Mt. Kailash - Mansarovar Tour: 16 Days (Ex- Kathmandu)

Today marks your arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Before escorting you to the hotel, our office staff will meet and greet you at the airport. We will collect your passport and any other paperwork needed for the Chinese visa application. Evening, you are free on your own.

Good morning. Today, we will apply for the Tibet group visa. The visa process begins at 9:30 a.m. local time. Today, we'll have to wait in the hotel till the visa process is completed. If the visa centre (VFS) has any questions or concerns about the documents or information you supplied on the visa form, they may request your presence in their office anytime.

Afternoon: You will travel to Pashupati for Rudra Paath by Brahman priests, Panchayatan, Navagraha Havana, and Mrityunjaya Havan. Following this, you will observe the evening Arati at Pashupatinath Temple.

Visit the Jal Narayan temple and the Baudhanath temple (stupa) in the morning. Following lunch at the hotel, you will visit the Swayambhunath Stupa after mid-day.

The temple is close to Shivapuri National Park, which is 8 kilometres north of the city centre of Kathmandu. Despite the temple's dedication to Lord Vishnu, its name connects with Lord Shiva. The temple's name, "Budhanilkantha," refers to Lord Shiva, whose throat turned blue after he consumed poison (haalaa haalaa) to save the universe. A floating monument of Lord Vishnu, one of the three Hindu gods, is displayed at the temple. The statue depicts the deity sleeping on serpent beds. This temple is also significant to Buddhists, as the statue of Lord Vishnu bears a Buddha on its head. Additionally, there is a belief that the water channel that feeds the pond of Budhanilkantha is directly connected to Gosaikunda. Consequently, the water is purified and can treat various ailments through ingestion or bathing.

Sightseeing tour of Deoleshor Mahadev temple. The temple is situated about 7 km away from the central city of Kathmandu. The history of this temple is related to the Kedarnath temple in India. This is a structure having spiritual significance. This temple, among others, is worshipped as Lord Kedarnath's head. According to mythology, the deity's head landed here while his body travelled from Kedarnath in India. People in the forest venerate a massive boulder that symbolises Lord Kedarnath. According to the Doleshwar Mahadev Legend, the Pandav brothers went to the Himalayas after the Mahabharata battle to pray for Lord Shiva to forgive them for murdering so many people. Lord Shiva was unwilling to pardon them, so he became a bull. Pandavas grasped the bull's tail, knowing Lord Shiva was disguised as a bull and on his way to escape. The bull's head had flown away from its body at this point. People have been searching for the head ever since, believing that the rest of the corpse is somewhere around Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, India. It is thought that the head separated from the bull's body and fell near Bhaktapur, where the Doleshwor Mahadev temple today stands.

After breakfast, you will travel from Kathmandu to TIMURE village (the border town on the Nepal side). Timure Village is a small community located around 1 kilometre from the Friendship Bridge in Nepal. The distance between Kathmandu and Timure village is around 159 kilometres, and the journey takes approximately seven hours.

The highway to Nepal's China border is narrow and rugged, and small landslides occur frequently during the monsoon season. Due to the severe road conditions and rugged terrain, comfortable tourist vehicles cannot travel between Kathmandu and the Nepal-China border. As a result, we employ municipal buses for transportation on this route.

Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Timure Village.

• Kathmandu to Shyabrubeshi: 159 km/8 hours drive, approximately.
• Elevation of Timure: 1450 m/4,756 ft.
• Expected temperature: daytime: 18°C to 25°C, nighttime: 4°C to 6°C
• Climatic condition: Generally cloudy & rainy

After breakfast in the morning, you will walk from Timure village to Kyirong Gadhi. "Gadhi" means Fortress, and "Kyirong" alludes to the place. Timure village in Nepal is about a kilometre from the "Kyirong Gadhi," or the Friendship Bridge. You will drive to Kyirong town (China side) once the immigration processes on both the Chinese and Nepali sides are completed. The distance of approximately 26 kilometres, or Friendship Bridge to Kyirong Town, may be covered in one hour by car. Spend the night in Kyirong town.

