Kailash Manasarovar is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in the world and gets its name from words from Sanskrit, ‘Manasa Sarovaram’ which means mind and lake. It was the creation of Lord Bramha, the creator in Hindu Mythology and personifies purity. Every year, thousands of pilgrims and travellers step foot in the Himalayan region Tibet to take a dip into the holy pond which is believed to cleanse the soul and also rid one off the sins of 100 lifetime. Some theory in Buddhism also claims that it was the very lake where Queen Mayadevi conceived Buddha adding more to its religious significance.
Today marks our inaugural day, as we set foot in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our dedicated travel correspondent will be there to greet you and accompany you to your hotel. To kickstart your journey, a delightful dinner awaits you, specially arranged by Makalu Travels. Additionally, our knowledgeable tour leader will provide you with detailed information about the program scheduled for the following day.
Today, we will proceed with the process of submitting our application for a Chinese visa, which will enable us to gain entry into Tibet.
Today, we will visit the Pashupatinath Temple situated at the banks of the Holy Bagmati River. Mornings in the temple are usually crowded as devotees’ around kick-start their day by paying a visit to Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath sees millions flock, especially during the Shiva Ratri festival that is usually observed in the month of February/March every year. The other time when the temple is flocked with devotees, specially women is during the Teej festival when married women fast for the longevity of their husbands and unmarried women so they get a husbands as good as the Lord Shiva himself.
After Pashupatinath, we will take you to another temple Budhanilkantha that has the largest and the most enigmatic statue of sleeping Lord Vishnu. The theories behind how the sleeping statue of Budhanilkantha was discovered are many. Some say, centuries ago a farmer and his wife found the statue as they dug a land. The other says that the statue was erected during King Bhimarjunadev’s regime in the Lichchavi era. There are two other similar statues of sleeping Vishnu, one of them at a place called Balaju while the other one in a palace at Basantapur, which is not open to the public. After our visit to these two places we will return to the Hotel and prepare for the trip ahead.
As an integral part of our visa application process, today we have a appointment at the embassy to undergo the submission of our biometric information. This visit to the embassy for biometric is a part of the visa application process. It is a crucial step in the process, as we are required to personally visit the embassy and undergo the necessary procedures to ensure the smooth processing of our application. By attending this appointment, we will fulfill all the necessary requirements set forth by the embassy, ensuring a seamless progression of our visa application.
Once the appointment is concluded, the remainder of the day is left free for us to unwind and indulge in some well-deserved relaxation.
Following a delightful breakfast, we will embark on a scenic drive to the heart of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a captivating UNESCO World Heritage site. This ancient civilization, influenced by 17th-century architecture, is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Nepal. One of its prominent attractions is the Nyatapola Temple, a towering pagoda-style structure, renowned as Nepal's tallest. The name "Nyatapola" derives from the Newari language, signifying its five-story height, representing the five fundamental elements. Additionally, within Bhaktapur Durbar Square, we will encounter the magnificent 55 Window Palace, an esteemed monument and a masterpiece showcasing exceptional sculptures and craftsmanship. Our exploration will also lead us to admire the Golden Gate and the Bhairav Nath Temple, a spiritual sanctuary dedicated to Lord Bhairav, an embodiment of immense power and awe-inspiring strength. This temple serves as a connection between humans and the divine, empowering people to stand against wrongdoing.
Upon our return, we will check-in to our comfortable hotel, drawing an enchanting close to our eventful day.
We have a day of leisure in Kathmandu dedicated to preparing for our much-anticipated journey to Kailash, commencing tomorrow. This free day grants us ample time to unwind and make the necessary arrangements for our upcoming adventure. We can take this opportunity to relax, gather our belongings, and ensure we have everything in order for our expedition.
In the evening, our experienced tour guide will organize a concise briefing session, outlining the details of our Kailash journey that will commence the following day. This program will serve as a valuable orientation, providing us with essential information, insights, and any final instructions to ensure a smooth and fulfilling experience throughout our pilgrimage to Kailash.
We embark on a breathtaking drive, meandering through winding roads and picturesque landscapes, towards the idyllic village town of Timure. Nestled at the border of Nepal and Tibet, Timure beckons with its rustic charm and captivating beauty. Tonight, we will stay in Timure. With the break of dawn tomorrow, our highly-anticipated journey into Tibet will commence. Prepared and filled with excitement, we will embark on this remarkable adventure, ready to explore the captivating wonders that await us.a
Our destination for the day is the Kyirong town in Tibetan region. We will cross the Tibet-Nepal border at Rasuwagadhi to enter into Kyriong. There will be a few official immigration formalities to be covered at the border, which our travel guide will take you through with. After clearing the customs, we will walk for 15 minutes towards China through the famous Friendship Bridge. Our drive will be of approximately two hours today. Please do not forget to have all necessary travel documents ready. Our Tibet correspondent at the Tibet border will receive you and after completing customs formality at the Chinese side we will take a bus to the Kyirong town, our stop for the day.
