In Nepal, part of our multinational group will spend five days with one of our guides. This is the fastest way to obtain entry permits into China and then Tibet. While the Nepalese Embassy prepares our documents, we will visit the most beautiful sites of ancient Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. We will stroll the city's bustling streets. We will make a pilgrimage to picturesque Buddhist monasteries, experience powerful energy stupas, and perform practices at natural power sites.

The other part of the group, whose entry into Tibet is visa-free, will fly with a second guide from Chengdu, China, to Lhasa, Tibet. The entire group will meet in Chengdu, China. Here, we will have the opportunity to stroll through the streets and parks of the Chinese city and visit a traditional Chinese bathhouse in the evening. Afterward, you will feel a true physical rebirth and a renewed readiness to begin our mystical journey to Tibet for a new spiritual experience, a turning away from the linear mind, and a resistance to all temporal processes. Bringing youth and energy.

DAY 1. MAY 1.
Meeting of the whole group in the city of Lhasa (Tibet).

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, one of the highest cities in the world (approximately 3,500 meters above sea level), and the ancient spiritual and governmental center of Tibet. Following the administrative reform of 1960, Lhasa Prefecture was established within the Tibet Autonomous Region, and the historic urban area became the Chengguan Prefecture. Currently, the prefecture's population is approximately 2 million, almost half of whom live within the historic city itself. Lhasa is also the traditional residence of the Dalai Lama. Literally translated from Tibetan, "lhasa" means "place of the gods."

We'll spend three days in Lhasa, staying in a comfortable 4-star hotel.
From May 1st to 3rd, we'll be making radial trips to visit ancient Tibetan monasteries and temples.
We will meditate and practice, contemplate, and connect with the unusual artifacts manifesting in these powerful energy places.
There will be free time for rest and acclimatization.

DAY 2. MAY 2.
Lhasa. Visit to the monasteries of Pabongka (3900m), Tashi Choling (4050m), and Chupsang Nannerri.

Pabongka means "Falcon Stone Mountain." It is one of the oldest monasteries in Tibet. It was founded in the 7th century CE by King Songtsen Gampo. According to legend, it was here that the king meditated, and it was at his command that the Tibetan script was created.
The monastery later became a key location for the great teacher Atisha, who lived and taught here in the 11th century.

The main building of the Pobonka Monastery is built on top of a huge boulder, the diameter of which is more than 30 m!

Locals believe this monastery is a model of the universe erected on the back of a turtle.
One legend says that during a time when the universe consisted of nothing but space, the deity Manjushri, out of compassion for living beings, manifested himself in the form of a cosmic turtle and gave teachings on astrology.
Natural caves still exist within the rock, used by monks for meditation. Pobongka holds the reputation of being the oldest cave monastery, and today, up to 50 monks of the Gelugpa sect live here.
Next monastery
We'll climb a high mountain to Tashi Choling, where we'll meet the monks who live there and ask them to lead us to the caves containing sacred water. They're located slightly above the monastery, next to the cells of the hermit monks, whom we'll also meet there.

Chupsang Nannerri Monastery was previously a nunnery, but now all pilgrims can stay there.


These three monasteries are connected by an invisible thread of a powerful energetic place.

Powerful streams of energy flow from the depths of the earth where these monasteries are located. To this day, monks come to these three monasteries to visit and meditate on these holy stones, which form the foundations of the monasteries.

DAY 3. MAY 3.
Visit to the Drak Yerpa (4885m) and Ganden (4300m) monasteries.

We continue to make radial trips from Lhasa to monasteries. Next on our program are two powerful energy monasteries:
Drak-Yerpa is a Buddhist monastery comprising a temple and a complex of ancient caves. It was here that such renowned masters as Padmasambhava, Sontsen Gampo, and Atisha meditated.
We will ascend and perform the Kora, examining all the monastery's temple buildings clockwise, and see rare statues of deities and spiritual teachers. We will also meditate and practice in the monastery's caves.

Next monastery:
Ganden Monastery was founded in 1409 by Lama Lobzang Tragpa Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), a highly revered figure in Tibet as the incarnation of the bodhisattva (deity) Manjushri. Tibetans call him Je Rinpoche ("venerable and precious").
The name "Ganden" translates as "bringing joy," and it is here, according to Tibetan belief, that the Buddha of the future, Maitreya Buddha, resides.
We will circumambulate the outer circle of this monastery and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views.