• Timure to Friendship Bridge: 1 Km, 45 minutes (approx.)
• Friendship bridge to Kyirong town: 23 km, 1 hour
• Elevation of Kyirong: 2,774 m

We will leave for Saga early this morning. Saga is a small village on the Tibetan Plateau with a height of 4500 meters. It is located on the banks of the holy river Brahmaputra, which originates in the Kailash area. From Kailash, the river travels eastward to Lhasa before dropping down to the Asam Plain, passing through the enormous Namche Barwa region of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. We'll be crossing numerous high passes on our way to Saga. Today, we will spend the night in Saga.

• Kyirong to Saga: 180 Km/4 hrs drive approx.
• Elevation of Saga: 4,640M/15,223 ft

Spending a period at a lower altitude is always preferable before ascending to a higher altitude. It provides our bodies ample time to adjust healthily to the new environment. This will undoubtedly assist us in preventing the potential onset of high-altitude illness. We will stroll along the banks of the Brahmaputra River and explore the city. Today, there will be no additional special programming. 

We are likely anticipating this day more than any other day. After breakfast, we will go to Lake Manasarovar in the morning. We are proceeding westward along the path to the elevated and arid Tibetan plateau. During our tour, we will traverse the Tibetan cities of Dongba (the old) and Paryang. After travelling around 362 kilometres, we will stop briefly at the Mayum-La checkpoint. The Chinese military will examine our travel documents and any necessary permits at this entrance point. Upon passing the checkpoint, we will pause for a picnic lunch on the grassland or by the riverbed. Then, we continue to Lake Manasarovar across a rather steep mountain (Mayum-La, 5220 meters).

As we approach the eastern shore of Lake Manasarovar, we will make another halt at an environmental checkpoint that is situated in the vicinity. Once all the checks and procedures have been completed, we continue to travel clockwise to Chiu Gompa, which is located on the west coast of Lake Manasarovar. Our camp is situated on the western bank of Lake Manasarovar. The native Tibetan population refers to this location as Chiu Gompa (or Chiu Monastery). The Monastery is located less than one kilometre from the lake's coastline.

• Saga to Lake Manasarovar: 508 km (7 hours) drive approximately.
• Elevation of Lake Manasarovar: 4600 m (15,088 ft.)
• Expected temperature: daytime: 22°C to 32°C; night time: -3°C to -4°C
• Climatic condition: Windy

We will pray, take a holy bath, and carry out other religious rites in the morning. After lunch at Lake Manasarovar, we will depart for Darchen in the afternoon. Darchen is 37 kilometres away, and a 45-minute drive will get us there.

• Lake Manasarovar to Darchen: 37 Km/ 1hr approx.
• Elevation of Darchen: 4690m/15,010ft
• Expected temperature: Day time: 22°C to 32°C; night time: -3°C to -4°C
• Climatic condition: Windy

We will drive from Darchen to Tarboche (Yam Dwar) in the morning after breakfast. It takes roughly twenty minutes to get there by bus. Beautiful views of Mount Kailash's west and south slopes and the surrounding area are visible. Tarboche is a gathering place for local porters, yaks, and horses. If you have scheduled a local porter or horse, they will meet you here and escort you to your next destination.

Tarboche is the beginning point for the circumambulation of Mount Kailash. Your goal today is Deraphuk (the north face of Mount Kailash). Deraphuk has a height of 5210 meters. You have two options for getting to Deraphuk: walk or ride a horse. The Chinese government has deemed vehicular transportation illegal. You must schedule and pay for horse transportation in Darchen with your Tibetan guide one day in advance. Those who want to travel to Deraphuk can take a porter.