This day forth, we will try and have breakfast by 8 in the morning and head for the next destination by 9. Our destination for the day is Saga at 4400 meters elevation, which is approximately 4 hours’ drive away. On the way, we will make a stop at Bramhaputra River for prayers. We will also be accompanied by beautiful views of the Ganesh Parbat and Lake Peiku Tsothen on the way. The vehicle will stop at the bank of Brahmaputra River for prayer before calling it a day at Saga town. After room allocation & distribution, you will be served tea/coffee with snacks. Dinner and Overnight at hotel in Saga.
It will be a comparatively longer day today as we head to our destination, Manasarovar. The drive is of approximately 9 hours and we will start as early as 6 in the morning unlike the other days. We will make sure to reach the lake in afternoon, a perfect time to take the Holy dip and enjoy the fresh air around the lake. We will cross the highest motor able pass of this journey i.e. Mayum-La at 5200 m. Although long, our drive today will be made easier by the beautiful landscapes of snow-capped mountains, villages and yak herders. Please be informed that there will also be a few checkpoints in between. We will have our lunch around Horchu River, which comes ahead of the Mayum La Pass. If the weather permits and all goes well we will also get to see Mt. Kailash from the Manasarovar base camp. Each of us will have half an hour to enjoy the holy spirit of the Manasarovar Lake. There also is another lake called the ‘Rakshas Tal’ that literally translates as ‘Demon Lake’. According to Hindu mythology, the great king of Lanka, Ravan, created the ‘Demon Lake’ so he could pray and meditate to the Lord Shiva who resided at Mount Kailash. It is said that Ravan who had ten heads made sacrifice of each head in this very lake before Lord Shiva appeared on the tenth day to finally grant Ravan the superpowers he desired.
After a holy visit to these pilgrimage sites, we will travel to Chiu Gompa and rest the day at Mud Guesthouse. We will be staying in one of the dormitory rooms here.
For those interested, today we will have time to conduct Puja or Hawan and another round of holy bath at the Lake Manasarovar. We can also go for a little hike to the Chiu Gompa close from camp. As it is the day before we leave the holy place, our cooks will put up additional items in lunch for your delight. Once we have our lunch we will move for Darchen, Which is the base camp for Mt. Kailash to stay overnight at Hotel Himalaya. The view of the snowcapped Gurla Mandata and Rakshas Tal from Darchen is a spectacle worth watching. In the afternoon, we will have the option to stroll around small market of Darchen town. The drive from Manasarovar to Darchen is of 1 hour. Darchen is also where we will prepare for our trek that starts the day after.
We will leave vehicles today and start with the 4 day trek to Mt. Kailash. But first we will take a drive of one and half hours to Sherson near Yama Dwar and then begin with the trekking to Diraphuk - the north face of Mt. Kailash. If the weather permits, the south face of Mt. Kailash will be visible from Yama Dwar itself. In case you are unable to circumambulate (kora) the Mount Kailash, then there is a religious equivalent of circulating the Yama Dwar thrice in the name of Lord Shiva & Parbati and return and stay at Darchen until those on the trek come back. Yama Dwar, literally translated as The Gates of Lord of Death Yama is the starting point for the trek to Mount Kailash.
Another option to reach Mount Kailash is to take a ride on a horse that are available on pre-booking terms.
Since the trails are mostly flat the walk won’t be as strenuous. The gradually flowing glacial river alongside is sure to add tranquility to the day. Our lunch will be packed with us and we’ll only stop in between for tea, if you wish. We will rest the day at Diraphuk camp that has stunning glimpse of north face of Mt. Kailash to settle to.
This day is considered the toughest day of the circumambulation also called Kora. We start as early as 4 am in the morning and start the ascension by 5 AM. An uphill walk for a few hours will take us to Dolma La (pass at 5600m). It will be followed by a descent to the flat valley region, which is the other side of Dolma-la pass. The Shivasthal at Dolma la as you’ll see will be covered by prayer flags and different offers by prayers like clothing & ornaments.
As we further descend the high pass, a beautiful view awaits us of the holy lake Gauri Kunda. Hindu mythology says Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva performed various ascetic and yogic practices to win over Shiva’s love and the lake is where she performed them. The lake is also where Lord Shiva confessed of his affections for the Goddess.
The last leg of the journey will be along River Bank, up to Zuthulphuk. We will stay at dormitory rooms of the Mud Guest House. The overall trek will be of 9 hours.
After a tedious day before, the flat trail today will feel easy and rewarding. We will complete the journey within 2 to 3 hours today and then pick up by a vehicle at the ending point that will take us to Darchen. As we bid Mt. Kailash region goodbye, we will have one last chance to see the Lake Manasarovar. We will be drop off at Manasarovar bus stand and shift to another private bus from Lhasa. Our journey will retrace back the same way we took before. We’ll stay at Grand Hotel of Western Post on triple/quadruple sharing basis. We’ll walk for a total of one and a half hours today.