DAY 4. MAY 4.
Lhasa - Tsurpu. (4300m) – Damshung (4200 m)

Today we leave Lhasa and head north along the road to the center of our journey—mystical Kailash.
Our route will pass through a stunning land of sacred lakes and sacred valleys.
Our next stop is Tsurpu Monastery. 

Tsurpu Monastery serves as the traditional residence of the Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Karma Kagyu are also known as the "Black Hats."
This name comes from the crown awarded to the fifth Karmapa by the Chinese Emperor Yong-Gyol in 1407.
According to legend, the crown is made from the hair of 100,000 dakinis (goddesses) and decorated with gold.

The Karmapa is traditionally called the "King of Tibetan Yogis."
As yogis who have realized reality, the Karmapas are able to change that reality at will.
The current 17th Karmapa, who assumed the title in 1992, currently lives in India..

Tsurpu Monastery was founded by the first Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa (1110-1193, from Kham).
On the roof of the monastery building, we see a traditional decoration—an image of two deer and a Dharma wheel.
In the monastery's main hall is a small funerary chorten (stupa), which contains the relics of the 16th Karmapa.
Pilgrims especially venerate a small statue of Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, a 15th-century meditation master and teacher
of the 8th Karmapa, Mikyö Dorje. After his teacher's death, Mikyö Dorje made this statue and filled it with relics left over from Sangye Nyenpa's cremation. Afterward, the statue levitated and remained suspended for seven days.
It is still called "the statue hanging in the air."

Numerous other temples containing relics of previous Karmapas and dedicated to various deities have been built around the main temple.
We will also see the monks' quarters, meditation halls, a printing house, offices, and the summer residence of the current Karmapa.
In front of the entrance stands a large darchen (prayer pole) covered with yak skin and prayer flags.
We will visit the temple of the main protector deity (gonkhang). All the rooms of the temple are filled with images of wrathful deities, and the columns in front of the entrance are decorated with the severed heads of animals (goats and sheep).

Such a mystically seen picture will immerse us in the contemplation of mystical experience, through the surviving artifacts that have reached our days.

Damshung, a small town where we'll spend the night, is located near the Tashi Dor Peninsula.
Damshung County itself was founded in 1960 by the unification of three Tibetan dzongs. It's known for its festivals, yak races, and horse races.
We'll spend the night here in a nice, comfortable hotel.

DAY 5. MAY 5.
Nam-tso (4300m) – Tashi Dor – Bangoin (Bangor, 4500).

Visit to Lake Namtso and the Tashi Dor Peninsula.
Tibet's Lake District.

Our road runs along the Tibetan Plateau west of Damshung, at an altitude of approximately 4,700 meters.
There are numerous lakes here, all of which are considered sacred and revered by both Tibetans and followers of the Bon religion.

This region is the original land of the Bon people.
Walking this path will immerse us in a deep meditative state, and at the same time, we will experience a sense of expanded clarity. This space of silence and contemplation will perfectly facilitate inner preparation for Kailash.

So...
Lake Namtso is one of the highest lakes in the world (4,718 meters above sea level) and the second largest in Tibet (1,981 square kilometers). According to ancient belief, this salt lake, approximately 80 kilometers long, is the "lake of the soul of the Tibetan people."
Approaching the lake is considered especially important during the Year of the Horse. 

According to folklore, Nam-tso is a giant mirror of water that reflects the sky!
The color of the lake's water changes before your eyes, from bright turquoise to deep blue.
In Tibetan mythology, the lake is represented as a goddess of exceptional beauty and power, riding a dragon or bird.
The lake is a feminine manifestation of protective energy.

Mount Nyenchen-Tanghla, which rises above the southern shore of Namtso, is the polygamous consort of the lake goddess. The Nyenchen-Tanghla ridge reflects its snow-capped peaks in the turquoise surface of the lake, creating a rare combination of water, ice, and sky. Ancient cave shelters and rock carvings are found throughout Namtso. Meditation at Namtso purifies karma, enhances intuition, and helps during life's transitions.

Next, we'll travel to the Tashi Dor Peninsula, an important pilgrimage site with stone stupas, prayer flags, and views of the northern part of the lake.
Translated, it means "Blessed Stone Island." It's home to ancient meditation caves and small retreat cells. 

