Introduction

The twin destinations – Mount Kailash and the calm waters of The Lake Manasarovar, considered the most sacred and revered pilgrimage for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists – lie in the southwestern part of Tibet. According to legend, you have to be called by the divine to perform The Holy Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.

Pricing Details
Trip Highlight
  • Explore the holy Mt. Kailash.
    Mt. Kailash
  • Visit Jokhang Temple.
    Jokhang Temple
  • Visit Mansarovar Lake.
    Mansarovar Lake
  • Visit Norbulinka Temple.
    Norbulinka Temple

Day 1

Arrive at Kathmandu

Take off for The Kailash Yatra!
Arrive Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative at the Tribhuvan International Airport who will assist you to transfer to your pre booked hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Stay at: Hotel Greenland

Kathmandu

kathmandu Airport
Kathmandu
Tribhuvan Airport

Day 2

Kathmandu

After breakfast, proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhnath Stupa. Evening at leisure in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Stay at: Hotel Greenland

Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple
Kathmandu
Pashupatinath Temple

Day 3

Kathmandu – Lhasa

After breakfast, in time transfer to the airport to board flight for Lhasa. Upon arrival at Gonggar Airport, the group shall be met by our local representative and transfer provided to your hotel in Lhasa. The group will reach the Hotel in about 2 hrs. The first day will be spent resting to acclimatize with the altitude because Kathmandu is at 1200 m above sea level and Lhasa is at 3650 m. So it needs some time to acclimatize with the altitude. Overnight at hotel in Lhasa.

Stay at: Lhasa Intercontinental

Lhasa
image of Lhasa
Lhasa

Day 4

Lhasa

After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing. Visit Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery and Norbulinka Temple. It is heavily influenced by tibetn Tantrik sect , you will be amazed how far our tibet go.

Jokhang Temple: The Jokhang temple, a massive building consisting of three floors and an open roof all filled with chapels and chambers, has undergone extensive reconstructions and additions since the 7th century, particularly during the 17th century reign of the fifth Dalai Lama. While parts of the existing temple structure date from earlier times, most of the murals are from the 18th and 19th centuries and few statues (with the notable exception of the Joyo Sakyamuni) are older than the 1980's. The temple was sacked several times during Mongol incursions but its worst treatment has been at the hands of the Chinese since their occupation of Tibet in 1959. The Jokhang is the most celebrated temple in Tibet. Because the temple is not controlled by a particular sect of Tibetan Buddhism it attracts adherents of all the sects as well as followers of Bon-Po, Tibet's indigenous religion. Three pilgrimage circuits exist in Lhasa, each directing pilgrims to the Jowo Sakyamuni statue: the Lingkhor, which encircles the city’s sacred district; the Barkhor, which encloses the Jokhang temple; and the Nangkhor, a ritual corridor inside the Jokhang. Every day throughout the year hundreds of pilgrims circumambulate each of these three circuits. Some pilgrims will cover the entire distance by prostrating every few feet, and others will walk slowly, chanting sacred mantras and spinning hand-held prayer wheels. For more than a thousand years millions of pilgrims have trod these sacred paths with devotion in their hearts; this cumulative focusing of intention and love has charged the Jokhang with an enormously powerful field of sanctity.


Barkhor Street: The center of the old Lhasa, Barkhor is a circular street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid. It was said that in the seventh century when Songtsen Gampo, the first Tibetan King (617 or ?-650) who unified Tibet, married Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepal princess Tritsun. Later Princess Tritsun built Jokhang Temple to accommodate the Jowo Sakyamuni aged 12 brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng. Barkhor is the road which pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night. They comprise most of Lhasa's floating population.

