Mt. Kailash 6714m is one of the holiest of natural shrines for the Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and the indigenous Tibetan Bonpos in the Himalayas. Mount Kailash is situated in the south- western part of Tibet, and lapping at its foothills are the turquoise blue, calm waters of Lake Manasarovar. It is also known as Tise, Kailasa and Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the Snows), has since time immemorial been celebrated in many Eastern cosmologies as Mt. Meru, the axis mundi. For the Buddhists, the mountain represents a terrestrial projection of the cosmic mandala of Dhyani-Buddhas and Bodhisattvas - The Wheel of Life. For the Bonpos, Kailash was the sacred nine storey Swastika Mountain, upon which the Bonpo founder Sherab alighted from heaven. Kailaskhand, as the region is known, is also the source of four great rivers flowing into the subcontinent - Indus, Brahmaputra, Karnali and Sutlej.
Hindu belief that Kailas is the throne of Lord Shiva where he sits in perpetual meditation with his consort Parvati, daughter of Himalaya. For Hindus, Mount Kailas and the Manasarovar are considered to be the ultimate pilgrimage destinations. It is said that a ritual bath in the sacred Manasarovar will relinquish the sins of a hundred lifetimes.
Tour name – Mt. Kailash-mansarovar tour
Trip category: Touring / Trekking
Tour Duration – 12 nights / 13 days
Accommodation / Meals – Sharing rooms or tent with all meals
Tour cost: Starts from USD 1990 if group joining and USD 2650 if private (minimum 2 pax).
Transportation / Guide – Private vehicle and experience license holder tour
Tour cost includes: Border transfers, sight-seeing tour, tour guide, entrance fees, hotels or tent with all meals with camping gears, private transport as per the tour itinerary.
Tour cost excludes: Entry visa fees and International airfare, personal expenses e.g. phone calls, laundry, bar bills etc, travel/medical and rescue insurance, optional trips and sightseeing if extend, tips, lunch/dinner during the tour and personal expenses.
Visa cost: USD 50-175 depending the visa working period and nationality
Day 01: Kathmandu - Nyalam 3800m, 150kms. Drive to friendship bridge (Nepal – China boarder) by private coach. After Nepal immigration and custom formalities cross the bridge then drive uphill to Zangmu and complete the immigration and custom formalities then proceed to Nyalam.
Day 02: Rest day at Nyalam 3750m for acclimatization for further adventure journey.
Day 03 Nyalam – Saga 4450m, 245kms – 7-8 hrs: A long driving day over the sandy and rocky land of Tibet visiting lake, nomads chasing thousands of yaks along the way. Cross the Bhramha Purtra River and reach the Saga a typical Tibetan town.
Day 04: Paryang 4600m, 230 kms - 7-8 hrs: Drive through the wide valley following rivers and grazing land of yaks and sheep with the views of snow caped mountain to the south encountering Nomads and other mobile shopkeepers with beautiful traditional costume and dress up.
Day 05: Paryang - Manasarover 4558m, 277kms - 8 hours: An exiting and long drive brings you the first sight of Holy Kailash Parbat and Manasarovara eventually reach the Hore, a small village near by Lake Manasarover.
Day 06: Manasarovar - Darchen 4560m, 30 km
Drive along the north side of the Lake Manasorovar and reach Darchen with two-story monastery structure in the center of the town serves as a trading post and shelter for pilgrims and other few Mani Lhakhang with prayer wheel around.
Day 07: Darchen - Diraphuk 4730m, 6 hrs
Starts the trek around the Mt. kailash heading west in clockwise direction and after a few kilometers the trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from where the southern face of Mt. Kailash is seen. En route visit Tarboche where annual flagpole raising ceremony takes place during Saga Dawa.
Day 08: Diraphuk - Zutruphuk 4790m, 6 hrs
we cross Drolma la pass (5630 M) and Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m) where Hindus worship and immerse themselves in the icy waters of the lake.
Day 09: Zutruphuk - Lake Manasorovar
An easy 2-3hrs trek ends the kailash parikrama walking down to the river emerges on to the Barga plain and drive to Darchen near by the lake.
Day 10: Darchen - Paryang (4700 meters). (292 kms / 08 to 09 hrs). Camp Overnight.
Day 11: Paryang - Saga (4600 meters). (252 kms / 07 to 08 hrs). Camp Overnight.
Day 12: Saga - Nyalam (3750m) 240 Kms / 6-7 Hrs. Guest house
Day 13: Drive downhill to Friendship Bridge and drive to Kathmandu (1300m) 150 Kms / 5-6hrs Hrs.