Tashi-Dor is considered the energy center of Nam-Tso, the point where the elements of water, wind, and earth converge.
This place is used by hermits and true yogis for long, solitary practices.
Many practitioners report a feeling of expanded perception here, with a particularly strong sense of space and silence.
On the peninsula, we will touch a rare relic—a special stone associated with a legend about the fulfillment of sincere intentions.
We will perform a ritual of circumambulation, offerings, and prayers for health, guidance, and protection.

On the peninsula, the acclimatization stage logically comes to an end.

Due to its remoteness, this place is untouched by mass tourism, and this Year of the Horse will offer us a unique opportunity to experience a pristine, world-ending experience away from the crowds!
This will set the right mood before visiting the Ali region and the kora around Kailash.
We'll spend the night in the small town of Bangoin, a 4-star hotel.

DAY 6. MAY 6.
Departure from Bangoin (Bangor) to Nyima.
Northern Tibet - "Lake Trilogy." Lakes: Siling, Dagze, and Dangra.

After an early breakfast, we depart Bangoin (Bangor).
The journey from Bangoin to Nyima takes about 5.5 hours, and from Nyima to Dangra another 2 hours.
The altitude gradually increases, and the landscape becomes more rugged and open:
wide plateaus, sparse nomad camps, herds of yaks, and a feeling of absolute remoteness from civilization.
This section of the journey is often perceived as the transition from the "outer journey" to the inner one.
We travel along the lake region of Tibet.

The first major stop is Lake Siling, one of the largest salt lakes in Tibet.
Siling is striking: its scale and open horizon, its cool, almost metallic color scheme,
its sense of strength and stability. The lake's name refers to the demon Siring, who was defeated by Guru Rinpoche himself. Legend has it that the demon still lives in the waters here. This lake is often perceived as a grounding place—it's good to simply stand here, gaze, and feel the stability beneath your feet after the previous days of acclimatization.

The route then leads to Lake Dagzetso, a lesser-known and rarely visited lake.
Unlike Siling, Dagzetso is more intimate, changing color depending on the light, creating a sense of solitude and softness. This place is almost uninhabited, and the silence here is so profound that it is called the "echo of the sky." It is a good place for a short stop, contemplation, and relaxation.
The lake is often called "transitional"—it connects the harsher spaces of the North with the sacred zone of Dangra.

Lake Dangra is the sacred heart of the day.
The day culminates with our arrival at Lake Dangra, one of the most sacred lakes of the Bon tradition, the ancient spiritual tradition of Tibet. In Bon cosmology, it is considered the source of ancient knowledge and power, linked to creation myths. The space at Dangra feels different: the silence deepens, attention naturally shifts inward, and the evening sky and water create an almost mirror-like state. Nearby, we'll visit a small monastery dedicated to the ancient knowledge of Bon.

Yungdrung Ling is one of the ancient monasteries of the Bon tradition, associated with the northern regions of Tibet.
The name translates as "Place of the Eternal Swastika," the symbol of Bon.
Overnight at a hotel near Lake Dangra.

DAY 7. MAY 7.
Departure from Dangra to Ganze 4700m (Gerdze) Lakes Tangchung-Tso and Tung-Tso.

An early departure from Lake Dangra. Mornings here are usually especially clear: still water, cool light, and scattered clouds. It's a peaceful farewell to the Bon region of the route—space releases gently, without a sharp break.
The road passes through the Changthang Plateau, one of the most desolate places in Tibet. Vast plains without landmarks, sparse nomadic camps, herds of yaks and kiangs, passes at altitudes of around 4,700–4,900 meters.

Our first stop is Tangchung Tso Lake.
It's elongated and calm, with gentle banks and a opaque water surface. Here we'll take a short break, stroll along the shore, and soak up the tranquility and even air of the heights.

The route then leads to Tung Tso, a salt lake with a more rugged character. It's exposed to the winds, the water is cooler, and the shoreline is more rugged. While Tung Tso is all about silence and gentleness, Tung Tso is all about strength and scale.
The contrast between these two lakes makes the day especially complete and memorable.

In the afternoon, arrive in Ganze (Gerdze), the regional capital. Check into a hotel, rest after the journey, and enjoy a hot dinner.

This point is an important transition point: the northern leg of the route ends here and the journey to Western Tibet, Ali, Guge, and Kailash begins.
Overnight in a comfortable 4-star hotel.

DAY 8. MAY 8.
Transfer from Ganze to Ali. Gyam-Mug Monastery. Lake Ru-Tso.

