Mt. Kailash JourneyMt. Kailash Journey

Mt. Kailash 17 Days Journey

Highlights
  • On pilgrimage experience to sacred Manasrover Lake and holy Mt. Kailash within scenic Tibet
  • Tibetan Journey into worlds highest and largest plateau with sweeping panorama
  • Explore rural country farm villages of immense interest and vivid culture and custom
  • Scenic and exciting overland journey into Tibetan soil with amazing and fascinating scenery
  • Around Mt. Kailash and over highest past at Droma-la to complete the holy circuit
  • Scenic and exciting overland drive to and from Kathmandu Tibet on newly opened frontier

Experience holy pilgrimage within worlds highest country and plateau of Tibet

Mt. Kailash Journey is an overland adventure around the world's highest and largest plateau of Tibet. The journey takes you around the holiest of all holy places in this part of the world. An exciting and adventurous trip of a lifetime experience through Tibet’s vast windswept terrains with scenic landscapes.

Mt. Kailash Journey takes you to Tibet’s remote Far South West where the sacred Manasarover Lake is situated. Close in the shadow of the stunning-looking peak of Mt. Kailash, revered as a holy mountain by four religions. The Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Bon (pre-Buddhism), Hindu belief in the abode of Lord Shiva. For Jain is Asta Pada the center of the universe, Buddhism calls as Guru Khang Rinpoche. The ancient Bon culture is a superior, magical, and mystical site where their ancestors originated from the Mt. Kailash area.   

Mt. Kailash stands amidst the great wide windswept plains at 6, 638 m / 2, 1778 feet high. An amazing mountain on its own, from where four great rivers start and flow downstream. The Brahmaputra / Yarlung Tsangpo, Karnali, Sutlej, and Indus, a stunningly shaped Mt. Kailash of four cardinal sides. Pilgrims and devotees visit and do the Kora, circuit around the four corners of Mt. Kailash taking three days. The hike reaches on top of Mt. Kailash North Face at 5,630 m / 18, 471 feet.

On top of sacred Dolma-La / Dorma-La Pass festooned with thousands of prayer flags and offerings. As well as the closest looks of holy Mt. Kailash and then ending the trek near Darchen Town. Which is the starting and ending point of Mt. Kailash's holy circumambulation, circuit, or kora.

Mt. Kailash Journey begins with an exciting drive from Kathmandu heading north to Langtang and Ganesh Himal areas at Rasuwagaddi. The frontier of Nepal and Tibet / China, and then enter the Tibetan soil at Kyirong county town.

The overland journey and adventure then start heading towards the holy Lake of Manasarover and at the foot of Mt. Kailash. From where the walk starts around the Holy Mt. Kailash, after completing the holy circuit.

Then head back on the same scenic route to Kathmandu, where our wonderful adventure Mt. Kailash Journey concludes.

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Itinerary

On reaching Kathmandu Tribhuwan International Airport where you will be warmly received by our guide and staff and then transfer you to your respective hotels in the hub of Kathmandu city.

First check into your hotel rooms on getting refreshed from the flight and with Jet-Lag, then join with other members of Kailash Journey for group briefing, where our expert guides will inform regarding your stay in Nepal, hotels, trekking, local lodge and overland drives with do’s and don’ts information, evening welcome group dinner in authentic Nepalese restaurants with Folk cultural programs to entertain you during your meals.

    Morning after breakfast leave the hotel for exciting guided sightseeing around Kathmandu where our city guide will lead you to places of interest, Kathmandu a metropolitan city still retaining its ancient heritage and varied ancient culture where you will visit world heritage sites around Kathmandu for half day.

    After an interesting tour of ancient historical and religious sites around Kathmandu afternoon free preparation for next day journey to Tibet.

      Morning an exciting drive on Kathmandu to Dhunche-Syabrubesi highway, heading towards Himalayan foothills, on reaching at Trisuli Bazaar within warm sub-tropical area, as our journey continues towards uphill on long winding road towards cooler alpine area past farm villages and town to reach at Dhunche, at 1,950m high.

