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Tibet Tour - Mount Kailash & Lake
Manasarovar 2011
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Mt. Kailash (6714
m) - also known as Tise, Kailash or Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the
Snows) has since time immemorial been celebrated in many eastern
cosmologies as Mt. Meru, the axis-mundi. As the center of the
physical & metaphysical universe, Mt. Meru (Kailash) is sacred to
the Hindus, the Buddhists, the Jains, and the Bonpos. For the
Hindus, the mountain represents the seat of Shiva. For the
Buddhists, a terrestrial projection of the cosmic mandala of the
Dyani Buddhas & Boddhisatvas? The Wheel of Life.
For the devout
pilgrim a visit to Mt. Kailash & Lake Mansorovar forms the ultimate
realization of their spiritual pursuit. And for the adventure-lovers
it offers rugged beauty, remoteness and solitude. The June tour
visits Kailash during the annual Buddhist festival of Saga Dawa
while most of the other trips are planned to arrive at Mt. Kailash
during the full moon period to give all participants a rare
experience. A journey rightly called `once-in-a-lifetime'.
We are the leading
& pioneer Tibet tour operator equipped with experienced man power,
contacts and resources to handle all the logistics of such a tour.
Our support staffs are strong, hardy Sherpas who have been several
times to Mt. Kailash and have a reputation of hospitality that is
now an established legend. We welcome you all to experience the
bliss & magic of being at Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasorovar with us.
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Mt
Kailash (Parikrama) |
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Mt
Kailash (Route Map) |
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Tour cost per pax. |
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Group joining basis: |
USD 1900.00 per person
INR 85,000.00 per person |
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Single Supplement: |
USD 350.00 per person for NRI
INR 10,000.00 per person for Indian |
Our Full Moon
Departure Dates to Mount Kailash 2011
May 13
Starting date from Ktm : MAY 17 Full Moon
June 11 Starting date from Ktm : JUNE 15 Full Moon
July 11 Starting date from Ktm : JULY 15 Full Moon
August 9 Starting date from Ktm : AUG 13 Full Moon
September 8 Starting date from Ktm : SEP 12 Full Moon
Please send an e-mail
to:
parikarma@wlink.com.np to book
our Group Departure dates to Mount Kailash & Lake
Manasarovar tour/yatra 2011.
So you will
need to arrive in Kathmandu,
atleast two days before the departure date for the Chinese
Embassy here to process the Chinese Visa. |
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DAY
01 |
Arrival at
Kathmandu International Airport and transfer to hotel. Stay
overnight at hotel in Kathmandu. |
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DAY 02 |
IN KATHMANDU -
After breakfast, proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of
Pashupatinath Temple and Budhaneelkantha. Enjoy the evening at
leisure in Kathmandu. While the Chinese VISA will be obtain in
Kathmandu on this day, the travel permit for Tibet would be
applied for well in advance by us. Stay overnight at the hotel
in Kathmandu. |
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DAY
03 |
KATHMANDU TO
NYALAM (3750m) – After breakfast, drive to the frontier town
of Nepal at Kodari, enjoying a scenic drive through Dhulikhel.