The journey takes approximately 9 hours, and along the way we'll stop and visit the fascinating Gyam Mug Monastery.
Gyam Mug Monastery was founded in the 9th century by Guru Rinpoche's direct disciple, Nyang Tingedzin Zangpo, at the behest of King Trisong Detsen. This monastery is considered one of the oldest monasteries of the Nyingma school. According to legend, sacred treasure texts (termas) left by Guru Rinpoche himself are hidden here.

Along the way, we'll stop at Ru-tso Lake.
Ru-tso Lake is a high-altitude lake located at an altitude of approximately 5,000 meters. It offers a uniquely tranquil atmosphere, perfect for stopping, slowing down, and connecting with Tibet's powerful nature. Ru-tso will offer us moments of absolute tranquility, and here we'll capture the most memorable photos of your journey.

Arrival in Ali (Ngari) in the afternoon.
Ali (Ngari) Prefecture is located in the western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, with an average elevation of over 4,500 meters above sea level. Known as the "Roof of the World," it boasts high mountains, rivers, and lakes.
There's an airport nearby.
Check-in at a hotel and rest after the long journey.
Overnight at a comfortable 4-star hotel in Ali.

DAY 9. MAY 9.
Transfer from Ali to the Kingdom of Guge-Zanda.
En route, visit the cave cities of Piyang and Dungkar (4,250 m). A day in the Kingdom of Guge.

In the morning, depart Ali towards the Guge Kingdom.
Piyang and Dungkar are two unique cave cities. These archaeological sites are about 40 km away along a scenic mountain road. The Piyang complex resembles Tsaparang in appearance: a huge, high cliff, riddled with caves and topped with a temple.
The first temple in Piyang was built around 1000 by King Yeshe O, but little remains today. Beautiful murals remain in two caves.

After driving a few kilometers along the same valley, we find ourselves at the Dungkar Caves (4,250 m). They are located in the middle of a 200-meter-high cliff. You can climb up a mound of small stones to reach them. The cliff's top is flat—it was likely once a fortress.

Zanda is a small town on the southern bank of the Sutlej River. The old Tibetan quarter and Tholing Monastery are located in the heart of Zanda.
Overnight in Zanda.

DAY 10. MAY 10.
Zanda – Tsaparang – Zanda. A day in the capital of the ancient kingdom of Guge.

This day is entirely dedicated to Tsaparang, the ancient capital of the Guge Kingdom and one of the most impressive historical sites in Western Tibet. The drive from Zanda takes a short time and passes through characteristic clay canyons and "earth forests," creating an almost surreal landscape.

Guge is an ancient kingdom in western Tibet. Its capitals were the cities of Tholing and Tsaparang. These cities once served as caravan routes, carrying numerous pilgrims to Mount Kailash. Today, the site of this once-rich kingdom lies in ruins.

Tsaparang experienced a period of prosperity in the 9th century and was abandoned in the 17th century. Frescoes of early Buddhist art have been preserved in the ruined monasteries.

The ascent through its levels—from the base to the upper temples—is experienced not as an inspection, but as a slow transition between states: below—the dense, earthly energy of protection and survival; above—the space of life, power, and control;
at the top—silence, wind, and a sense of separation from time. Tsaparang is built vertically, like a model of inner ascent.

This day is often called the quiet culmination of the journey to Kailash. Tsaparang is more than just an archaeological site; it's a place where the energy of an ancient civilization can still be felt in the space, and the city itself is perceived as a frozen ritual. We will spend this day in practice and meditation.
We will return to Zanda for the night.

DAY 11. MAY 11.
Visit to Zanda National Park. Visit to the sacred land of Trithapuri. Garuda Valley. Gurugyam Monastery.

Early in the morning, we leave the town of Zanda, following the path of Zanda National Park. A day filled with amazing events awaits us.
Zanda National Park, located between the Himalayas and the Trans-Himalayas, is a fantastic world of immensely diverse stone forests, stretching for almost 100 km.
The clay canyons and "earth forests" of Zanda National Park appear like frozen waves of time.

A visit to the Tirtapuri complex is one of the most profound and rare days of the entire route.
This is not just a point on the map, but an entrance into the space of Central Asia's most ancient civilization—Shanshung, which predated Tibet and formed its spiritual foundation.

Shanzhung is the highest and one of the most mysterious civilizations in human history. Its empire stretched across Western Tibet and was the most powerful in Central Asia long before the emergence of the Tibetan state. It was the Shanzhung civilization that gave the world the Bon religion, the foundations of Tibetan medicine, the sacred geography of Tibet, and the spiritual and cultural practices that are today perceived as "Tibetan."

Khyunglung is the capital of the Shanzhung kingdom.
Khyunglung (Khyunglung Ngul Kar) is the ancient capital of Shanzhung, the spiritual center of the Bon priests, the shens.
The cave city is carved into the cliffs and blends seamlessly with the landscape.
Here, power, knowledge, and spiritual practice were inseparable—the city was a living mandala, embedded in the mountain.

Garuda Valley and the Silver Palace
The path then passes through the Garuda Valley—a space associated with the mythical bird Garuda, an ancient symbol of protection, movement, and spiritual power.
We will ascend a secret path to the Silver Palace of Garuda—a place considered a high energy point in the Bon tradition, associated with protection and overcoming obstacles.
The ascent is perceived not as a physical effort, but as a transition between levels of perception.

Next, we'll visit Padmasambhava Monastery and the sacred cave.
Padmasambhava Monastery in Tirtapuri occupies a special place.
Here, right next to the sacred cave, the Great Guru Rimpoche, Padmasambhava, practiced, bringing Buddhism to Tibet and uniting it with ancient Bon knowledge.
In this cave, the space feels particularly dense, sound seems to dissolve, and attention naturally retreats inward.
Time is reserved here for meditation and silent repose.

Gurugyam Monastery is one of the rare and little-known sites in Western Tibet directly connected to the ancient Bon tradition, which existed long before the arrival of Buddhism. Situated in the rugged, high-altitude landscape of the Ngari region, far from large settlements and tourist routes, it lends a special depth and tranquility.

Bathing in the thermal springs of the Sutlej
The visit concludes with a bath in the thermal springs of the Sutlej River.
According to tradition, Guru Rimpoche and his wife, Yeshe Tsogyal, bathed here.
The spring waters are perceived as cleansing, restorative, and relieving the accumulated stress of the journey.
This is a gentle end to a long day. We transfer to the town of Darchen, the last point before Kailash.
Accommodations are in a comfortable 4-star hotel.

DAY 12. MAY 12.
Day 1 of the kora - around Kailash.
Bon route (counterclockwise according to the Bon tradition)
Darchen - Zutur Phuk (4,790 m)

Before beginning the kora, it's important to understand:
We are circumambulating Kailash in the Bon tradition, the most ancient spiritual tradition of these parts.
This is not an alternative route or an exotic one—it is the original path that existed here long before Buddhism arrived in Tibet.

Why do we walk counterclockwise?
In Bon, counterclockwise movement does not mean "contrary" to, but rather "toward the source."
This movement is not along the circle of time, but against its flow—toward the origin, to that which existed before forms, names, and histories.
This is how the priests of the ancient kingdom of Shanzhung walked, perceiving Kailash not as an object of worship, but as the axis of the world around which life unfolds.

Early in the morning, we leave Darchen, starting from the southern side of Kailash. The southern side of Kailash is gentler in terrain, but less frequented than the northern side. There are fewer people here, more silence, and a sense of being off the beaten track. On the first day, our route will be 14 km long.
The highlight of our first day is Zutur Phuk Monastery (4,790 m). In the Bon tradition, this is one of the key sites on the route, associated with solitary practice and a stop before the more challenging sections of the kora.

Zutur Phuk is one of the most revered monasteries on the kora around Kailash. Its name translates as "Cave of Wonders," primarily due to the stay of the great Tibetan yogi Milarepa here.
It is here that the kora traditionally spends the night, especially when traveling counterclockwise.

Milarepa's Caves
The main shrine of Zutur Phuka is the cave where Milarepa practiced.
According to legend, he spent long periods of solitary meditation here.
We will visit this monastery and meditate in the cave.
We will spend the night in a guesthouse near Zutur Phuka Monastery.
The accommodations are simple, but sufficient for recuperation before the next day of the Kora.

DAY 13. MAY 13.
Day 2 of the Kailash kora.
Zutur Phuk – Drolma La Pass (5,700 m).
Drolma La – Dirapuk Gompa Monastery (4,910 m).