Norbulinka Monastery: The park was begun by the 7th Dalai Lama beginning in 1755. The Norbulingka Park and Summer Palace were completed in 1783 under Jampel Gyatso, the Eight Dalai Lama, on the outskirts of Lhasa and became the summer residence during the reign of the Eighth Dalai Lama.The stables of the Dalai Lamas in Norbulingka, photographed in 1986.The earliest building is the Kelsang Potang Palace built by the Seventh Dalai Lama which is "a beautiful example of Yellow Hat architecture. Its fully restored throne room is also of interest." The 'New Palace' was begun in 1954 by the present Dalai Lama and completed in 1956. It contains chapels, gardens, fountains and pools. The gardens are a favourite picnic spot and provides a beautiful venue for theatre, dancing and festivals, particularly the Sho Dun or 'Yoghurt Festival', at the beginning of August, with families camping in the grounds for days surrounded by colourful makeshift windbreaks of rugs and scarves and enjoying the height of summer weather.The palace is located three kilometers west of the Potala Palace which was the winter palace. Additional buildings were added to the park during the first half of the 20th century. There is also a zoo at Norbulingka, originally to keep the animals which were given to the Dalai Lama. Overnight at hotel Mansarovar or similar in Lhasa.


Stay at: Lhasa Intercontinental

Lhasa
Norbulinka Monastery
Lhasa
Norbulinka Monastery

Day 5

Lhasa – Shigatse (3900 m) - 350 km/ 7-8 hrs.

After breakfast, visit drive to Shigatse. Shigatse is the second biggest city in Tibet, 90KMs away from Gyangtse. Visit the famous Tashillunpo Monastery in Shigatse, seat of the Panchan Lama, one of the six important Gelupa Monasteries in China, was built in 1447 by the first Dalailama. Overnight at hotel Getsar or similar in Shiagtse.

Stay at: Hotel Qo mo lang zong

Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse

Day 6

Shigatse – Saga (4640 m) 460 km. / 9 -10 hrs.

After early breakfast, leave for Saga (460 km. / 9 hrs.). Packed lunch will be served en route. Overnight at hotel in Saga.

Stay at: Guest House

Saga

Mayum La pass
Saga
Mayum La pass

Day 7

Saga - Chui Gompa (4560 m) 478 km/ 8-10 hrs. drive

After breakfast, drive to Prayang for about 250 km, post lunch we continue driving crossing Mayum La pass (5200 m) and then drive to Hor Quo (4560 m). Here group shall leave its vehicle and the group members along with the baggage shall be shifted to battery operated Eco Buses provided by CIPSC as a conservation effort. Group shall drive to Chui Gompa by doing Mansarovar Parikarma by the Eco Bus.

Today is the day of lifetime, as we will have the first sight (darshan) of Holy Mt. Kailash and Holy Lake Manasarovar. Stay in a guest house on the bank of Holy Mansarover Lake. Overnight at guest house in Chui Gompa.

Stay at: Guest House

Chui Gompa

Lake Manasarovar
Tibet
Lake Manasarovar

Day 8

Chui Gompa – Darchen

After breakfast, it is a day for Puja and Holy bath in the holy lake. We will continue our drive post lunch by be Eco Buses to reach Darchen (4620 m). Darchen is located beneath the majestic holy Mount Kailash, a small town with couple of guesthouses and a few hotels as well. During the auspicious pilgrimage time, this place is flooded with Pilgrims with hundreds of tents/guest houses all around. Darchen is the beginning and end point of the Kora. Overnight at a guest house in Darchen. Theis a place from where your guide shall coordinate for all your yaks and ponies alongwith yak-men and pony-men / porters however you will have to inform your requirement for Pony / Porter while you are at Mansarovar.

Stay at: Himalaya Hotel

Darchen

Mount Kailash
Darchen
Mount Kailash

Day 9

Darchen - Tarboche (13 km) and trek to Dirapuk (4860 m) 7 km/ 5 - 6 hrs.

After breakfast, drive approx. 13 Kms. to Tarboche by Eco Buses, the trek starting point of Kailash Parikrama. Tarboche is also known as the outer "Asthapath". The first day of our Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail leads us to few ups and downs till we reach our camp / guest house at Dirapuk (4860 m) 7 km/ 5 - 6 hours trek. Overnight at Dirapuk Hotel / Guest House.

Those not feeling comfortable to continue parikarma shall stay back at Darchen and wait for the Parikarma group to return.

Stay at: Guest House

Darchen

Kailash Parikrama
Darchen
Kailash Parikrama

Day 10

Dirapuk - Trek to Zuthulphuk (4760 m) 18 km/ 9 - 10 hrs.

Today our circumbulation (Kora) leads to much higher side of the holy path just beneath the Holy Mount Kailash. The walk will bring us to one of the highest point at Drolma La, 5,200 m. before descending to the gradual field towards Zuthulphuk for the overnight stay after 5-6 hours walk. Zuthulphuk (4760 m) 18 km/ 9 - 10 hrs.

