Mt. Kailash (6714 m) - also known as Tise, Kailasa or Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the Snows) has since time immemorial been celebrated in many eastern cosmologies as Mt. Meru, the axis-mundi. As the center of the physical & metaphysical universe, Mt. Meru (Kailash) is sacred to the Hindus, the Buddhists, the Jains, and the Bonpos. For the Hindus, the mountain represents the seat of Shiva. For the Buddhists, a terrestrial projection of the cosmic mandala of the Dyani Buddhas & Boddhisatvas .… The Wheel of Life.
For the devout pilgrim a visit to Mt. Kailash & Lake Mansorovar forms the ultimate realization of their spiritual pursuit. And for the adventure-lovers it offers rugged beauty, remoteness and solitude. The June tour visits Kailash during the annual Buddhist festival of Saga Dawa while most of the other trips are planned to arrive at Mt. Kailash during the full moon period to give all participants a rare experience. A journey rightly called `once-in-a-lifetime'. We are the leading & pioneer Tibet tour operator equipped with experienced man power, contacts and resources to handle all the logistics of such a tour. Our support staffs are strong, hardy Sherpas who have been several times to Mt. Kailash and have a reputation of hospitality that is now an established legend. We welcome you all to experience the bliss & magic of being at Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasorovar with us.
Itinerary of Kailash Mansarovar
Day 01: Fly in Lhasa
Arrive in Gonggar airport. Be greeted and offered a white scarf (called Kada) in a Tibet traditional way which brings you good luck. And then transfer 100 km away to Lhasa . Check in the hotel and take a rest for acclimatization of high altitude.
Day 02: In Lhasa
Guided sightseeing tour of Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhasa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa's most holy destination for a pilgrimage. We will also visit the Drepgung monastery. Drepgung once housed 10,000 monks, If we're lucky, we'll quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.
Day 03: In Lhasa
We start off with a walking tour of Jokhang Monastery and the bustling Barkhor market. The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. Guided tour of the Norbulinka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama and a tour of the Tibetan Medical Center.
Day 04: Lhasa –Shigatse (Via Yamdrok Yamtso)
We drive to Chushul bridge and via the Yamdrok Yamtso Lhasa.one of the holy lake of Tibet. Then we drive to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, which is also the hometown of Panchen Lama. Afternoon visit Tashilumpo monastery.
Day 05: SHIGATSE-NGAMRING (5220 M), 160 KMS, 6-7 HRS
Drive to Ngamring. En route visit Sakya Monastery.
Day 06: SAGA, 4280 M, 190 KMS , 7-8 HRS
The road follows south of the Pelgu-Tso, continues across the plain with stunning Himalayan views. The route then follows a narrow gorge before climbing to a pass and dropping steeply down to a ferry crossing over the Yarlung Tsangpo.
Day 07: PARYANG, 4750 M, 250 KMS, 8-9 HRS
From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road is good and the trip can be completed in 4-5 hrs. There is also a small monastery at the western end of town on a hill. From Zhongba onwards the southern road deteriorates. There is also danger of vehicles getting stuck. But this section of the road has panoramic views of mountains on either side of the road.
Day 08: LAKE MANASOROVAR, 4560 M, 260 KMS, 10 HRS
From Paryang to Lake Mansorovar is a long drive of 10 hrs or more. There will be several river crossings and we drive past Mayum la pass (4600 M). The scenery is stunningly beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalayas.
Day 09: DARCHEN (4560 M), 30 KM
About 30 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen, the main gateway and the village. The monastery at Darchen, Darchen Gon, is a part of the Drukpa sect. The two-story monastery structure in the center of the town serves as a trading post and shelter for pilgrims. Within the dukhang assembly hall are new and old thangka paintings and some statues, the main image being Sakyamuni. West of the gompa is the Mani Lhakhang that has a large, new mani prayer wheel. This is the site where the original old flagpole (a darchen is a flagpole for prayer flags) of Darchen was located. When beginning their kora pilgrimage around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate the Darchen Gon monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before setting out. We organize yaks or ponies for the Kailash circuit trek at Darchen.
Day 10: KAILASH CIRCUIT TREK - DIRAPHUK : (6 hrs) (B+L+D)
This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms and can be done in 3 days. We head 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 comes to view. En route visit Tarboche where annual flagpole raising ceremony takes place during Saga Dawa.
Day 11: DIRAPHUK - ZUTRULPHUK , 4790, 6 hrs (B+L+D)
Today 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 12: DARCHEN - TIRDAPURI (B+L+D)
The final end of the parikrama is an easy 2-3 hrs walk down to where the river emerges on to the Barga plain. We complete the 3 day circuit trek of Mt. Kailash and drive to Tirdapuri where there is a hot spring. Pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash is not complete without visiting Tirdapuri for the Tibetan Buddhists.
Day 13: TIRDAPURI - KHOJARNATH - PURANG
Visit Tirdapuri Monastery and the pilgrim circuit and drive to Purang. En route visit Khojarnath Monastery.
Day 14: PURANG-LAKE MANASOROVAR (Chiu Gompa) and LAKE MANASORVAR
Excursion around the Lake.
Day 15: PARYANG
Day 16: SAGA
Day 17: SAGA / NYLAM
We rejoin the main Lhasa to Kathmandu Highway where we get to see Everest as the road climbs to the Lalung La (5124m) before descending and climbing again to the Tong La at 5120m. We finally reach Nyalam and overnight at a basic hotel.
Day 18: NYLAM / KATHMANDU
In the early mornong we drive to Zhangmu first, after you go through all the formalities of China Customers. You will be met in Kodari of Kathmandu Side. Tour ends.
