The holy mountain Kailash in west Tibet has attracted many pilgrims and adventurer for primeval times. Over a pass in west Nepal, you enter this wonderful country with its incomparable scenic beauties, its almost endless expanse and its mystical places on foot. For Hindus, Buddhists and Jainas the Kailash represents the center of the universal Mandala. MountKailash is their "world mountain" and the centre of the cosmos. Such an expedition offers deep insights into the original Tibetan culture and wonderful nature and landscape experiences.
The highlights of this tour are MountKailash, the holy lakes Manasarovar and Rakastal, certainly also the Canyon of Tholing and the Monastery of Tsaparang in the old Kingdom Guge. We will approach the Kailash region on foot on the old pilgrim way through North West Nepal until Purang. A fascinating access, that gives this tour also a pioneer character and enables the special experience to approach the far west Tibetan landscape on foot and to overcome the last pass with own power.
Trip Facts
Code: TI 07
Duration: 31 Days
Max. Elevation: Dolma La Pass (5,670 m)
Walking Hours: 3 - 7 hrs per day
Average driving times: 6 - 8 hrs per day
Difficulty: 
Price: on request
Min. Group Size: 4 participants
Best Season: May-Sept
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, Airport pick up, drive to hotel, overnight stay in Kathmandu
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu (Swayambunath, Durbar Square), Welcome Dinner, overnight stay in Kathmandu
Day 03: Sightseeing in Kathmandu (Pashupatinath, Boudanath), overnight stay in Kathmandu
Day 04: Airport drop, domestic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (260 m) and domestic flight from Nepalgunj to Simikot (2,950 m). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 05: Trek from Simikot to Dharapuri (2,300 m) (4 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 06: Trek from Dharapuri to Kermi (2,700 m) (approx. 3 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 07: Trek from Kermi to Yalbang (3,000 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 08: Trek from Yalbang to Tumkot (3,100 m) (approx. 7 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 09: Trek from Tumkot to Thadu Dunga (3,950 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 10: Trek from Thadu Dunga via Nara La Pass (4,620 m) to Hilsa (3,650 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 11: Trek from Hilsa to the Tibetan border (30 min), then drive with the jeep from the Tibetan border to Purang (3,750 m) (2 h). Stay overnight in Guest house
Day 12: Drive from Purang via Gossul Gompa to Chiu Gompa (4,570 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 13: Rest day at Manasarovar Lake. Stay overnight in Camp
Day 14: Drive from Lake Manasarovar to Tirthapuri (approx. 8 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 15: Drive from Tirthapuri to Toling (3,600 m) (approx. 5 h). Stay overnight in Guest house
Day 16: Drive from Toling to Tsaparang (3,600 m) (approx. 2 h) and back via Toling to Mishyang (4,300 m) (ca. 6 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 17: Drive from Mishyang to Darchen (4,520 m) (approx. 8 h). Stay overnight in Guest house
Day 18: Start Kailash-Round (Kora). Trek from Darchen to Diraphuk (5,000 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 19: Trek from Diraphuk via Dolma La Pass (5,670 m) to Zutrul Phuk (4,850 m) (approx. 8 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 20: Trek from Zutrul Phuk to Darchen (approx. 3 h) and drive to the north side of the Manasarovar Lake (ca. 3 h). Stay overnight in Camp
Day 21: Rest day at Manasarovar Lake. It is possible to visit the Seralung Monastery. Stay overnight in camp
Day 22: Drive from Manasarovar Lake to Saga (approx. 12 h). Stay overnight in Guest house
Day 23: Drive from Saga to Lhatse (approx. 10 h). Stay overnight in Guest House
Day 24: Drive from Lhatse to Shigatse (3,900 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in hotel
Day 25: Drive from Shigatse to Gyantse (3,800 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in hotel
Day 26: Drive from Gyantse to Lhasa (3,650 m) (approx. 6 h). Stay overnight in hotel
Day 27: Sightseeing in Lhasa (Potala Palace, Sera Monastery)
Day 28: Sightseeing in Lhasa (Norbulinka Monastery, Jokhang Monastery)
Day 29: Drive from Lhasa to the airport Gongar (approx. 1 h) and flight (approx. 1,5 h) to Kathmandu. Overnight stay in Kathmandu
Day 30: Free day in Kathmandu. overnight stay in Kathmandu
Day 31: Drive to airport and departure to home country
Additional information
Character of the tour and requirements
The Kailash Round is technically simple, but due to the height however very strenuous. Our plan stipulates 3 days for the Kailash Round (Parikrama). The highest point of this trip is Dolma La Pass with 5,636 m. During the trekking and during the drive you will stay for 16 days always in heights over 3,000 m and/or over 4,000 m. The possibility of the mountain attitude sickness should be always kept in mind.
The long daily drive in Jeeps through the deserted and wide Tibetan highland requires high physically and psychic aspects. They require stamina from all participants. Your organism must be healthy and you need good condition. During the trekking in Nepal and during the stay in Tibet, you spend the night usually in two-persons-tents, in customary hotel and guest houses. These are partially extremely simple lodges with little comfort and simplest sanitary plants. The services in the "hotels" and guest houses may not be measured by the European standard. In the guest houses, double rooms cannot be guaranteed; overnight stay in more bed rooms is possible. The kitchen is unaccustomed for European taste, and the hygienic conditions are "different" as in Europe.
As Chinese allow Nepalese Sherpa services our Nepalese staff will accompany us during the camping. Active assistance in all occurring works (built-up and built down of the tents, etc.) should be naturally. Tolerance and partnership spirit are prerequisite for this tour. For the tour you need a day backpack in which you can carry the most necessary things like rain protection, pullover, drinking water bottle etc. Other baggage and equipment are transported by our staff.
Includes / Excludes
Included:
- All transfers according to tour plan (incl. transport during sightseeing)
- Map
- Accommodation (double room / two-men-tent) in Kathmandu and during the tour in Nepal and Tibet *)
- Entrance fees in Kathmandu
- Trekking permit and permits for Tibet
- English speaking travel guide in Kathmandu and during the tour in Tibet
- English speaking guide, porter, cook and staff during the tour in Nepal and in Tibet
- Yak-service for the baggage during the Kailash Round
- Food (full board) incl. country typical drinks (coffee, tea) during the camping tour in Nepal and Tibet
- Domestic flights from Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Simikot
- Flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu
- Airport tax
- Breakfast in Kathmandu and during the tour in hotels and guest houses
- Welcome-Dinner in Kathmandu
Not included:
- Visa for Nepal and China
- Alcohol, soft drinks, mineral water during the camping tour in Nepal and Tibet
- Food (lunch and dinner) in Kathmandu and during the tour in hotels and guest houses in Tibet
- All kind of drinks in Kathmandu and during the tour in hotels and guest houses in Tibet
- Other domestic flights
- Extra charge for hot shower during the tour in Nepal and in Tibet
- Extra charge for recharging camera or mobile batteries during the tour in Nepal and in Tibet
- Personal travel- and health insurance
- Emergency transport / emergency evacuation
- Tips (for guide, porter, cook, staff and driver)
- Personal expenses
- Flight from home country to Kathmandu and back
*) Single supplement charge has to be added, if required
Stupa (Chorten in Tibetan) is an important religious monument in Tibet. This unique religious architectural form expresses significant religious symbolism and presents Buddha's physical presence.
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