Mt. Kailash (6714m), Asia's most
sacred mountain, is located in a high and isolated
enclave of West Tibet. It is one of three pilgrimages
sites in the area, known collectively as Kangri
Tsosum. All are said to be at the heart of the
ancient Shangshung kingdom, the supposed land
of origin of the pre-Buddist Bonpos. Mt Kailash
is their sould-mountain, which they also call
Yungdrung Gu Tse, the Nine-story Swastika Mountain.
It is a 53-km pilgrim path around
Mt. Kailash. It begins and ends at Darchen,
a small settlement at the mountain¡¯s
south base and in the process visits four monasteries
ad crosses the high Drolma La Pass (5636m).
Three days is perhaps the minimum time required
to walk leisurely around the mountain: spend
two nights in or near Drira Phuk and Zutrul
Phuk Monasteries. If conditions permit, try
to stay four or five days, which would allow
time for short trips to the inner regions of
the area.
Day 01 : Fly Lhasa from Kathmandu
After breakfast you will fly to Tibet. 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 : Sightseeing
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 Drepung
monastery. Drepung 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 : Sightseeing
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-Gyanste-Shigatse
In the morning the group departs for Gyantse;
We will get through the Karo La Pass (5010m)
and the Khamba La Pass (4800m) with a beautiful
panorama of the Yamdrok Yum Tso Lake.
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
to 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 to 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
Rest day and excursion around the Lake.
Day 15 : PARYANG
Accommodation: Budget guesthouse
Day 16 : SAGA
Accommodation: Budget guesthouse
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. Service ends.
Trek
Includes
