Kailash Mansarovar tour via Kerung

Our Kailash Mansarovar tour starts from Kathmandu city early in the morning. You will be picked up by our guide from your hotel in Kathmandu and take you on a long but scenic drive along the bank of the Trishuli River. After reaching the Nepal-Tibet border, we will meet our Tibetan guide and finish our immigration formalities.

Then, afterward, we will drive to Kerung/Kyirong. To recharge tomorrow’s journey, we’ll stay overnight in a guesthouse in Kerung with proper accommodation and meal facilities.

Second day will be our rest day in Kerung/Kyirong/Gyirong to acclimatize to the high-altitude with Tibetan environment and subtropical mountain monsoon climate before further adding the Kailash-Mansarovar journey. Kerung is located at an elevation of 2850 meters near the China-Nepal border in the southern part of Gyirong County in Tibet.

We’ll observe the Daman ethnic Nepali community, Pakpa Monastery, which was founded around 1,000 years ago by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in honor of his Nepali Queen Bhrikuti. We’ll further witness local Tibetan-Nepali life while exploring Kerung town. We can also enjoy Nepali, Tibetan, Chinese and Indian dishes in several restaurants in Kerung.

We’ll set the journey towards Kailash-Mansarovar, after having early breakfast in Kerung. We’ll drive to Saga via Labung-La Pass, which will be the first long drive across desert-like landscape, rural countryside and high mountain roads. We’ll take a lunch and refreshing break during our today’s drive.

We’ll see a panoramic view of the Turquoise, Lake Peikutso, and the expansive Yarlung Tsangpo or Brahmaputra River while driving towards Saga. When we arrive at the Labung-La Pass at 5,050 meters, we can see glimpses of Himalayan peaks including Gaurishakar, Shishapangma and Langtang Himal.

Today’s drive cover 232 km in around 6 hours, we’ll arrive at the Tibetan town of SAGA (4600 meters). We’ll stay an overnight in Saga to recover and prepare for the next leg of the journey.

As usual, after an early breakfast, our journey starts from Saga to the Sacred Lake Mansarovar through the small towns of Zhonga and Paryang as well as Dargyeling Monastery. After a 450 km-long journey, we’ll be fortunate with the first glimpses of the holy Mount Kailash and the tranquil lake Mansarovar.

After 7 to 8 hours of journey, while taking breaks in between, we will reach Kailash Mansarovar Lake. Lake Mansarovar is the highest freshwater, located at an elevation of 4558 meters.  Mansarovar Lake is surrounded by Mount Kailash, Mount Gurla Mandhata/Naimonanyi Peak, and Lake Rakshash.

As per Hindu Mythology, Lake Mansarovar is the resting place of Lord Vishnu. And Lake Rakshash was created by Devon Ravana. If we drive closer, we can be privileged with the majestic view of Mt. Kailash and Mt. Mandhata in the distance. Further, we can see Chiu Monastery, from where we can observe a vantage point to view Mt. Kailash.

We’ll stay an overnight near Lake Mansarovar to rest and feel the divine energy of this particular holy/sacred region.

Our day will start with a serene and spiritual morning at the shores of Lake Mansarovar, in front of the majestic Mt. Kailash. You can perform morning Yogas, Havans, and Puja/adoration to cleanse sins and grant inner peace. This is because Lake Mansarovar is revered as the lake of compassion, tranquility and divine bliss.

Then, we’ll begin Parikrama/circumambulation of Lake Mansarovar by jeep. The journey includes a possible visit to Chui Gompa monastery. Thereafter, we’ll resume about 40km drive to Darchen, which takes around 1 hour. Darchen is a small settlement near the foothills of Mt. Kailash, so it serves as the base camp for the Kailash Parikrama.

Darchen becomes a vibrant camp town in the pilgrimage season. That’s where you can get a direct view of the west face of Mt. Kailash (the holiest mountain in Asia). Our overnight stay will be in Darchen. We’ll provide all the meals for you.

The six day will be the first and spiritually significant day of Mt. Kailash tour because of Circuit (Kora), which is a three-day hike around the sacred Mt. Kailash. After having breakfast, we’ll drive from Darchen to Tarboche/Darboche, about 5-6 km that takes around 10 minutes. It is the starting point of the Kora, which will be decorated with vibrant prayer flags. Then, we’ll pass Yama Dwar-Gate of the Lord of Death, which is a sacred threshold through which every pilgrim will have to pass to start their spiritual journey.

Tarboche is surrounded by the stunning Himalayas, like Gurla Mandhata (7728m) to the southeast. From Tarboche, we’ll start with about a 12km hike to Dira-Phuk, walking along rocky cliffs and cascading waterfalls as well as Chukku Monastery. As we walk, the north face of Mt. Kailash gradually reveals.

Now, we’ll arrive at Dira-Phuk (4765m) after 6 to 7 hours of trek. Dira-Phuk is nestled exactly beneath the mighty north face of Mt. Kailash, which is the best place to view and photograph. We’ll stay overnight in Dira-Phuk.

Note: Pilgrims who are not joining the Kora/circuit will stay at Darchen in the Hotel, until the rest of the team return.

Early in the morning, we’ll begin a 2 hours steep uphill trek from Dira-Phuk, while passing symbolic sites Yamastha and Shiva Stal. This will be the most challenging yet spiritually profound trekking, as we cross Dolma-la Pass (5,630m) – the highest and holiest point of the pilgrimage. We’ll be greeted by vibrant prayer flags and sacred statues like a shrine dedicated to Green Tara at the summit of the Dolma-La Pass.

The steep descent from the Dolma-La pass, we’ll witness the holy Gauri Kunda (Lake of Goddess Parbati).  Along the trail, we may have small tea shops for refreshments.

We will trek around 8 to 9 hours, which covers 22 km distance. By the late afternoon, we’ll reach Cave of the Miracle or Zutul-Phuk (47,00m).

After reaching Zuthul Puk, we’ll stay overnight at tented camp with meals.

Today is the final day of our sacred Mt. Kailash Circuit (Parikrama). After having a breakfast, our Parikrama will begin with a comparatively easy 8 km trek, which will end in about 2 to 3 hours. Now, we’ll have a more pleasant and gentle walk, with no-steep climbs, passing through a scenic river and narrow canyons.

Thereafter, we will reach in Darchen, where the vehicle will be waiting to pick up us. We’ll commence our long drive back to Saga, which will take around 470km. Along the drive, you can enjoy your last views of Lake Mansarovar and Chiu Gompa Monastery. Our overnight stay will be at a guesthouse in Saga.

After having breakfast in Saga, we’ll begin our return journey towards Kerung. We’ll further enjoy our return journey to Kerung city from Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar while passing through a panoramic scene of the rugged Tibetan landscape.

We can also observe the high-altitude villages, Tibetan nomads, pristine valleys and river gorges on the way. We’ll aim to arrive in Kerung by the afternoon, then we’ll check into a comfortable hotel.

On the last day of our sacred Kailash journey, we began our return journey toward the Rasuwagadhi border, after having breakfast in Kerung. Then, we’ll complete the Chinese exit formalities, after reaching the border of the Chinese side. After crossing the Border Bridge, we’ll be at Rasuwagadhi, Nepal. From Rasuwagadhi, we’ll complete another Nepali immigration and customs procedures.

Then, we’ll drive through the scenic hilly roads of Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Then, passing through the rural villages, river valleys and terraced fields, we’ll take a rest for lunch at a local restaurant along the way. By the evening, we’ll arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel.