Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Arrive in Kathmandu. We will be there to receive you! Transfar to hotel. After in the evening visit Pashupatinath Shiva temple for evening fire ceremony (Aarti), which is the most spectacular event at the temple. After dinner orientation meeting and discussion. Receive your duffle bags, backpack and down jackets. Overnight in a luxury hotel.

Early in the Morning, after breakfast, we set out for a guided tour of Kathmandu’s holy sites, including Pashupatinath Temple, Guheswori (Shakthipith), Swayambhunath, and Jal Narayan Temple .Overnight stay in Kathmandu hotel .

After breakfast drive to border by luxury bus will reach the last big village on Nepal side at the Tibetan border. Overnight in a hotel.

After Customs and Immigration cross over to Tibet and 3 hours’ drive to arrive at Kerung town and enjoy a relaxed evening. Overnight in a Kerung hotel.

About 120km/hr. drive through amazing landscape of Tibetan Himalaya. First glimpse of the mighty Brahmaputra River as you cross it to reach the town of Saga. Overnight in a Saga hotel.

After breakfast in Saga we start our journey towards Mt Kailash. By late afternoon the drive through the green pastures, sand dunes, and massive valleys gives way to the first sighting of Mt Kailash and blue waters of the majestic Lake Manasarovar. We will drive around the lake. Lake Mansarovar is considered the holiest of all of Tibet’s many lakes. According to Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, the four great rivers of the Indian sub- continent (the Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Ganges (Karnali), and Indus (Sindhu) all flow from its shores. This day offers a wonderful opportunity to visit the great lake and take in the spectacular views of Mt.Gurula Mandhata (7694m) to the south and Kailash (6638m) to the north. From there we will visit the Trugo monastery before heading to the Chiu monastery for an overnight stay. A short acclimatization hike to Chiu Monastery will allow the body to adjust further, and also help to see the beauty of this small worship- place and a panoramic view of the Kailash region. Overnight in a comfortable guesthouse by the lake.

In the morning, the tour staff will set up private bathing tent on the shores of Lake Manasarovar for the traditional sacred bath most pilgrims perform before Parikarma / Kora / circumambulation of the holy mountain. Once so cleansed, we will perform the Fire Ceremony with Mantra Chants. After lunch, we move to Tirthapuri, Later we head north towards Darchen, a village considered the base camp for Kailash. Overnight in Darchen hotel.

Hike 13 km/8 mi): Our first day of hike around Kailash begins at Tarbuche/Yama Dwar area. As we make our way along the route we pass numerous chortens (stupas) as well as the sky burial site of the 84 Mahasiddas. We will walk through the Yama Dwar – the Gate of the God of Death to start the Parikarma. We will also take in wonderful views of cascading creeks, streaming waterfalls and the mighty west face of Kailash. We will pass the Chukku monastery and arrive at the Dirapuk monastery about six hours later, where we will stay in the Kailash Hotel. A short hike to see the awe inspiring north face of Kailash will be done after some rest and snacks. Overnight in a hotel.

Hike 22 km/14 mi): The hardest day of the pilgrimage is also the holiest. We will cross Shivasthali – a rocky expanse dotted with stone cairns draped with the clothes left as offerings by the Tibetan pilgrims. Further hiking ascends up to Dolma-La pass (5700 m/18700 ft) and a marvelous sight of the emerald colored Lake Gaurikunda. After a short break at the top of the pass to put prayer flags, we will head down the steep trail to our eventual campsite at Zhuthulphuk monastery (4820 m), site of the ‘Cave of Miracles’ where the greatest Tibetan yogi Milarerpa meditated and developed the powers of flying. Along the way we will be having wonderful sights of high peaks, streams, waterfalls, expansive valley, and mountain caves. Overnight in a comfortable guesthouse.

On the last day of our Kailash Parikarma, a four hour gentle downhill walk along the East River brings us to where it emerges onto the plains of Barga, where our bus will pick us up. After quick lunch at Darchen, head to Asthapath later we will drive back to Saga. Overnight in a 4 star hotel.

Last stop on Tibet side. Overnight in Kerung hotel.

Early start: After customs/immigration we return back to Kathmandu by bus, afternoon. Farewell dinner together. Overnight in a Kathmandu hotel.