Western Tibet Travel Video Guide

Western Tibet Travel Itinerary

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Travellers in Lhasa spend huge amounts of time and energy plotting and planning trips to the highlights of Western Tibet : Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, and, less popular but just as enticing, the hot springs at Tirthapuri and the remains of the tenth-century Guge kingdom, its capital at Tsaparang and main monastery at Tholing. However, this is no guarantee of reaching any of these destinations.

Regulations regarding visits to the west change frequently and you shouldn't underestimate the time it will take to set up a trip. Tour companies in Lhasa arrange journeys for trucks of travellers, generally quoting around Y12,000 per truck for a two to three-week return trip. Unless you have huge amounts of time and persevere, there is little realistic alternative to going on an organized tour; there is no public transport beyond the Sakya turning; and plenty more people give up trying to hitch-hike than make it. A couple of travellers have died in the attempt.

The southern route passes through Saga, Dongpa and Horpa, a stunningly picturesque journey, parallel to the Himalaya, but with rivers that become swollen and passes that get blocked by snow. This route is most reliable from May through to the beginning

of July, and again in October and November, although luck plays a big part. The distance is around 1400km from Lhasa to Mount Kailash. The alternative northern route via Tsochen, Gertse and Gakyi is longer; Lhasa to Ali (Shiquanhe) is over 1700km and then it's another 300km or so southeast to Kailash. It is also less scenic but more reliable and there's more traffic using it. Many tours plan to go on one route and return on the other - expect at least a week travelling time on either.

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