As part of the Holy Yatra, our sightseeing will be in the holy places in Kathmandu. After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the Swayambhunath Stupa, also called the Monkey Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the religious pilgrimages for both Hindus and Buddhists. It is situated on the west side of Kathmandu, on top of the hill with 365 steps that take you to the giant dome-shaped stupa. You will have a beautiful bird’s-eye view of Kathmandu from this sacred place, and it is one of the viewpoints in Kathmandu. After strolling around the stupa and clicking some memories, we then travel to Budhanilkantha.

Budhanilkantha is dedicated to the Hindu Lord Vishnu and is one of the most sacred and important temples for Hindus. You will get to see the reclining long statue of Lord Vishnu in the pond. The most interesting thing (not known by many people) about this temple is the oldest belief, which says the King (now former) of Nepal should not visit this temple, as the King is believed to be the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. This temple is believed to be from the 5^th century. We then drive to one of the Hindu holy sites, Pashupatinath Temple.
Pashupatinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the sacred sites for Hindus. This temple is situated on the bank of the holy Bagmati River, where you will witness the Hindu Cremation. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple and worship, but one can stroll around the temple as it has covered a wide area where you will find numerous other temples and lots of spots to stop by and interact with. We will spend some time here, and then we will drive to Nagarkot, a beautiful hill station above Kathmandu. It is a beautiful viewpoint and also helps us to acclimatize.

Overnight stay at Nagarkot.

We will wake up early to see the Sunrise and the mountain view.  The morning view of snow-capped mountains like Ganesh Himal, Annapurna, Manaslu, and the Everest range is spectacular on a clear day!

After watching the sunrise, we will hike down toward Dhulikhel / Bhaktapur. The hike will be 3/ 4 hrs., and the walk inside the village and pine forest will keep you occupied, enjoying the greenery and peace. Also, you will find some small settlements on the way. Later, we will drive back to Kathmandu via Bhaktapur. A beautiful city inside the valley that has historical importance, along with a culturally rich community.

We will visit  Doleshower Mahadev Temple, and if time permits, the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and then drive you back to your hotel in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will brief you about the Kailash yatra and also do some packing.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

You will have breakfast in the hotel, and then we will start our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with a scenic drive to Syabrubesi around 7 AM. This drive follows the Trishuli River, and the small settlements & terraced farms along the way will make the drive exciting. After 3/4 hrs. of driving, we will reach Trishuli bazaar, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will continue the drive to Syabrubesi, which will take up to 3 to 4 hours.
Reaching Syabrubesi, we will check into the hotel and rest. In the evening, you can stroll around the Syabrubesi town.

Overnight at the simple guest house, Syabrubesi / Ghatte Khola.

After breakfast at the Syabrubesi Hotel, the journey to the Nepal-China Border Kerung begins. It’s a 2-hour drive, and we will brief you on the journey about the Kailash Yatra. Once we reach there, we will undergo some border formalities ( checking of visa, passport, baggage, etc) and continue the journey with our  Nepal and Tibetan crew.

After clearing all the formalities at the border port, we drive to Kerung, or Gyirong, a small town settled on the Himalayan slope on the Nepal-Tibet border. One can stop in this area and relax for a day during the travel between Nepal and Tibet.

This town offers a lot of spots to visit, but the most visited and top spot is Bhirkuti Cave. Also, you can find various historical monuments. There is a monastery named Pakba Monastery constructed for the protection of the border by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gambo in the 7th century. Overnight at the Hotel in Kerung.

We have a day here at Kerung, or Gyirong, to do some acclimatization hiking, about 3/4 hours.

This town offers a lot of spots to visit, but the most visited and top spot is Bhirkuti Cave. Also, you can find various historical monuments. There is a monastery named Pakba Monastery constructed for the protection of the border by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gambo. We will also conduct some exercises and meditation.

Overnight at Kerung.

