Package Details

Morning:

After breakfast in Lhasa, embark on a journey across the Gangbala Pass (4,990m) to the celestial Yamdrok Lake – one of the world's highest freshwater lakes. Its crystalline turquoise waters, likened to liquid jade by pilgrims, are so pure they’re considered sacred drinking water. Continue past the Karola Glacier, a 500-year-old "Sleeping Ice Goddess" immortalized in the Tibetan film Red River Valley. More than a geological archive, its blue-ice folds resemble a time-sculpted masterpiece.

Afternoon:

Arrive in Shigatse, Tibet’s second city, for hotel check-in.

Morning:Depart Shigatse in the morning to explore the "Second Dunhuang" — Sakya Monastery. Founded over 900 years ago, the monastery’s walls are painted in symbolic colors: red (Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom), white (Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion), and blue (Vajrapani, the Bodhisattva of Power), giving the Sakya Sect its nickname "Flower School." After the visit, travel west through Lazi County ("Home of Tibetan Swords") to Saga, passing by Lang Tso, a small but strikingly clear lake.

Afternoon:Check into a local hotel in Saga. As a key stop for Kailash pilgrims, Saga hosts many Indian devotees and marks the starting point of the Ali South Route.

Morning：Drive along the paved Ali South Route to Zhongba County, where you’ll see the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra River (Horse Spring River). Pass through Payang Town, known for its traditional Tibetan architecture. Continue west over the Mayum La Pass (5,200m) to encounter the turquoise Gongzhu Tso, a fertile lakeside pasture with grazing cattle and sheep. After Gongzhu Tso, the Namunani Peak comes into view.

Afternoon：pay homage to the "Source of All Waters" — Manasarovar Lake. Walk along the kora path to purify your hands with holy water, joining devotees circumambulating the lake. Adjacent to Manasarovar lies Rakshas Tal ("Toxic Black Lake" in Tibetan), a saline "Ghost Lake" where neither humans nor livestock can drink the water, giving rise to its eerie name. Stay overnight in Darchen Town.

Morning ：photography of Mount Kailash: its ever-shifting clouds and light create a breathtaking spectacle, embodying both religious reverence and natural mystery.

Afternoon：After several hours, arrive at the Zanda Clay Forest, a surreal landscape of otherworldly, wind-sculpted formations. Enter the Guge Kingdom, the cradle of ancient Ali civilization that thrived in Tibet before vanishing mysteriously in the 17th century, leaving only ruins and legends. Energetic visitors can climb to the hilltop for a panoramic view of the kingdom’s remains.

Stay in Zanda County, the historical heart of the ancient Ali Kingdom.

Morning：Visit the "Treasure House of Flying Apsara Murals" — Toling Monastery, to explore the fusion of Guge art and Kashmiri styles. Depart Zanda afterward.

Afternoon：drive to Manasarovar Lake (20+ km southeast of Mount Kailash), revered as a "Celestial Pool" in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. Believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and a source of holy water that cleanses sins, it is a sacred site for Bon, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Nearby, revisit Rakshas Tal to witness its stark contrast with Manasarovar. Return to Darchen for the night.

Morning：depart from Saga, a border town west of Shigatse, and arrive at the shores of Peiku Tso. Here, you may encounter Tibetan wild asses and other animals, as well as the reflections of holy mountains in the lake. After a short stop, continue the journey, capturing photos of the vast snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and yak herds along the way. Travel along the G318 highway to see Mount Shishapangma (8,012 meters), known as the "Auspicious Holy Mountain," its snow-capped peaks glistening majestically in the sun from a distance.

Afternoon；head to the long-awaited Everest Base Camp. En route, stop at Gyawu La Pass, where, if lucky, you can see five snow-capped peaks over 8,000 meters from left to right: Makalu, Lhotse, Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma. Here, the snow-clad mountain range stretches before you, offering a stark confrontation with the grandeur of the universe. 

After alighting, take photos with the 8,848.86-meter Mount Everest monument, then freely visit the Rongbuk Monastery, the world’s highest-altitude temple. Many mountaineering experts consider Rongbuk Monastery the best vantage point to view Mount Everest. Visit the world’s highest-altitude themed post office beside the monastery, where you can drop postcards into the mailbox. 

After the visit, proceed to the hotel/guesthouse at the appropriate time.

Morning：depart for Shigatse. On a clear day, you will have another opportunity to admire the Himalayan mountain range. Upon arrival in Shigatse, visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the historic seat of successive Panchen Lamas. Explore highlights including the 26.2-meter-tall Jampa Buddha (the world’s tallest and largest copper statue of Maitreya), the stupa halls of the 10th and 4th Panchen Lamas, the joint stupa hall of the 5th to 9th Panchen Lamas, and the Tsogchen Grand Hall.

Afternoon：after the visit, we specially prepare a Tibetan hot pot celebration dinner to toast our journey! May our friendship continue. After the meal, check into a hotel in downtown Shigatse.