The distance to Kailash's north face is only three kilometres from your guesthouse in Deraphuk. The only place to see the North Face up close is here.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
All participants are permitted to travel to the Yama Dwar collectively. The coach will bring everyone to that location. From Yama Dwar, participants embarking on the Kailash circuit (Parikrama) will start their trek to Deraphuk, either on foot or on horseback, as an optional choice. For individuals not continuing further, the same coach will transfer them to Darchen. Participants at Darchen must agree to stay until all other individuals complete their circumambulation of Mount Kailash and return to Darchen.

• Overnight: Guest house, dormitory bedroom with common toilet
• Yama Dwar to Dhirapuk: 13 km/05 to 06 hrs trek
• Elevation of Deraphuk: 5,210 m
• Expected temperature: daytime: 12°C to 18°C, nighttime: -05°C to -08°C
• Climatic condition: Windy, partly cloudy & rainy

Today is the longest and most challenging day of our trip. We must go 22 kilometres in total to reach Zutulphuk. The journey from Deraphuk to Dolma la (5630 m) is straight upwards across a tough and rugged topography. Driving approximately six kilometres from Deraphuk to Dolma La takes five hours.

If you descend around 400 meters from Dolma La, you may see a frozen lake on the right, about 140 meters off the main route. This is Gaurikunda Lake. The path then descends to the valley's bottom, where a Tibetan tea shop is located. The three-kilometre route between Dolma La and the local tea shop on the valley bottom requires considerable caution because this trail is regularly covered in ice and scree.

Although the terrain is relatively flat, it will take you 13 kilometres from the small tea shop to Zutulphuk. This part of the voyage will take roughly four more hours to complete.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Some individuals encounter significant challenges that hinder their ability to proceed with their journey around Kailash after the second day. The second day's journey presents greater challenges compared to the first day. After spending the night at 5,000 meters, individuals may be at risk of developing high-altitude sickness overnight. In this situation, it is advisable to return to Darchen instead of making excessive effort on the second day.

Individuals wishing to discontinue their journey from Deraphuk and return to Darchen have the option to hire an ambulance or trek back to Darchen, where they can reunite with participants who are remaining there.
 

• Overnight Norpel Guesthouse or Monastery Guesthouse (Mud house)–dormitory
• Dhiraphuk to Zutulphuk: 22 km (08-09 hrs trek)
• The highest point to cross over: Dolma-La pass (5630m)
• Elevation of Zutulphuk: 4835m, Expected temperature: Day Time: 14°C to 22°C, Night Time: -3°C to -5°C
• Average climatic condition: Windy

Today marks the final day of this magnificent circumambulation. After breakfast, we pack our gear and head to Darchen. The trek from Zutulphuk to the final point (Zongdou) is approximately 7 kilometres long and takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete. All members assemble at the endpoint and drive back to Darchen, which takes about 20 minutes. The final stretch from Zongdau (the endpoint) to Darchen is around 4 kilometres. After reuniting with the members left behind in Darchen, we will travel to Saga. 

The approximate distance between Darchen and Saga is 510 kilometres, which takes about eight hours to drive. We shall arrive at Saga late in the evening.

• Zutulphuk to trek ending point: 07 km/ 3 hrs
• Darchen to Saga: 510 km / 9 hrs approx.

After breakfast, we pack up our things in the morning and head toward Kyirong Bridge. We have to drive 180 km today, which takes around four hours, to get to Kyirong Bridge. We will walk to Timure after completing the immigration procedures on both the Chinese and Nepalese sides and then check in at the hotel.

• Saga to Kyirong bridge - approximately 180 km / 4 hours drive.

Following breakfast in the morning, you will head towards Kathmandu. Returning to Kathmandu takes roughly seven hours. The road is small and winds across a challenging terrain. You will get to Kathmandu in the evening.

• Timure to Kathmandu: 180 km
• Duration: 7 to 8 hours drive.

Our office personnel will transport you to the Tribhuvan International Airport for your home travel. According to international flight rules, you must report to the airport counter three hours before departure.