Every grain of sand here holds a thousand years of stories

【Introduction】: The desolation and magnificence of Ngari will subvert your imagination of travel. Whether you come for faith or scenery, this land will teach you to revere nature and life with its ultimate solitude and sanctity. Remember to burn incense and pray before departure, and may you find your own answer in the snow of Mount Kailash! 🛬【Itinerary】: Classic route planning (7–10 days) Route 1: Mount Kailash + Lake Manasarovar + Zanda Earth Forest (7 days) • Day 1: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse (stay in Shigatse) ◦ Highlights: Autumn scenery of Yamdrok Lake, ice tongue of Karola Glacier. • Day 2: Shigatse → Mount Everest Base Camp (stay in base camp tent) ◦ Tips: You need to apply for an Everest border pass, and the night sky is extremely clear. • Day 3: Mount Everest → Saga (stay in Saga) ◦ Note: The road condition of Saga section of G318 is poor, it is recommended to depart early. • Day 4: Saga → Zhongba → Lake Manasarovar → Darchen (stay in Darchen) ◦ Highlights: Lake viewing platform on the west bank of Lake Manasarovar, overlooking Mount Namo Nanyi. • Day 5: Darchen kora (Mount Kailash outer kora, 2 days and 1 night, see the previous guide). • Day 6: Darchen → Zanda Earth Forest → Ruins of the Guge Kingdom (stay in Zanda) ◦ Things to do: Aerial photography of the earth forest landform, sunset at the Guge ruins. • Day 7: Zanda → Shiquanhe → Return trip Route 2: Ngari Grand Loop Line (13-day deep dive) • Day 1–3: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Mount Everest → Saga (same as above) • Day 4: Saga → Zhongba → Lake Manasarovar → Darchen (kora) • Day 5–6: Mount Kailash kora (same as above) • Day 7: Darchen → Zanda Earth Forest → Ruins of the Guge Kingdom • Day 8: Zanda → Xiayigou (Red Earth Forest) → Shiquanhe • Day 9: Shiquanhe → Pangong Lake → Doma Township • Day 10: Doma Township → Jieshan Daban → Rutog • Day 11: Rutog → Gar County (Shiquanhe) → Return trip ⛺【Must-see attractions】: West Bank of Lake Manasarovar: Golden sunlight shines on the lake at sunrise, with Mount Namo Nanyi in the background. • Ruins of the Guge Kingdom: Drone aerial view of the geometry of the castle and earth forest (apply in advance). • Zanda Earth Forest: The red earth forest has interlaced light and shadow at sunrise, and golden textures at sunset. • Meditate at Zhire Temple: Sit quietly at the starting point of the Mount Kailash kora in the morning and feel the power of the believers' faith. • Overnight stay at the Ruins of the Guge Kingdom: Talk to the stars and imagine the glory of the Guge Kingdom thousands of years ago. 🍩【Must-eat delicacies】: • Tibetan stone pot chicken (Darchen "Aluo Cang" restaurant, more delicious with palm ginseng); • Pulan yogurt (sweet and rich after adding sugar, available at Darchen Night Market); • Air-dried yak meat (freshly cut from Zanda herders' homes, served with chili powder). 🏨【Accommodation Guide】: • Darchen: ◦ Mount Kailash Hotel (standard room CNY 400/night, oxygenated room); ◦ Pingcuo Kang Sang Youth Hostel (bed CNY 80/night, suitable for backpackers). • Zanda: ◦ Guge Dynasty Hotel (Tibetan courtyard, standard room CNY 300/night); ◦ Zanda Yunjv Inn (panoramic view of the earth forest, CNY 150 per person). • Shiquanhe: ◦ Mount Kailash Hotel (the most high-end in Ngari, standard room CNY 600/night). 🚌【Transportation Guide】:• Plane + chartered car: Fly from Lhasa to Shiquanhe Airport (capital of Ngari), and then charter a car to Mount Kailash/Zanda (about 6–8 hours by car). • Self-driving/carpooling: Lhasa → Ngari South Line (G318 extension) → Mount Kailash → Zanda → Shiquanhe, the whole journey is about 13–15 days. • Carpool: Local travel agencies in Lhasa organize carpools (cost about CNY 3,000–4,000/person, including food and accommodation). 🧡【Tips】:• Border pass: Apply at the place of household registration or Lhasa, indicating "Pulan County, Zanda County, Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture". • Vehicle pass: If you are driving yourself, you need a vehicle pass in Tibet Autonomous Region (applied in Lhasa).