After breakfast, we drive from Kerung to Saga / Parayang.  The scenic journey with the Tibetan Mountains will keep us occupied. Later, we turn our journey to the north, cross the Holy Brahmaputra River ( Yarlung Zangpo), and reach Saga. A lovely town with several reasonable hotels or guesthouses will be the perfect place to stop by. This Saga town offers a decent welcome with good local foods, and also, the little market is worth strolling.

Overnight at Saga / Parayang.

After having breakfast in Saga, we drive to Mansarovar Lake. It will take about 7 – 8  hours to reach Mansarovar today.  Before reaching Manasarovar, we will stop by the famous spot Horchu, from where we get the first glimpse of Mount Kailash – a special Darshan on a clear day!  We will spend some time praying, clicking photographs, capturing landscapes, and then head towards Mansarovar. We will use the Nagri Kailash Bus service to do the Parikrama of Lake Mansarovar. We will reach Chui Gompa, check in at the guest house, freshen up, and take a rest.

Night at Lake Mansarovar: Many travelers want to see stars or apsaras at Lake Mansarovar at night. Many may witness its beauty under the moonlight. Though visiting the lake at night is completely safe, it is advisable to go in a group, and if possible, take our expert team with you for any required help. Dress properly with warm clothes as the temperature outside will be cold. Good idea to carry a torch and a whistle too. It is believed that Apsara from Swarga or even Lord Parvati visits Manasarovar at night to take a bath and go back.
Overnight stay at Mansarovar Lake.

Half day at MANASAROVAR for Puja and Havana and acclimatization, and drive to Darchen ( base of Kailash)
A beautiful day at the piece of Heaven. We can visit the powerful Chiu Monastery, we can take a deep look at Lake Manasarovar, or we can also provide warm water from the Lake in a Bathing tent, then join pious Puja or Havan at the lake, and later in the day prepare for Kailash Parikrama/packing/discussion about extra horse/yak/porter booking, etc. B, L, D

Note: If people wish to go to Darchen town, the base of Kailash on this day, we can drive there too, but many people prefer to stay at Mansarovar and start Parikrama directly, driving to Tharboche the next day to start the Kailash Parikrama.

Early in the morning, we will drive around 58 km or 14 KM and reach the THarboche ( near Yama Dwar).
We then meet our porters/horses ( if you hire them) and prepare ourselves for the Parikrama or Khora of holy Kailash Parvat – called  Gang or Kang Rinpoche in the Tibetan language.  Kailash Yatra Parikarma starts from Yama Dwar at Tharboche.

From Yama Dwar, we will walk for around 6 to 7 hours to reach Diraphuk, the north face of Holy Mt.Kailash.
During this Kailash Parikrama yatra, we get a close view of Mount Kailash.  Once we reach Diraphuk, we can view the beautiful north face of Mount Kailash.

About Kailash Parikrama :
Almost Everyone comes to make Kailash Kora, meaning circumambulation of Hoy Mt. Kailash, going through the highest pass, Dolma La (5,645m). Although local Tibetan people make Kailash Khora in a single day, it takes three days for us, and the total walk is about 52 kilometers, but since we can drive a bit both ways (starting and ending point of Parikrama now), it is a total of 38 KM we have to walk in 3 days. This Kailash Parikrama is called the outer Khora of Kailash.
But people who are not able to make the whole Parikrama for some reason have the option to go up to the North face of Kailash, do some puja, and then go back to Darchen and wait for group members to finish. We have specially added one more day in the North Face to touch the Kailash, which is called “Kailash Charan sparsa, “a special moment in life. Not every company does it.
The extra day in Diraphuk ( north face) is to acclimate and also to get a Divine experience at this unique place. How far we can walk to Charana sparsa  ( touching Kailash) depends on the weather, your health, and the Chinese govt. military permission.

Tharboche and Diraphuk are well-known holy places for organizing events during festivals. They organize a grand event during the Saga Dawa Festival. If we are lucky and reach during the festival time, then we get to explore more about the culture and traditions of the local communities.

