The Most Sacred of Mountains Kailash Trekking

Location

West Tibet

Start - Finish

Darchen

Passes

Drolma La (5630m)

Grade

Medium

Season

Apr to Oct

Tour Map

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Overview

Mt. Kailash (6,714m), Asia's most sacred mountain, is located in a high and isolated enclave of West Tibet. Mt Kailash is their soul-mountain. To Buddhist believers, it is the abode of Demchok, the wrathful manifestation of Buddha Sakyamuni. For Hindus, Kailash is at the center of the universe. Four major rivers of Tibet, India and Nepal have their sources near Kailash.

The itinerary is the 53km pilgrim path around Mt. Kailash. It begins and ends Darchen, a small settlement at the mountain's south base. Three days is perhaps the minimum time required to walk leisurely around the mountain, spend two nights in or near Drirapuk and Zutrulpuk monasteries. If conditions permit, try to stay four or five days, which would allow time for short trips to the inner regions of the area.

Itinearary Day by Day

Day 1 Fly into Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Airport Pickup; Rest in the Hotel

Details:

Taking the flight into Tibet. Upon your arrival, local guide will meet you and transfer you to Lhasa. On the way, you can enjoy the heart-beating highland view along the Lhasa River. The rest time is free for relax and adjustment.

Day 2 Lhasa Sightseeing

Today's Highlights:

Potala Palace; Jokhang Temple

Details:

Today, our highlights are Potala Palace and Jokhang temple. The cardinal landmark of Lhasa, Potala Palace, is a structure of massive portions. Its towering image already appearing on various occasions, but your first sight of the Potala will still be an awe-inspiring moment. Potala Palace is a place where you can appreciate the Tibetan culture, religion and art of architecture as well.

Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet. Every day, pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple to pray for their now and future. The temple is the product of Han, Tibetan and Nepalese architectural techniques. Around the temple is the Barkhor Street, the oldest street in a very traditional city in Tibet. We can have a visit after the Jokhang visit. Out there, we can visit a handcraft product store.

Day 3 Lhasa Sightseeing

Today's Highlights:

Drak Yerpa; Sear Monastery

Details:

Drak Yerpa: This morning, our tour begins with a 20km-drive out of Lhasa to one of the holiest cave retreats in Tibet, the Drak Yerpa hermitage. In old times, some ascetics and kings have sojourned here for meditation. Among them, the most famous ones are Guru Rinpoche, Atisha, Lhalung and King Songtsen Gampo. Here we could visit some meditation caves once used by those famous figures, like Lhalung-puk (monk Lhalung), Dawa-puk (Guru Rinpoche) and Chogyal-puk (Songtsen Gampo).

Sera is one of the greatest Gelugpa monasteries. Around 5km north of central Lhasa, It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect, covering an area of 114,964 square metres. The structure is imposing, picturesque in disorder, and splendid in green and gold. It is a typical Tibetan architecture. The 'Buddhism Scriptures Debating' in Sera is very famous.

Day 4 Lhasa to Shigatse

Today's Highlights:

Drive to Shigaste; Yamdroktso Lake; Palkhor Monastery;

Details:

Today we will drive to Shigatse. Make a tour to Yamdroktso Lake on the way. Yamdroktso Lake is a coiling, many-armed body of water shaped like a scorpion. It doubles back on itself on the western side, effectively creating a large island within its reaches. For Tibetans, it is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet.

Also, we will go for the tour of Palkhor monastery, built in the 15th century, is situated in the west of Gyantse Town with mountains enclosing form three sides of the east, west and north. Its uniqueness is that its three sects of Buddism-Shaja, Ningma and Guolu stayed harmoniously under one roof. We will stay in Shigatse tonight.

Day 5 Shigatse to Shegar

Today's Highlights:

Tashilumpo Monastery; Free Market; Drive to Shegar

Details:

After today's visits to Tashilumpo monastery and the local free market in Shigatse, we are heading to the town of Shegar, we might call it the gateway to Mt. Everest area. On the way, you are going to pass two high mountains named Gyula and Gyatsola.

Day 6 Shegar to Mt. Everest base camp to Lhatse

Today's Highlights:

Mt. Everest Base Camp; Back to Lhatse

Details:

Transfer to Mt. Everest Base Camp En route, visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery across the world, then appreciate the beautiful views in the base camp and drive back to Lhatse for overnight

Day 7 Lhatse to Saga

Today's Highlights:

Drive to Saga

Details:

Today we drive to Saga, en route visit the stunning Himalayan views.

