Itineraries: Mount Kailash & Lake Manasarovar Area

Ancient cosmography identifies Kailash with the mighty mountain Sumeru, the central peak of the world. To Buddhists, the "father mountain" represent the means to enlightenment; Lake Mansarovar, the "mother principle," represents transcendental consciousness. Hindus consider Kailash to be the throne of Lord Shiva, one of the three principle gods of the Hindu pantheon, whose long, matted hair forms the holy Ganges River. As a Bon center, Kailash enjoys great popularity in the folk religion of Tibet -- it is the soul of the country and assures protection for all Tibetans. It is for these reasons Adventure Karnali has been bringing people here for more than ten years and has made Tibet, with special focus on Kailash, it's specialty destination.

Scenically, the area is outstanding. At 6,714 meters (22,022 ft.), Kailash is a glittering snow dome towering above the Tibetan Plateau like a beckoning jewel, visible from miles away. Manasarovar is famous as one of the highest lakes in the world. Four of the greatest rivers of South Asia -- the Indus, Sutlej, Karnali and the Brahmaputra (the Yarlung Zangpo in Tibet) -- originate from around Mount Kailash.

West of Kailash lie the ruins of the "lost cities" of Tsaprang and Tholing, once the capitals of the powerful kingdom of Guge, which house some of the finest and earliest Buddhist wall paintings ever discovered.

We are the trekking source to all the major rivers which originate in Kailash, and can organize every imaginable trip around Kailash, Lake Manasarover, and other off-the-beaten-path destinations. We will customize the trip to meet your desire, so please tell us if there is something you seek but is not listed below.

These tours are based on 2 person participation minimum.

KATHMANDU-SIMIKOT-KAILASH-JHANGMU-KATHMANDU TREK

Day 01: Kathmandu/Nepalgunj
Day 02: Nepalgunj/Simikot upto Dharapori
Day 03: Dharapori/Sallikhola
Day 04: Sallikhola/Tumkotkhola
Day 05: Tumkotkhola/Sip Sip
Day 06: Sip Sip/Hilsa up to Sher and drive to Purang
Day 07: Purang/Lake Manasarovar
Day 08: Lake Manasarovar rest
Day 09: Lake Manasarovar/Tarchen
Day 10-11: Tarchen/Kailash Kora up to Deraphuk
Day 12: Deraphuk to Zuthulphuk crossing Dolmala pass (5600m)
Day 13: Zuthulphuk/Tarchen
Day 14: Tarchen/Mayumla (5200m.)
Day 15: Mayumla/Dongba
Day 16: Dongba/Saga
Day 17: Saga/Sang Sang
Day 18-19: Sang Sang/Tingri
Day 20: Tingri/Zhangmu overnight stay Zhangmu
Day 21: Zhangmu - drive to Kathmandu

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

ZHANGMU-KAILASH-ZHANGMU TREK

Day 01: Drive Kathmandu/Nalyam
Day 02: Nalyam/Pigutso
Day 03: Pigutso/Dongba
Day 04: Dongba/Mayumla
Day 05: Mayumla/Lake Manasarovar
Day 06: Lake Manasarovar
Day 07: Lake Manasarovar to Tarchen
Day 08: Tarchen/Deraphuk
Day 09: Deraphuk/Zuthulphuk
Day 10: Zuthuphuk/Tarchen and drive to Mayumla
Day 11: Mayumla/Dongba
Day 12: Dongba/Saga
Day 13: Saga/Pigutso Lake
Day 14: Pigutso Lake/Zhangmu
Day 15: Zhangmu - drive to Kathmandu

