Trip Profile: 18 Days Trip
14 Days Mt. Kailash Trip 
04 Nights in Kathmandu

Tibet one of those extraordinary destination where indeed adventure lurks around every corner! Adventure on the road is never short on the beautiful Trans-himalayan drive, through mountain, passes, promising a panorama of a cultural and scenic diversity unsurpassable anywhere. It culminates on an arid plateau - a veritable treasure trove of architectural masterpieces - the Buddhist monasteries of Drepung, once the largest in the country The Jhokhang - a spiritual center, and the awesome palaces of the Dalai Lama - Norbulinga ( the summer palace ) and the Potala ( the traditional seat ). Ancient Barkhor Bazaar still barters the bric -- a -- brac, in a region that's not so much a little strange as utterly surreal. Pilgrimage to Mansarovar and the Holy Mt. Kailash Mt.Kailash claimed to be the apex of the Hindu religious axis is also one of the highest mountain in Tibet at 22,022 feet, and Lake Mansarovar at 14,950 feet is said to be the highest fresh water lake in the world. Certainly a difficult region to reach due to the variable and extreme weather conditions. The distance from Lhasa for example is approximately 2000 km.

Only during the last few years have lots of ordinary and not so ordinary travelers, been able to experience this region. Road conditions are difficult much of the time and we have to make many preparations to ensure that we have a reasonable chance of reaching Kailash. We need to bring our own food and camping equipment. Basic lodges and tea-houses can be found but the plateau is so remote that it is possible to travel for several days without finding food available. To travel for days on this remote plateau with the chance encounters of  nomads herding their sheep or yaks is to be transformed into another way of life, to see and become part of such a devout pilgrimage as shown by pilgrims around Mt.Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is to put some aspects of our western way of life into proper perspective.

We begin the tour by traveling to Kathmandu and departing by road to the Nepal/Tibet border town of Zhangmu where we collect our Transport. We travel by the SOUTHERN route and after our pilgrimage (religious or secular) we return by the same route. The day to day program is outlined as follows: Fixed departure (see our TOUR SCHEDULE) Kathmandu - Tibet/Nepal border - Kailash - Tibet / Nepal border - Kathmandu overland 14 days tour (Operating Minimum Size 4 pax):

Full package tour including  all transportation by TOYATA landcruiser + supporting truck, English speaking guide, all necessary Tibet permits and visa, Mt. Kailash circuit fee, Yak and Yak porter during the 3 days circumambulation. Full board of food & camping gears (tents & sleeping bags), cook along with coking equipment.

Cost doesn't include: Nepal re-entry visa fee, extra cost in the event of landslide and expenses of personal nature.

ITINERARY

DAY 01: ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU
When you arrive in Kathmandu, you'll be taken to your hotel. While in Kathmandu you will have time fascinating Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines reflecting ancient local traditions are highlighted on our guided tour. There's time to explore the city's many charms on your own too. In the evening delicious traditional Nepali well come dinner await for you.  O/N in Kathmandu.

DAY 02: KATHMANDU CITY TOUR
After breakfast, we'll visit Swayambhunath temple, and said to be 2000 years stupa on a hillock offers breath-taking view of Kathmandu City. We will then processed to Visit Pasupatinath and Bouddhanath. After lunch  we'll visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan (Lalitpur) - which is the oldest of the three major cities in Kathmandu Valley - famous for its Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples, and you can catch  the traditional artisans working with wood, stones and metals. O/N in Kathmandu.

DAY 03 KATHMANDU - KODARI (BORDER) NYALAM
We will meet the group at Friendship Bridge and transfer them up to the Zhangmu border custom and help them to go through the custom formalities and after lunch continuously drive to Nyalam. The road condition from where we meet and up to Nyalam is bumpy and tough we can keep only 5-40km/per hour driving speed following a winding road up with a quick gaining of altitude from Zhangmu border 1700 meters to Nyalam 3700 meters. But so far we still have a view of green mountains and many water falls. The weather in this area is damp in the summer time, moisture degree is high so it gets many rains especially in summer season causing troublesome water flood and landslides. So what we will remind our clients to be fully prepared for this first day tough trip. And what if our vehicle and not come down to Friendship bride even to Zhangmu border because of the landslides then we will have to hire porters or trucks to bring us up to meet our team at the other side of landslides then our clients are due to pay all the extra cost. We will find a campsite to camp overnight at Nyalam. (CAMPING)

