2 independent reviews for Tibet Mount Kailash Pilgrimage tour
Reviews for Tibet Mount Kailash Pilgrimage tour
Helen Mithcell review 6 Aug 2026
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Lhasa, EBC and the Kailash Kora. The drive organised between Gyirong and Kathmandu was also spectacular.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The content was excellent but I would certainly recommend doing what I did, which was moving onto Kathmandu rather than retracing steps back to Lhasa. I think several in the group wished they ha chosen the Kathmandu option as there seemed to be a lot of repetition for those returning to Lhasa. Also, I would emphasise that some facilities are basic. This didn't bother me - I relished this as part of the experience and challenge - but I would recommend only with caution.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I felt that for the Tibetans to see foreigners (other than the droves of Chinese) interested in their country and culture was beneficial. I would like to think that money I spent was going to locals. Income from tourism, I hope, will build motivation for the need to look after the environment (litter was particularly bad on the Kailash Kora but I think international tourism will drive concern for this). Plastic bottles for water are a serious problem - each of the group was getting through about 4 per day. However, a solution to this is difficult, I know.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The vacation experience was once in a lifetime. Incredible and literally wonder-full. However, some of the organisation by the agency was poor. As an example, I had asked for an equipment list prior to leaving and was sent something that had clearly been put together on AI, but which, I assumed, would have been checked and edited. As the vacation progressed, it became clear that I did not need a sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, life straw or water purifying tablets. It was a frustration to have to carry these around with me. Other people had issues with room sharing and booking porters for the Kora.Carl Segale review 9 Sep 2026
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The scenery of Tibet did not disappoint. Amazing landscapes. It’s a shame the so called Tour Guide had nothing to say about the places and regions we passed through.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
This trip is not actually conducted by Tibet Tourism. I don’t know exactly how they arrange the actual on-the-ground tour, but my bus was full of people who had booked and paid through various other companies. We were all disappointed with the so-called “guide”.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not at all. Apart from eating lunch In the restaurants we were directed to, there was little in the way of interaction with local people. There were no obvious indications of reduced environmental impacts or conservation support. In fact, there was not much of anything.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Worst conducted and communicated tour I have ever done. The tour guide did nothing except buy monastery entrance tickets, walk us into lunch stops (usually quite late in the afternoon) and manage the internal Tibet border crossings. Other than that, the “guide” was totally silent on the long days of bus travel and the only information we gleaned from him about the people and places we passed through were from questions we asked, with answers that were cursory or unconvincing. The pre-Kora briefing was woeful - not a single piece of information about what to expect, what to look for and what to do if you needed help.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for taking the time to share your candid feedback. While we are glad that you were able to appreciate the extraordinary landscapes of Tibet, we are deeply sorry and disappointed to hear that your overall experience fell far short of your expectations—and our own standards.
What you described regarding the lack of guidance, poor communication, and inadequate briefings on such a demanding journey as the Mount Kailash Kora is completely unacceptable. Our travelers deserve insightful commentary, clear safety guidance, and attentive service throughout, not just logistical handling.
We take your comments very seriously. We are immediately conducting an internal review with our local operations team to address the performance of the guide assigned to your group and to evaluate our local logistics arrangements. Rest assured that appropriate measures will be taken to ensure our staff and partners uphold the professional standards our guests expect.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding local engagement and sustainability. Supporting local communities and minimizing our environmental footprint are core to our values, and we will use your input to re-examine how we structure our stops and local interactions.
We truly apologize for letting you down on this bucket-list journey. If you are open to discussing this further, please reach out to us directly. We would welcome the chance to hear more and address your concerns personally.
Sincerely.
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