: Shigatse Gua San Hotel

Shigatse-Lhaze-Langcuo-Saga 500km

Depart from Shigatse to Saga at 8 am. The scenery along the way is picturesque, but the severely desertified sand on both sides of the road is a constant threat to vehicles passing by. The road is difficult to walk on, and part of it is sandy. Sangsang Township, Angren County is an important accommodation point on the northern route of Ali, and it is also a major transportation route on the northern route. Many vehicles stop here every day. The town has a complete range of shops, hotels and restaurants, and life is convenient. After dining in Sangsang, continue to Saga.

Accommodation: Saga (Guesthouse)

Saga-Zhongba-Payang-Tarchen 450 km

Main attractions: Himalayas, Payang Grassland, Mayumula Pass, Gongzhucuo

After breakfast, we set out from Saga and walked between the Himalayas and Gangdise Mountains. The south of the road is the Himalayas, and the north is the Himalayas south of the Gangdise Mountains. The altitude is above 7,000 meters. It is the highest mountain range in the world, distributed between China and Nepal, starting from Nanga Parbat in Kashmir in the west and ending at Nanga Bawa at the big bend of the Yarlung Zangbo River in the east, with a total length of 2,400 kilometers. The Gangdise Mountains run through the southwestern part of Tibet and are parallel to the Himalayas. Gangdise means the Lord of Mountains in Tibetan. The Gangdise Mountains connect to Nianqing Tanggula Mountains in the east. The entire mountain range is 1,100 kilometers long. Go through Zhongba and Payang to Tarqing, the foot of the sacred mountain

Accommodation: Tarqing (Guesthouse)

Tarchen- Circumambulation 25km

Main attractions: Holy Mountain – Gang Rinpoche Circumambulation

After breakfast, depart from Tarqing to the Tsada Earth Forest. Group members who like circumambulation can leave the group and spend two days circumambulating the mountain. The holy mountain Gang Rinpoche, which means “treasure of the snow mountain” in Tibetan. It is 6,656 meters above sea level and is the main peak of the Gangdise Mountains. It is located in the Menshi District of Purang County. Taqin is the starting point and end point of the circumambulation. There are countless places of interest and historical sites along the entire circumambulation route. There is a holy site almost every 500 meters, and there are legends and stories related to it. We set out early in the morning, leaving Taqin and heading west, slowly climbing about 2 kilometers. The mountain road passes a small hillside with a large Mani pile on it. Standing on the pile, you can look back at the vast morning view of the Baga grassland and the Namuani Snow Peak behind you. After that, we entered the Laqu Gorge. Not far from the entrance of the valley is the “Two-legged Pagoda”, which is a landmark building on the circumambulation path. The two legs of the pagoda form a door-shaped passage. Legend has it that this is the “Gate to the Holy Mountain Gangdise”. After walking about 9 kilometers, we arrived at the first temple on the circumambulation path – Qugu Temple. The circumambulation path is divided into two at the small bridge in front of Qugu Temple, running along the east and west banks of the Laqu River respectively, and the meeting point is Zhire Temple. The road on the west bank requires wading in some sections, and the road on the east side is better, but it is a little roundabout. After leaving Qugu Temple, the mountain road begins to gradually go up, but the slope is not large. Zhire Temple is located in the north of Gangrenboqi Peak, where the Bailong River, Zhonglong River and Zhuoma Laqu River converge. Zhire Temple offers accommodation, 40-65/person.

Accommodation: Guesthouse (self-pay)

Circumambulation – Tarchen 29km

After a simple breakfast, we set out to the east from Zhire Temple. The mountain road gradually rises. Within 8 kilometers to Zhuomala Pass, the altitude will rise to nearly 800 meters through four terraces. After climbing the first terrace, along the left side of the saddle between the two broad and flat peaks, we arrived at the foot of the second terrace at an altitude of 5,330 meters. This is the so-called “Sky Burial Terrace”. From the foot of the mountain to the top of the slope, the slope is full of discarded clothes, cloth strips and mani piles. This is a symbolic place of reincarnation. Continue climbing up to the third terrace, where the path winds through a one-kilometer-long rocky beach. It is said that this section of road covered with strange-shaped rocks is a place to test a person’s good and evil deeds in life. The fourth level is the most difficult. It takes an average person 2-3 hours to climb from the foot of the mountain to the pass at an altitude of 5,630 meters, and nearly half of the time is spent climbing the fourth level. The Zhuoma La Pass is also known as the “Tara Pass”. There is a large area of colorful prayer flags on the pass, which flutter in the wind. There are many scenic spots near this pass. The mountain road winds southward through a large meadow. The meadow is inlaid with huge stones and covered with gurgling streams, which then gradually converge into a larger river. Not far from Menqu, there is a “tent teahouse” on the roadside. The sour pork here is delicious, 7 yuan per bowl. After more than two hours of walking down from the teahouse, you can reach Zuchu Temple. Zuchu Temple is also called “Change Cave”. It is the third temple on the circumambulation road. There is a holy site of “The Immovable Ground Nail at the Northeast Corner of Gangdise” on the rock below the temple. More than an hour after leaving Zuchu Temple, you can see the vast Baga grassland through the distant canyon mouth. At the end of the canyon, the mountain road suddenly opens up, and there are several Mani piles on the roadside. Namunani stands tall at the end of the Baga grassland. The road ahead is to go west on the grassland. After about an hour, you will return to the end point of the circumambulation – Taqin.

Accommodation: Tarqing (Guesthouse)

Tarchen– Saga  529km

In the morning, we set out from Tarqing to Saga Zhaton Monastery. On the mountain pass in front of Lao Zhongba is an ancient monastery – Zhaton Monastery. The temple is small, but it has pagodas, prayer flags, prayer corridors, gates, and main halls. Red, white, green, blue, and yellow, five-color wind horses spread out from the top of the pole to the surroundings, flying against the background of blue sky and white clouds. After that, we set out for Sangsang. The scenery along the way is picturesque, but the severely desertified sand on both sides of the road is a constant threat to passing vehicles on the road. The road is difficult to walk on, and part of it is sandy. Sangsang Township, Angren County is an important accommodation point on the northern route of Ali, and it is also a major transportation route on the northern route. Many vehicles stop here every day. The town has a wide range of shops, hotels and restaurants, making life convenient.

Accommodation: Saga Guesthouse

Saga-Shigatse

After several days of traveling, we finally returned to a larger city.

Accommodation: Shigatse

Shigatse – Zashilhunpo Monastery – Lhasa

In the morning, visit Zashilhunpo Monastery, the resting place of the soul of the Panchen Lama and one of the six major monasteries of the Yellow Sect (ticket 55/person). Zashilhunpo Monastery was built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama Gendun Drupa, and later became the residence of successive Panchen Erdeni. In the afternoon, return to Lhasa along the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, and enjoy the scenery of the Yarlung Zangbo River Grassland Gorge and the desert in the rear Tibet on the way

Accommodation: Lhasa