From here, a short walk to the friendship bridge for the drive
to Zhangmu, which is the main entrance for Tibet, China at the
height of 2,300 m. It is about 145 km from Kathmandu. In Zhangmu,
receive assistance from our Tibetan counterpart. After
completing the immigration formalities at the check post,
continue the journey for another 35 km which could take almost 3
hours through the winding roads to Nyalam. After the scenic
drive, enjoy overnight stay at Nyalam (3,750 m). The lodge and
guest house here are very simple and basic. Expect the
unexpected as tourism in Tibet is slowly picking up since last
10 years. Overnight stay at Hotel Nyalam or similar |
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DAY 04 |
IN NYALAM FOR
ACCLIMATIZATION – The day is dedicated for acclimatization
at Nyalam. Go for a short trek of about three hours in Nyalam
itself. Overnight stay at Hotel Nyalam or similar. |
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DAY 05 |
NYALAM TO SAGA
(4600 m) 240 km - After breakfast, drive through the
windswept territory passing many villages and camps of Yak
herders with a distant view of snow capped mountains. Go through
the first high pass, Lalung La Pass (5000 m) where a superb view
of the Himalayas can be enjoyed from Gaurishanker, Shishapangma
to Langtang Himal. Drive past Khunmen Tso, Sinling, Karru
Ongchen and Peigutso Lake (4400m). Continue the drive, crossing
the river ?Yarling Tsangpo? known as Bhramaputra, to reach Saga
(4600 m; 240 km / 6 -7 hours drive). Overnight stay at local
guest house. |
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DAY
06 |
SAGA TO PRAYANG
(4750m) 255 km - After breakfast, drive to Paryang (4750 m)
255 km / 6 - 7 hr drive through windswept territory, passing
many villages and camps of Yak herders with distant view of snow
capped mountains. On this day the road is quite flat, hence the
drive will be comfortable compared to other days. Overnight stay
at guest house / Hotel Prayang. |
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DAY 07 |
PRAYANG TO HOR
QUO (4560 m) 223 km - lifetime, as you will have the first
sight (darshan) of the holy Mt. Kailash and the holy Mansarovar
Lake. Camp on the bank of the Lake. Overnight in Camp. |
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DAY 08 |
MANSAROVAR
PARIKRAMA (4520 m) 115 km & DRIVE TO DARCHEN (4620 m) -
After breakfast, this is the day for prayers and a dip in the
holy Lake. Start with a jeep parikrama of Mansarovar (4520 m)
115 km / 4 - 5 hrs. During this parikarma, we will have a picnic
lunch on the bank of Lake Mansarovar. On the way, stop near
Trugu Gompa for a dip in the Lake. There will be separate tents
for changing. Time Permitting visit Chui Gompa. In the
afternoon, drive to Darchen (4620 m). Darchen is located beneath
the majestic holy Mount Kailash, a small village with couple of
guesthouses. During the auspicious pilgrimage time, this place
is flooded with pilgrims with hundreds of tents all around.
Darchen is the beginning and end point of the Kora. Overnight at
Guest House in Darchen. |
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DAY 09 |
IN DARCHEN TO
ACCLIMTISE - After breakfast, proceed to the acclimatising
exercise with a short trek to Serrlung Monastery and to Nandi
Parvat, which offers an excellent view of Mt. Kailash. Overnight
stay in Darchen to prepare for Kailash Parikarma. Overnight at
Guest House in Darchen. |
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DAY 10 |
DRIVE TO TARBOCHE
(13 km) and TREK TO DIRAPUK (4860 m) 7 km - After breakfast,
drive about 13 km to Tarboche, the starting point of the Kailash
Parikrama. Tarboche is also known as the outer ?Asthapath?. The
first day of the Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other
local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail will lead you to
a few ups and downs till you reach our camp/guest house at
Dirapuk (4860 m) 7 km / 5 - 6 hours trek. Camp on the grassy
meadows with a view of Mt. Kailash. Those not feeling fit to
continue the parikarma will drive back to Darchen and wait for
the Parikarma group to return. Overnight in camp. |
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DAY 11 |
TREK TO ZUTULPUK
(4760 m) 18 km - Today the circumbulation (Kora) will lead
to a much higher elevation of the holy path, just beneath Mt.
Kailash. The walk will bring us to one of the highest point at
Drolma La, (5,200 m) before gradually descending to the field
towards Zuthulphuk for an overnight stay, after 5 - 6 hours of a
walk. Zuthulphuk (4760 m) 18 km / 9 - 10 hrs.
After an early breakfast, the group will set off as the sun rays
break over the ridges above. After the footbridge the trail
rises up a rocky slope. Take this gently but steadily. It soon
reaches a level walk. The peak of Mount Kailash rises to the
right and can now be seen linked to a long spur, which joins the
eastern ridge. This is the top edge of the glacial valley from
which the Lhachu ("Divine River") flows.
This day is the climax of this holy journey and is the most
difficult. One has to pass through the Drolma La Pass (5680m),
the highest altitude on this tour. Physically it is the most
arduous day. At the pass is a large boulder depicting Tara,
festooned with prayer flags. Here too the Tibetans leave a
memento of themselves such as a tooth, a lock of hair or even a
personal snapshot.
