kailash Mansarovar Yatra - 16 Days

Upon landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will greet you and assist with your transfer to a comfortable 3-star hotel in Thame. Thamel is a perfect introduction to Nepal’s culture, a mix of shops, restaurants, and cultural sites.

After check-in, you’ll have time to relax or explore the streets of Thamel. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant, where you’ll enjoy authentic local cuisine accompanied by cultural performances, giving you a taste of Nepal’s rich heritage.

If you arrive before noon, we’ll arrange a meeting at our office where you’ll meet your trekking guide, review equipment, receive a detailed trip briefing, and settle any remaining formalities. For those arriving later in the day or at night, this orientation will take place the following morning.

Enjoy your first night in Kathmandu.

We will start our day after breakfast at the hotel. We’ll go on a guided tour of Kathmandu Valley to see some of the most famous places. Today, you will visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

First, you’ll visit Pashupatinath, a very sacred Hindu temple of Lord Shiva. After that, you’ll head to Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city. Then, you’ll visit Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the biggest in the world. Finally, you’ll explore Kathmandu Durbar Square, a historic palace complex with amazing buildings and ancient art.

This is a full day of sightseeing, where you will learn about Nepal’s culture and religion. After the tour, you’ll be taken back to your hotel for the night.

Include: Accomodation and Breakfast in the Hotel

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, your guided tour starts. First, you will visit Buddhanilkantha, where you’ll see a large statue of Lord Vishnu lying on a bed of snakes. Next, you’ll go to Bhaktapur to explore Bhaktapur Durbar Square, an old palace that shows beautiful temples, courtyards, and traditional buildings.

After the tour, you’ll drive to the airport and take a flight to Janakpur. Once you arrive in Janakpur, one of our team members will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. After resting for a while, you’ll visit the Ram Janaki Temple and take part in the evening aarti at Ganga Sagar.

Finally, you’ll head back to your hotel for the night.

Include: Accommodation and breakfast in Kathmandu.

You will start the day early and drive to Ram Janaki Temple. After offering prayers (puja), you’ll return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, you’ll go to the airport to fly back to Kathmandu. When you arrive, we will transfer you to your hotel.

You’ll have the rest of the day to relax and get ready for the trip ahead. In the evening, one of our team members will meet you to return your passport and visa. Since tomorrow will be an early start, it’s a good idea to rest early.

You’ll leave for the Kailash Mansarovar trip around 4:00 to 5:00 am the next day.

Included: Accomodation and full board meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Today, you will start your journey early to reach the Kerung-Rasuwa border before it closes at 3:00 PM. The immigration process might take 1-2 hours, so leaving Kathmandu by 5:00 AM with a packed breakfast is important.

The 7-8 hour drive is very scenic, passing along the Trisuli River and the Langtang National Park. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of snowy peaks, forests, and the Langtang Range.

You’ll stop for lunch in Dhunche, then continue to the Nepal-Tibet border. After completing the immigration process, you’ll cross the border and meet your Tibetan guide.

From the border, you will drive for 45 minutes to 1 hour to Kerung. After checking into the hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax.

Overnight stay in Kerung.

Included: Accomodation and Full Board Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Today we will acclimate in Kerung, surrounded by green hills and forests. This town is perfect for adjusting to the higher altitude of Saga (4,600 meters).

After breakfast, you’ll visit Drakar Taso Hermitage (Milarepa’s meditation cave), located at 4,200 meters. The journey includes a 30-minute drive followed by a 2-3 hour hike.

After returning to Kerung, you’ll enjoy lunch and later visit the Pakba Monastery, just 30 meters east of the town at an altitude of 2,850 meters. This historic monastery, built about 1,000 years ago by King Songtsen Gampo for his Nepalese wife Bhrikuti Devi, shows traditional Nepalese pagoda-style architecture. Inside, you’ll see the statue of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

After your visits, you’ll return to the hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest. Overnight stay in Kerung.

Included: Accomodation and Full board meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

After breakfast, you’ll leave Kerung and begin your journey toward Saga, located 180 kilometers away at an altitude of 4,600 meters. The drive takes 3 to 4 hours, with breathtaking views along the way.

