15-Day Tibet Group Tour: Everest Base Camp & Mt. Kailash Kora

Summary

Everest Base Camp & Sacred Kailash Pilgrimage Adventure

If you want more than just mountain views—if you’re after real moments with locals, ancient monasteries, sunrise over Everest, or walking around sacred Mt Kailash—this trip delivers all that plus memories you’ll talk about for years.

What’s the experience like?

Lhasa hits you with its thin air and bright sun the moment you step out of the airport. Our guide met us right at the arrivals—big smile, holding a sign with my name. The ride into town was quiet; I remember watching prayer flags fluttering on rooftops as we crossed the river into the city. The hotel was simple but clean, with yak butter tea waiting in the lobby. That first night in Lhasa, I barely slept—part nerves, part altitude.

Breakfast in Lhasa is always hearty—think steamed buns and sweet milk tea. We started early for Drepung Monastery, about an hour’s drive north. The place is massive; monks in deep red robes moved quietly through whitewashed courtyards. Our guide Tenzin explained how this was once home to thousands of monks—now it’s quieter but still feels alive. Later at Norbulingka, kids played under willow trees while locals picnicked on blankets. The Tibet Museum surprised me: old festival costumes behind glass, faded photos of horse races, even a model of a traditional house—tiny details that made me feel like I’d stepped back in time.

The next morning was all about Potala Palace. You can’t really prepare for those steps—they look endless from below. Inside, it’s cool and dim; the scent of incense hangs everywhere. Gold statues glint in alcoves and pilgrims shuffle past with murmured prayers. After lunch (yak noodle soup at a spot near Barkhor Street), we headed to Jokhang Temple—crowds of pilgrims circled clockwise outside, spinning prayer wheels as they went. Barkhor Street itself is a maze: vendors selling turquoise beads, old men playing dice on doorsteps, the occasional stray dog weaving through legs.

The road from Lhasa to Shigatse winds past Yamdrok Lake—a turquoise ribbon set against brown hillsides. Locals say its waters can wash away bad luck; I dipped my fingers in just to be safe (icy cold!). We stopped for photos by Karola Glacier—the wind there stings your face—and then reached Gyantse’s Pelkor Chode Monastery by late afternoon. The murals inside are faded but beautiful; our guide pointed out stories from Tibetan legends painted along the walls.

Shigatse felt busier than Lhasa—more trucks rumbling through town, more market stalls selling dried yak meat and apricots. Tashilunpo Monastery sits above it all; monks chanting echoed off stone walls as we wandered inside. Lunch in Lhatse was simple: fried rice and salty butter tea at a tiny roadside café called “Snowland.” After crossing Tsola and Gyatsola passes (the air gets so thin your head buzzes), we finally entered Everest National Nature Reserve just before sunset. At Gawula Pass, clouds parted for a few minutes and there she was—Everest’s peak glowing gold against the sky.

Sleeping at Everest Base Camp is basic—shared tents with thick blankets and not much else—but waking up to see sunrise over Everest makes up for any discomfort (bring earplugs; the wind rattles everything). On the way to Saga, we glimpsed wild donkeys grazing near Lake Peikutso and caught sight of Shishapangma’s snowy summit peeking through clouds.

The drive toward Darchen is long but never dull: grasslands dotted with yaks, nomad tents flapping in the breeze, kids waving as our bus passed by their villages. Crossing Mayomla Pass gave us our first view of Mt Naimonanyi—a sharp white triangle against endless sky. Darchen itself is small but lively; porters waited outside guesthouses offering help with bags or arranging yaks for the trek ahead.

The three-day Mt Kailash kora trek starts early from Sarshung Valley after a short eco-bus ride (the driver played soft Tibetan pop music). Meeting our porter—a wiry man named Dorje who laughed at my heavy backpack—we set off along the Lachu River valley toward Drirapuk Monastery. The trail is rocky but manageable; every now and then you catch glimpses of Kailash’s west face looming above you like something out of a dream.

Day two is tough: climbing up Dromala Pass at over 5,600 meters left me breathless (literally). Prayer flags snap in the wind at the top; everyone stops for photos and a quick snack before heading down into a long valley where nomad tents serve hot tea (sweet relief). Lunch was noodles at Shabjay Dakpo tent—a smoky place filled with trekkers swapping stories about blisters and altitude headaches.

