Kathmandu Valley Tour Highlights: Observe the enchanting natural...
Trip Summary
| Label | Detail |
|---|---|
| Geography | Mountain and Hills |
| Location | Tibet and Nepal |
| Level Of Difficulty | Moderate to difficult |
| Duration | 18 days |
| Max Aaltitude | 5,000m |
| Religion | Buddhism and Hinduism |
| Ethnic People | Tibetan and Nepali |
| Accommodation | lodges, tent, hotel |
| Transportation | Flight/Private Vehicle |
| Minimum Pax | 5 |
Detail Information
Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in all of Asia. It lies in the western part of Tibet at an altitude of 6714m. Four major religions, Hindu, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon consider it as a spiritual hub in their own respective ways. This Mount Kailash tour takes you around this holy mountain and it will provide you with a much needed spiritual and cultural awakening. In this tour, you will pay a visit to the holy Lake Mansarovar and the culturally rich monasteries that decorate Zuthulphuk and Dirapuk. Once you have completed this Mount Kailash tour, you’ll be blessed with a much-needed spiritual awakening.
This 18 days Mount Kailash tour starts from Kathmandu and after you indulge in a brief sightseeing tour that incorporates the major UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu, we head out to Nepalgunj via an airplane. Take another plane that takes you to the remote side of Nepal, Simikot. These areas are greatly influenced by Tibetan culture and traditions. A bit further lies Dharapuri and as we move ahead, we take some time to relax in the hot springs just near Kermi. Do visit the Choeling Gompa as well. As we navigate along the Karnali River, we find ourselves in the vicinity of the Albang monastery. Move along the graveled terrain and visit the most important Shakya monastery in this region, ‘Dhungkar Choezom Monastery’. After a brief stay in Tumkot Khola, we head out to Thado Dhunga. As we walk to summit the Nara La Pass, we are greeted with Tibetan landscapes. We rest in Hilsa and the next day, we enter Tibet.
Enjoy the long drive to Purang and pay regards to the Purang Gompa. A quick drive leads us to Darchen which is a great place to observe surreal views of the northern face of Kailash. We shall start the Kora by heading to Dirapuk and we shall relish at the sight of the amazing landscape of Tibet. Head to the top of the Dolma La pass and then proceed towards Zuthulpuk. Visit the many monasteries in Zuthulpuk and get on a ride that takes you to Horcho. Spend some time in the Chiu Gompa and later move towards Dzongla which sits near the mighty Brahmaputra River. Cross the Mayum La pass to arrive at Zhangmu. Get all your documents sorted and cross the Friendship Bridge to enter Nepal and drive to Kathmandu via the Araniko highway.
We at Nepal Alibaba Treks have been organizing tours to Kailash-Mansarovar since the past 15 years. Our experienced tour guides will brief you completely during the trek and ensure that you have a pleasant tour. We offer the best service at a reasonable cost.
Trip Highlights
- Trek to one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations of Asia.
- Immerse yourself in the authentic Tibetan culture with a visit to monasteries and many historic Buddhist sites.
- Clean your body and soul from all the sins by diving in the holy lake of Mansarovar.
- Spectacular landscapes with stunning mountain views.
Itinerary Summary
Outline
Day Arrival in Kathmandu (1335m)
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will meet our representative at the airport. He/she will then guide you to your hotel. You will have plenty of time to rest that day and prepare for a sightseeing tour the following day. The company will host your farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day Sightseeing tour around Kathmandu
We take a cultural and historical tour of Kathmandu on this day. We visit different famed UNESCO world heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley. Starting with an early morning tour to Boudhanath, we visit places like Swayambhunath and the Kathmandu Durbar Square. We then visit the temple of Pashupatinath to enjoy the evening Aarati (prayer). End the day by making a short visit to Patan Durbar Square if the time suffices. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day Flight to Nepalgunj (150m)
On this day, we fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj is a city in the Terai region of Nepal. It takes one hour to fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. We spend the day exploring the city of Nepalgunj. We visit the local market, mini zoo and try out some food varieties here. Nepalgunj is also a gateway to Simikot village. Overnight in Nepalgunj.
Day Flight to Simikot (2910m) and Trek to Dharapuri - (2270m) 3hrs Trek
Today, we fly from Nepalgunj to Simikot. A 45-minute flight will take you to the headquarters of Humla District, Simikot. Simikot is a remote village in the Far-western region of Nepal. There's a high influence of Tibetan culture here. One main reason is the proximity to Tibet. We walk a little for the day to reach Dharapuri. The trail starts uphill and descends to the village of Tuling. Walking through the jungle alongside Karnali River we reach Dharapuri. Overnight in Dharapuri.
Day Trek to Kermi - (2690m) 5hrs Trek
On this day, we walk on the plain trails alongside the Karnali River. The scenery of farmland growing barley, rice and potatoes fill your sight. Near Kermi there are two hot springs. You can take a hot bath here to reduce physical stress after a long walk. Be sure to visit the tranquil sites like the Laikyo Gompa and the Choeling Gompa along the way. Interact with the monks here and finally arrive at Kermi. Overnight in Kermi.
Day Trek to Albang Monastery/School - (2890m) 6hrs Trek
We start our walk through the flatlands on this day. After a while, it gets a little steep until we reach the Salli River. Crossing the suspension bridge over Salli River we enter the beautiful forest with pine trees enjoying the view of Karnali River. We reach the Albang monastery and take a good insight into the Tibetan culture. The road provides glimpses of the Namkha Khyung Dzong monastery as well. Overnight in Albang Monastery.
