$6995 ex Chengdu, China
(All inclusive except some meals and refreshments)
Extended 5 day Kora of Mount Kailash
Expert guides, drivers, cooks and crew
Best available transport and accommodation
Return flights Chengdu to Lhasa
8 days sightseeing around Lhasa, allowing comprehensive acclimatization
Personal service - be welcomed to Monasteries and Guest Houses as family.
“Snow Jewel” to Tibetans, Mount Kailash, or Gang Rinpoche, the king of Rinpoches, is an incredibly sacred place of potent spiritual power. The ultimate pilgrimage, it is revered by several traditions, being honoured by the Bön, Buddhists, Hindu and Jain traditions. Mount Kailash is a mountain venerated as the centre point of the manifest universe.
A kora (or devotional circumambulation) of Mount Kailash forms the main part of this journey however we will also explore the major religious and cultural sites of Tibet spending five days in Lhasa and visiting monasteries and sacred sites on the way to Kailash. The kora of Kailash and travelling on the Tibetan plateau for the first time is both a liberating and taxing experience emotionally, physically and spiritually. To allow for a smoother experience and more time for devotional practice and appreciation of the mountain we take a gentle five day kora. To cater for varied needs and fitness levels, we also have tents, yaks, excellent guides and cooks and provide high standard four wheel drive vehicles and the best drivers to transport
the group.
DAY 1, 30 June, Arrive Chengdu, China Group meeting and orientation before we venture into Tibet.
DAY 2, 1 July, Fly to Lhasa NEW MOON Today we arrive in the holy city of Lhasa on the roof of the world at 3600 – 3800 metres above sea level. From my experience the body adjusts amazingly to altitude change as long as it is given sufficient opportunity through complete rest. Despite the desire to rush out and see the sights of Lhasa we will spend most of the day resting sipping hot drinks, taking room service and best of all sleeping, in order to allow the ultimate wisdom of our bodies to adjust to the climate and enjoying some inner time in sync with the New Moon.
Jokhang Temple
DAY 3, 2 July, Jokhang Today we visit the holiest of shrines in Tibet, the Jokhang, the main temple of Lhasa and Tibet, receiving the blessings of Jowo Rinpoche, the oldest and most revered statue or Buddha image in the Land of Snows. Afterwards we can take a stroll around the Barkhor. Please note as part of the acclimatization process, we will take a leisurely pace allowing for a deeper connection with the places we visit and for our bodies to adjust to life on the Tibetan Plateau. It is recommended that you pay close attention to your body’s messages during the acclimatization process and if required, spend an afternoon or morning in bed for optimum adjustment prior to the Kailash Pilgrimage.
DAY 4, 3 July, Ramoche/Norbulingka We visit the Dalai Lama’s summer palace, the Norbulingka. A gentler stately home compared to the Potala’s impressive but very masculine and austere outlook, Norbulingka is like a sanctuary away from the rigours of state where particularly the Fourteenth Dalai Lama appreciated the more natural environment and nurturing energy. This is the place from where the Dalai Lama escaped in 1959, dressed as a Tibetan soldier, when he fled Tibet. We also visit the second most important temple in Lhasa, Ramoche, the original home of the Jowo Rinpoche, the sacred golden statue of Lord Buddha brought to Tibet from China when Princess Wengcheng, the Chinese Emperors daughter came to marry King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet.
DAY 5, 4 July, Drepung & Sera Monasteries An early morning drive will take us to the outskirts of Lhasa and Drepung Monastery, nestled on the side of a mountain with excellent views of Lhasa. Once one of Tibet’s largest monastery with about 20,000 monks, Drepung now is home to around 200 who struggle with the upkeep of the old stone buildings. If our timing is right we may have the opportunity to sit with the monks in the great hall for the daily chanting. In the afternoon we will visit Sera, the second of the three major Monasteries of Lhasa, where we will witness the spectacle of the monks’ energetic debating.
Debating Monks
DAY 6, 5 July, Drive to Lhamo Latso Lake Drive to Lhamo Latso, after Lake Manasarovar, Lhamo Latso Lake is the second most sacred lake in Tibet. Known as the Oracle Lake or Lake of Visions, where lamas and lay people go to receive guidance through a vision, specifically the regents of the Dalai Lamas would go there to seek a vision describing the whereabouts of the next Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. It takes its name from Lhamo the protective spirit of the Dalai Lamas and hence the main Spirit protector of Tibet. The route to the shore of the lake is treacherous and an expedition in itself, we will visit a pass overlooking Lhamo Latso, where nowadays most lamas go to make offerings and seek a vision.