After early breakfast, group will set off as the sun's ray break over the ridges above. After the footbridge the trail rises up a rocky slope. Take this gently but steadily. It soon reaches a level walk. The peak of Mount Kailash rises to the right and can now be seen linked to a long spur, which joins the eastern ridge. This is the top edge of the glacial valley from which the Lhachu ("Divine River") flows.

This day is the climax of this holy journey & is the most difficult day of our journey. One has to pass through Drolma La Pass – 5200 m - highest altitude on this tour. Physically it is the most arduous day. At the pass is a large boulder depicting Tara, festooned with prayer flags. Here too Tibetans leave a memento of themselves such as a tooth, a lock of hair or even a personal snapshot. After perhaps 30 minutes, we descend a steep, rock-strewn path to the valley below. Just below the pass is Lake Tu-je Chenpo Dzingbu (Gauri Kund) i.e. "The Pool of Great Compassion". Take great care now because it is easy to sprain your ankle or worse. You must negotiate steep staircases down to a snowfield. The only way down is to jump from boulder to boulder across a large rock fall. On the ridge above is a formation known as the Lekyi Ta-ra ("Axe of Karma"), as though one's moment ripen in an accident, suffering or death.

A final steep descending staircase brings you to the valley floor. From here it is still about 5 hours to the day's destination with no shelter in between. It is vitally important to remain on the right hand side of the river, the West bank. If not, you will get trapped, unable to cross it. The walk now becomes very pleasant and relaxing (as long as the weather is clear and there is no howling gale.) The path follows the gentle slope of the valley over grassy fields and clear brooks for several Kilometers before it narrows and turns further south to merge with another valley before reaching Zuthulphuk, the "Miracle Cave" of Milarepa.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at restaurant.

Stay at: Guest House

Dirapuk

Drolma La Pass
Dirapuk
Drolma La Pass

Day 11

Zuthulphuk - Darchen trek 10 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. /8 drive to Saga.

The morning can be spent exploring the caves and visiting the temples and shrine that has been built around Milarepa's cave. A married elderly couple supervises the temple, which is usually an active residence for over half a dozen Tibetan devotees, helpers, or relatives who continuously busy themselves with the tasks of maintaining the buildings.

One imagines Milarepa's disciples meditating here. Many of the caves contain meditation platforms, self-contained by dry stonewall which divides them from their cooking partitions and entrance areas. It is well worth the short climb up to these caves before beginning the final stage of the trek. The winding gradual tracks finally ends our holy pilgrimage walk 10 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. Once we reach at the trek end point near Darchen, our Eco Bus (mandatory) will be waiting to take the group back to Chui Goempa Information Centre from where the group shall board its luxury bus for return journey to Lhasa. Overnight in Saga.

Stay at: Guest House

Darchen

Saga

Milarepa's cave
Darchen
Milarepa's cave

Day 12

Saga – Kyirong

After breakfast, drive to Kyirong for overnight stay.

Stay at: Hotel Qo mo lang zong

Kyirong

Tashilhunpo Monastery
Kyirong
Tashilhunpo Monastery

Day 13

Kyirong – Kathmandu (8-9 hrs.)

After breakfast, proceed to exit from Tibet via Kyirong Border. After reaching Friendship Bridge, we'll be leaving our Tibet side vehicles on the other side of border and after completing custom and immigration formalities, we shall walk for approximately 15 minutes towards Nepal Immigration Post where our coach for Nepal would be waiting for us. Our Border guide will assist us to shift our belongings towards Nepal Side of the bridge. Lunch shall be served at a local en-route restaurant. Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu.

Stay at: Kathmandu Intercontinental

Kathmandu

Lhasa
Kathmandu

Day 14

Departure from Kathmandu

Fly back to your home with memories of Mount Kailash & Holy Lake Mansarovar After breakfast, free for souvenir shopping and other independent activities. In time transfer to InternationalAirport to board your onward flight else you may extend your stay in Nepal to visit MuktinathTemple or ManokamnaTemple or just relaxing.


Kathmandu

Kunming Airport
Kathmandu
Kathmandu Airport
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