Your arrival in Kathmandu. Our representative will meet you & greet you at the airport, then transfer to hotel. Check into the hotel following with welcome drinks. Afternoon; at leisure on your own. Evening, tour orientation program.

Accommodation: Hotel

Morning after breakfast, you will set off for sightseeing tour. You will visit Pashupatinath temple (the most sacred temple of Hindus), Mata Guheswori temple & Budhanilkantha temple (Shesh Shaiya Vishnu, also known as sleeping Vishnu).

After finishing the tour, you will return to the hotel. Lunch will be served between 12 Noon to 1 p.m. After lunch, you will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj, situated south-west from Kathmanu, is the gateway to far Western mountain regions of Nepal. The duration of flight is about an hour. Our representative will meet you at Nepalgunj airport then transfer to hotel. Evening, you will have leisure time on your own.

Kathmandu to Nepalgunj flight: 1 hour.

Accommodation: Hotel.

Early morning, after breakfast, you will pack up our baggage then trek down to the airport and board on the helicopter. The helicopter flight from Simikot to Hilsa takes about 25 minutes (one way) only. The flight route passes through deep Karnali River-gorge and narrow remote valleys, where weather normally turns windy & cloudy from late morning onward. So, we try to operate more shuttle flights early in the morning and bring all group members to Hilsa.

We operate Euro copter (B3) that can carry only 5 persons + 10 kg luggage at a time. Since, helicopter has limited capacity to carry, we request you not to carry any unnecessary stuff. We use two helicopters at a time, so we can airlift our group members to Hilsa as soon as possible.

After all group members shifted to Hilsa by helicopter, you will cross the border then drive to Taklakot (Purang). As per the visa rule of the Chinese government, all group members should enter together and exit together. So, until and unless all members do not come to Hilsa, no one can cross the border.

The drive from Hilsa to Taklakot takes about 45 minutes. The driving distance is about 27 k.m.

Simikot to Hilsa: By helicopter

Flight duration: 25 minutes

Carrying capacity: 5 persons + 10 kg baggage each

Hilsa to Chinese immigration (Sher): Only 10 minutes walk.

Sher to Taklakot: 27 km, 45 minutes drive by Bus.

Elevation of Taklakot: 4025 m./13202 fts.

Expected temperature: Day Time: 22 to 28 degree Celsius, Night Time: up to -3 degree Celsius.

General climatic condition: Mild windy

As usual, after having morning meal, we pack our belongings, then board on the vehicle and be ready to move towards Lake manasarovar. Right from the begining, the highway commences making gradual ascend. The road still keeps ascending up to the high pass, that lies before Rakshas lake. The lake ‘Rakshas’ represents the devil force. This is where Ravana, ‘the mighty King of Lanka’, had performed a penance to lord Shiva for 5000 years. We will take a brief halt at the shore of lake Rakshash, soak in views and take pictures; then continue our journey towards lake manasarovar.

We check in to the Guesthouse of lake manasarovar (Chiugompa) then walk to the lakeshore for having sacred dip and performing pooja. After pooja, we will have afternoon meal; board on the vehicle then set off for circumambulation around the lake. The entire circumference of the lake is presumably 82 km, and it demands a minimum two hours to accomplish this part of the journey.

Overnight guesthouse.

Taklakot to Lake Manasarovar: 88 km, one & half hour.

Elevation of Lake Manasarovar: 4550 m./14,925 fts

Expected temperature: Day Time: 22 to 32 degree Celsius; Night Time: -3 to -4 degree.

Climatic condition: Windy.

Today after breakfast, we once again can walk down to lakeshores once again, take sacred dip and start worshipping, praying and conducting an offering ceremony. The activity may continue till lunch hour. After lunch, we will pack our gear up and proceed to Darchen, the foothill of mount Kailash. Driving distance between Lake Manasarovar to Darchen is approximately 35 km and it requires 45 minutes to reach Darchen.

Darchen is a small town situated on the foothill of Kailash, just below the south face. The place is being completely commercialized now. There, we get choices of hotels/guesthouses. For pilgrims; it is not so pleasant place to stay but it is better to halt for a night here before heading out for trekking around Kailash. This allows you to be acclimatized properly before attempting circumambulation around Kailash.