As you depart Kerung, enjoy the scenic view of the town nestled in a verdant valley. Shortly after, you’ll pass a beautiful waterfall, a perfect spot to pause and take in the serene surroundings.

Continuing the journey, you’ll notice the greenery gradually fading as you move beyond the treeline into the dry, open landscape of the Tibetan plateau. The barren hills and open fields create a beautiful view.

One of the highlights of this drive is Pelku Lake, a turquoise gem at an altitude of 4,591 meters. You’ll pass through a newly built tunnel before joining to see this tranquil lake. You can take a short break to admire its beauty.

From there, the road stretches across the vast Tibetan plateau, passing through Thong La and La Lung passes. Before entering Saga, you’ll cross a bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra River.

Once in Saga, check into your hotel and relax. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the town or resting to prepare for the next leg of your journey.

Included: Accomodation and Full board meals ( Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

After breakfast, you will leave Saga and start a long drive to Mansarovar Lake, which is about 482 kilometers away. The drive takes 7-8 hours. Most of the journey is on the G219 highway, running near the western Himalayas of Nepal.

On the way, you will stop to see the Yarlung Tsangpo River, also called the Brahmaputra. This river starts in the Kailash range and flows through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh. After a short break, you will continue the drive, crossing Mayum La Pass (5211m), a high mountain pass, before entering the Ngari region where Mansarovar Lake is located.

When you reach Mansarovar, you will see the clear blue waters of this sacred lake. Many birds and animals, like Tibetan wild asses and hares, can be seen near the lake. After checking into your hotel, you will explore the area around Mansarovar, which is holy for Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and Bon followers.

You will also visit Jiwu Monastery, which is built on a hill near the lake. It is said that Guru Padmasambhava meditated here. From the monastery, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Mansarovar Lake.

After visiting, you will return to the hotel for dinner and rest.

Include: Accomodation and Full board meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

In the morning, you can perform puja, meditate, or offer prayers by the holy Mansarovar Lake. After breakfast, you will drive to Darchen, a small and peaceful town located northwest of Mansarovar. It is the starting point for the Kailash Kora trek. The drive from Mansarovar to Darchen is about 34 kilometers and takes about 1 hour.

Darchen is surrounded by stunning views of Mount Gurla Mandhata, the western Himalayas, and Mount Kailash. Once you arrive, you will check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day resting and getting ready for the next day’s trek.

If you need any last-minute items like snacks, portable oxygen bottles, or missing gear, you can buy them in Darchen. If you plan to hire a horse for the trek, let your guide know so it can be arranged.

After preparing for the trek, enjoy your dinner and rest early to get ready for the three-day hike ahead.

Included: Accomodation and Full board on meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Today we will start our first day of Kailash Kora, the sacred trek around Mount Kailash. After breakfast in Darchen, you will pack only the essentials for the next three days and leave the rest of your luggage at the hotel. A short 15-kilometer drive (about 30 minutes) will take you to Tarboche, home to Yama Dwar, known as the Gateway of the God of Death. This is the starting point of your trek.

At Yama Dwar, you can enjoy your first close-up view of the south face of Mount Kailash. According to tradition, it’s customary to circle Yama Dwar three times before beginning the hike. The trek to Diraphuk from here is about 15 kilometers and takes around 4-5 hours.

The trail is mostly flat with a few gentle climbs and follows a stream fed by waterfalls cascading from Mount Kailash. The surrounding views are stunning, with wide valleys, towering mountains, and a bright blue sky (on clear days). Along the way, you’ll stop at a teahouse for lunch.

As you approach Diraphuk, you’ll cross a small bridge and see the north face of Mount Kailash. Once at Diraphuk, you’ll check into a lodge and can visit the Diraphuk Monastery, which sits at an elevation of 5,210 meters. You will also do Kailash Charan Sparsh, believed to cleanse the soul and bring blessings. After exploring, you’ll rest at the lodge for the night, surrounded by breathtaking views of the holy mountain.