This day is considered the most intense and demanding on the entire kora. It combines the tranquility of Zutur Phuk, the highest point of the route—the Drolma La Pass—with the austere northern face of Kailash—the Dirapuk Gompa Monastery.

An early rise. We set out for the Drolma La Pass (5,700 m), the kora's central challenge.
The pass is marked by thousands of prayer flags, stone turiks, and objects left behind by pilgrims as a symbol of letting go of the past.

In the Kora tradition, Drolma La is perceived as a point of transition – not so much geographical, but internal and spiritual.

At the peak of the pass, we will make a stop to rest, meditate, and realize that we are at the highest point of our journey, to which we have been walking for so long.

Immediately beyond the pass is Lake Gauri Kund, or Lake of Compassion (5,608 m).
Many legends are associated with Lake of Compassion.
According to one, it is the bathing place of the female embodiment of enlightened energy, the goddess of wisdom Vajravarahi ("Dancing in the Sky"), consort of Chakrasamvara.

At the very foot of the pass is the sacred Shapje Dagthok stone, bearing the footprint of the Buddha and the miraculously self-manifested Six Syllables on its surface.
We gradually move toward the northern side of Kailash.

Its northern appearance is austere and still, devoid of adornment. Sternness and silence are the very essence of being "here and now."
Here, everyone loses the desire to discuss anything, internal dialogue diminishes, and attention naturally concentrates inward.

The northern side of Kailash is the direct presence of the Supreme Consciousness.

Nearby is the Dira Phuk Monastery.
It's unlike any other monastery. The river separating it from Kailash spreads into a valley of silvery streams, bringing the energy of the element of water and enhancing the already breathtaking spectacle.

This day is the most intense and physically challenging of our route.
We spend the night in a guesthouse near the monastery.

DAY 14. MAY 14.
Day 3 of the Kailash trek.
Visit to Dira Phuk Monastery and trek to the glacier from the North Face of Kailash.
Overnight at a guesthouse in Dira Phuk.

The next day, after a difficult trek across the pass, we rest at the foot of Kailash's northern face.
In the morning, we'll approach its base and have the unique opportunity to contemplate its northern peak and meditate.

The northern face (mirror) of Kailash symbolizes the past.
It is considered the most powerful.

According to legend, a person who stands in front of the northern mirror for a long time can: recall events that they did not experience in this life, see images of past incarnations, and feel the acceleration of internal processes.

The purest mountain springs flowing from beneath Kailash will be nearby. We will do water practices.

We'll then descend into the valley and cross the river to reach Dira Phuk Monastery. We'll visit its halls and interact with the monks. We'll also meditate in the sacred caves of Milarepa.
We'll then rest, socialize, and prepare for the final day of the kora.
We'll spend the night in a guesthouse near the monastery.

DAY 15. MAY 15.
Day 4 of the Kori trek around Kailash.
Dirapuk Guesthouse - Chukku Gompa Monastery.
Tarboche (Gate of Death) - return to Dorchen.

We rise early, and set out on our final day of kora around Kailash. We'll travel from Kailash's northern face to its eastern mirror.

"Mirrors of Kailash."
Kailash "works" like a mirror.
In the mystical cosmology of Bon, whose path we have followed on this journey, Kailash is the axis mundi, and the mountain is shaped like an inverted crystal. The mirror planes are the "facets" of consciousness.
A person performing the kora literally walks around their own internal structure, and the mirrors reflect not the face, but the state of the mind and heart.

We'll see perfectly smooth, almost symmetrical rock faces on all four sides of Kailash. We'll walk all of its sides during our kora.

The Western Mirror is a mirror of death and dissolution. It was from here that we began our route on the first day.

The Northern Mirror – from which we begin our journey today. The Mirror of the Past.

The Eastern Mirror is the mirror of life and manifestation. We'll travel along it today for almost 20 km, heading south.

The southern mirror is the mirror of the future. We will find ourselves here tomorrow.

In this way, we will symbolically live and physically walk the entire route of Kailash, leaving everything unnecessary in the past and taking into the future only pure intentions and bright deeds.

Along the way, we'll visit Chukku Gompa Monastery, which houses three great treasures: an ancient ritual conch shell, a white marble Buddha, and a copper vat used to boil water without fire.
After Chukku Gompa Monastery, we'll head to the final destination of our route, exiting through the symbolic Tarboche Gate (the Gate of Death), passing the cemetery of the Mahasiddhas, and returning to the town of Darchen.
Overnight at a comfortable Hotel 4 in Darchen.