DAY 7, 6 July, Lhamo Latso Lake In the morning we visit the pass overlooking this auspicious oracle lake for prayer and guidance on His Holiness, the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
DAY 8, 7 July, Nalendra Monastery and nunneries Nalendra Monastery is the home of the Chogye Trichen Rinpoches, head of the Tsarpa branch of the Sakya lineage. The last Chogye Trichen Rinpoche passed over in Kathmandu a few years ago and at the time of his passing he was considered Tibetan’s Buddhism’s highest tantric practitioner and was a former tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He left Nalendra Monastery in 1959, for India subsequently the monastery was ransacked by the Red army and has fairly recently had a small number of monks return. We also intend to visit a nunnery connected with Nalendra Monastery.
DAY 9, 8 July, Potala and drive to Shigatse In the morning we climb the steps up to the Potala Palace, which acted as a castle, monastery, seat of government, cathedral and parliament all rolled into one. We will spend the morning exploring the home and seat of power of the Dalai Lama’s, soaking up the blessings that seep from the walls and the many relics held within. Later we meet our drivers and guides for Kailash and depart in four-wheel drives on our journey to the Snow Jewel.
DAY 10, 9 July, Visit Shigatse and drive to Saga via Gyantse At Shigatse we visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama. With the improving standard of roads in Tibet it is a fairly comfortable and short drive to Gyantse. We should have the afternoon to explore the area. Gyantse is the home to an incredible stupa with one thousand and eight rooms each holding different Buddha statues. Followed by a full day’s driving to Saga, with beautiful high altitude scenery, taking the day very restfully, keeping warm and well hydrated as we inch our way closer to Kailash. We will be camping in traditional Tibetan tents or kurrs from here on which will be a wonderful experience akin to the traditional nomadic way of life.
Tibetan Nomad
DAY 11, 10 July, Drive to Paryang Now we head to Paryang the last stop before we actually view Mount Kailash, the main purpose of our journey. Time to reflect before we receive the mountain’s healing darshan.
DAY 12, 11 July, Drive to Darchen This is an exciting day’s journey. Before we actually view Kailash we pass Lake Manasarovar, for many the most sacred lake in Tibet. In terms of sacred sites it is the feminine counterpart to Mount Kailash and in terms of geology, the water that runs off Mount Kailash enters into the basin of this lake and then forms the three great rivers of Asia. Although the summit of Kailash is approximately 7000m, and we are driving along the plateau at about 4300m, Mount Kailash remains out of view until we come to a place just past Manasarovar where weather and gods permitting we will view the mountain in all its glory. We can place khatas and prostrate to receive the mountain’s blessing and honour this most sacred of sites. Then we will journey a short way to Darchen at the foot of Mount Kailash.
DAY 13, 12 July, Darchen Before we commence our kora we will visit Gyendrak Monastery a short drive away. The kora we are completing is the 53 km outer kora. Once you have completed 12 outer koras, you qualify to enter the inner kora. Gyendrak Monastery is situated right at the foot of Kailash, and close to the inner kora. We are doing a slower than usual kora with a full day at the North Face allowing the opportunity for rest, exploration and devotional practice. We also take two days rather than one to reach the north face, allowing plenty of time to visit sites of interest along the way and perform ceremonial rites at each place. A kora of Kailash is considered by Tibetans a spiritual rite of passage where you die to the old self and are reborn to the new self having cleared a lifetime’s worth of karma. One thing is for certain that whether it is the power of place that is determined by geomancy, and the enormous crystal that is Kailash or whether it is the spiritual beings who gather there, a kora of Kailash has a profound effect for cleansing and clearing the mind. It is like a diamond cutting through the layers of beliefs and misconceptions. We will sleep half way to the North Face.
Mt Kailash
DAY 14, 13 July, Kailash kora *(see itinerary below for people not walking the kora) Communing with this beautiful place we will continue with our kora with the opportunity to visit caves and gompas along the path heading to the North Face. Many famous Buddhist masters have visited and meditated in these caves, it is even said that Shakyamuni Buddha flew there taking many of his disciples with him.
