11 Days Tibet Kailash Pilgrimage Tour by Helicopter from Nepal

This 11 days Tibet Kailashi Pilgrimage Tour by Helicopter from Nepal is designed for those who are looking for visiting Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarova only from Nepal. Mt Kailash Helicopter Tour access is connected via Simikot to directly drop at borderland of Hilsa then continue overland journey towards the Shore of Mansarovar Lake. Further holy journey from Mansarovar Lake we start hiking to complete the KORA of Mt Kailash which takes three days. After the Kora trip we again join for overland and drive back to boarder and to catch the flight by helicopter again, then back to Kathmandu by air.

Highlights:

  • Visit the top attractions of Kathmandu first and start your helicopter tour then.
  • Experience the Tibetan Buddhism in some extremely difficult-to-get-to monasteriesalong your way;
  • Meet snown mountains, tranquil lakes, shimmering rivers, Tibetan villages and rare animals on your way;
  • Trekking the most sacred and mythical mountain in the world-Mt. Kailash.

Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival
  • Day 2: Kathmandu-Nepalgunj
  • Day 3: Nepalgunj-Simkot
  • Day 4: Simkot-Purang
  • Day 5: Purang-Manasarovar Lake
  • Day 6: Manasarova Lake-Darchen
  • Day 7: Trek to Diraphuk
  • Day 8: Trek to Zuthul Puk
  • Day 9: Zuthul Puk-Taklakot
  • Day 10: Taklakot-Kathmandu
  • Day 11: Kathmandu Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Kathmandu

Sightseeing and Activities:None
Accommodation:Kathmandu
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Arrival Katmandu transfer to hotel, evening Pashupatinath Arati darshan and at dinner time program briefing, stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 2 Kathmandu City Glimpse & Kathmandu to Nepalgunj by Flight 55min

Sightseeing and Activities:Pashupatinath Temple, Fly to Nepalganj
Accommodation:Nepalgunj
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Morning sightseeing in Pashupatinath Temple by AC coach: Afternoon Fly to Nepalganj(50 minute fly),over night at hotel. Stay overnight in hotel in Nepalgunj.

Day 3 Nepalgunj to Simkot by Flight 45min

Sightseeing and Activities: fly to Simikot
Accommodation:Sun Valley Resort or Simikot
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Early morning, fly to Simikot(45minute) rest for acclimatize for high altitude at Simikot afternoon walk around hill side.Stay overnight in Sun Valley Resort or Simikot.

Day 4 Fly to Hilsa(3700m) and across the Karnali River and Drive to Purang(3800m), Helicopter 30 min & drive 1hr

Sightseeing and Activities:shift to Helicopter and fly to Hilsa
Accommodation:Taklakot Guest House
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, shift to Helicopter and fly to Hilsa (Nepali border) 20 minute fly helicopter and pick up Shera border(walk 10minute) cross border and enter Tibet ,meet our Tibetan and Nepali crew and drive to Taklakot(3900m) 30 km. Stay overnight in Guest house.

Day 5 Drive from Purang to Manasarovar Lake (105 km – 3 Hrs)

Sightseeing and Activities:Lake Manasarovar
Accommodation:the Shore of Lake Manasarovar
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Morning Drive 78 km. to Holy Lake Manasarovar (4500 M) and rest of day perform free for spiritual activities such as the abode of god will be a lifetime – achievement. Pooja, Havana worship, meditation, holy bath etc. Stay overnight at the shore of Lake Manasarovar. 

Day 6 Drive from Manasarova Lake to Darchen (60 km, 2/3 Hr), then trek to Asthpad

Sightseeing and Activities:the base camp of Mt. Kailash
Accommodation:Darchen
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Manasorovar to Darchen 30km. (4560 m): After breakfast drive an Hour to Darchen, the base camp of Holy, Mt. Kailash. Rest of day free for acclimatization and preparing for circuit (Parikarma ). Stay overnight in  Guest house.

Day 7 Drive to SaShung to Starting trek around Mt.Kailash. Trek to Diraphuk

Sightseeing and Activities:sightseeing on the way
Accommodation:Diraphuk Guest House
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Darchen to Diraphuk 18km. Paikarma/Cora begins drive 10 km. cover to Tarboche(yam dhwar) and trek up to walk approximately about 04/05 hour Diraphuk (4890m). Stay overnight at Guest House.

Day 8 Continue Parikrama over Dromala pass to Zuthul Puk [22 kms 7-8 Hrs.]

Sightseeing and Activities:Trek to Zuthulphuk, Parikarma, Dolmala,
Accommodation:Zuthulphuk Guest House
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Trek to Zuthulphuk (4790m) 22km. Walk approximately 08 / 10 hours – Parikarma Continues, this is the day every pilgrims talks about, the most difficult journey through out the trip, trek up to Dolma La Pass(5600m). We will offer very short prayers at Dolmala and move towards Gaurikunda. They programmed in the same as usual, Zuthulphuk. Stay overnight at guest house.

