MOUNT KAILASH TREKKING
14 days pilgrimage tour to Mt. Kailash &
Lake Manasorovar
Best Season : May to October
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).
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. O/N 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, 255 KMS
From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road
is good & 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 & we drive past Mayum la pass
(4600 M). The scenery is stunningly beautiful
with panoramic views of the Himalayas. O/N camp
at Hor Qu.
Day 06 : DARCHEN (4560
M), 30 KM
About 30 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen,
the main gateway & 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 & can
be done in 3 days. We head west in clockwise
direction & 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) &
Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m) where Hindus worship
& 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 & drive 33 KM to Chiu
Gompa at Lake Manasorovar. Chiu Gompa is at
a fabulous location atop a hill overlooking
the 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
& across Friendship Bridge to Kodari border
where you will
be met by our Tibet Travels representative.
We then drive to Kathmandu.
Trek Includes