DAY 04 NYALAM-LABLUNGLA PASS-PAIKU TSO
Drive from Nyalam bridge Camp to Lablungla Pass we stop here to enjoy the fascinating Himalayan panorama and the Tibetan landscape. We then drive to Paiku Tso(Lake). The huge blue lake Paiku Tso on the right and Shisa Pangma Himal 8012metre on the left is an idyllic campsite. (CAMPING)

DAY 05  PAIKU TSO LAKE- SAGA-DZONGBA
Drive through an exotic valley then a hauntingly beautiful vista opens in about an hour. The cross-country drive over the undulating landscape with no human in sight will give us a Wild West impression. We meet a better smooth gravel topped road and the drive will be very enjoyable until when we approach uphill and downhill drive to the bank of the Brahma Putra. So serene and beautiful is the whole area that all will enjoy immensely. We cross the river by ferry then drive through the military town of Saga and continue driving to an old deserted town called old Dzongba. Having negotiated we shall drive to Dzongba Check post where our passports and the drivers documents will be examined. We shall stay quiet. Then drive through the wide Dzongba plain and reappear at the riverbank of Brahmaputra. On the ground we shall see a lot of red flowers. We will find a campsite to camp overnight.

DAY 06: DZONGBA-PARYANG RIVER-MAZOMLA PASS
Start to drive early morning having going through the village of Gaqoi, we shall come to a ridge and a new visit opens in front of us. We get off the vehicles and walk down the sandy slope while our vehicles will trundle down. We see innumerable sand dunes. They are semi- circulars in shape. Beyond the waters of a lake and the Brahmaputra glitters and beyond as the backdrop are the Himalayas. The whole scenery walled village of Paryang, continue to drive across the river on a wide valley then arrive at the Brahmaputra River again and drive along the right bank and gradually gain the altitude finally reaching the high point at 5370 meters, the pass is known as Mazola Pass. Descend and drive along the boulder strewn section. In landcruiser the bumps will not be felt that badly. We then drive enjoying the beautiful scenery of Hanuma Lake and camp near the lake.

DAY 07: MAZOMLA-DARCHEN
We drive on the undulating plain for about an hour then reach the river valley and drive along the west bank and reach a cross section of roads when a vista will open. Manasarover so huge and blue with Gruel Mandata Himal 7728 on the left and Kailas, THE MOST SACRED MOUNTAIN on our right.  We then drive to Darchen having gone through two check posts.  Darchen with its rows of white tents. We shall stay in a lodge overnight. (Darchen Guesthouse)

DAY 08: MOUNT KAILAS
Early in the morning, having had the breakfast, we stroll west from our lodge and our yaks and staff shall follow us. At 4700 metres, the trail is so gradual that we feel as though we are walking somewhere in Rajasthan. In about an hour we come to a chorten, a collection of prayer flags fluttering in the air. We then descend to Lhachu River valley then head northerly direction towards Diraphuk. We shall camp here.  The western face of Kailas will be in constant view.  

DAY 09: MOUNT KAILAS
Gradual climb to Drolma La 5470metres pass noting various religiously important places of great significance. Just after the pass we shall take off our Tea Shirt, Vest or a blouse and put on a new one to remark the start of a new life. We then descend to Gauri Kund (hope no one dares to take a plunge) and to a camp at Zuthulphuk.

DAY 10: MANASAROVER
We walk downstream viewing the eastern face of Kailas and arrive at Darchen. Collect our left luggage, have light lunch then proceed to Manasarover, hopefully to camp at the beach, but in case of the inclement weather, we shall stay at Chiu Gomba Lodge. An experience. (Extra fee paid by clients themselves).

DAY 11: MANASAROVER
Early morning visit to Manasarovar, if one dares to take a dip wash the SINS away and view the sunrise and have a leisure walk around the lake.

DAY 12: MAZOMLA PASS
Return to Mazomila Pass.

DAY 13: DZONGBA
Return to Dzongba.  

DAY 14: PAIKU TSO
Return to Paiku Tso.

DAY 15: NYALAM
Return to Nyalam.  

DAY 16: NYLAM - KATHMANDU
Drive to friendship bridge and exit to Tatopani (Kodari) again drive to Kathmandu.

DAY 17: KATHMANDU
Free day as your own in Kathmandu. O/N in Kathmandu.