Expedition to Tibet’s West

Arrive in Tibet’s capital and begin your journey with time to acclimate • Visit the iconic Potala Palace, where gold-roofed shrines and 1,000 rooms whisper centuries of spiritual and political history • Enter the sacred halls of Jokhang Temple, Tibet’s holiest site, and walk the bustling Barkhor Market, where prayer wheels spin beside incense and stalls • Sip sweet tea in a traditional teahouse, then venture into the Tolung Valley to explore Nenang Monastery, home to sacred relics • At Tsurphu Monastery, seat of the Karmapa, hike the Tsurphu Kora for expansive mountain views and quiet reflection.

Drive past snow-capped peaks to turquoise Lake Yamdrok Tso, where a picnic by sacred waters offers breathtaking scenery and folklore • Continue to Gyantse, a town frozen in time, and explore the 15th-century Kumbum Stupa and richly painted halls of Palkhor Monastery • In Shigatse, wander the halls of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, seat of the Panchen Lama, where chanting monks and golden statues line the altars.

Cross vast highland plateaus and visit the striking Sakya Monastery, known for its medieval murals and fortress-like structure • Reach sacred Lake Manasarovar, the world’s highest freshwater lake, revered as a source of spiritual purification • Explore the ruins of Guru Gyam Monastery and the lost Shangshung Kingdom at Kyunglung, where Bon traditions echo in the canyons • Soak in the healing hot springs of Tirthapuri, a sanctuary for tired travelers and devoted pilgrims alike.

Travel across wind-carved passes to Tholing, gateway to the mysterious Guge Kingdom • Walk among the ruins of Tsaparang, its cave temples and crumbling citadel etched into the cliffs • Visit Tholing Monastery, home to ancient Buddhist murals and once the spiritual heart of western Tibet • Take a day trip to Dungkar Piyang, a hidden valley of ancient cave shrines and 1,000-year-old art.

Travel to Darchen, gateway to Mount Kailash, where pilgrims from across Asia gather to begin the sacred kora • Visit Chiu Monastery, perched above the tranquil shores of Lake Manasarovar, and take in sweeping views of snow-capped peaks • Continue to Tarpoche and Yam Dwar, the spiritual threshold for those beginning the pilgrimage circuit • Catch glimpses of Mount Kailash from multiple viewpoints and learn about its profound significance across Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Bon traditions • Enjoy optional short walks along the kora path before returning to Saga.

Travel to Tsedang, where Tibet’s earliest legends were born in the fertile Yarlung Valley • Visit Mindroling Monastery, a center of the Nyingma tradition known for its ancestral lineage and golden rooftops • Ascend to Yumbu Lhakang, Tibet’s first palace, and walk in the footsteps of its earliest kings • Conclude with a day at Samye Monastery, Tibet’s first Buddhist monastery, where Tibetan, Indian, and Chinese styles merge in architectural harmony • Your local guide will accompany you to the airport for your departure.