TBT – 12 Kailash Pilgrimage &
Guge via West Nepal
A pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash, the sacred mountain of Tibet is
sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Mt Kaliash is the
source of four great asian rivers. For Hindus it is the
throne of Shiva, for Buddhists, a gigantic natural Mandala.
Also the epicenter of Tantric forces for both religions.
This trek takes you from the far western town of Simikot,
along an old trade route into Tibet. An arid, wild, country
dominated by the peaks of Api and Saipal Himal, this is the
world of the Nepalese and Tibetan traders. You will
encounter travelers with horses and yaks laden with goods.
After a few days trek on the Nepal side we take you to
Tibetan border market Purang where Nepalese, Tibetan and
Indian traders meet to exchange wares. The highlight of the
trip is to visit Rakshastal (Devil Lake), the holy Lake of
Mansarovar, "born from the mind of Bramha", trek around the
Mt. Kailash and visit the former Gu-ge kingdom with its two
main centres of Toling and Tsaparang. This trek is
considered as a non-technical trek and suitable for average
people. If you are moderately fit and have a sense of
adventure will enjoy this trek. The program is designed to
acclimatize you gradually and not expected high altitude
sickness. However you are requested to check your altitude
fitness and the itinerary. We suggest you to strengthen your
knee muscles and prepare for several days of steep descents.
Some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming,
biking or aerobics is recommended, but mostly hiking on
steep hills or running up and down steps are preferable.
Itinerary:
Day |
Activities |
01 |
Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
(150 m). |
02 |
Fly Nepalgunj to Simikot,
Start trek to Dharapuri. |
03 |
Trek to Kermi. |
04 |
Trek to Tumkot |
05 |
Trek to Tharedhunga. |
06 |
Trek to Sipsip. |
07 |
Trek through Nara Lagna Pass
and to Hilsa
(Nepal Border)
and to Sher.
Drive to Purang. |
08 |
Drive to Lake Mansarovar.
Visit Chu Gompa. |
09 |
Begin Holy Kailash Kora Trek
Tarboche |
10 |
Trek to Driraphuk. (in North
Face of Mount
Kailash) |
11 |
Trek Thru Drolma La to Lham
Chhu Khyer
valley. |
12 |
Trek thru Zutruphuk & Darchen.
Drive to
Tirthapuri. |
13 |
Drive to Toling
(Guge). |
14 |
Trip to Tsaparang & Toling
Gompa |
15 |
Drive to Darchen |
16 |
Drive to Sher. Trek to Hilsa. |
17 |
Trek through Nara Lagna Pass
to Torea. |
18 |
Trek to Salle Khola. |
19 |
Trek to Dharapuri. |
20 |
Trek to Simikot. |
21 |
Fly Simikot/Nepalgunj/Kathmandu |
|

Day |
Activities |
01 |
Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
(150 m).
This morning we take a flight to Nepalganj, on the southern
border of Nepal. Nepalganj is hot, flat and completely
different from the usual perception of Nepal as a
mountainous country! It is home to a diverse population who
have migrated here for farming, business or study. We will
spend the night here before flying up to Simikot to commence
our trek tomorrow morning. |
02 |
Fly Nepalgunj to Simikot,
Start trek to Dharapuri.
Fly from Nepalgunj to Simikot (2900 meters) and trek to
Dharapuri. Once you are at Simikot, you feel like you are in
a different realm because of the sudden rise in altitude and
sudden fall in temperature. To leave behind the scorching
hot climate and be in a tiny mountain village, breathing
cool, fresh air gives you an adrenaline rush as well as a
refreshing feel. We then start our trek to Dharapuri. We
pass through a pine forest where we see local Hindu and
Buddhist people in their traditional attire accompanied by
their herds of cattle. The cattle carry the load for the
people in this part of the world because there are no other
modes of transport. |
03 |
Trek to Kermi.
Today we start our trail following the Karnali River. We
walk along the fields cultivated mainly with barley,
buckwheat, rice and potatoes. In afternoon we relax in
natural hot springs. Kermi is a small agricultural, Buddhist
village. We visit two interesting, ancient Buddhist
monasteries close to Kermi; Laikyo Gompa and Lhundrup
Choeling Gompa. |
04 |
Trek to Tumkot
Trekking to Yalbang is a flat & steep ascent until reaching
a small pass and crossing an iron suspension bridge over the
Sali River. From here there are beautiful pine trees & the
emerald Karnali downhill. We will visit Namkha Khyung Dzong
Monastery and a clinic in the monastery.
