- Day 1: Fly to Nepalganj
Today we take the ninety minute flight to Nepalgunj in the far south west of Nepal . It is a busy crowded city which lies close to the Indian border. BLD
- Day 2: Fly to Simikot [ 2960m ] trek to Dhara Pokhari [ 2300m ] BLD
This morning we fly north for about 50 minutes to Simikot, the headquarters of Nepal 's most remote district, Humla. After meeting our crew, we set off on our trek, climbing up from the airstrip on a rocky trail past fields of barley and wheat. We ascend a forested ridge above the town of Simikot , before making a long steep descent past Dandaphoya. The trail is then fairly level, through walnut and apricot trees, until we come to the scattered village of Dharapokhari which is divided by the Yakba Khola.
- Day 3: Trek to Salli Khola [ 2700m ] BLD
Leaving our campsite, we cross a long scree slope and follow the river to a waterfall near the shepherds' camp at Chachera. We then climb over a ridge and bypass the village of Kermi before entering a big valley with walled fields of potato and buckwheat. After walking through a sparse pine forest we descend from the ridge to the Salli Khola and camp by the river
- Day 4: Trek to Muchu [ 2920m ] BLD
We cross the river and climb over a rocky ridge before descending to the grey waters of the Humla Karnali. After crossing another ridge we come to a sandy meadow where goat herders often camp by the river. Beyond the meadow the valley narrows and we cross several more ridges, passing the villages of Yalbang and Yangar. The trail then winds its way precariously above the river before we cross a suspension bridge to the village of Muchu .
- Day 5: Rest day BLD
Today is a rest day which we'll spend in and around Muchu, exploring the village with its stone houses and Gompa.
- Day 6: Trek to Sipsip [ 4330m ] BLD
From Muchu, we follow the trail over a ridge to the Tumkot Khola and then walk along the rocky stream bed for a short distance before beginning a steep climb through a rock-filled gully. We pass through Palbang and its bright yellow mustard fields to the small settlement of Yari and beyond here the route climbs up the valley towards a pass, the Nara Lagna. We camp below the pass in a meadow known as Sipsip.
- Day 7: Trek to Hilsa [ 3720m ] BLD
From Sipsip we ascend steeply to a rock cairn marking the top of the Nara Lagna [ 4580m ]. Descending from the pass, we have views of the Tibetan Plateau before arriving at the village of Ranipauwa . Beyond here, we slip and slide on a surface of loose pebbles down to the Humla Karnali. Guest house
- Day 8: Drive to Taklakot, known as Purang county [ 3930m/27Km] Hotel in Purang
Shortly after crossing the Nepal/Tibet border which is marked only by a stone pillar, we meet our Tibetan team and drive to Purang county at the distance of 27km , via a large trading center of Purang county,run by Nepalese and Tibetans.
- Day 9: Purang county to Mansarovar lake ( 4950mts/120km ) Guest house at Mansarovar lake
After breakfast, driving to Mansarovar lake at the distance of around 120km and on the way, enjoy a great view of Rakshastal lake, Mansarovar lake and Mt Kailash in the distance. Today will be spending our night at Manasarovar, lake allowing our bodies to acclimatize to the altitude and exploring this fascinating place. We will visit the picturesque Chiu Monastery on the north west shore of the lake with the imposing sight of Mt Kailash in the background.
- Day 10: Drive directly to Tarpoche and trek to Dhiraphuk (5210Mts/18Km) Lodge on BB
Today is the first day of your Kailash Kora which is totally around 53Km . You start your Kora from Darchen and after like 2 hrs walk, you will face Darpo Che where there is a huge prayer flag pole which is annually replaced by the pilgrimages on 15 th of forth Lunar month, known as Saga Dawa festival, As well as Trulku monastery on your leftside up on the hill side. You can also see ibex and blue sheep running in the rocky hillside while you are walking and then you will reach Dhira Phuk which was a monastery before but nowadays you can only see the ruins of the monastery as the monastery was destroyed in the cultural revolution.
- Day 11: Trek to Zutrul Phuk(4750Mts) via crossing Drolma la pass(5200Mts/15KM) Lodge on BB
Today is the second of your Kailash Kora which is indeed the hardest day of your three days trek. You will have to climb up to the top of Drolma La pass which is more than 5000Mt. There will be three sloppy hike to get to the top of Drolma La pass from Dhira Phuk and then pretty steep down hill with rocky path all the way to the valley. On the right side of the down hill path, there is a small lake called Thuje Lake, meaning compassionate lake.Zutrul Phuk was the cave where Mila Repa and Nagro Bonchung debated for their religion sects and nowadays, it is a small monastery.
