Tibet Himalayas - on the roof of the world

KAILASH PILGRIMAGE (SKTBT-122)

14 days pilgrimage tour to Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasorovar
Best Season: May to October
All trips timed to arrive at Kailash on a Full-Moon day.
Private tour departures available on request

Mt. Kailash, at 6714 m, also known as Tise, Kailasa & Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the Snows), has since time immemorial been celebrated in many Eastern cosmologies as Mt. Meru, the axis mundi. And as the center of the physical & metaphysical universe, Mt. Meru is sacred to the Buddhist, Jams, the Hindus & the Bonpos.

For Hindus, the mountain represents the seat of Lord Shiva; for the Buddhists, a terrestrial projection of the cosmic mandala of Dhyani-Buddhas & Boddhisatvas....the wheel of Life;

for the Bonpos, Kailash was the sacred nine storey Swastika Mountain, upon which the Bonpo founder Sherab alighted from heaven.

Four of the great rivers of the Indian subcontinent originates from here: the Karnali, which feeds into the Ganges (south); the Indus (north); the Sutlez (west) & the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo, east).

Sikkim Holidays, offers special fixed trips to Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasorovar to facilitate pilgrims & foreign tourists. We are probably one of the few outfits that provide Nepali Sherpa staff support for all of our treks in Tibet so as to ensure similar high quality trek services that exist in Nepal.

All trips are planned to arrive at Kailash on a full-moon day to obtain total & unhindered view of the holy mountain.

TREK ITINERARY
 
Day 1: Kathmandu - Nyalam, (3750 m), 155 kms
From Kathmandu the road climbs steadily uphill out of the Kathmandu valley past, breathtaking views through a luxuriant, deep gorge shifting to a windy barren pass. 0/N Nyalam Guest House.
Day 2: Nyalam - Peigu tso, (4595 m), 57 kms
Past Nylam the road climbs to the 5120 M Thong-la pass then drops down before climbing to the Lalung-la pass (5124 M). To the south there are views of Shisha Pangma (8012 M). Camp.
Day 3: Saga, (4280 m)
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 4: Paryang, (4750 m), 255 kms
From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road is good & 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 5: Lake Manasarovar, (4560 m), 260 KMS
From Paryang to Lake Mansorovar is a long drive of 10 hrs or more. There will be several river crossings & we drive past Mayum Ia pass (4600 M). The scenery is stunningly beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalayas. 0/N camp at Hor Qu.
Day 6: Darchen (4560 M), 30 kms
About 30 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen, the main gateway & the village. Here we organize yaks or ponies for the Kailash circuit trek.
Day 7: Kailas circuit trek - Diraphuk: (6 hrs)
This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms & can be done in 3 days. We head west in clockwise direction & 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 8: Diraphuk - Zutrulphuk, (4790 m), 6 hrs
Toady we cross Drolma Ia pass (5630 M) & Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m) where Hindus worship & immerse themselves in the icy waters of the lake.
Day 9: Darchen - Lake Manasarovar (2-3 hrs)
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 & drive 33 KM to Chiu Gompa at Lake Manasorovar. Chiu Gompa is at a fabulous location atop a hill overlooking the Lake Manasorovar.
Day 10: Lake Manasarovar
Rest day or self exploration
Day 11 / 13: Nyalam
We will use the same route to retrace back to Nyalam.

Day 14: Zhangmu-Kathmandu
Across Friendship Bridge where our representative will meet you and drive you to Kathmandu

   
Cost Includes:
Cost Excludes:
  1. Tibet permit & monument entrance fees
  2. Twin sharing accommodation in hotels on BB Plan and AP Plan on trek
  3. Full service of our Sherpa staff from Nepal
  4. Camping equipment
  5. Yaks & yak herders
  6. Transportation by Toyota jeep + support truck for food & equipment
  7. Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) & oxygen
  1. Airfare & airport taxes
  2. Tibet visa fee
  3. Insurance & emergency rescue charges
  4. Personal clothing & accessories including sleeping bags
  5. Extra porter/transport charges in the event of landslides
  6. Others not specified in above cost inclusions list
 
 
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