Asthapad is situated just above Darchen. Now, it is forbidden to visit since a couple of years back. The distance from Darchen to Asthapad is about 7 km.

Overnight at Shisapanga Guesthouse.
Lake manasarovar to Darken: 35 km, 45 Min drive.
Elevation of Darchen: 4664 m./15,285 fts.
Expected temperature: day time: 18 to 28 degree Celsius/night time: -4 to -5 degree
Average climatic condition: Windy and partly cloudy.

Today is the day that we start sacred circumambulation around holy Kailash. As usual, we will be ready to move on from Darchen early morning. From Darchen, we drive to Yam Dwar (also called Tarboche in Tibetan language) which is 5 km in distance. In Yama Dwar, we meet our horse/ porter/ yaks then setoff together to Deraphuk.

Those who are not attempting Parikrama will return back to Darchen and wait there for two days. We will stay in Darchen when other members who have gone for circumambulation will return.

The entire trail up to Deraphuk is reasonably flat with gentle ascend, however due to extreme elevation of this region, we feel exhausted, and need to have breaks on the way very frequently. The last legs of the journey is tough with rapid ascend. But, it is only for half an hour.

Deraphuk stands at an elevation of 4920 m. The north face of mount Kailash is just a few thousands meters away from here. This is the only place to have a close view of north face.

Overnight …
Yama Dwar to Dhirapuk: 10 km | 5 – 6 hour trek.
Elevation of Deraphuk: 4920 m. | 16,138 fts.
Expected temperature: Day Time: 12 to 18 degree Celsius; Night Time: -5 to -8 degree.
Average climatic condition: windy | partly cloudy & rainy.

Today you have to cross a significant distance through the rugged portion of the trail around the mount Kailash before reaching Zutulpahuk. From Deraphuk, we should start very early. Right from the beginning, the trail leads you rapidly up, however in between it turns into flat with gentle ascend. Up to Dolma-La (5600 m.), the path keeps you taking up & up. Dolma La is the highest point of this journey. From this onward onward, the trail leads you all the way down to the valley floor. This particular portion of the trek is a rapid incline and the track is full of boulders and screes, so one should pay continue attention while trekking down.

While descending from Dolma La, we will pass alongside a small glacial pool, which is almost frozen during May through September. This is Gaurikunda. The legend of this pool is connected with Mata Parvati, the consorts of lord Shiva.

Once we make descend journey to the valley floor, the trail becomes flat & easy up to the Zutulphuk.

Overnight..
Dhiraphuk to Zutulphuk: 21 km (8 – 9 hours trek).
The highest point to cross over: Dolma La pass (5600 m./18,368 fts).
Elevation of Zutulphuk: 4820 m./15,810 fts.
Expected temperature: 14 to 22 degree Celsius/ night time: -3 to -5 degree.
Average climatic condition: Windy

Undoubtedly, today is the most hectic day of your journey. You, yet to go for another 06 km walk to accomplish the circumambulation; then drive all the way to Taklakot. As usual after morning meals, you will pack up your belongings then be ready to move on to Darchen. It requires presumably 3 hours to reach the ending point of this trail where our vehicle is waiting to fetch you up. After assembling all group members, you will board on vehicle and proceed for Taklakot.

Overnight..
Zutulphuk to trek ending point: 08 km, 3 hours.
Trek ending point to Taklakot: 105 km, 2 hours.

It takes 45 minutes to reach Hilsa, where you have to go through the immigration formalities. From Taklakot, a military person will accompany the group to escort towards Hilsa. After having luggage checked and going through some formalities again in the boarder, you will cross over the suspension bridge of Karnali river, then enter into the territory of Nepal then fly to Simikot.

Overnight..
Taklakot to Hilsa boarder: 27 km, 45 minutes.
Hilsa to Simikot flight by Helicopter: 25 minutes.

Early morning fly to Nepalgunj by aircraft then continue fly or drive to Kathmandu.

It is time to say Good bye!!! You will be transferred to Tribhuvan International airport for your flight back home. As per the international flight regulation; your presence at the airport check in counter should be three hours prior to the departure time. We will arrange vehicle accordingly!!! Have a pleasant journey back home!!!