Route A (No Kora): Zhongba-Lake Manasarovar-Lake Rakshastal-Tarchen
In the early morning, you will head west along National Highway 219, facing the first rays of sunlight, towards Tarchen. Along the way, you will pass through Payang Town in Zhongba County, a town with a strong western flavor and the highest town in the world at an elevation of 4,700 meters, where you can enjoy the vast grassland scenery.
Afterwards, you will visit the sacred lake [Mapam Yumco] and the ghost lake [Lhanag-tso]. Mapam Yumco is known as the 'Mother of Rivers and Lakes in the World' and was called 'Jade Lake of the Western Heaven' by the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang in his 'Great Tang Records on the Western Regions'. It is one of the three famous sacred lakes in Tibet and, together with Mount Kailash, is known as 'Sacred Mountain and Holy Lake'. The clear water of Mapam Yumco reflects the blue sky, vast and expansive. The lake is surrounded by the Namnani Snow Mountains, and the lake and mountain scenery is enchanting. Separated from the sacred lake by a dike is the barren Lhanag-tso, known as the Ghost Lake. It is said that Mapam Yumco and Lhanag-tso are connected at the bottom; one is a freshwater sacred lake, and the other is a saltwater ghost lake. It can be said that the two form a wonder together.
If you want to do the kora around Mount Kailash, you can also take the following B route for the kora.
B Route (Kora): Zhongba - Mapam Yumco - Lhanag-tso - Tarchen - Mount Kailash Kora Starting Point - Zhire Temple
Today you will depart from Zhongba to Tarchen. Along the way, you can view the sacred lake Mapam Yumco and the ghost lake Lhanag-tso from afar, then arrive at the starting point of the Mount Kailash kora to begin your kora today: Tarchen (elevation 4,675 meters) heading west → Two-Legged Stupa, Prayer Flag Pole → Qugu Temple (elevation 4,860 meters) → Zhire Temple (elevation 5,210 meters)
As you ascend along the valley, blue skies and snow mountains accompany you all the way, with occasional rivers winding through, offering the most authentic experience of nature's craftsmanship. Along the way, you will also see the west and north faces of Mount Kailash, one towering into the clouds, the other layered and continuous. During the trek, you will have a wonderful encounter with a mountain peak, savoring diverse and unique perspectives, and deeply experiencing it. After about 22 kilometers of kora, you will arrive at Zhire Temple, where amidst the fluttering colorful prayer flags, you will sleep with piety for faith and reverence for nature.
Note: Before Tarchen, it is a car journey; from Tarchen to Zhire Temple, it is a hiking journey. If you need a porter or guide, the cost is at your own expense.
🍽️ Breakfast included, lunch not included, dinner not included
🏨 Tarchen