Mountain Hikes Tours & Trips in Western China

Travel across the Tibetan plateau from Lhasa at 3,650m to Everest Base Camp at 5,250m, with stops at Gyantse Dzong and Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse. Cross Karo La Pass at 5,045m to view Nazin Kang Sang Glacier and the turquoise Yamdrok Tso Lake. See Sera Monastery's white-washed walls, Norbulingka summer palace, and the 17th-century Potala Palace with its 130,000 square meters of chapels and state rooms.

Travel from Lijiang through Shangri-La's Songzanlin Monastery to Lhasa, visiting the sacred Namtso Lake at 4,760m with the Tanggula mountain range backdrop. Cross Pang La pass for views of six 8,000m peaks including Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu. See Sakya Monastery's 84,000-document library and Tashilhunpo in Shigatse. Groups of 8-12 travelers camp in modern tents at 4,500m elevation.

Trek up to Rongbuk Monastery at 5,100m for great views of Everest's north face, then hike the pilgrimage route to Panbongka Monastery above Lhasa. Cross the 5,220m Gyathso La pass and 5,000m Kampa Pass, both offering beautiful views of Lake Yamdrok and the Tibetan Plateau.

The 3-day Kailash Kora takes you through remote Western China highlands, crossing the challenging 5,650m Drölma La Pass covered in thousands of prayer flags. Stay overnight at Dirapuk Monastery at 5,000m, check out the 10-meter geysers at Tagejia hot springs, then visit Lhasa's Potala Palace and Tsaparang fortress.

Trek the 52-kilometer kora around sacred Mt. Kailash, crossing Dromala Pass at 5,630m with great views of the western and northern slopes. Spend nights at old Dirapuk and Zutulpuk monastery guesthouses, watching sunset and moonrise over the pyramid-shaped peak and the turquoise Lake Manasarovar at 4,590m.

This 20-day mountain trip through Western China starts in Chengdu and travels by night train to Xining in a soft sleeper carriage. Complete the sacred 3-day circumnavigation of Mount Kailash with ascents to Dolma La Pass at 5,630 meters. See Lake Manasarovar, one of Tibet's holiest lakes, and check out remote highland towns like Lhatse and Saga.

This 15-day trip takes you through Western China's Tibet region where you'll trek Mount Kailash's 52-kilometer Kora, staying in guesthouse dorm beds at Drirapuk and Zultulpuk monasteries. Cross seven high mountain passes including Gyatsola Pass at 5,248m and head to Everest Base Camp at 5,200m.

Travel across Western Tibet's Gangdise Range from Lhasa at 3,650m to Mount Kailash, spending three days getting used to the altitude while checking out Drepung Monastery and monk debates at Sera. Drive through Gyantse to see Korola Glacier and Pelkor Monastery's Kumbum stupa, then cross Gawula Pass at 5,198m.