Day 9 End Parikrama near Darchen

Sightseeing and Activities:Manasoravar parikarma
Accommodation:Taklakot Guest House
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Zuthulphuk to Taklakot via Manasarovar Lake. After Breakfast, we will trek around 8 km. We will be reaching at the point, where our jeeps will be waiting to drive us to Darchen, Parikarma ends. After Lunch we will drive to Taklakot via Manasoravar parikarma (circuit). Stay overnight at guest house.

Day 10 Fly to Kathmandu via two stops at Simikor and Nepalgunj

Sightseeing and Activities:None
Accommodation:Kathmandu
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

Early morning Drive to Nepal border, As soon as possible fly by Helicopter to Nepalgunj via Simikot and then same day connect flight back to Kathmandu. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 11 Kathmandu Departure

Sightseeing and Activities:Depart from Kathmandu
Accommodation:None
Meals:Breakfast

Departure transfer to connect your onward journey.

Recommended Hotels

Destination 5 Star 4 Star 3 Star
Darchen / / Darchen New Hotel

Service Included:

  • Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary;
  • Accommodation with breakfast as listed in the itinerary;
  • Private English-speaking tour guide and vehicle for transfers & sightseeing;
  • Service charge & government taxes;
  •  Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
  • Two bottles of mineral water each day.

Service Excluded:

  • Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
  • Chinese visa fees;
  • Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
  • Single room supplement;
  • Tips to guides and drivers;
  • Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
  • Personal travel insurance;
  • All optional programs;
  • Domestic air tickets fares with airport tax and fuel extra fee based on economy class mentioned in the program.

Travel Tips:

  1. Tibet Permits

There are several permits required to visit Tibet. Tibet Entry Permit, issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau, is the most important one which has to be obtained before your trip because you must have it to take your flight/train to Tibet. To get the permit, you have to book a Tibet tour with us, and send us your passport and Chinese visa about 20 days in advance, and then let us apply for the permit (all Tibet permits can only be applied by travel agency). If you travel to other prefectures like Shigatse, Nyingchi, Shannan, etc, you also have to obtain an Alien Travel Permit. If you travel to Mount Everest, you have to obtain a Border Permit. (Tibet Discovery, with office in Lhasa, has always kept up with the latest news on Tibet Permits. Traveling with us, all your permits are guaranteed as long as you are qualified to the requirements.)

  1. Available Months to Visit Tibet

Generally speaking, May to early October is the best time to for a Mount Kailash trip. July and August are the peak season and rainy season. It may be too cold to travel in Kailash area from November to March. There is usually heavy snow. The conditions in Namtso Lake and Mount Everest area are quite similar with Kailash. While other places like Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse are suitable for travel all year around.

  1. High Altitude Sickness

The average altitude of Tibet is about 4000 meters above the sea level (Lhasa: 3700m; EBC: 5200m; Namtso: 4718m). You may suffer a bit from High Altitude Sickness in the beginning days of your Tibet trip if you haven’t had rich high plateau travel experience. But don’t worry too much, the high altitude can be acclimatized usually in 2~3 days. Our suggestion is to take a physical examination and get suggestions from your doctor, and also bring some medicines to prevent from High Altitude Sickness before your trip. While in Tibet, you should keep warm all the time, avoid strenuous activities, drink more water and eat more vegetables and carbohydrates. You’d better not take showers during the first two days after your arrival at Tibet. If you don’t feel well, get help from your tour guide or go to the hospital without any delay.

  1. How to Go to Tibet

Basically you have two options – flight and train. Currently, you can take a flight to Lhasa from Beijing(4.5hrs), Xian(3.7hrs), Chengdu(2.5hrs), Chongqing(3hrs), Kuming(3hrs), etc. Among all these cities, Chengdu and Xian have more frequent flights to Lhasa. Kathmandu also has several flights to Lhasa each week.

If you a train travel, you can take a train to from Beijing(40.5hrs), Xian(32hrs), Chengdu(43hrs), Shanghai(47hrs), Chongqing(42hrs), Lanzhou(25hrs), Xining(22hrs), Guangzhou(54hrs).

  1. Packing and Wearing Ideas

Firstly you can’t forget your passport and Chinese Visa. A large backpack and a smaller one are recommended (the smaller one can be used for daily activities). Also bring the necessary medicine you need. Other stuffs like sunglasses, snow glasses, hats, lip balm, sun block are recommended. As for wearing, you are suggested to dress in layers (both thin and thick jackets). Down jacket is necessary in Spring and Autumn. A pair of durable and comfortable shoes is necessary.