Autumn Expedition to Mount Kailash
Golden Autumn in Tibet
Tour Program
Detailed description of each day of travel
Arrival in Kathmandu
Welcome at Kathmandu airport and transfer to the hotel. In the evening, the group meets and we run a programme briefing, covering what makes the autumn season in Tibet special.
Kathmandu — Lhasa
Morning flight to Lhasa. The crystal-clear autumn sky reveals stunning views of the Himalayas. Rest and the start of acclimatisation.
Potala Palace
A visit to the Potala Palace in the autumn sunlight. We stroll through the old town of Lhasa, where golden poplar leaves line the streets.
Monasteries of Lhasa
A visit to the Sera and Drepung monasteries. The autumn season is harvest festival time in Tibet, lending the monasteries a special atmosphere.
Lhasa — Shigatse
We cross the Kamba-La pass. Lake Yamdrok glows in autumn colours, its turquoise especially deep against the golden hills.
Tashilhunpo Monastery
A visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lamas. The golden autumn sun lights up the 26-metre statue of Maitreya.
Shigatse — Saga
We travel across the high-altitude plateau. Autumn brings exceptional clarity here, with visibility reaching hundreds of kilometres. Yak herds prepare for winter.
Saga — Manasarovar
We arrive at Lake Manasarovar. The first view of Kailash in the crystal-clear autumn air is exceptionally sharp. Meditation at sunset.
A Day at Manasarovar
A full day at the sacred lake. The water is cool, but a ritual bath is possible for those who wish. A kora around part of the lake and meditation at dawn.
Manasarovar — Darchen
We travel to Darchen, the last chance to prepare before the kora. In autumn there are fewer pilgrims on the route, for a more solitary experience.
Kora: Day 1
The kora begins with the trek to Dirapuk. The autumn sun softly lights the north face of Kailash. Night temperatures are already low, down to -10°C.
Kora: Day 2 — Drolma-La Pass
The ascent to the Drolma-La pass. In September the snow on the pass is minimal, but frost is possible overnight. The sacred Drolma rock stands in the autumn stillness.
Kora: Day 3
We complete the kora with the final stretch back to Darchen, celebrating the end of the pilgrimage in the last warm days of the season.
Rest Day
A free day to recover. This is one of the last groups of the season — after September the pass closes until spring.
Darchen — Saga
The journey back begins with a farewell look at Kailash, which will soon disappear into the winter snows.
Saga — Shigatse
We continue the drive across the golden steppes of Tibet, past the last yak caravans before winter.
Shigatse — Gyantse
We travel to Gyantse and visit the Pelkor Chode Monastery and the Kumbum stupa. The autumn barley harvest fills the fields around the town.
Gyantse — Lhasa
We return to Lhasa, the city dressed in autumn colours with warm days and cool evenings.
Free Day in Lhasa
Our last day in Tibet. Time for souvenir shopping, walks through the city and a farewell to this sacred land until spring.
Lhasa — Kathmandu
Morning flight to Kathmandu, with a last look at Tibet from the air. A farewell dinner for the group.
Departure Home
Transfer to the airport and the close of the autumn pilgrimage. You head home with the unique experience of the season's final expedition.