      Dhunche headquarter and main town of Rasuwa district within Langtang Himal where Langtang National Park starts and ends. From Dhunche drive leads downhill on zig-zag road to reach at Syabrubesi village the home of Tamang tribe people in the shadow of Ganesh and Langtang Himal, overnight in a nice cozy lodge at Syabrubesi.

        From Syabrubesi morning drive leads on newly built road that links Nepal / Tibet towards Rasuwagadhi (1800m / 15 km / 1 hr min from Syabrubesi), here received by our Tibetan counterpart guide and drivers, after completing immigration & custom formalities on both side of the frontier Nepal / Tibet at Rasuwagadhi, continue drive further to Kyirong county with first overnight stop in Tibet accommodation at local guest-house.

        At Kyirong afternoon with time to relax and enjoy views of Ganesh and Langtang Himal that borders Nepal and Tibet.

          At Kyurong in Tibet for acclimatization and familiarization within Tibetan soil where you can take short walks around its villages and witness interesting Buddhist culture and custom of Tibetans with views of Ganesh and Langtang Northern Face.

            Morning after breakfast drive continues on the wide vast Tibetan windswept plateau past few high passes with great views of mountain range, as the drive continues with some small stop with villages and nomads camps where you can view sheep’s and yak grazing.

            Our journey heads towards remote corners of Tibet past many farm villages finally drive through a bridge over Yalung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River which flows from the source at Mt. Kailash. Saga a growing town into city with several lodge, hotels and restaurants, on arrival check into the best available hotels or guest houses.

              Starting morning drive which takes us past Saga town within complete wilderness, after few hours’ drive the road winds and climbs to a pass of about 4,900 m and then descends to a long stretch flat area, on a clear day great views of the distant snow capped peaks towards North West Nepal, after few hours of scenic drive then reaching a windswept village at Paryang for overnight stop.

                Today's drive leads to more barren, arid landscapes with few stops and through many small farm villages and nomads camps with large Tibetan tents serving as teahouses and restaurants, drive continues on this vast flat land and then climbing up to the pass at Mayam-la at 5,050 m the road meanders to a long ascend the road gains altitude rapidly at first, then levels crossing the barren base below the pass and with a gradual drive of few hours reaches at the shore of Lake Manasrover for the overnight stop.

                  Another rest day for acclimatization at holy Lake Mansarovar, located in West Tibet between Mt. Kailash 6,714 meters and Gurla Mandhata Mountain Range stands at 7,694 meters.

                  The Lake Manasrover floats beneath the shadow of holy Kailash as the lake formed in the mind of God. In Buddhist-Hindu-Jain religion, this is the holiest lake of Asia; the best time to go around Lake Manasrover is in late autumn and early spring when the streams and rivers are low.

                  It is then possible to walk very near the shoreline, an optional drive around Manasrover Lake can be done on request which takes about four hours.

                    After a rest day, morning starts with a short drive on the Barkha windswept valley to near Darchen town, which is a busy place with bazaar, during auspicious time this place is flooded with Tibetan and Indian pilgrims for kora, parikrama or holy circuit walks.

                    Our journey continues further from Darchen town to Tarboche, one of the holy spot of this region with views of West Face of Mt. Kailash, from here our holy walk begins leading north on the wide arid terrain to Shershong, and with gradual climb and pleasant walk reaches to our overnight stop at Dhiraphuk Gompa, with magnificent view of holy Mt. Kailash North Face. Here depending upon the season with pilgrim’s crowd either in guest houses or tents with our camping.

                      From Dhiraphuk with the highest camping of this trip, morning walk continues on the uphill trail onto moraine for more than two hours, then with a steep climb at Dromo-la at 5,630m /18,525ft the highest point of this awesome journey, here a big boulder represents the goddess Dolma or Dromo (Tara) festooned with thousands of prayer flags and ritual offering by both Hindu’s and Buddhist pilgrims.

                      This holy spot as well a physical and spiritual high point for the pilgrimage or kora, after a nice break here walk leads to descend towards a wide valley a flat area, on reaching the bottom of Dromo -la pass then the walk is pleasant reaching at Zutul-Puk Gompa for overnight stop.

                      Zuthul means cave in Tibetan, this place is named after a holy cave in which poet, and saint Milareppa meditate in the early 11th century, his footprints can be seen on the cave roof top.

