Believed to have been formed about 30 million years ago, Mount Kailash, rising to an altitude of 6714m, is one of the most revered and sacred places in the Himalayas. Pilgrims of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Tibetan Bön faiths come to Kailash to complete a ritual circumambulation around the base of the mountain.

The Kailash "Gang Rinpoche", which means "Jewel of snow" is striking in the way it rises high above the surrounding range and always remains snow - capped. Mount Kailash has a unique and distinct shape, with four sheer faces matching the cardinal points of the compass. It is also free standing, solitary. Regarded as the earthly manifestation of mythic Mount Meru, or Sumeru, the spiritual center of the universe in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cosmology, Mount Kailash is also believed to be the source of four life-giving rivers. To Tibetan Buddhists, Kailash is the abode of the tantric meditational deity Demchog. Hindus see Kailash as the throne of the great god Shiva, while the Jains revere Kailash as the site at which their first prophet received enlightenment.

At the base of Mount Kailash, is Lake Mansarovar (derived from the word “Sarovar, meaning lake, and “Man” from its creator, Brahma. A pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and a bath in the Mansarovar is believed to bring about salvation (Moksha).

 

The most important time to visit Mount Kailash, is during the festival of Saga Dawa held in May of each year. It is celebrated in every village and monastery but most importantly, t Mount Kailash. During this festival which honours Buddha, monks hold religious activities and Buddhists sing chants of sutras, and circumnambulate sacred places in a clock-wise direction. It is a time of meditation, respect and prayer.  This is a very important time for Tibetans. If a Tibetan does any good deeds or religious practices, its merit is doubled during the month of Saga Dawa.

 

 

Day 01: Arrive and transfer to Hotel

 

Day 02: Sightseeing and obtain the Tibet Visa. Hotel Overnight.  Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner with a live Nepalese Cultural Program

 

Day 03: Today, we head out to Zhangmu, abut 115km and the onwards to Nyalam ( 3700meters), crossing over the Friendship Bridge which spans the Bhote Koshi River and marks the Chinese - Nepalese border

 

Day 04: We will spend a full day at Nyalam to help us to acclimatise to the increase in altitude

 

Day 05: Drive about 250km to the town of at 4600m, passing by the huge lake called Peiku-tso. We will also cross over two high passes with spectacular mountain views before leaving the Friendship Highway and heading west. The drive will take us about 7 hours to cover 232km. Camp Overnight 

 

Day 06: Drive to Paryang at 4700 meters, taking about 8 hours, across the vast dry plains of the Tibetan Plateau. Overnight  

 

Day 07: Drive  to Horchu (4500 meters). Covering 290 kms in about 8 hours. Overnight  

 

Day 08: Visit Darchen at 4580 meters and prepare for the trek. Today will be a relatively short drive of about 1.5 hours

 

Trek: During the trek you will rise and fall in altitude and dependant on the time of year, may be accompanied by a number of other people doing the pilgrimage. During the Saga Dawa festival, hundreds of Tibetans flock to this point, some trekking from as far away as China . Some will pass you walking, and others will complete the trek by prostrating themselves on the ground for the full distance around the mountain

 

Day 09: Start the pilgrimage trek. 14kms, 7 to 8hrs, 4800meters

 

Day 10: Trek. 24kms, 9 to 10hrs, 4680meters.

 

Day 11: Complete the trek (15kms / hrs). Drive  to Horchu, (4500 meters) and Lake Mansarovar . This is a holy, sacred lake. Camp Overnight  

 

Day 12: Today we will have a free day to spend time to explore the surrounding area of the Lake Overnight

 

Continue Back

 

Day 13: Drive back to Paryang. (292 kms / 08 to 09 hrs).

 

Day 14: Drive back to Saga (252 kms / 07 to 08 hrs).

 

Day 15: Drive back to Nyalam (232 kms / 07 hrs). Overnight at Guest House.

 

Day 16: Cross the border (Zhangmu) (38kms / 1 hr) and continue drive to  Kathmandu (115 kms / 05 hrs). Hotel Overnight.

 

Day 17: Free day to explore Kathmandu. Hotel Overnight.

 

Day 18: Final Departure from your trip to Mount Kailash

 

End of services

 

 

 

 

 

When entering Tibet from Nepal, Chinese Visas cannot be used. As such, the visa for Tibet must be obtained from the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. As visa's are only issued on Mondays, Wednesday's and Thursdays (except if they fall on a Chinese Holiday), tours need to be arranged to suit these visa issue dates, i.e. any one going on a tour departing for Tibet from Nepal, needs to arrive in Kathmandu at least three days before entering Tibet.

 

When you confirm your trip with us, we will organize your Travel Permit for Tibet, Visa Approval Documents and apply to the Chinese embassy to obtain your visa. We will thus require your full passport details, 3 weeks prior to your arrival at Kathmandu. The final documentation will be done on arrival in Nepal.

 

Please note that visa for Tibet obtained elsewhere has still got to be endorsed by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.

 

Your current Passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of travel. The passport must also have more than two blank visa pages. We will require two full front passport photos taken against a clear background, in either colour or black and white. Photo's cannot be scanned and if digital, must be printed on gloss photo paper.