Day 8 Saga to Paryang

Today's Highlights:

Drive to Paryang

Details:

From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road is good and 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 9 Paryang to Lake Manasoravar

Today's Highlights:

Lake Manasorovar;

Details:

From Paryang to Lake Mansorovar is a long drive of 10 hrs or more. There will be several river crossings and we drive past Mayum La Pass (4,600 M). The scenery is stunningly beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalayas.

Day 10 Lake Manasoravar to Darchen

Today's Highlights:

Drive to Darchen; Prepare to the three days kora

Details:

In the morning view the lake and its beautiful surrounding landscapes. Then drive to Darchen. About 30 km north of Lake Manasoravar is Darchen, the main gateway and the village. The monastery at Darchen, Darchen Gon, is a part of the Drukpa sect. The two-story monastery structure in the center of the town serves as a trading post and shelter for pilgrims. While beginning their kora pilgrimage around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate the Darchen Gon Monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before setting out.

This Kailash kora covers 53 kms and can be done in 3 days.

Time Chart

Day     Place                    Hours  length ascent descent
1         Darchen-Drirapuk 6         20km   200m
2         Zutrulpuk              8        18km    500m  600m
3         Darchen                3-4     14km    150m

Day 11 Darchen to Dirapuk monastery 10 hours/ 20km/ 200m ascent

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Dirapuk Monastery

Details:

We head west in clockwise direction. Only 4 kilometers from Darchen the trail climbs up over the southwest end of the ridge to reach a cairn (4,730m). Then, trail bends around to north to the Tarboche flagpole. The flagpole is replaced each year at the Saga Dawa festival. After passing the Lha-chu valley, we arrive in Chuku monastery where we can have a break. Another 3 hours trek along the river, we hit our first day's stop, the Dirapuk monastery. O/N: Camp.

Day 12 Diraphuk to Zutulpuk monastery 6-7 hours/ 18km/ 550m ascent/ 600m descent

Today's Highlights:

Trekking to Zutulpuk Monastery

Details:

Trek along Drolma Chu and reach the Jarok Donkhang (5,210m). A little while, Shiva-tsal (5,330m) comes in front. It is a rocky expanse dotted with stone cairns draped with items of clothing. Our next challenge is to get over Drolma La Pass (5,630m), the highest point of the entire kora, where you can look south for your last glimpse of the north face of Kailsh. After the ascent, we are experiencing a steep descent. Almost immediately, Gauri Kund Lake comes into view. Finally, after a long valley and river, we reach our second day's stop, the Zutulpuk monastery. O/N: Camp.

Day 13 Zutulpuk to Darchen 3-4 hours/ 14km/ 150m descent

Today's Highlights:

End the kora at Darchen

Details:

The final day's walk begins with the easy stroll down to where the river emerges onto the plain. The valley narrows and the prayer flags fluttering across the river. There is a rough road from here back to Darchen and it's less than an hour's walk, passing many mani walls embellished with yak skulls. Finally, our kora end up at Darchen.

Day 14 Darchen to Paryang

Today's Highlights:

Back to Paryang

Details:

After breakfast, drive back to Paryang for overnight.

Day 15 Paryang to Saga

Today's Highlights:

Back to Saga

Details:

After breakfast, drive back to Saga for overnight.

Day 16 Saga to Lhatse

Today's Highlights:

Back to Lhatse

Details:

After breakfast, drive back to Lhatse for overnight.

Day 17 Lhatse to Lhasa

Today's Highlights:

Back to Lhasa

Details:

After breakfast, drive back to Lhasa for overnight.

Day 18 Say goodbye to Tibet

Today's Highlights:

Tour ends

Details:

After breakfast transfer to the airport or railway station and say goodbye, thank you very much for joining in Tibet tour!

Tips for This Tour

1. The conditions of hotel/guesthouse are rather poor, having a good tent for camping;
2. Bring enough food for three days if you don't have cook
3. Don't bring too much luggage, an easy walk is necessary;
4. Don't move too fast when ascending, especially on day 2;
5. Start early every day and have more rests;
6. Drink lots of water before departure;
7. No alcohol;
8. Avoid catching cold and bring some medicine;
9. Most important is taking it easy;
10. Cold in night, bring enough clothes to keep warm;
11. Heavy sunshine in daytime, bring sunglasses and sunblock. If necessary, bring a walking stick

 

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