The last stretch back to Darchen felt almost easy by comparison—a gentle walk along grassy slopes with views opening up toward Lake Manasarovar in the distance. We stopped by Zutulpuk Monastery where our guide showed us Milarepa’s handprint pressed into stone inside a tiny cave (hard to believe until you see it yourself). Later that day we drove to Lake Manasarovar—the water so clear you could see fish darting near shore—and watched local women collecting driftwood as dusk settled over the hills.

The return journey winds through valleys scattered with purple wildflowers and herds of sheep grazing under watchful dogs’ eyes. In Sakya County we visited Sakya Monastery—the “second Dunhuang”—where Yuan Dynasty murals cover every wall in deep reds and blues; our guide explained how each painting tells part of Tibet’s long history.

Back in Lhasa for one last night, I wandered Barkhor Street again just before dinner—the smell of roasting barley hung in the air while shopkeepers packed up their stalls for the evening. It felt good to end where we began: tired but full of new stories (and maybe just a little bit changed).

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Lhasa

• Pick up and transfer to hotel

Day 2 — Lhasa Monasteries and Museum

• Visit Drepung Monastery
• Explore Tibet Museum
• Visit Norbulingka royal garden

Day 3 — Lhasa Landmarks Tour

• Visit Potala Palace
• Visit Jokhang Temple
• Explore Barkhor Street

Day 4 — Lhasa to Shigatse via Gyantse

• Visit Yamdrok Lake
• View Karola Glacier roadside
• Visit Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gyantse

Day 5 — Shigatse to Everest Base Camp

• Visit Tashilunpo Monastery and lunch in Lhatse
• Drive through passes to Everest Base Camp

Day 6 — Everest Base Camp to Saga

• Sunrise at Everest Base Camp and drive to Saga

Day 7 — Saga to Darchen

• Drive with views of Himalayas and local villages

Day 8 — Kailash Kora Day 1 Trek

• Eco-bus to Sarshung Valley and trek to Dirapuk Monastery

Day 9 — Kailash Kora Day 2 Trek

• Trek over Dromala Pass to Zutulpuk Monastery

Day 10 — Kailash Kora Day 3 and Drive

• Trek to Darchen, eco-bus to Lake Manasarovar, then drive to Zhongba

Day 11 — Zhongba to Lhatse Drive

• Drive crossing mountain passes and scenic views

Day 12 — Lhatse to Shigatse via Sakya

• Visit Sakya Monastery

Day 13 — Shigatse to Lhasa Drive

• Visit Tibetan Incense Workshop in Nyemo

Day 14 — Free Day in Lhasa

• Free time or optional activities in Lhasa

Day 15 — Departure from Lhasa

• Transfer to airport or railway station

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for solo travelers?

Yes! Solo travelers are welcome but should book well ahead (at least 50 days) so we can arrange permits and possibly match you with another traveler if you'd like to share rooms.

How difficult is the Mt Kailash kora trek?

The kora trek is challenging due to high altitude (over 5,600m at Dromala Pass) and long walking days (up to 22km). Good fitness is needed but porters/yaks can help carry bags if arranged locally.

What kind of accommodation should I expect?

You’ll stay mostly in comfortable 3-4 star hotels or guesthouses in cities/towns; remote areas like EBC or during kora use shared dorms or nomad tents—basic but clean enough for a night or two!

Are all permits included?

Yes—all necessary Tibet travel permits are included as part of your booking fee.

Can I join extra activities on free days?

If other group members agree and regulations allow it (foreigners must be accompanied by guides), yes! Just ask your guide who’ll help organize something fun together.

What’s included

Your local English-speaking guide will be with you throughout—from airport pickup right through every monastery visit or mountain pass crossing. All entrance fees listed are covered plus comfy hotels/guesthouses as per itinerary (with sleeping bag provided when needed). Permits? Sorted! You’ll get two bottles of mineral water daily plus shuttle bus fees for Mt Kailash included too—and an oxygen tank on hand just in case anyone needs it at altitude.

Airport/train transfers are arranged on arrival/departure days according to schedule.

If you need porters/yaks during kora or want single room upgrades let us know—we’ll help arrange those extras locally!