Day Trek to Tumkot Khola - (3060m) 6hrs Trek
On this day, we trek alongside the Karnali River at the beginning. Moving gradually up and forward, you will notice a difference in the landscape. It starts getting rockier and drier with few pine trees. We visit the Dhungkar Choezom Monastery which is one of the most important Shakya monasteries in the region. Overnight in Tumkot Khola.
Day Trek to Thado Dhunga - (3745m) 7/8 hrs Trek
Crossing the Thumkot River, we climb for a couple of hours to reach to the top of a ridge. The trek will then take us through the village of Yari while going through small juniper forests. Yari is a village with a few shops and a school. Walking a little ahead through meadows, we reach Thado Dhunga. Overnight in Thado Dhunga.
Day Trek to Nara La pass (4580m) and Hilsa (3720m) 5hrs Trek, and drive to Purang (3770m)
The first aspect of this trek leads us to the summit of the Nara La pass which sees a steep climb all the way to the summit. The road descends down and gives way to bleak Tibetan landscapes. As we head forward, we arrive at the border town of Hilsa. The view of Tibetan plateau is simply exceptional. Hilsa is a small town which is also a border. On reaching Hilsa, our ride will be waiting for us to take to Purang. Purang is an ancient village that houses the Purang Gompa and other ancient relics. Overnight in Purang.
Day Drive to Darchen (4670m) 6hrs drive
This is the day we drive from Purang to the village of Darchen. Darchen is also known as Lhara among locals. It is also a gateway to the holy Mt. Kailash and is situated towards the right side of Mt. Kailash. In recent years, Darchen has seen quite an increase in the number of tourists and it has been converted into a tourist hub. Overnight in Darchen.
Day Trek to Dirapuk (5000m} 5 hrs. Trek Start Mt. Kailash Kora
Heading north from Darchen, we trek to Lha Chhu village which is also known as the Valley of Gods. Today is also the first day of Kora. We walk on the right side of the river through a two-legged Chorten named Chorten Kangyi. Herders with their yaks and sheep’s grazing is a frequent sight on this day. We cross the Lha Chu village to reach Dirapuk. From here, we can catch stunning views of the northern face of Mount Everest. Overnight in Dirapuk.
Day Trek to Dolma La pass (5630m) 3hrs and Zutulpuk (4600m) 3hrs
This is the day where the trek starts getting a little tough. We start with a steep climb over a moraine ridge. We pass through the Shiwa Tsal monastery where Tibetan Buddhists leave clothes with a little drop of their own blood to pay tribute to the dead. We then pass through the Dolma La pass filled with flowers and a stone which is regarded as goddess Dolma. Descending down, we reach the lake Gaurikunda eventually to the valley of Zhong Chu. Further ahead a little we end our day at Zutulpuk. If you have time, then you can even choose to visit the ancient caves that dot the walls of Zutulpuk. Overnight in Zutulpuk.
Day Trek for about 3hrs and drive to Horcho (Mansarovar) (4582m)
Today we trek for the first few hours. On the way, we pass through Tirthapuri which is famous for hot springs. Depending on the time we reach there, you can relax for a while and drive to Horcho from there. The drive is mostly through barren Tibetan Plateau. We arrive at Horcho after driving for approximately 4 hours. The holy Lake Mansarovar can be clearly seen from here. This lake has very high value for Buddhists and Hindus. Overnight in Horcho.
Day Drive to Thrugu Gompa, Mansarovar Lake, Drive to Chiu Gompa, Mansarovar (Visit Gosul Gompa in between)
Today we drive towards Thrugu Gompa which is also a pilgrimage site for Buddhists here. This is the day we take a good tour around the Mansarovar Lake by visiting many historical gompas. Chiu Gompa and Gosul Gompa are worth a visit for the vibrancy and aura that will recharge your soul. It is believed that the Kora is only complete after a holy dip in Mansarovar. You will have the option to decide to dive depending on your physical condition. Overnight by Mansarovar in Chiu Gompa.
Day Drive to Dzongla (besides the Brahmaputra) or New Dzongla (4500m) 5 hrs.
We follow the road to Dzongla by driving through Horchu and by crossing the Mayum La pass. Passing settlements like Manisar and Payang we reach the village of Dzongla. On the southern side of Dzongla, lie the border with Karnali and Dhaulagiri zones of Nepal. This small border town is cluttered with small lodges and teahouses. Overnight in New Dzongla.
Day Drive to Zangmu (2300m) 4hrs drive
On this day, we cross the Brahmaputra River and also Saga, which is a major town by the Yarlung Tsangpo River. We continue further through the Milarepa caves while enjoying the views of the Rolwaling range and Shishapangma peak. Finally, following Bhotekoshi River down the stream, we reach the border town of Zangmu. Overnight in Zangmu.
Day Drive for 20 minutes down to the Friendship Bridge and head to Kathmandu
We drive down 20 minutes to reach the friendship bridge that connects Zangmu with Tatopani, Nepal. Taking a quick stroll around Tatopani, we head to Kathmandu. We ride through the Araniko Highway enjoying the villages of Nepal. At Kathmandu, you can enjoy last-minute shopping and a visit to Khokana or Godavari. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day Departure
On the 18th day, you wave your goodbyes to everyone in Kathmandu. Our representative will drop you to the airport. We wish you a safe journey.
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