KATHMANDU Depart Melbourne for Kathmandu, Nepal. Transfer from airport to Hotel in Thamel a concentration of shops, restaurants, bars and other touristy facilities.

KATHMANDU: Bodanath Stupa date to the 5th century and is situated on the Kathmandu-Lhasa trade route, a place for pilgrims for centuries. Each segment represents the five elements: base -earth, dome -water, sphere -fire, parasols -air and pinnacle- ether. The famous red-rimmed, blue Buddha eyes gaze out from each of the four sides atop the huge white dome splashed with yellow, watching over pilgrims as they walk around the base.

KATHMANDU to LHASA Flight 0830 departure - Flight takes aprox. 1hr 10 minutes. During the flight you pass over the Yarlang Tsangpo River, Lake Yamdrok and can see (weather permitting) Mt. Kanchenjunga 8586m, Mt. Makalu 8463m and Mt Everest 8848m.Lhasa 3650 mts. – Acclimatise to the altitude. Morning tour of the Potala Palace one of the world’s most famous architectural works. Built over many centuries it dates back to the 7 th and served as a winter residence and place for worship for the different Dalai Lama’s from the 5 the to present day (now in exile in India). It houses some very impressive 3 dimensional mandalas created in gold and precious stones. Afternoon tour of Drepung monastery 5 km west of Lhasa. Founded in 1419 by Jamyang Choje it was home to about 7,700 monks and was the largest monastery of Tibet. It holds many Buddhist relics, sculptures, and art works.

LHASA Morning tour of Sera Monastery at the foot of Wundu Hill, north of Lhasa and founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, disciple of Tsongkarpa. This is a Gelugpa Sect monastery. Afternoon visit the Jokhang Temple situated in the Barkhor – the old part of Lhasa. Built in the mid 7th century it is the spiritual heart of Tibet’- the holiest destination for Tibetan pilgrims and hub of innumerable shops and street stalls selling all sorts of Tibetan arti-facts and jewellery.

Lhasa to Gyantse 3,950 M.6-7 HRS drive crossing the great river of Tibet the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahamputra). We also cross the Kamba La pass 4794M and the Karo La pass 5010m to pass by the Yamdrok lake (famous turquoise lake)

Gyantse sits on the northern bank of the Nyang Chu river and once the capitol of this region. Visit the unique Phalkor Monastery a center for 3 different sects of Buddhism – Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Bhuton. Annually at Saga Dawa - the day of Buddha's enlightenment, nirvana and paranivana is celebrated. See Tibetan pilgrims, Lama dances, Sand Mandalas and hopefully the unrolling of the giant silk thanka. This is the oldest scroll painting in Tibet, dating back 480 years and measuring aprox. 40 x 60 m!! Climb the Khumbum Stupa built around 1400, the 2nd largest stupa in the world (9 stories high) which houses fine examples of Newari, Tibetan and Nepalese artistry. It is honeycombed with 77 chapels – superb wall paintings and has 100,000 images, thus called the, ‘100,000 image Pogoda’ - Khumbum. DRIVE late afternnon 1½ HRS to Xigatse 3,900 M settle into Hotel

XIGATSE Morning visit to Tashlumpo Monastery exploring the different chapels.

Tashilumpo is the biggest Gelugpa monastry in the Tsang region was established by Gedrun

Drup (first Dalai Lama) a disciple of Tsong Karpa and founder of the Gelugpa sect. Built in 1447 and expanded by each successive Panchen Lama. Tashilumpo houses the huge golden statue of the Maitreya Buddha, erected by the 9 th Panchen Lama in 1914. It took four years to build this 26m high statue made of 275 kilos of gold and precious gems such as turquoise, pearls, amber and coral. See the 4th Panchen Lama’s stupa , built in 1662 standing 11 meters high and covered in solid silver and gold.

Depart Lhatse for Saga 4400m and 7 hours stopping at the healing hot springs for a short swim. Visit SHAKYA MONASTERY if there is time.
Tonight we camp and meet the Sherpa crew who will have all the equipment for us to do our three day kora walk around Mt Kailsah. The road from here is rough and slow going.

Saga / Paryang, 250km, 5-6hours, 4600m high Drive from Saga to Paryang through windswept country passing villages and nomads Yak herders. Overnight at Paryang (Guest House dorm)

Paryang / Lake Manasarovar, 270km, 4-5hours, 4558m high Drive from Paryang to Lake Manasarovar through open territory with a view of distant mountains, Yak herders camp, if lucky might come across a herd of Kang (Wild Ass), you will have the first sight of Holy Kailash and Manasarovara. Overnight at Chiu Monastery (Guest house dorm.)

Lake Manasarovar / Darchen, 60km, 1.5hours, 4560m high Manasarovara is the lake of compassion, tranquility and bliss. Morning Bath then head towards Tarchen to prepare for trek. Overnight at Darchen (Guest house dorm).

Start trek around Mt Kailash from Darchen to Dira-puk Monastery, 20km, takes about 5 - 6hours. Camp overnight. The first day's parikarama or kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other local pilgrims chanting and praying. As we are circumambulating Mt. Kailash at the auspicious time of Saga Dawa there is a constant merit of 100 thousand times – also said to release past Karma. The trail leads to few ups and downs till we reach our camp at Dirapuk (4,750 m.). Camp on grassy meadows viewing of the north west face of Kailash, at Dirapuk overnight.

Trek from Dira-puk Monastery to Zutul-puk Monastery by crossing Drolma-la Pass, 15KM, takes about 6 - 7hours . Camp overnight. Today kora leads to the higher side of the holy path just beneath Mount Kailash. The walk will bring us to the highest point at Drolma La, 5,200 m. before descending gradually towards the grassey area of Zuthulphuk for our overnight camp. Zuthulphuk has a small monastery.

Drive from Darchen to Saga via Paryang (520KM, 9hours, 4600M high). overnight at Saga ( Gusethouse).

Saga to old Tingri via Paik Tso Overnight Guest House & farewell to Sherpa crew.

Drive to Zhangmu 6-8 hrs crossing the Lalun La pass 5,050M to view some of the highest mountain Peaks in the world. Wind our way down to the Nepal border stopping at the famous yogi, Milaraepa’s cave. Guesthouse accommodation in Zhangmu.

Zhangmu to Kathmandu. Change from Jeep to bus at border.6-7 hoursMeander down the Bhotekoshi River gorge and crossing the famous friendship bridge as we head back to Khatmandu.

Kathmandu Rest up before catching our flight to Bangkok