Southern route, northern route or the circuit?
The article describes a southern route via Shigatse, Saga, Darchen, Zanda and Shiquanhe, and a northern return via remote plateau counties and lakes. It presents a southern trip of roughly eight to ten days and a fuller circuit of around fourteen days. These are the source’s planning durations, not a promise of current access or road conditions.
Days 1–4
Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa and rest. Day 2: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse. Day 3: Shigatse → Tashilhunpo Monastery → Tingri. Day 4: Tingri → Everest Base Camp → Saga.
Days 5–8
Day 5: Saga → Manasarovar → Rakshastal → Darchen. Day 6: Optional Mount Kailash pilgrimage walk or sightseeing around Darchen. Day 7: Darchen → Zanda Earth Forest → Guge Kingdom Ruins → Zanda. Day 8: Zanda → Shiquanhe.
Days 9–14
Day 9: Shiquanhe → Pangong Tso → Rutog. Day 10: Rutog → Gerze → Nyima. Day 11: Nyima → Siling Tso → Bangor. Day 12: Bangor → Namtso → Damxung. Day 13: Damxung → Lhasa. Day 14: Departure transfer from Lhasa.
An inconsistency to resolve before booking
The original numbers the optional Kailash walk as Day 6 but describes an outer circuit taking two days. The written itinerary must clarify whether an additional day is added, which part of the walk is intended or whether the non-walking alternative is selected. This English outline does not compress a two-day trek into one day.
Vehicles, accommodation and supplies
The source discusses a 4WD vehicle, a driver experienced on Ngari routes, oxygen equipment, fuel and other supplies, and communication gaps. It explicitly warns that some northern-route accommodation is basic, with limited bathrooms or electricity. Ask for the actual overnight properties and facilities rather than assuming city-hotel standards.
Documents and timing
The article discusses border-area arrangements and additional permissions for international visitors. It also discusses seasonal road and weather conditions. These must be checked for the specific traveler, selected route and dates; the dated requirements in the original are not reproduced as current eligibility rules.
Abridged translation of selected planning sections · Read the original Chinese article ↗
