- 16 days
- Tibet, Nepal
- Trekking
We start the trip with a few days of touring the capital city of Lhasa and the local towns of Gyantse and Shigatse, then go to Mount Kailash.
Key Information
Once-in-a-lifetime Mount Kailash tour
Mount Kailash is one of the world’s most elusive and exotic pilgrimage sites. Because of its remote location on the plateau, it is estimated that only a few thousand pilgrims a year make the trip, despite its vast Hindu and Buddhist significance. This trip entails a few days on the road, and trekking is involved in the journey’s middle stage. Highlights include driving, hiking on the scenic Tibetan plateau, and seeing the rich Tibetan culture and several monasteries.
Trekking is a wellness activity that helps in detoxification. In addition, we now provide meals that include superfoods as part of the ingredients for better acclimatization to high altitude and better nourishment.
Food and nutrition on the trek
We are pioneers in culinary trekking in the Himalayas. We provide a varied, exciting menu on treks throughout the Himalayas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be catered for upon request, and other special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Trekking is not only fun, but it is beneficial for you. It helps in detoxifying the body while also nourishing the soul. Although to provide a better experience, we also tailor our meals to include superfoods as part of the ingredients to keep you fit and healthy while also assisting in acclimatization to high altitude. The combination of hiking in the pristine mountain air and healthy food makes trekking with us a complete adventure. Read More on Food and nutrition on our treks.
Why Choose Us?
- Our expert trek leader will ensure your safety while enhancing your trekking experience.
- Your private social bubble by staying in less busy lodges and trekking away from the crowded trails where possible.
- Experience the Himalayas in style.
- Your food is prepared with superfood ingredients to give the best nourishment, recovery, and acclimatization to high altitudes for our gastronome trekking adventures.
Detailed Itinerary
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Our airport representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel—for the remainder of the afternoon/evening at leisure.
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You have a day of sightseeing, and some last-minute purchases for the trip as our Tibet travel permits get processed today.
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We start the first day of our adventure after an early breakfast.
We begin our scenic 8-hour journey to the Tibet border. We go across the friendship bridge and meet our Tibetan guide and drivers. We continue on our trip to Kyirong after the immigration and custom formalities at the Chinese border.
We will spend the night in a basic guest house.
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We take some leisurely hikes to gain acclimatization on this day. We will climb high, sleep low, and take food supplements to acclimatize to the altitude properly.
Overnight in guesthouse.
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We start our drive to New Dongba after breakfast on the Tibetan plateau. We will be driving on the high-altitude plains of Tibet on a blacktopped highway, making the drive scenic and smooth. We will go through several traditional, charming hamlets and nomadic yak herders’ camps on the pastures. We’ll have the Himalayan range to the south/on our left side.
Overnight in guesthouse.
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We will begin our longest driving day after breakfast. Despite the distance, it is a relatively smooth and picturesque drive. We will also get the first glimpse of Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake. Next, we drive towards holy Mansarovar at 4590 meters. The water of this sacred lake is salty. We are close to Sacred Mount Kailash, Mount Gurla-Mandata, and Lake Rakshasa. Overnight in a guesthouse near Mansarovar Lake.
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We spend some time exploring Manasarovar Lake. Then, we can visit the nearby Chiu Gompa, where Guru Padmasambhava is believed to have attained Nirvana. Then, we take the one-hour drive to Darchen, considered the base camp for Mount Kailash. The area around Kailash is teeming with pilgrims from Late Spring until early Autumn. It gets busiest during the full moon periods and the summer months.
Overnight in a guesthouse.
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We take a short drive to Tarboche (flag pole in Tibetan) and begin our trek towards Dirapuk. We will take the first day of hiking, slowly observing and absorbing the surroundings. We will pass a sky burial site and numerous chortens. We will be hiking clockwise with Kailash to our right and a stream to our left. Dirapuk monastery has an awe-inspiring view of the North face of Kailash.
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Today is the most challenging, the longest, and the holiest day for the pilgrims. We ascend a rocky trail towards Dolma La. It is marked with stone cairns draped in clothes left behind as offerings by pilgrims to signify the start of a new life. We continue our climb as we hike towards the Dolma La pass at 5680 meters. We reach Gaurikunda (Gauri lake) after a short descent from the pass. We continue our descent on the steep trail for about two and half hours before reaching the valley floor. We have another two-and-a-half-hour hike on the flattish valley floor until we get to our stop for the night at Zutulpuk monastery, 4790 meters. The cave of miracles where the greatest Tibetan yogi Milarepa meditated and acquired flying abilities.
Total hike: 22km, 8-9 hours.
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Total Hiking: 15km (4-5 hours). It is a gentle three-hour hike on the last day of our hike around the Kailash trek. The gentle downhill walk beside the river brings us onto the Barkha plains. Our vehicle will be waiting for us at the road and then drive us to Saga. We return to the same highway on our return journey for the next two days. Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Paryang.
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On the way, we will see the beautiful Pegu Tsho Lake and enjoy a fantastic view of the Himalayan range, including Shisapangama, an 8000-meter peak. Overnight in a Guesthouse in Kyirong/Kerung.
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We re-enter Nepal at Rasuwagadhi and continue our return drive to Kathmandu via Syabrubensi on the Langtang National Park.
Overnight at Hotel.