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

HOLY MT. KAILASH/ ANCIENT GUGE KINGDOM TREK

Day 01: Kathmandu/Nepalgunj
Day 02: Nepalgunj/Simikot upto Dharapori
Day 03: Dharapori/Kermi
Day 04: Kermi/Yalbang
Day 05: Yalbang/Tumkotkhola
Day 06: Tumkotkhola/Sip Sip
Day 07: Sip Sip to Sher after crossing Narala (4700m) then drive to Purang ( Takhlakhot- the trading center in west Tibet)
Day 08: Purang/Lake Manasarovar
Day 09: Lake Manasarovar/Tarchen
Day 10: Tarchen- Kailash Kora and camp near Deraphuk
Day 11: Deraphuk/Zuthulphuk - monastery to visit the Zechen Milarepa, the Great Poet of Tibet (crossing Dolma La pass (4500m)
Day 12: Tarchen for lunch and drive to Tirthapuri and camp
Day 13: Tirthapuri/Tholing
Day 14: Tholing- explore Tholing and Tsaprang the ruins of Guge Kingdom in Far Western Tibet the border of Ladakh and Kashmir
Day 15: Tholing/Tirthapuri
Day 16: Tirthapuri/Lake Manasarovar
Day 17: Lake Manasarovar/Mayumla
Day 18: Mayumla/Dongba
Day 19: Dongba/Pigutso
Day 20: Pigutso/Zhangmu
Day 21: Zhangmu/Kathmandu

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

SIMIKOT- KAILASH-SIMIKOT TREK
Day 01: Kathmandu-Nepalgunj
Day 02: Nepalgunj-Simikot-Dharapuri
Day 03: Dharapuri-Sallikhola
Day 04: Tumkot Khola
Day 05: Sipsip
Day 06: Sher after crossing Narala (4700mt) and drive up to Lake Masarovar
Day 07: Lake Mansarovar (rest)
Day 08: Tarchen, the foot of Kailash
Day 09-10: Trek to Deraphuk
Day 11: Deraphuk/ Zuthulphuk
Day 12:Zuthulphuk/ Tarchen
Day 13: Tarchen/Tirthapuri
Day 14: Tirthapuri/Tholing
Day 15: Sightseeing in Tholing and Tsaprang
Day 16: Tholing to Guru gayam and visit Bonpo monastry
Day 17: Guru gayam/ Hilsa
Day 18: Hilsa/ Yari
Day 19: Yari /Muchu
Day 20: Muchu/Sallikhola
Day 21: Sallikhola/ Dharapuri
Day 22: Dharapuri/Simikot
Day 23: Simikot to Kathmandu by flight

Excursion Grading: easy-moderate (nice pace)

KATHMANDU-LHASA-KAILASH-ZHANGMU TREK

Day 01: Kathmandu-Lhasa (1300m-3600m) by flight and acclimatize in Lhasa
Day 02: Lhasa sight seeing
Day 03: Lhasa: sightseeing
Day 04: Lhasa/Gyantse- visit Khumbum Stupa, Palkhor monastery
Day 05: Gyantse/Sigatse- visit Tashilampo monastery and drive to Lhatse
Day 06: Lhatse/Sang Sang
Day 07: Sang Sang/Saga
Day 08: Saga/Prayang
Day 09: Prayang/Lake Manasarover
Day 10: Lake Manasarover rest
Day 11: Lake Manasarover/Tarchen
Day 12: Tarchen/Deraphuk
Day 13: Deraphuk/Zuthulphuk cross (5600m. Dolmpa pass)- visit Zechen Milarepa cave at Zuthulphuk
Day 14: Zuthulphuk/Tarchen- lunch and drive to Mayaumla
Day 15: Mayumla/Dongba
Day 16: Dongba/Pigutso - lake is behind the Langtang valley of Nepal
Day 17: Pigutso/Zhangmu
Day 18: Zhangmu - drive to Kathmandu

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

KAILASH INCLUDING GURLAMANDATA TREK

Day 01: Kathmandu-Nepalgunj by flight and check in the Hotel.
Day 02: Nepalgunj-Simikot- An early morning flight and after the immigration formalities, We trek to Dharapori.
Day 03: Dharapori- Kermi.
Day 04: Kermi-Yalbang.
Day 05: Yalbang-Tumkotkhola.
Day 06: Tumkotkhola-Sip Sip.
Day 07: Sip Sip to Sher, then drive to Purang.
Day 08: Purang to Raktses Tal
Day 09-10: Gula mandata base camp.
Day 11: Trek to Thuku Monastery near by lake Manosarovar.
Day 12: Lake Manosarovar.
Day 13: Lake Manosarovar-Tarchen
Day 14: Tarchen-Dairaphuk
Day 15: Deraphuk-Suthulphuk
Day 16: Zuthulphuk-Tarchen
Day 17: Tarchen-Purang
Day 18: Purang-Hilsa
Day 19 Hilsa-Yari.
Day 20: Yari-Muchu.
Day 21: Muchu-Sallikhola.
Day 22: Sallikhola-Dharapuri.
Day 23: Dharapuri-Simikot
Day 24: Simikot-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu.

