Mount Kailash Inner Kora Tour

Temple hopping for the day in the capital, Kathmandu! We will visit some great UNESCO World Heritage sites, starting with the most important Lord Shiva temple, Pashupatinath Temple. Then the huge Boudhanath Stupa where Tibetan Buddhists make their wishes, and hike up to Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) for great views of the whole valley. Subsequently, there will be a little time to buy any supplies you would need for the long road ahead.

It’s simply a matter of getting your papers in order today and setting you up for the trip ahead. We’ll take you out to the Chinese Embassy to pick up your visa, and you can spend the remainder of the day packing, double-checking your gear twice, and picking up anything else you may need. We have a final briefing to cover important points like safety guidelines and acclimatization to the high altitude – you don’t want to miss it, believe us!

Road trip time! We’re driving from Kathmandu to the Tibetan border, and the views are stunning – think green hills, subsistence farming carved into mountain sides, and tiny mountain villages. We will break here at Rasuwagadhi to enable the border crossing (breathe easy, we will complete all the forms), and proceed on into Tibet to reach Kerung. The view outside the mountains just becomes more and more lovely as we ascend and ascend! Once we reach Kerung, we’ll take the night off and have a hotel.

It’s a rest day today all about resting and acclimatizing your body to the height – we’re well into the mountains now! You can stroll around a bit in Kerung and find this quite pleasant Tibetan town, but not too much of it. The secret to being able to cope with high altitude is having plenty of fluids in and not overdoing things. Relax and relish the serenity – a great time to soak up all that fabulous mountain energy and prepare for what awaits ahead!

Today’s ride offers some of the most dramatic views as you ride towards the Tibetan high-altitude plateau. Ride over Lhamo La Pass (5,124m) and observe the vast Tibet landscape, scattered villages, and nomadic herdsmen. Ride through arid valleys, along the Brahmaputra River, before reaching Saga. Saga is a small town where you stay overnight and acclimatize for the rest of the days ahead.

Everything changes once you get to Lake Manasarovar, the sacredest of Buddhist and Hindu lakes. The highway passes through open plains and desert plateaus. Blue, crystal water of Manasarovar welcomes your eyes against the background of Mount Kailash when you reach. Sacred dip and ritual on the lake shore. Overnight stay in a guesthouse on the lake shore.

After a peaceful morning at the lake, you take a drive to Darchen, the base camp of Mount Kailash Kora. This small Tibetan town is the starting point for this holy circumambulation (kora). Acclimatize and gear up for today’s trek. Take a walk through the local bazaars or go visit the nearby monasteries for a spiritual experience. You may pick up some last-minute shopping or snacks.

It is the start of the Inner Kora of Kailash today. It’s a short drive to Yam Dwar (Gods’ Gateway), from where you begin your trekking towards Dirapuk Monastery. The trek has a surreal look of the north face of Mount Kailash. It is a moderate trek but with a consistent pace. On reaching Dirapuk, get a close view of the holy mountain and spend the night in a guesthouse.

One of the most sacred and challenging days, you hike up to the north face of Mount Kailash, where individuals offer prayers. Have the opportunity to touch its feet (Charan Sparsh). The atmosphere here is profound, and the formidable summit appears to hover within reaching distance. The steep but brief climb is spiritually rewarding. After spending time in this holy place, return to Dirapuk overnight.

Okay, get ready for an epic day! Today we’re going to conquer the Inner Kailash Kora and Dolma La Pass, which is actually way up at 5,650 meters. The climb is very steep before the pass, and it is there that you get a glimpse of the sacred Gauri Kund. You walk down to Zuthulpuk Monastery with views all the way around. This long day’s trekking is followed by an overnight stay at Zuthulpuk.

After a tranquil evening at Zuthulpuk Monastery, you awaken to the majestic experience of sunrise warming the rugged slopes of Mount Kailash. This morning’s final section is less challenging than you have thus far known, although far from terrifying. You shall have panoramic visions of stunning rock outcroppings, sparkling brooks, and serene valleys in their aftermath, and every one filled with rich spiritual symbolism. You see beautiful rock formations, sparkling streams, and serene valleys along the way, and all of them filled with deep spiritual significance. Pilgrims will typically pray and rest along the way. The ascent reaches its height at Darchen, the small village below Kailash, where you rest after having completed one of the holiest pilgrimages in the world. You take good food and good accommodation, so plenty of time is available to relax and indulge your gargantuan feat.

Time to chill in Darchen after our amazing trek! At an elevation of 4,575 meters, this little town is Kailash pilgrim base camp central. Take it easy today – maybe walk around town, chat with other travelers about their journeys, or just find a nice place to take in those spectacular mountain views. Fancy some spirtual shopping for some funky spiritual souvenirs? Go to the local markets to buy prayer flags and local handicrafts. Today is your day to unwind and let those incredible experiences sink in!

Today’s the day you get to visit some really special places! We’re going to mysterious caves and sacred places that’ll blow your mind. We’re beginning the day at the Rishi Cave, where ancient holy men would meditate. Then we’ll visit Nandi Parvat – rumor has it, it’s Lord Shiva’s divine horse! Next is Astapad (literally meaning “Eight Steps”) – it was here that the very first Jain Tirthankara became enlightened, and the view of Kailash from here is stunning. We’ll conclude the day at the Sapta Rishi Caves, where seven great sages meditated. Each one of these places has amazing stories and such powerful spiritual energy. Following our cave-hopping adventure, we’ll be back in Darchen for the night.

Time to say goodbye to terrific Kailash as we descend. Don’t worry, however – the landscape is equally delightful on the downward journey! We’re creating a canvas of blue lakes and deep mountains as far as the eyes can see set against a painting of green grasslands. Scan the horizon for wild Tibetan antelopes and nomads with their yak herds. We’ll make our final crossing of Lake Manasarovar – perfect for a last moment of reflection. We’ll be snug in our Saga guesthouse in the evening, sharing stories over a warm dinner.

Our last day on the Tibetan plateau! We’re driving back through some beautiful countryside, over the massive Lhamo La Pass, and down to border town Kerung. Note the way landscapes change completely as we bid farewell to Tibet’s expansive rolling landscape and hello to Nepal’s rolling green hills and waterfall cascades. We return at night to boisterous Kathmandu, where the comforts of a hotel bed are awaiting us. Time to celebrate at having done this incredible trip!

Last day of our amazing adventure! Depending on your flight time, you can pack in some last-minute sightseeing around Kathmandu – perhaps doing some final shopping for those last-minute souvenirs or visiting that final temple. We’ll get you to the airport nice and early so you get there with masses of time before your flight, and you’ll depart home stuffed with tales and memories that’ll last a lifetime.