                        Today the last day of this holy circuit and kora, morning walk leads to a nice gradual walk for few hours on the winding trail, reaching at a narrow valley Gorge, from here our walking route turns west towards Darchen, just an before Darchen ending this holy trek for a drive towards near Mayum-la pass base for overnight camping, around this area chances of spotting some wild life and the beautiful Kang a wild ass can be seen herds around this place.

                          Morning drive over the high Mayum-la pass at 5,050 meters, then reaching the other side of the valley with interesting drive and parallel snow capped mountains views that borders Nepal and Tibet, this long scenic drive reaches at Saga town for overnight stop, probably in the comfort of nice guesthouses and hotels after passing couple of towns like Paryang, Saga town a growing place with more building construction, this town which is situated on the bank of great river Yarlung Tsangpo or Bhramaputra River.

                            An exciting drive back to reach Kyirong frontier town, journey leads past great Tibetan dry plateau taking a newly opened route of five hours overland drive to reach the border town of Tibet-China and Nepal at Kyirong for last overnight stop in Tibet.

                              Farewell to our Tibetan guides and drivers as morning starts leaving Tibet with short drive to the border post of Nepal and Tibet / China at Rasuwa-Gadhi, here on completing visa and custom formalities then enter into Nepal border at Rasuwa Gadhi, here again completing immigration process and continue drive on rough dirt road for a while to reach at Syabrubesi village, after a short refreshing break journey continues on winding uphill to reach at Dhunche town for overnight stop.

                                Morning transfer into a vehicles either by car-coach or in tourist bus (as per the size of the group), for overland journey back to Kathmandu with scenic views of mountains, green scenery of hills and farm fields within nice villages and towns as drive brings you back at hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu.

                                On reaching Kathmandu transfer to your respective hotels with time for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.

                                  Your last memorable day in Nepal after a wonderful experience on Kailash Journey with great service of Explorer Adventure, and as per your international flight then transfer to Kathmandu international airport for homeward bound or to your respective destinations.

                                    Mt. Kailash 17 Days Journey FAQs

                                    • The average elevation within all Tibet is above 3,000 m high, and crossing passes of above 5,000 meters. The highest point on this journey is climb up to Dorma / Dolma-La Pass on the second day of hike. Which is at above 5,630 m / 18,471 ft.

                                      The rest of the journey covers from above 3,000 m to 4,000 m high, the lowest is at Kyirong border town at 2,700 m / 8,900 feet.

                                    • After Kyirong the lodge accommodation are basic and simple, having rooms with common bath and toilets. Including en route Saga town, Chu Gompa area at Manasarover Lake, Dhirapuk and Zutulphuk.

                                      The foods are simple, Tibetan bread, mild vegetable curry, soups, Mo:Mo dumping, boiled rice. Including noodle soup or fried noodle with vegetables.

                                      All travelers to Mt. Kailash needs to carry some supplement foods, spices, pickles dry nuts / fruits to enjoy oneself.   

                                    • Yes, the aim of this Kailash Journey is mainly for pilgrims for worship and religious rites. Having time at Manasarover Lake for prayer and religious rites, offering as well for acclimatization. Before heading for three days walks around high altitude areas of Mt. Kailash.

                                    • Approx. 56 km / 35 miles, can be less depending upon the starting point of the Kora or circuit walks around Mt. Kailash. Most people starts from a holy spot at Tarboche west of Darchen Town, and ends before reaching Darchen.

                                      The above mileage is from Darchen to Darchen, the original start and end point of the Kora or circuit.

                                    • From late spring of April to pre-summer of June, as well from September to October. April to June having longer days with enough sunlight, but cold morning, late afternoon and night time.

                                      Can expect snow sometimes, in September and October days are fine and sunny, but much cold morning and night time and shorter days due to sunlight hours.

                                    At a Glance
                                    • Duration17 Days
                                    • Difficulty Level Moderate
                                    • Max AltitudeDorma-La 5,470 Mt
                                    • Trip StyleTrekking & Tour
                                    • Group SizeMinimum 2
                                    • Best SeasonApril to July -September
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