Included: Accomodation and Full board on meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Today is the hardest day of the Kailash Kora. You will hike 25 kilometers from Diraphuk to Zuthulphuk, crossing Dolma La Pass, the highest point of the trek, at 5,660 meters. The hike takes around 9 hours.

The first part of the trail is about 10 kilometers and leads to Dolma La Pass. After breakfast, you will leave Diraphuk and start walking on a trail that goes uphill. You will pass a small pass near Diraphuk Monastery, marked with colorful prayer flags. The path becomes steeper as you climb higher, but you’ll enjoy amazing views of Mount Kailash and the surrounding mountains.

As you keep walking, you will reach another small pass at about 5,450 meters. From here, you can look back at the trail and see the Diraphuk Monastery in the distance. The view of the snow-covered peaks and rocky hills is beautiful. The trail ahead is gentler for a short time but then becomes very steep as you climb through stones and boulders.

Finally, you will reach Dolma La Pass. This is a sacred place decorated with prayer flags. The air here is very thin, so you’ll spend only a short time enjoying the view before starting your descent.

The downhill trail is steep at first, and you’ll see the holy Gauri Kunda Lake in the distance, sitting at 5,608 meters. The trail becomes easier as you go further, and you’ll cross a stream before stopping at a teahouse for lunch.

After lunch, the remaining 15 kilometers are easier. The path goes gently downhill and follows a river. You’ll see green fields where yaks graze and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Finally, after 3-4 more hours of walking, you will reach Zuthulphuk Monastery at 4,790 meters. You’ll check into a nearby guesthouse and rest after this long and tiring day.

Included: Accomodation and Full Board on Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Today is the final day of your Kailash Kora. You will first hike from Zuthulphuk to Darchen, covering 7 km in about 3 to 4 hours. After that, you will drive from Darchen to Saga, which takes about 6 to 7 hours.

After having breakfast at Zuthulphuk, you will begin your walk on a gentle downhill trail. The path follows a river and offers beautiful views of green fields and mountains if the weather is clear. You may spot yaks grazing peacefully in the pastures.

You will soon reach a teahouse that marks the end of the trek. You can take a vehicle to Darchen or walk the remaining distance from here. In Darchen, you will enjoy lunch, collect your luggage from the hotel, and then start the drive to Saga.

The journey from Darchen to Saga is on the G219 Highway. Once you arrive in Saga, you will check into a hotel, enjoy dinner, and rest for the night.

Included: Accomodation and Full Board on Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

After breakfast at your hotel in Saga, you will leave for Gyirong. The distance is around 180 kilometers, and it takes about 3-4 hours to reach.

As you travel, you will notice a change in the landscape. The dry and rugged terrain of the Tibetan Plateau gradually transforms into the lush, green scenery of Gyirong. This beautiful place is a refreshing change and is often called a green oasis.

You will arrive in Gyirong around lunchtime, have your meal, and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Included: Accomodation and Full Board on Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

After breakfast, you will start early for a long journey from Gyirong to Kathmandu, covering about 155 kilometers in 6-7 hours.

First, you will drive to the border to complete the exit formalities on the Tibetan side. Once you cross into Nepal, a jeep will be ready to take you to Kathmandu. The drive passes through the scenic landscapes of Nepal, with beautiful mountain views and greenery along the way.

You will stop for lunch around Dhunche, a picturesque spot on the route. After lunch, the journey continues, and you will reach your hotel in Kathmandu in the evening. Once there, check in and rest after the long drive.

Included: Accomodation and Full Board on Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

After breakfast at the hotel, you can relax or explore Kathmandu as today is a free day. You can shop for souvenirs, enjoy a restored massage or spa session, or relax. This extra day can be a buffer in case of any delays caused by unpredictable monsoon-related issues on the way.

In the evening, a company representative will meet you for a farewell dinner, where you can share your feedback about the trip. Overnight stay in your hotel in Kathmandu.

Include Accomodation, Breakfast, and Farewell Dinner.

After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport on time for your flight. If you plan to stay longer in Nepal, we can help you arrange other fun activities or tours with an additional cost.

Include: Breakfast and Drop off at Airport