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, Jains, the Hindus & the Bonpos. For the 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 Health 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).

With the opening up of the border crossing between Nepal and Tibet via Taklakot(Purang) in 1994, Mt. Kailas is now accessible for foreign trekkers with 6 days of trekking from the beautiful region of Simikot (3900 M). For this trek we follow the Humla Karnali route and trek through rice and wheat fields, through surging waters of the Humla Karnali, meet well educated friendly monks who speak excellent english and yes, see some of the finest views nature has to offer.

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.

DAY 1: Kathmandu- Nepalgunj
Transfer to airport to connect for your flight to Nepalgunj. Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transfer to Hotel. Nepalgunj is in the sub-tropical lowlands of the Terai close to the border with India.

Day 2: Simikot, (2960 m) - Dharapari, (2250 m)
Fly to Simikot, and begin trek to Dharapari. The flight takes 50 mins and offers some fantastic views of Himalayan peaks. The landing at the tiny mountain airstrip at Simikot is an unforgettable experience. There is an initial climb above Simikot before descending towards the village of Tuling and follow a level trail through walnut and apricot trees to the village of Dharapari. Overnight camp.

Day 3: Kermi, (2682 m)
We follow the Humla Karnali and trek through rice and wheat fields to a point where the valley narrows and the river is choked with large boulders. According to legend, these represent silver fish that swam up from the Ganges and could make it no further. Above this point rice is not grown and we trek through small fields of buckwheat and open pine woodland. Towering above the surging waters of the Humla Karnali are snow capped peaks and a series of gentle waterfalls that provide ideal shower facilities!

Day 5: Tumkot Khola, (2800 m)
The trail continues, at times close to the river, on a path that is built up with rocks and timber. We cross the Humla Karnali and climb gradually to Muchu (2920m) where there is a police checkpost. The trail passes below the gompa and stone houses of the village before gently descending to our camp by the river.

Day 6: Thado Dunga, (3854 m)
After crossing the Tumkot Khola we leave the Humla Karnali behind and will meet it again in two days time. A two hour climb brings us to a ridge crest at 3310m marked by a large cairn. We continue through open juniper woodland past Palbang to the village of Yari where there is a small shop and a school. About half an hour beyond Yari there is a nice camping place in an area of small meadows known as Dzungjen. As an aid to acclimatisation we can climb one of the ridges above Dzungjen for some excellent mountain views of the Saipal Himal.

Day 7: Hilsa, (3720 m)
The high pass of the Nara Lagna (4580m) is reached after a 3 1/2 to 4 hour climb. The summit is marked by two large cairns draped with prayer flags. Below, we can look into Tibet where the arid hillsides are a stark contrast to the greenery of the Humla region we have recently trekked through. It looks a long way down to Sher where our landcruisers await. The descent is steep and loose in places as the trail crosses scree and debris slopes. We may meet traders with large herds of sheep and goats. Each animal carries saddlebags loaded with rice from the Terai which is bound for Tibet, or if travelling in the opposite direction loads of salt bound for Nepal.

Day 8: Lake Manasarovar, (4558 m)
We climb a short distance to Sher, a Tibetan salt trading post at 3860m that is a windswept place of government buildings where passports and daysacks will be inspected. At Sher we meet our Tibetan guide and board our landcruisers for the two hour drive to Purang, (Taklakot) at 3930m. It is a rough fantastic drive that gives a taste of what lies ahead. En route visit Khojarnath where a large red gompa of the Sakya sect of Buddhism. We continue & stop at Chiu Gompa.

Day 9: Lake Manasarovar
Rest day. We spend a morning here to aid acclimatisation. We can explore the meditation caves along the lake shore and bathe in the sacred waters. Chiu Gompa is situated on a craggy cliff overlooking the lake and has commanding views over the plain to Mt Kailash. Inside is a small Guru Rinpoche cave that forms the most sacred part of the gompa.

Day 10: Darchen
It is a short 11/2 to 2 hour drive to Darchen, a cluster of buildings within a walled compound that marks the pilgrim’s gateway to Mt Kailas.

Day 11: Diraphuk, (5010 m)
We head north up the Lha Chu Valley and enter the ‘Valley of the Gods’ through the ‘two legged chorten’ known as Chorten Kangnyi. It is a gentle walk on a well defined path that remains on the right bank of the river. The towering cliffs each have a name and are believed to be the abode of supernatural protectors. There are many nomads herding yak and sheep to grazing areas west of the mountain. We cross the Lha Chu to camp below Dri Ra Phuk gompa at 5010 m. The views of Kailas’ north face are particularly impressive from above the gompa.

Day 12: Zutrulphuk gompa, (4820 m)
Today we cross the Dolma La 5630m. The day begins with a steep climb on a winding path over a moraine ridge to a level meadow area. Our route climbs to the Shiwa Tsal cemetary where Tibetans leave part of their clothing or a drop of blood to symbolise leaving part of their past life behind them. It is a slow steady climb to the Dolma La which is marked by streamers of prayer flags and the huge Dolma Stone that represents the goddess Dolma. The trail descends by a series of rocky switchbacks above the frozen waters of the holy lake of Gourikund to reach the valley of the Zhong Chu. We follow the river to camp in the vicinity of Zutul Phuk gompa at 4820m after 6 to 8 hrs of walking. A truly memorable day.

Day 13: Tirthapuri
Our final day on the kora is an easy three hours walking as we exit the Zhong Chu Valley on a trail that contours high above a narrow gorge. From Darchen we drive for 3 hrs to Tirthapuri, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites besides Kailash & Lake Manasorovar. There is a hot spring where one can bathe.

Day 17: Nylam
We rejoin the main Lhasa to Kathmandu Highway where we get to see Everest as the road climbs to the Lalung La (5124 m) before descending and climbing again to the Tong La at 5120 m. We finally reach Nyalam and overnight at a basic hotel.

Cost Includes:

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

Note:
Ask for our ‘Nepal extensions’ or ‘Mainland China extension’ packages.

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