Overnight at Diraphuk – simple Guest house. 

We will wake you early in the morning to witness the Golden Kailash at sunrise. As the first sunlight kisses the summit of Mount Kailash, it turns golden, and that view is awesome.
Kailash Charan Spash walk – touching the feet of Kailash Parvat:
Today we do a sacred walk from Derapuk monastery to the feet of Kailash Parvat on the north face side of the mountain, a total of about 7 km distance. We all will try to reach the base of Mt. Kailash Parvat – the Charan – or touch the feet of Mt. Kailash. ( Depending on the weather, your health, and the permission of the Chinese military/police). The Kailash Charan sparsa hike is a heavenly, beautiful walk through a bank of milky water and snowfall from the top of Kailash mountain itself. It may feel a bit heavy to breathe due to the altitude. We will walk slowly and drink lots of water. We can do some meditation and Puja at the feet of Kailash as well. The Charan sparsa trek in Kailash is also considered part of Inner Kailash  Parikarama.
We will be seeking blessings from Lord Shiva at this beautiful pilgrimage, with the expectation of positive energy. Kailash Parvat is the axis of the Mundi and the Ganges flowing from Shiva’s matted hair ( Jatta ). By touching the miracle feet of Mount Kailash and the Ganges axis, people get moksha – salvation, a rebirth. It is believed that the Ganges is the water that flows from the melted snow of Kailash, and interestingly enough, 4 of the major rivers in Asia, the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali, originated within a 50 KM radius of Kailash mountain. That is why Maybe Kailash is known as Sumeru Parvat or the center of the earth.

Early morning breakfast, we will start the second day of Kailash Parikrama ( Kora). We will walk for 8 – 10 hrs. to reach the Zuthulphuk Gompa. The Kailash Parikrama yatra of today is the most difficult, and we will be walking around 22km via Dolma la pass.

During the 2nd day of the Kailash Yatra, we will ascend towards the Dolma La Pass (Parvati Pass), the highest point (5,670 m. or 18,504–18,602 ft.) of the whole Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Before reaching the Drolma La Pass, there is a site where Milarepa and Shiva Tsal’s footprints can be seen. Once we reach the Pass, we will pray. The pass is decorated with colorful prayer flags. From Dolma La Pass, we will be descending. On the way down, we will see Gauri Kund or Parvati Taal, and we will ask our Sherpa to collect some holy Jal from here for us. We will continue our journey to Zuthulphuk Valley. Once we reach Zuthulphuk, we may visit the monastery there. It is rewarding, but a long walk today.
Note: Nowadays, if you wish, we can take an emergency Jeep service to Darchen from Zothulphuk Valley near the tea shop, shortening the Kailash yatra journey by at least 12 KM ( optional at extra cost).

Overnight at Zuthulphuk – simple Guest house.

Today is the last day of Khora or Kailash Parikrama. Early morning, we will have our breakfast and then start walking toward Darchen. After walking for around 10 km, we reached the Hor Qu Village. From here we will take a vehicle to reach Darchen Town, collect all our bags, and after lunch we will drive back to Saga ( a bit long day).

Overnight at a hotel in Saga.

We will have an early breakfast and drive to Syabrubesi. After crossing the Brahmaputra River, we will drive forward to the Nepal-China border, where you will farewell your Tibetan guide.

Now, we will go to the Rasuwagadi China and Nepalese Immigration Checkpoint and complete the formalities. From there, our representative will take you to Syabrubesi and drive to Kathmandu, and you will be transferred to your hotel.

Rest and stay in the Kathmandu hotel.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport three hours before your planned flight departs for your home country or the next destination.
You can end this Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by visiting the Pashupatinath Temple again if you wish.

Note: It is always good to add one more day in Kailash Yatra just in case we need an extra day due to landslides, visas, sicknesses, flight delays, etc.