Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Kerung – 16 days

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and meet one of Extollo's guides at the airport's terminal. He will be holding a placard with your name or Extollo Adventures printed on it. After greeting you warmly he will drive you to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome drink and check into your room. No activity has been planned for today. You can take rest and sleep off your jet lag.

In the evening there will be a trip briefing where the trip leader or guide will brief you about the journey you will undertake. After the briefing, you will be provided with a duffel bag and a down jacket (to be returned at the end of the trip).

Go through your packing list and make sure you have all the essential items packed. If you have some extra stuff that you won't be needing during your yatra you can leave them at the hotel and collect them later.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

To obtain a Chinese visa, it typically takes four business days, as the Chinese embassy operates from Monday to Friday. Additionally, a visit to the Chinese embassy is required for biometric verification.

While waiting for the visa processing, you have the opportunity to explore various attractions in and around Kathmandu Valley. These include organizing a tour of the round Kathmandu Valley, embarking on a thrilling helicopter tour to Mount Everest, or planning a trip to Muktinath or Janakpur or Manakamana or Chitwan Safari etc.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

The trip starts early in the morning. After breakfast, you board a bus or a jeep and head out towards Kerung. The scenery en route is breathtaking. The road winds along verdant hills, waterfalls, and quaint Tamang settlements. You cross Syabrubesi, the starting point of the Langtang Treks. After crossing Rasuwagadi, you finally reach the Nepal – Tibet border.

The immigration formalities may take some time. Later you walk into the Tibetan side of the border and meet your Tibetan guide and driver. You board your vehicle and will be driven towards your destination Kerung. In Kerung you will be staying at a local guesthouse that serves vegetarian meals. After reaching the guesthouse you can freshen up and have your meal.

Overnight in Kerung.

Take rest and let your body adapt to thin air. From Kerung onwards you will be venturing into high altitude. It's important to let your body get used to rarefied air by resting at a lower elevation before heading to a higher elevation. You can stroll around the village area or rest at the guesthouse.

Overnight in Kerung.

The journey to Saga takes you past the rural countryside of the Tibetan Highland. The drive takes you across the grand Yarlung Tsangpo River which flows down to the state of Assam in India and becomes Brahmaputra.

Saga is a bustling town with newly built hotels and guesthouses to cater to tourists, There are hotels with modern amenities and you will be staying at one such hotel. Enjoy a hot shower and a comfortable bed as the accommodation facilities during the parikrama could be basic and utilitarian.

Overnight in Saga.

From Saga, you take a scenic drive towards Lake Mansarover. You can get a glimpse of the holy mountain as you reach close to Lake Mansarover. Surrounded by brown mountains, the holy lake of Mansarover looks heavenly. You will be staying at a guesthouse close to the lake. After reaching your guesthouse you can take a rest or explore the area or meditate at the banks of the lake. Chiu Gompa, an ancient Buddhist monastery sits on a small hill overlooking the lake. If you have the energy you can hike up to the monastery and enjoy the view of the lake.

Overnight in Mansarover.

Wake up before sunrise and reach the shore of the holy Mansarovar Lake. Stepping inside the lake water is prohibited so you take a ritual bath by filling a bucket with the lake's water. Perform puja and havan.

According to the Vedic texts, Mansarover was created in the mind of Lord Brahma and the clear blue body of water does feel like a heavenly creation. Surrounded by barren hills and snowy mountains, Lake Mansarovar is a natural wonder. While the lake is worshipped by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bons, the lake is said to be sacred to Sikhs as well. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhismis said to have meditated on the shore of the lake when he walked to Tibet.

Late in the afternoon, enjoy a short drive to Darchen via Rakshas Tal and Chiu Gompa.

Overnight in Darchen.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Tarboche, the starting point of your Kailash Parikrama. Tarboche is the place where Tibetans celebrate their Saga Dawa festival and colorful prayer flags are hung around the area.

Locals offer horses and ponies for hire for those who find it difficult to walk. If you want to hire a horse or pony to do the parikrama, you will have to do it at your own expense.

The parikrama begins with a walk through the Yam Dwar or the 'gate of salvation'. It is generally believed that crossing the Yam Dwar physically will remove all the negative energy from your body. You enter Kailash Parvat, the abode of Lord Shiva with a cleansed and pure aura.

Today the distance covered on foot is 12 kilometers. The trail is flat and covered with gravel and rocks. After a tiring hike you reach Dirapuk, the first stop of your Parikarama. You will stay at a guesthouse located below a Buddhist monastery. Enjoy a simple vegetarian dinner before retiring for the night.

Overnight in Dirapuk.

From Dirapuk, you take a steep hike towards the north face of Mount Kailash. It's an arduous walk on rocky terrain. There will be lots of loose rocks and snow en route so you need to walk carefully.

You will find the energy and the vibe of the mountain getting stronger as you get close to the sacred mountain. Light incense and offer prayers once you reach the foot of the mountain. It is a hard climb and you feel blessed once you touch the base of the mountain. After offering prayers and meditating you return to Dirapuk.

This hike is optional and people who are unable to make this hike can rest at the guesthouse.

Overnight in Dirapuk.

Today the walking distance is 22 kilometers and you will be crossing a high mountain pass Dolma La, At 5630 meters Dolma La is the highest point of your journey. This is the toughest day of your Kailash Parikrama.

Wake up before dawn and catch the sunrise over Mount Kailash. The snow-covered pyramid looks stunning lighted up by the first light of the morning sun. Pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, take pictures and start your parikrama after breakfast.

You take a steep trail to the mountain pass of Dolma La. On the way, you hike past Shiva Sthal where pilgrims leave some of their personal items. Pilgrims believe that you leave behind your earlier life and start a new life by walking around Kailash Parvat. Leaving a personal item (clothes, hair, etc.) at Shiva Sthal signifies that you have discarded your old life and turned into a new leaf spiritually.

On your descent, you pass through Gauri Kund, a holy lake. You reach Zuthulpuk after a tiring descent. Head to a guesthouse and take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Zuthulpuk.

Today is the final day of your parikrama. As you take the final steps you are filled with a sense of spiritual fulfillment.

Today's hike is short and you will be covering a distance of six kilometers. After you reach the final point of the parikrama you board a vehicle and return to Darchen. Upon reaching Darchen you have your meal, pack your belongings and proceed toward Saga. On reaching Saga check into a hotel and enjoy the modern amenities (hot shower, comfortable bed, and internet).

Overnight in Saga.

Leaving Saga you return to Kerung via the same route. On reaching Kerung check into a guesthouse and rest.

Overnight in Kerung.

At Kerung you bid goodbye to your Tibetan guide and driver. After the immigration formalities, you cross into Nepal. Our vehicle will be waiting for you. Board the vehicle and enjoy the long ride back to Kathmandu.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

It's time to bid goodbye to Kathmandu. One of our staff will drive you to the international airport at least three hours before your departure. If you are interested in extending your trip please do check the ‘Recommended Trip Extensions' section.