Mount Kailash Pilgrimage, Tibet

country:	Tibet
location:	Everest Base Camp, Mount Kailash
trip type:	High altitude, introductory trekking holidays
departures:	2008: 8 Jul, 26 Aug, 30 Sep
price:	From €1400 (20 days) excluding flights for group departures (min 4 people). Private departures available at any time, from €1300 - €1850 depending on number of people travelling (2-6 people)

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Tibet holidays

Mount Kailash holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

A pilgrimage to the sacred mountain of Tibet. Sacred spaces, stunning landscapes, magnificent temples, mountain passes, snow-capped peaks, nomad camps, pilgrims – a journey to stir the senses & nourish the soul.

Explore the holy city of Lhasa where history, art, commerce and religion meld into an unforgettable experience. Marvel at the great monastic complexes of Gyantse, Shigatse and Sakya.

The 3-day circumambulation of the world's most sacred mountain is tough, but cleanses you of the sins of a lifetime - relax afterwards beside Lake Manasarovar, legendary source of the four great rivers of South Asia.

Of all the destinations in Asia, this is the most sacred and sublime.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Arrive in Kathmandu or Chengdu.
Day 2:	City tour, Kathmandu or Panda breeding center & cultural show, Chengdu.
Day 3:	Early morning flight to Lhasa.
Day 4-6:	Lhasa - explore this fantastic city including guided tours of the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung & Sera Monasteries.
Day 7:	A scenic drive to Gyantse where you visit Pelkor Choede & Gyantse Kumbum before the short drive to Shigatse.
Day 8-9:	Tashilumpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama and Sakya, once the heart of Tibetan political power.
Day 10-12:	Magnificent valleys, herds of grazing yak, goats and sheep, passes topped by prayer flags and few permanent settlements mark the journey towards Tibet’s ancient heartland.
Day 13-15:	The giant snow-topped pyramid of Kailash stands apart and distinct from those around it, dominating the landscape. The 53-kilometer kora is one of the most sacred of pilgrimage circuits in the world. The four great rivers (Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Indus and Ganges) have their source near Lake Manasarovar. It is an incredibly beautiful lake, usually cobalt blue, though can turn into an angry, churning black during storms.
Day 16-18:	Retrace the route as far as Saga before turning south via the mirror-like Piku Tso (lake) towards Lao Tingri.
Day 19:	A day trip up to Everest Base Camp affords a spectacular close-up view of the world’s tallest mountain.
Day 20:	Awesome passes are followed by the dramatic descent to Zhangmu and on to Kathmandu.

travellers' tales

The Tibetan trip was spectacular ... I found the operator in Nepal to be very professional and helpful. (more)

this type of trip

This is a small group trip, escorted by an experienced tour leader and/or Tibetan guide. This itinerary operates in remote areas. It is by nature an 'expedition' not conventional holiday; conditions are harsher, events less predictable, infrastructure less developed and the lifestyles very different to those you are familiar with. The standards of accommodation and communications are often not up to Western levels. However good our organization is, we are at the mercy of the unexpected, and while most of the time things go smoothly, this cannot be guaranteed.

how this holiday makes a difference

Responsible Tourism guidelines are distributed to all traveller. We use Tibetan drivers and interpreter/guide and privately owned Tibetan hotel. All garbage removed or buried/burned as appropriate and refilling water bottles from boiled water strongly encouraged.

Groups encouraged to visit and support Project for the Blind, Lhasa and visits to small ‘off the beaten track’ temples offer quite a different atmosphere to the larger institutions. Groups are strongly encouraged to respect non-photography in temples and we encourage discussions of history, religion, culture, politics etc.

Project Support: Project for the Blind commenced in 1998 in Lhasa with the opening of the first rehabilitation and training center for the blind in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Groups are encouraged to visit and make contributions both through interaction and financial. The main goal is the integration and acceptation of the blind in the Tibetan society, through the four major projects:

Implementation of a preparatory school for blind children
Production of educational materials for the blind.
Preparation of a reintegration program, facilitating the return to local schools and home life.
Realization of a vocational training which gives blind people an opportunity and skills to generate their own income.

Dickey Orphanage: This is a privately run and financed orphanage established by a local Lhasa woman in her own home. They expect to expand to much needed larger premises soon as the result of a private donation. She is currently supporting 55 orphan and abandoned children of all ages. Visiting the orphanage and meeting the family and children is a heartwarming experience for all.

Schools: Whilst remote schools are financially supported by the government access to learning materials is often restricted by access to cities to purchase supplies. In some villages, eg Samye, leaders have developed relations with schools and purchase materials (exercise books, pencils etc) in Lhasa for delivery to the school. This is administered on an order taken on one visit, materials delivered next visit basis to ensure schools receive exactly what they need (learning to write in 3 very different scripts means differently ruled exercise books for each). Groups are offered the option to contribute to or cover the cost of such purchases.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

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