The path leaves the Karnali River below when it reaches the
tiny village of Yangar. The greenery begins to vanish and so
do the smaller bushes. They give way to pine trees and rocky
hills. In the afternoon, after reaching Tumkot, we visit to
Dhungkar Choezom Monastery, one of the most important Sakya
monasteries in the Tibetan region. |
05 |
Trek to Tharedhunga.
Trek to Tharedhunga at an altitude of 3854m |
06 |
Trek to Sipsip.
Continue trek to Sipsip (4300 m) |
07 |
Trek through Nara Lagna
Pass and to Hilsa (Nepal Border) and to Sher. Drive to
Purang.
A steep ascent in the morning will take is to the top of the
Nara Lagna pass. Our first amazing views of the Tibetan
Plateau come into view as we climb down the pass. Shortly
after crossing the Nepal/Tibet border which is marked only
by a stone pillar, we meet our transport and drive to Purang |
08 |
Drive to Lake Mansarovar.
Visit Chu Gompa.
Lake Mansarovar is the highest freshwater lake in the world
with its altitude of 4,556 mt. or 14,947 ft. and is
relatively circular in shape with a circumference of 88 km.
(55 miles) and average depth of 90 m (300 ft.). The entire
lake with its stark turquoise complexion freezes over in
winters and then melts again only in spring! According to
legend, the lake is a personification of purity and anyone
who drinks water from the lake will go to the heavens after
death. Also, anyone who bathes in the lake is assumed to
have washed away all sins committed over a hundred
lifetimes! The belief in this legend is such that it brings
the lake and the adjoining mountain, thousands of visitors
each and every year.
After Breakfast drive to picturesque Chu Gompa on the
northwest shore of the Lake Mansarovar with the imposing
sight of Mt. Kailash in the background. Rest of the day is
free for optional programs or other leisure activities. |
09 |
Begin Holy Kailash Kora
Trek Tarboche
This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms and can be done in 3
days. We head west in clockwise direction and after a few
kilometers the trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from
where the southern face of Mt. Kailash comes to view. En
route visit Tarboche where annual flagpole raising ceremony
takes place during Saga Dawa. Also visit Chuku Monastery
which was was founded in the 13th century by Götsangpa Gompo
Pel, a Kagyupa-order master. It is located high above the
valley floor on the hillside to the west and blends so well
with the rocky background that unless you keep out an eager
eye for it, there are good chances that you may miss seeing
it. During the Cultural Revolution a lot of monasteries were
wrecked. Chuku Monastery was one of them; however it was
also the first one to be rebuilt. The monastery is home to a
highly revered marble statue called Chuku Opame, originally
from India and renowned the world over because of its
reputation to talk. |
10 |
Trek to Driraphuk. (in
North Face of Mount Kailash)
After early breakfast,trek to Diraphuk (12 km/ 7-8 hrs) |
11 |
Trek Thru Drolma La to
Lham Chhu Khyer valley.
Today we cross Drolma la pass (5630 M) and Gauri Kund Lake
(5608 m) where Hindus worship and immerse themselves in the
icy waters of the lake. |
12 |
Trek thru Zutruphuk &
Darchen. Drive
to Tirthapuri.
The final end of
the parikrama is
an easy 2-3 hrs
walk down to
where the river
emerges on to
the Barga plain.
We complete the
3 day circuit
trek of Mt.
Kailash and
drive to
Tirthapuri where
there is a hot
spring.
Pilgrimage to
Mt. Kailash is
not complete
without visiting
Tirthapuri for
the Tibetan
Buddhists. |
13 |
Drive to
Toling (Guge).
We drive on to
the guest house
at Toling, our
base to explore
the monasteries
of Tholing and
Tsaparang. Twin
capitals of the
medieval
kingdoms of Guge.
Tholing
monastery is
away from the
former situated
location at
about 26
kilometers in
the west
direction. It is
found to exist
in near
immediacy of the
Mount Kailash
and the
religious lake
of Manasarovar.