Today, after breakfast, we will return to Kyirong via the same route and spend a night there. It will takes us approximately 6 hours to reach Kyirong.
Today we will drive back to Kathmandu via the Rasuwagadhi border and Shyabrubesi. The distance from Kyirong to Rasuwagadhi border is of 1-hour drive. It will take us another 8 hours of drive to reach Kathmandu depending upon the traffic.
As your last day with us today, we hope you had a memorable trip to one of the most regarded Hindu pilgrimage sites of the world. We hope the dip in Manasarovar Lake lifted your spirits and hope to be your company for other similar trips in future. Our correspondent will drop you at the airport 3 hours ahead of your flight time.
| Date | Trip Status | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 02, 2024 - Jun 17,2024 | Available - Guaranteed Departure | US$ 3,950 | Book Now |
| Aug 11, 2024 - Aug 26,2026 | Available - Guaranteed Departure | Full Moon Departure | US$ 3,950 | Book Now |
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All arrangements were wonderful!. You were all extremely helpful and friendly. You never blinked at any request from anyone and got it done at incredible speed. The Puja ceremony that was arranged at the banks of Holy Lake Manasarovar was a life changing experience. The whole experience was very surreal and enlightening.
Makalu Traels is not only a bunch of trekking experts but they are a family and take you as well in their family as you sign up for their tour. I joined them in 2017 and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. They made the kailash tour so much easy and comfortable by their efforts and team work. I highly recommend Makalu Travels for kailash trek, they have many years of experience in this
I would highly recommend Makalu Travels for their knowledge in respect of Kailash tour and wonder class hospitality, & not to forget Mrs. Sushma Tanu our tour organiser who personally took care of every member in the group.
I had gone to kailash mansarovar in September 2018 with the group headed by Sushma Tamu. It was a great and once in a lifetime experience for me.It was a very well organized and systematic trip, which helped me go through with the journey with no discomforts. I would recommend this experience to any other person in search for a refreshing and comfortable journey .
Om Namah Shivaay. I have done Kailash Mansarovar yatra with Makalu Travels twice.The Head of the team-Sushma and Tashi Bhaiya and every member of the team looked after every yatri very sincerely and with lot of love.The arrangements were excellent. Thank You so much Makalu Travels team.
I was recommended by one of my friend and I feel happy satisfied with the service they provided I would like to thank Tulasi jee and Karuna jee for prompt service. I wish to thank the entire Makalu Travels staff and Nepali crew that made our Yatra to Kailash and Mansarover a very memorable and successful one. Each and every place they provided us with good food, water & even medicines for everyone in our group.They made a sincere efforts to make our Yatra a wonderful pilgrimage in our life time.
I have used Makalu to buy trip to Nepal several times in the past, and recently bought one for my whole family. I am very happy with the service Makalu provides. It appears that they care about the customers and are willing to provide honest expert opinion about the travel. I think the price they quoted me was very reasonable for my trip to Nepal. I have used others in the past, but now Makalu is my only choice. Highly recommend!!
Unlike in other trekking and hiking, in this trip the accommodations are very standard. Here are some brief details about the hotels and its services in Nepal and Tibet.
Note: All hotels are based on twin sharing.
We stay at Hotel Manaslu while we are in Nepal, Kathmandu.
For the comfort of our guests, we have changed all itineraries to provide Guest House dormitory rooms for 4 to 6. All Guest House will be based on sharing common bathroom.
We take pride in our carefully selected well-trained, experienced tour guides and leaders who have an insider access that is certain to enhance your experience.Their knowledge of meticulous details of all the local places without exaggeration is what will make a world of difference to your travel experience.
Each of our trips are monitored and regulated by our office in USA because we want to maintain the highest standards of service at all times. At our destination, you will always be hosted with seamless service, the best of hospitality with clean hygienic rooms and tasty and healthy variety of foods.
With the help of our extended network of travel partners, we directly connect with the local service providers giving you a cost advantage rightaway. We assure you that you will only have to pay for the services you take with no middleman squeezing in your bill.
If you have signed up and made a payment for our fixed departure packages, the tour departure is automatically guaranteed. When you book our fixed departure trips, you can be assured that the tour will surely operate on the day it is scheduled and will not be cancelled.
It goes without saying that your safety is our topmost priority. The difference in climate, altitudes and geography can cause a certain level of distress for some, which is why our tour guides and leaders are trained and well-equipped for first aid services throughout the trip. Our super tour guides and leaders will ensure your safety at all times.
Makalu Travels maintains a strong ethics of business. We therefore assure you there are no hidden charges applied in our packages. Unless you opt for additional activities other than those mentioned in the pre-booked itinerary, even in cases of unforeseen circumstances, the extra costs would be ours to bear.
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