DAY 15, 14 July, Kailash kora Today is a rest day at the North Face. Throughout the kora we walk though a valley and inside the inner ring of the valley is Mount Kailash. For most of the time Kailash is shielded by snow but at the North Face there is a small break in the valley and you can clamber over rocks and actually touch the crystal face of the mountain. There is also a small monastery there where many masters have stayed and received enlightenment. This is one of the most powerful places for you to gather and transmit merit. So we will have time for people to perform their spiritual practices and soak up the power of this place and also rest up for what will be for most people one of the most arduous emotional, spiritual and physical exertions of their life, in going through the pass tomorrow. Whilst a degree of physical fitness is required, from my experience the ease and grace for people performing and completing the kora depends to a large extent on their peace of mind and heart.
DAY 16, 15 July, Kailash kora FULL MOON You can’t really say this is a big day because the whole kora and pilgrimage is incredible, but this is the apex of the journey, the pass is about 5400metres though having said that we’d have spent most of the past ten days at around 4000 and above so our lungs will be well accustomed to the rarefied air. We cross a mountain stream that at this time of the year will probably no longer be frozen so we’re hopping from rock to rock with the assistance of our guides and sherpas and then we go up into some of the most amazing scenery in the world with rock faces carved like a natural temple. We rest at the high pass Droma-La, before descending through the point of rebirth. It’s a steep descent and the release of mental and emotional baggage is palpable. Some people feel euphoria. This is the more shaded side of the mountain and we walk along a river for several kilometres where we reach our campsite possibly as dark is descending to be welcomed by our guides and porters with a hot drink and probably the best night’s sleep of your life. Today is full moon and we will harness the power of the full moon and celebrate our journey.
DAY 17, 16 July, Kailash kora Today is the shortest walk of the kora, but it’s still several hours and we pass a very significant place where Milarepa, the most famous Tibetan yogi, meditated for many years around Kailash and purified his karma gaining enlightenment here. At this place he had a spiritual battle with a Bon practitioner in which he was victorious which allowed Buddhism to gain complete ascendancy in Tibet over the previously dominant Bon tradition which was an animistic religion. There is a small monastery where this event took place. A few kilometers walk after this is Darchen and the completion of the kora. From Darchen we will head by jeep to the hot springs of Chiu Gompa on the shores of Lake Manasarovar where there will be the opportunity to bathe in the springs. We will spend two nights on the shores of this lake, an incredibly soothing, nurturing and healing place to be after the exertion of our kora.
Lake Manasarovar
DAY 18, 17 July, Lake Manasarovar Rest day on the shores of this peaceful and powerful lake, soaking up the nurturing energy of the lake. We will drive a kora of the lake, a 105km circuit, visiting Gosul, Seralung and Chiu Gompas.
DAY 19, 18 July, Drive back to Saga We re-trace our path back to Lhasa with perhaps a physical tiredness but a real lightness of being.
DAY 20, 19 July, Drive back to Paryang
DAY 21, 20 July, Drive to Shigatse Tonight we will share a celebration meal and our experiences before our final night in Tibet.
DAY 22, 21 July, Fly to Chengdu Bon voyage meal.
DAY 23, 22 July, Fly back home
ITINERARY FOR PEOPLE NOT WALKING AT KAILASH
The kora of Mount Kailash is a tough walk and requires a certain level of fitness. Over the past few years a four wheel drive track has opened from Darchen to the North Face which allows those unable to walk to share in the majesty and power of Mount Kailash. For those not walking the kora the itinerary will differ from the above for the following days:
12 July --- In the morning visit Gompas, afternoon free time around Darchen staying the night at Mentsalkhang (Tibetan Medical Centre and University) 13 July --- Drive by 4WD jeep through spectacular scenery to the North Face and meet the group. 14 July --- Rest day at the North Face with the group 15 July --- Drive back to Mentsalkhang, visit Gompas and enjoy Mount Kailash under the magical full moon 16 July --- Rest in morning … drive to Manasarovar with the group
NOTES
The tour is ex Chengdu, based on twin share, excluding some meals, guide and porter tips and temple offerings.
The nature of the journey requires flexibility and the itinerary may be subject to change prior to commencing or whilst on the road.
All tour members are required to have a medical check up on enrolling for the tour and provide Transformational Tours with a doctors letter to confirm they are fit to travel and trek at altitude.