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

SIMIKOT- KAILASH-SIMIKOT TREK II

Day 01: Kathmandu-Nepalgunj
Day 02: Nepalgunj-Simikot-Dharapuri
Day 03: Dharapuri-Sallikhola
Day 04: Sallikhola-Tumkot Khola
Day 05: Tomkotkhola-Sipsip
Day 06: Sipsip-Hilsa
Day 07: Hilsa-Lake Manasarovar
Day 08: Lake Manasarovar rest
Day 09: Lake Manasarovar-Tarchen
Day 10: Tarchen-Deraphuk/Zuthulphuk
Day 11: Deraphuk/Zuthulphuk (after crossing the Dolmala 5600 mt)
Day 12: Tarchen
Day 13: Tarchen-Hilsa
Day 14: trek up to Yari
Day 15: Yari-Yalbang
Day 16: Munchu-Sallikhola
Day 17: Sallikhola-Dharapuri
Day 18: Dharapuri-Simikot
Day 19: Simikot to Kathamandu

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

KATHMANDU-KAILASH-YARKHANDA (PAKISTAN) TREK

Day 01: Drive Kathmandu- Nylam
Day 02: Nylam- Saga
Day 03: Saga-Barayang
Day 04: Barayang-Lake Manasarovar
Day 05: Lake Manasarovar (rest)
Day 06: Lake Manasarovar-Tarchen
Day 07: Tarchen -Dairaphuk
Day 08: Dairaphuk- Zuthulphuk
Day 09: Zuthulphuk-Tarchen
Day 10: Tarchen- Tirthapuri
Day 11: Tirthapuri-Tholing
Day 12: Explore around Tholing & Tsaprang
Day 13: Tholing & Tsaprang- Ali
Day 14: Ali-Rutog
Day 15: Rutog-Domar
Day 16: Domar-Hongliutan
Day 17: Hongliutan-Khudi
Day 18: Khudi-Yarkhand
Day 19: Yarkhand-Khasgar
Day 20: Khasgar-Tashkorgan
Day 21: Tashkorgan-Khanjerab (Pakistan-China border)

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

KATHMANDU-KAILASH-KYUNGLUNG-KATHMANDU TREK

Day 01: Drive Kathmandu- Nylam
Day 02: Nylam- Saga
Day 03: Saga-Barayang
Day 04: Barayang-Lake Manasarovar
Day 05: Lake Manasarovar (rest)
Day 06: Lake Manasarovar-Tarchen
Day 07: Tarchen -Dairaphuk
Day 08: Dairaphuk- Zuthulphuk
Day 09: Zuthulphuk-Tarchen
Day 10: Tarchen- Tirthapuri
Day 11: Tirthapuri-Guru Gyam (Bonpo Monastery)
Day 12: Guru Gyam- Kyunglung Gompa
Day 13: Kyunglung Gompa-Guru Gyam
Day 14: Guru Gyam-Lake Manasarovar
Day 15: Lake Manasarovar-Barayang
Day 16: Barayang-Saga
Day 17: Saga-Nyalam
Day 18: Nyalam-Kathmandu.