After perhaps 30 minutes, descend a steep, rock-strewn path to
the valley below. Just below the pass is Lake Tu-je Chenpo
Dzingbu (Gauri Kund) i.e. "The Pool of Great Compassion". Take
great care now because it is easy to sprain your ankle or worse.
You must negotiate steep staircases down to a snowfield. The
only way down is to jump from boulder to boulder across a large
rock fall. On the ridge above is a formation known as the Lekyi
Ta-ra ("Axe of Karma"), as though one moment can lead to a
suffering, an accident, or even death.
A final steep staircase brings you to the valley floor. From
here it is still about 5 hours to the day's destination with no
shelter in between. It is vitally important to remain on the
right hand side of the river, the West bank. If not, you will
get trapped, unable to cross it. The walk now becomes very
pleasant and relaxing (as long as the weather is clear and there
is no howling gale). The path follows the gentle slope of the
valley over grassy fields and clear brooks for several
kilometers before it narrows and turns further south to merge
with another valley before reaching Zuthulphuk, the "Miracle
Cave" of Milarepa. Overnight stay in the second camp. |
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DAY 12 |
ZUTULPUK TO
DARCHEN TREK 10 km and DRIVE TO PRAYANG (4750 m) - The
morning can be spent exploring the caves and visiting the
temples and the shrine that have been built around Milarepa's
cave. A married elderly couple supervises the temple, which is
usually an active residence for over half a dozen Tibetan
devotees, helpers, or relatives who continuously busy themselves
with the tasks of maintaining the buildings.
One imagines Milarepa's disciples meditating here. Many of the
caves contain meditation platforms, self-contained by dry
stonewall which divides them from their cooking partitions and
entrance areas. It is well worth the short climb up to these
caves before beginning the final stage of the trek. The winding
gradual tracks finally ends our holy pilgrimage walk 10 km / 4 -
5 hrs. Once you reach the end point near Darchen, land cruisers
will be waiting to take the group back to Prayang. (Those who
could not do the parikarma would be waiting to welcome other
group members at this point). Overnight stay at Hotel Prayang. |
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DAY 13 |
DRIVE FROM
PRAYANG TO SAGA (4600m) 255 km - After breakfast, drive to
Saga. Overnight at the local guest house. |
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DAY 14 |
DRIVE FROM SAGA
TO NYALAM (3750m) 240 km - After breakfast, drive to Nyalam.
Overnight at Hotel Nyalam or similar. |
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DAY 15 |
DRIVE TO
KATHMANDU (1350m) – Drive downhill to Zhangmu and the
Friendship Bridge where transportation awaits for the final leg
of the journey to Kathmandu (150 km) / 8 - 9 hr. After reaching
the Friendship Bridge, you will be leaving the Tibet vehicles on
the other side of the border and will walk for about 15 minutes
towards the Nepal Immigration Post where the coach for Nepal
would be waiting for you. The border guide will assist you to
shift your belongings towards the Nepal side of the bridge.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu. |
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DAY 16 |
Free day in Ktm
for souvenir shopping & independent activities |
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DAY 17 |
Fly back to your
home with memories of Mt. Kailash and the holy Lake Mansarovar. |
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Cost Includes:
Tibet travel permit, 13
days Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasarovar tour on full board basis, 3 meals a day
prepared by our trained cook during the trek, 03 nights accommodation in KTM,
Insurance & visa fee for Nepalese crew, full guide & sherpa support, all
necessary equipment i.e. tents, mattress, utensils, fuel, All surface
transportation, monastery entrance fee, yak & yak men, Oxygen cylinder &
masks and Gamow Bag.
Extra
Cost:
Meals in Kathmandu, Personal travel insurance, personal expenses &
gears, hard/soft drinks, extra expenses occurred in case of natural
disasters, ill health, rescue in case of emergency & tips.
Extra: Tibet/China Visa Fee USD 114.00 Per Person. extra USD
85.00 per person for
American nationals. |
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