- Day 12: Trek to Dharchen and then drive to Mansarovar-Baryang-Drongba-Saga 4640Mts/485. Hotel in Saga on BB
Today is the easiest and last day of your Kailash kora as you will trek down in the valley with beautiful distant scenery of Rakshas Tal lake .From here you will depart your Yak men and kind Yak and shift to vehicles. You will meet your drivers and continue your tour to Lake Mansarovar and then continuously drive to Saga.
- Day 13: Saga-Lhatse-Shigatse, 3900Mts/450Km. Hotel in Shigatse
It's in the vastness of the Changtang, Tibetan plateau, that we measure the Tibetan space from where suddenly emerge herds of gazelles or Kyang, wild donkeys. The most beautiful grassland of Sangsang, beautiful Tibetan nomad camp and Himalayan mountain ranges.
- Day 14: Drive Shigatse-Gyantse (3950Mts/90Km) Hotel in Shigatse on BB
After passing several mountain passes, suddenly emerge flocks of Tibetan villages and their farming lands where people basically live on farming which is a different way of surviving from the people in Kaialsh area that they live on rearing animals. visit Tashi Lhunpo monastery and continue your Tibet travel to Gyantse. Visit Palchoe monastery, Kubum Pagoda stupa.
- Day 15: Drive Gyantse-yamdrok lake-Karola glacier-Lhasa(3650Mts/270KM) Hotel in Lhasa on BB
After breakfast, drive towards Lhasa through 3 big mountain passes, Kampa La, Karo La, Simila respectively. Karola is the highest pass among them which is over 5000Mts with it's most beautiful glaciers, beautiful Yamdrok lake emerged as coral color from the top of Kampala pass. You will have your lunch at Nakartse country which is just between the Yamdrok lake and Karola glaciers. Hotel
- Day 16: Visit Potala Palace, Jokang temple and Bharkor Hotel in Lhasa on BB
After breakfast, visit Potala Palace. The Potala Palace is considered one of the great wonders of the world. It is held sacred by Tibetans as the former residence of successive Dalai Lamas, and is one of Tibet 's most holy pilgrimage sites. A palace was originally built in the 7 th century by King Songtsen Gampo, and was believed to have been nine stories high, but around the 9 th century it is believed to have been destroyed by a big fire. The present Potala Palace was constructed by the great fifth Dalai Lama in the 17 th century after he became ruler of Tibet . The Potala Palace is divided into two sections, the White Palace (completed in 1653) and Red palace (completed 1694). It has more than one thousand rooms and is thirteen stories high. The White Palace was secular in nature and mainly used for government administration, whilst the Red palace was mainly used for religious functions and still has numerous chapels, including those containing reliquary stupas of the successive Dalai Lamas which are richly decorated in gold, silver and semi-precious stones.
JOKANG TEMPLE the Jokang is Tibet 's most sacred temple, the main point of pilgrims from the entire Tibetan plateau. Located at the heart of the ancient town of Lhasa , it was built in the 7 th century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo's queen Bhrikuti on a site identified by Queen Wencheng according to her geomantic calculation. The temple is 3 stories high and it is constructed with enormous chapels including the most sacred statue of Budhha Shakyamuni, enshrined. It has around 70 monks nowadays.
ANCIENT BHARKOR STREET is the most sacred pilgrimage site in Lhasa and it is full of pilgrims from down till dusk. There are four huge prayer flags situated in Bhakor street which surrounds the Jokang, known respectively as Gadhen Dharchen in the northeast, Juyak Dharchen in the west, Kelsang Dharchen in the southwest and SharKyaring Dharchen in the southeast. The Bharkor street is the most active market in all Tibet and it is possible to purchase traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, modern goods, books, music, clothing, spices, fresh meat and vegetable.
- Day 17: Visit Drepung and Sera monasteries Hotel in Lhasa on BB
After breakfast, drive to Drepung monastery. Drepung monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet , built in the 15 th century by Jamyang Choeje who is one of Tsongkapa's foremost disciple. The monastery is beautifully located up in a hill at the distance of 7 Km from the old section of the city and it is the biggest monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery has four main colleges with numerous small chapels and house chapels, known as Khangtsen in Tibetan. There are around six hundred monks nowadays.
SERA MONASTERY was founded in around 15th century by Jamchen Choeje who is another famous disciple of Tsongka pa and it is the second largest monastery of Tibet . There are three big colleges with numerous chapels and house chapels. The most attraction to visit this monastery is to see the monks debating which hold from 3-5Pm everyday apart from Sunday.
- Day 18: Fly to Kathmandu [ 1400m ]
We leave Lhasa early in the morning for the 2 hour drive to Gonggar Airport and our flight back to Kathmandu . The Air China takes us right across the main Himalayan