13-Day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Ex-KTM

Upon arrival at the TIA, Kathmandu, meet and greet with our office representative. Then, you will be transferred to the designated hotel. Our representative will escort you to the hotel and assist you with the check-in process. After a short briefing on the trip, the rest of the day is leisure. In the evening, you can stroll around Thamel’s local market, a tourist hub. Overnight stay at the hotel.

On the second day, after having breakfast at the hotel, you will visit one of Nepal’s most sacred religious Shiva temples, Pashupatinath. It is Kathmandu’s most visited temple of Lord Shiva. Its main attraction is the unique Shiva Linga, which displays the eight faces of Lord Shiva.

Guhyeshwori Temple, near Pashupatinath Temple. It is a Shaktipeeth, where it is believed that it is the place where both the knees of the Sati Devi have fallen.  

Then, visit the temple of “Sleeping Lord Vishnu” in the Bed of Naag, Jal Narayan. The temple is locally known as “Budhanilkantha/Narayanthan.”. It is considered the largest stone carving in Nepal, carved on a single block of black basalt stone.

The rest of the day is leisure. In the evening, we will discuss tours in the hotel and prepare for the trip to Kailash Mansarovar. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu. 

Early in the morning, pick up from your hotel in Kathmandu and you will start your Tibet Overland Tour with a long scenic drive along the Pasang Lahmu Highway via Dhunche-Syabrubesi. Along the way, you will see many magnificent snow-capped mountains at the southern foot of the Himalayas, covered by vast forest, towering into the clouds. Upon reaching the border town, you will be dropped off at the Rasuwagadi Border of Nepal (the Nepal-Tibet border) and will go through the immigration and customs formalities in both Nepal and Tibet. The Nepal-Tibet border is called the Rasuwagadi border in Nepal and Kyirung/Gyirong in Tibet, but the border is popularly known as the Kerong Border. You meet your Tibetan guide and driver on the Tibet side. After the meet and greet, you will have a 1-hour drive towards Gyirong town. Gyirong is a beautiful Sherpa village, covered with dense forests, serene villages, and beautiful snow peaks above the woods. Overnight at the Guest House in Gyirung.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Lhasa.

On the day, you will be acclimatizing in Kerong to adapt your body before further driving to a higher altitude. The day is leisurely. You can explore the nearby area. Overnight at the guest house.

The first day of the yatra starts with a long drive on the desert terrain. Driving past nomad camps and sheep and yak herds. Enjoy a grand view of Gaurishankar, Mt. Shishapangma (8,021 ft. high), and Langtang Himal from the Gurungng-La pass (5,050 mt. high). Continue driving through Khunmen Tso, Sinling, Karru Ongchen, and Peiku Tso Lake (4400m). You will be crossing the river Brahmaputra (“Yarling Tsangpo” in Tibetan) to reach Saga (4600m). Overnight in the guest house.  

Overnight stay at the hotel in Gyantse.

The day, watching the mountains in the distance and driving through the road, we pass through the small town of Zhongba before reaching Paryang. The day will be very auspicious, as only after several hours of driving, you will start to get the first view of Mt. Kailash and the holy lake, Mansarovar, from Horchu Pass. As you approach this serene and sacred lake, the historic Chhu Monastery becomes visible on the northwest shore of the lake. From this vantage point, you can catch a glimpse of the majestic Mount Kailash and Manasarovar. The highest freshwater lake with a turquoise complexion, surrounded by Mt. Kailash, Mt. Gurula-Mandata, and Lake Rakchyas, is simply heavenly. Overnight at the guesthouse.

The abode of God will be a lifetime achievement. Puja, havana, meditation, holy baths, etc. can be done. After some peaceful hours at the shores of the sacred Lake Manasarovar with the snowy massif of Gurla Mandhata (7694m) just across the lake, we drive 40 km to Darchen (4560 m), which serves as the first prostration point for Mt. Kailash Kora (circumambulation).  The Kora is 53 km in total and will be completed in three days. Overnight in a guest house.

It is one of the most exciting days of the yatra, walking along the beautiful rocky cliffs and waterfalls with some clouds in the clear blue sky. En route, visit the Yama Dwar, which is the starting point of Kora. You will visit the north face of Mt. Kailash and touch the feet of Mt. Kailash (Charan Sparsh). The 18km trail to Diraphuk (4890 m) via. Tarboche takes almost 7 hours. Overnight at a guest house.

The day is the hardest yet holiest day of your pilgrimage yatra. The day you will trek to Zuthulphuk (4790m), a 22km walk, will take approximately 8–10 hours. Continuing your Parikarma (Kora), you will cross Dolma La pass at 5670 m. Once you reach the top, just do the holiest offering, pray, and sit down for meditation to forget you. From there, you will descend to Gaurikund and further trek along the river to Zuthulphuk. By late afternoon, you will arrive at Zuthul Puk, where the great ascetic Milerappa is supposed to have performed miracles. Overnight at a local guest house or a tented camp

Breakfast, and you will start trekking from Zuthulphuk to Saga via. Manasarovar Horchu. On the day, you will complete the Kora trekking for around 8 km up to the point of Darchen, where our vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to Saga via. Manasarovar Horchu. Overnight at the guest house.

After having breakfast, you will check out with your belongings and drive back to Kerung. Overnight at the guest house.

Breakfast at the hotel, and you will be driving further to the Nepal-Tibet border. After completing the immigration formalities, you will drive to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, and you will be free until departure. You will be transferred to the airport in time to board your flight for the upcoming onward trip. Reaching the airport, the trip ends with a memorable experience.