MT. KAILASH & LAKE MANASOROVAR

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.

14 DAYS MT. KAILASH & LAKE MANSOROVAR

Departures 2003:
1. May 11
2. June 9
3. July 8
4. Aug 7
5. Sept 5
6. Oct 5

This is by far the shortest & the most direct approach to Mt. Kailash & is best suited for those on pilgrimage or those who are on a tight schedule. It is also the most popular trip. The trip is planned to arrive at Mt. Kailash on a full-moon day to view the mountain in its full glory & majesty. We drive via Zhangmu following the southern route where the scenery, with its sweeping plains, sand dunes & the Himalaya range is more majestic. 

Trip 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. 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, 110 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.