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 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).
Tibet Travels & Tours 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 to Day Itinerary |
| Day
01 |
KATHMANDU-NYLAM, 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.
over nights stay at a Nylam Guest House. |
| Day 02 |
NYLAM-PELGU
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
03 |
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 04 |
PARYANG,
4750 M, 110 KMS
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 05 |
LAKE MANASOROVAR,
4560 M, 260 KMS
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 06 |
DARCHEN
(4560 M), 30 KM
About 30 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen, the
main gateway and the village. Here we organize yaks
or ponies for the Kailash circuit trek. |
| Day 07 |
KAILASH
CIRCUIT TREK - DIRAPHUK : (6 hrs)
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 08 |
DIRAPHUK
- ZUTRULPHUK , 4790, 6 hrs
Toady 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 09 |
DARCHEN
- LAKE MANASOROVAR (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 and
drive 33 KM to Chiu Gompa at Lake Manasorovar. Chiu
Gompa is at a fabulous location atop a hill overlooking
Lake Manasorovar.
|
| Day 10 |
LAKE MANASOROVAR
Rest day or self exploration |
| Day 11 |
PARYANG
|
| Day 12 |
SAGA |
| Day 13 |
NYLAM |
| Day 14 |
Drive via
Zhangmu and across Friendship Bridge to Kodari border
where you will be met by our Tibet Travels representative.
We then drive to Kathmandu. |
