Destination: China

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Tibet: Mt Kailash Pilgrimage

15 TO 23 DAYS

A rugged mini-expedition to one of the remotest and most sacred corners of Asia. Mt Kailash, Lake Manasarovar and the ruins of the Guge kingdom are the highlights here. Land Cruiser hire will cost US$600-700 per person.

Much talked about, but little visited, is Mt Kailash out in western Tibet. The easiest way to get here is by rented Land Cruiser. If you just want to visit Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, the most direct route is the southern one (870km), a four-day drive from Lhasa along the northern spine of the Himalaya. A kora (pilgrimage circuit) of the mountain will take three or four days and you should allow at least a day afterwards to relax at Lake Manasarovar, probably at Chiu Monastery. Pilgrims traditionally then visit the sacred hot springs at Tirthapuri.

An ambitious but rewarding alternative is to travel out from Lhasa along the longer (1700km) northern route to Ali and back along the southern route, a loop that will take 21 or, preferably, 24 days. The six-day drive from Lhasa to Ali is superbly scenic but the towns en route are soulless so consider camping somewhere such as Tagyel-tso. From Ali you can make an overnight visit to Pangong-tso and Rutok Monastery, before heading down to Zanda and Thöling Monastery. Allow at least two days here, with a day to explore the amazing Guge Kingdom ruins at Tsaparang. From Thöling it’s a day’s drive to Mt Kailash, though most groups stop overnight at Tirthapuri en route.

If you are heading to Nepal from Mt Kailash, it’s well worth taking the short cut south via stunning Peiku-tso and its views of Mt Shishapangma, to join the Friendship Hwy near Nyalam.

It’s possible to cover many of these sights by public transport or hitching but for this you’ll need a month or more.