DAY 16. MAY 16.
Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Chiu Gompa Monastery - transfer to Paryang.

After breakfast, we set out.
Awaiting us is the sacred lake of Manasarovar, one of the most stunning natural monuments in western Tibet and one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world, along with the sacred Mount Kailash. Its area is approximately 500 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of 82 meters.

Manasarovar is the lake of life. Its water restores integrity and is considered life-giving.
In terms of reverence and symbolic significance, it is unmatched.
For followers of four religions (Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and followers of Bon), it is here, at Kailash and Manasarovar, that the heart of the universe beats.

On the lakeshore, at bird's-eye view, rises the ancient Chiu Gompa ("Bird Monastery").
This is the Central Place of Power, and it is here that the 8th-century cave where Guru Padmasambhava meditated is located. Here he spent the last seven days of his earthly life and dissolved in a flash of light.

From the top of the monastery there is a magnificent view of the lake, as well as the snow-capped peak of Kailash.

Here we will have time for a walk and meditation.

Our next destination is Lake Rakshastal. It's nearby. It's connected to Manasarovar by an invisible thread, yet completely opposite in nature.
In the Bon tradition, it's a lake of primal energy. It's a force without form, a mirror of the cosmic mind.

It is a good place to meditate and contemplate eternity.

And we're on the move again. We're heading to the town of
Paryang, located at an altitude of 4,600 meters. Its name translates from Tibetan as "wide place." It's located at the crossroads of trade routes between Tibet and Asia. The town has grown significantly in recent years.
Overnight in Peryang. 4* hotel.

ДЕНЬ 17. 17 МАЯ.
Transfer Paryang – Ladze.

It's a 10-hour drive from Perianga to Ladze.
Ladze is a small town crossed from east to west by the Friendship Highway.

Pilgrims and tourists travel from here west to Kailash, or south to the Nepalese border and Everest Base Camp.

In recent years, Ladze has transformed from a small provincial town into a modern Chinese city with three new, excellent hotels and numerous shops.
The town is located near the confluence of three rivers, and the highest nearby peak is Mount Yakri, 5,656 meters high, located north of the town. Ladze has gained national fame for its Tibetan dances, known as tap dances, performed to the accompaniment of a traditional guitar. The town is also renowned for the production of world-famous Tibetan knives, with workshops found in almost every home.
Overnight in Ladze.

DAY 18. MAY 18.
Transfer from Ladze to Shigatse.
Visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery.
Transfer to Lhasa.

After leaving Ladze early in the morning and spending about six hours on the road, we arrive in Shigatse.
Shigatse is a modern, large city, the second largest in Tibet, and the capital of a county with a population of 880,000. The majority of the population is Chinese; Tibetans live in their own small neighborhood and at Shigatse's main attraction, Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the few to survive the Cultural Revolution.

The picturesque ruins of a dzong fortress rise above the old quarter. South of the monastery stands the summer palace of the Panchen Lama, built in the mid-19th century in the traditional style.
Tashilhunpo Monastery is an important center of the Gelug school.
It was founded in 1447 by Genden Drup, a disciple of Tsongkhapa.
Genden Drup was later considered the first Dalai Lama.
In 1652, the fifth Dalai Lama recognized the monastery's abbot's right to be called "Panchen Lama" ("great teacher").
This is the second most important title in Tibet after Dalai Lama. It is precisely because of this that Tashilhunpo escaped destruction in the 1960s.
At its peak, the monastery, which now occupies over 70,000 square meters, housed over 5,000 monks. Currently, there are about 700.
We will spend the night in Lhasa in a comfortable 4* hotel.

DAY 19. MAY 19.
Lhasa.
Visit to the Jokhang Temple.
Free day.

Visit to the Jokhang Temple, the "House of the Lord."
The Jokhang Monastery is 1,400 years old. It is one of the most revered temples of Tibetan Buddhism and a place of pilgrimage for believers.

The monastery's central hall houses its main treasure—a golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha.
It symbolizes the Buddha as a teenager, at age 12.
As the Tibetans say, "If you haven't been to the Jokhang Temple, you haven't been to Tibet."

We will be there.

Then free time for a leisurely stroll around the city and shopping for Tibetan souvenirs.
Lhasa is beautiful at night, and we say goodbye to Tibet.
Overnight in Lhasa.