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

KATHMANDU-KAILASH-KATHMANDU VIA NORTHERN ROUTE TREK

Day 01: Kathamndu-Nylam
Day 02: Nylam- Saga
Day 03: Saga-Barayang
Day 04: Barayang-Lake Manasarovar
Day 05: Lake Manasarovar (rest)
Day 06: Lake Manasarovar-Tarchen
Day 07: Tarchen -Dairaphuk
Day 08: Dairaphuk- Zuthulphuk
Day 09: Zuthulphuk-Tarchen
Day 10: Tarchen- Tirthapuri
Day 11: Tirthapuri-Tholing
Day 12: Explore around Tholing & Tsaprang
Day 13: Tholing - Ali
Day 14: Ali- Gergey
Day 15: Gergey- Gerste
Day16- Gerste-Tsochen
Day17-Tsochen-Saga
Day18-Saga- Pigutso
Day19-Pigutso-Zhangmu
Day20-Zhangmu-Kathmandu

Excursion Grading: moderate-strenuous

If you would like more detailed information , please email us.

BOOKING TERMS/CANCELLATIONS: A 25% deposit per person is required at time of booking. Payment balance is due 30 days prior to trip departure. There is a cancellation charge of U.S.$300 per person for cancellations received seven (7) calendar days prior to trip departure, for any reason whatsoever. Please review BOOKING CONDITIONS.

VISA ARRANGEMENTS FOR TIBET: The cost of a visa is normally U.S. $25 per person no matter which nationality, if visa is processed within 3 days. An additional fee of $25 is charged by the Chinese Embassy for processing less than 3 days.

Adventure Karnali (P.)LTD will process your visa for which we require the following:

Name
Sex
Date of Birth
Occupation/Profession
Nationality
Passport Number

Also, you must send us a photocopy (or Fax) of your passport in large format (only the photo page) at least 20 DAYS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE to Kathmandu.

The Chinese embassy is open for visa purposes every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 10-11 A.M.

RISK & LIABIIITY: Adventure Karnali (P.) LTD will endeavour to make your journey smooth and pleasant as possible. However, all the programs in Tibet are conducted strictly under the rules and regulations of Tibet Tourism Bureau. Therefore, Adventure Karnali (P.) LTD or its Tibet Agent, shall not be responsible for any changes in the itinerary due to unavoidable circumstances such as government restrictions, landslides, road blockage, flood, snow, political unrest, cancellation of flight, delays, sickness or accidents. Any extra cost incurring thereof shall be borne by the customer(s).

ABOVE TOURS INCLUDE: Visa fee and Tibet travel permit, transportation by Land Cruiser with supporting truck with drivers, horses or yaks (when trekking), all required camping gear, meals, English speaking guide, kitchen staff, porters, excursion airfares, and staff's insurances.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: All expenses of a personal nature (such as cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, mineral water, etc.), rescue charges in case of an emergency, and any cost arised by any unforseen events such as: landslides, snow fall, illness and flight cancellation.

If you have any questions regarding details of these terms, please email us.

IMPORTANT TREK INFORMATION

ALTITUDE SICKNESS: As Tibet lies at over 12,000 ft, you are likely to experience some of the minor symptoms and discomfort of altitude sickness (headache, mild nausea, and loss of appetite) until your body adjusts to the elevation. This can take from a few hours to a couple days depending on the individual. Do not exert yourself and drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids. Proper hydration is critical to acclimatization.

FITNESS AND GEAR: Many of the above treks will cross the 5,600 meter Mt. Dolmala, which can be quite strenuous. Temperatures may drop below -20c in early October and March. So it is vital that you come prepared with clothing that is warm, yet versatile.

CLOTHING* :Casual wears and comfortable walking shoes are the rule for touring Tibet, but be sure to bring warm clothing for cold conditions as the nights and early mornings can be quite chilly and downright cold during the winter months. Bring all your films, medicines, cosmetics, personal toilet items that you will need from home as these are difficult, if not impossible, to obtain in Tibet. A personal first aid kit is also recommended. More detailed information on clothing and related matters will be provided upon booking your tour.(*Please visit What You'll Need page for more information on clothing, gear and essentials.)

INSURANCE: Full travel insurance coverage for medical evacuation, loss of belongs and trip cancellation is strongly recommended.

CURRENCY: The unit of currency is the Renmibi or Yuan. A US Dollar is equivalent to about 8 Yuan approx. Money can be exchanged at the Bank of China branches at Zhangmu, Xigatse, Lhasa, Purang and Ali.