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Your trip leader will bring you to the airport three hours before your international flight.
Cost Includes:
- All airport-hotel-airport transfers in Kathmandu by car/coach
- Expert trek leader or hire Raj
- Hotel accommodation at a family-owned Boutique hotel in Kathmandu with pure vegetarian breakfast for a total of three nights (two nights on arrival before the start of the journey and one night before the final departure)
- Two-night stay at Hotel Kerung or similar on sharing basis with a shared toilet facility
- One or two-night stay in Hotel Paryang or similar on sharing basis with a joint toilet facility
- Two-night stay in Hotel Saga or similar on sharing basis with attached toilet facility
- Two-night stay in a guest house at Darchen
- One or two-night accommodation at Mansarovar in a guest house with a shared toilet
- One-night stay at Hotel Dirapuk or a guest house with a shared toilet
- One-night accommodation at Zuthulpuk in a fixed camp with a shared toilet
- One half-day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Transport services from Kathmandu to the Nepal border and back by a non-air-conditioned coach — van or bus according to group size
- Facilities of a support truck to carry baggage, food, and camping equipment for the pilgrims
- Camping arrangements and all meal facilities arranged by the Nepalese Sherpa crew on the Tibet side
- Charges for sleeping bags for the journey
- An expert trek leader (English speaking) from Kathmandu and an English-speaking Tibetan guide from the Kerung border to escort us during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
- Yak and yak men to carry your bag (maximum one piece per person permitted) for Kailash Parikrama
- All monastery entrance fees
- Normal Tibet visa for the yatra
- One duffle bag per person
- One jacket per person for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra on a returnable basis
- A certificate for completion of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for each person
- Insurance charges for our Sherpa crew
- Tips (suggested amount US$75 per week for staff only; leader’s tip at your discretion)
Cost Excludes:
- Travel and medical insurance
- Rescue evacuation cost in case of emergency
- International airfare
- Extra cost incurred in the event of landslide for hiring additional transportation or porterage on the Arniko Highway (INR 500 – 700 per person approx.)
- Soft/hard beverages, photography charges, porterage at the airports/hotels, laundry, tips, telephone calls, etc. and any other expenses of personal nature
- Yak/Pony hiring charges for riding during Kailash Parikarma
- Any other item which is not mentioned in our inclusions lists above.
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A Responsible promise
Despite the exceptional circumstances in which we find ourselves at the moment, we don’t want you to give up your holiday – and we want you to be able to book your trip without any worries.
To provide additional security for your booking, we have introduced a new rebooking and cancellation policy so that you can easily rebook or cancel your trip free of charge if the worst comes to the worst.
Free Cancellation With the Responsible Promise 100% Money-Back Guarantee
For new bookings made between May 10th 2021, and December 31st 2022, you may cancel your complete package (activities, hotels, tours, excl. flight) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure and get 100% of your money back. However, to stay flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Complete flexibility on your booking
Stay flexible with our new rebooking service until shortly before your departure. For new bookings made between May 10th and December 31st, 2021, you may rebook your package (activities, hotels, tours) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure (subject to availability). Rebooking is only allowed once, and you must inform us 30 days before your planned departure. Any additional costs incurred due to changes in your schedule or upgrades, such as additional fees in high season or upgrades to your accommodation, will still apply. To remain flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
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Trek FAQ
Most of our clients have completed their treks from 3 years old to some in their 70s with almost no exercise or training.
Do you offer hotel/airport pick-up?
We offer hotel and airport pick-up. As you continue with your booking, there will be an option to input flight details or hotel names.
Do I need a visa?
Four documents are required if you want to travel to Tibet freely.- Chinese Visa: It can be applied at your country’s Chinese Embassy.
- Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) issues the Tibet Entry Permit, which is compulsory for all foreign tourists entering Tibet.
- The Alien Travel Permit is issued by the PSB and is required when you plan to travel to the remote areas of Tibet. Your local travel company will obtain it after you arrive in Tibet.
- Travelling to Tibet from Nepal: If you are entering Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal, you must obtain a Chinese visa at the consular department of the People’s Republic of China in Kathmandu. An outsourced agency does it, and your Nepal travel company will handle this for you. The visa processing for Tibet is only open in Kathmandu between 10 am to 1 pm from Monday to Friday. Please note that this visa application is compulsory, even if you already have a Chinese visa from your country. The border treaty signed between Nepal and China has regulated this.
What should I bring on a Trek?
Being adequately equipped is one of the keys to a successful trek. For information to help you select the best type of clothing and equipment for your trip, please see our Clothing and Equipment Guide.
Also, see our Links page for details of specialist retailers who will offer further advice and assistance with purchasing new clothing or equipment.
If you have more questions, please check this article to reference equipment to pack or contact us.
Is this trip safe for solo/female/LGBT+/minority/POC travelers?
You are safe as long as you respect the culture, do not show affection in public, and dress decently (this won’t pose too much problem as you will be covered up in layers to stay warm).Here are some helpful articles:
Am I too old to go trekking?
Arriving at Kathmandu airport.
Should I bring cash or ATM cards?
What to pack for a trek?
Do I need to train for a trek?
What is a typical day on a trek like?
What is the food like on the trek?
The Benefits of using trekking poles.
What do I need to know about high altitudes?
High altitude myths.
How to trek safely?
For more articles, you can go to our blogs.