It lies 278
kilometers away
from Ali as
well. The most
attractive and
attention
grabbing
property of
Tsaparang is the
fort which is
enormous in size
and built on a
pyramidal rock
which is about
500 to 600 feet
high. |
14 |
Trip to Tsaparang & Toling
Gompa
Tsaparang was
said to be found
in Guge kingdom
and it was also
its ancient
capital. This
place is very
much appealing
and attractive
to the people
who are
attracted
towards history
or historical
places. A place
called Garuda
valley lies in
the Western
Tibet’s Ngari
province used to
have this
remarkable lost
kingdom which
ranged and
expanded from
the upper area
of Sutlej River
to the modern
Ladakh border.
Toling
Monastery(Gompa)
the temples and
religious
buildings of
Tholing are the
most significant
in far west
Tibet . The
monastery was
constructed
under the
guidance of the
great Tibetan
translator
Rinchen Zangpo
in around 11 th
century although
some historian
refers to the
date of
996.During his
life time, he is
said to have
built 108
temples
throughout far
west Tibet and
Ladhak
eventhough few
still exist,
those at Tholing
are considered
to be the best
examples of Guge
style of
Buddhist art.
Tholing was the
main religious
centre prior to
the visit of the
great Indian
Pandit Atisha
due to the
influence of
Rinchen Zangpo.
Atisha was
invited by
Rinchen Zangpo
under the
instruction of
the Guge King
Yeshe-O. As the
history goes by,
Yeshe-O was very
devoted to
Rinchen Zangpo's
activities and
he himself
founded the
monasteries in
Tholing. Yeshe-O
sent his men to
India to invite
Atisha several
times but they
returned after
being refused
their request
several times.
Yeseh-O
sacrificed all
his life in
order to invite
Atisha. He was
captured by
invading troops
from Qarloq who
demanded ransom.
When Yeshe-O's
nephew Jangchub
O tried to save
his life, Yeshe-
O responded to
his nephew by
saying “I am an
old man. My life
now is short.
Use the ransom
to invite and
assist Atisha to
come to Tibet.
When Atisha was
moved by Yeshe-O's
dedication to
Buddhism, Atisha
finally agreed
to visit Tibet
and he was
amazed to see
Buddhism
flourishing when
he arrived in
Guge |
15 |
Drive to Darchen
Drive to Darchen |
16 |
Drive to Sher. Trek to
Hilsa.
Drive to Sher
and after
immigration
formalities trek
o Hilsa |
17 |
Trek through Nara Lagna
Pass to Torea.
Cross Nara
Lagna~Pass and
trek to Torea |
18 |
Trek to Salle Khola. |
19 |
Trek to Dharapuri. |
20 |
Trek to Simikot.
Early morning,
trek to Simikot.
A 5 hours long
trek will take
you to the
Simikot. Simikot
is the
headquator of
Humla District.
It is one of the
most remote area
of Nepal. We
will spend here
the last night
of the trek
before flying to
Kathmandu via
Nepalgunj. |
21 |
Fly Simikot/Nepalgunj/Kathmandu |
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Note: Airfare, taxes and schedules are
subject to change without prior notice. |
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Cost
Include |
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All necessary
airport transfers |
-
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Twin sharing
accommodation with breakfast based on
Standard hotel/Guesthouse (wherever
applicable) |
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All
sightseeing with English speaking local
Tibetan
guide |
-
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All
activities & excursions as per itinerary |
-
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All
applicable surface transfer by private non
AC vehicle |
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All
applicable permits in Tibet |
-
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All camping
equipments |
-
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3 meals daily
except in the major cities |
-
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Porters/yak
for equipments only |
-
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Monument
entrance fee |
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Cost
Exclude |
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Any
international airfare and airport taxes |
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Nepal entry
visa fees |
-
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Tibet/China
visa fees |
-
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Lunches and
dinners in major cities |
-
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Insurance and
Tips |
-
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Bottled
drinks |
- |
Emergency/Rescue in any form |
- |
Expenses of
personal nature such as bar bills, laundry,
telephone calls etc |
- |
Any cost
arise due to flight cancellation, landslide,
road blockage, political disturbance etc |
- |
Any other
arrangements not mentioned in the above cost
include section |
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