Manasarovar to Mt. Kailash

Ancient Hindu texts speak of the mythical Meru, the mountain at the center of the universe, or the axis mundi.  To Buddhists, the mythical mountain is called Sumeru; for the Jains, it is Ashtapada.  Regardless, Kailash has come to be the mountain identified as the physical manifestation of Meru.  To complete the full 32-mile kora around the base of Kailash is the ultimate religious pilgrimage, offering those who complete it an abbreviated path to nirvana.  With the blessings of the mountain, we will be afforded the once in a lifetime opportunity to complete the circumambulation of Kailash.

Still one of the most remote places on the planet, to travel to the sacred peak of Kailash is to make one of the world’s truly great pilgrimages.  Although Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and the pre-Buddhist Bön religion of Tibet worship it, a trip to Kailash has become increasingly popular for Westerners and has begun to secure its place in the popular imagination of the West.  A journey to Kailash is a special pilgrimage that only a few will ever have the good fortune to experience.  It is a place beyond description and is an undeniably life changing place. 

If you yearn to complete a pilgrimage of your own, “Manasarovar to Mt. Kailash” is the ultimate opportunity to fulfill your wildest dreams.  We hope to see you soon on the pilgrim’s path!

Outline Itinerary

Day 1:  Depart USA

Day 2: Arrive in Beijing.  You will be met on arrival and transferred to the Peninsula Palace Hotel, located in the heart of historic Beijing.

Day 3: Early morning we fly to Tibet via Chengdu. We are met on arrival by our local Tibetan guide and transferred to our hotel in Lhasa. Welcome Dinner.  

Days 4 & 5: The next two days will be spent in and around Lhasa, leisurely sightseeing, while we acclimate to the high altitude. For more on what we do in Lhasa, please see our Essential Tibet itinerary.

Days 6 & 7: Departing Lhasa, we follow the old trade route over high passes, skirting the turquoise waters of Yamdrok Lake to Gyantse. After exploring the Kumbum, we continue to Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city and home to Tashilhunpo Monastery, residence of the Panchen Lamas.

Day 8: Another day is devoted to acclimatization, as we go on a day hike to Ngor Monastery, in the hills outside Shigatse. 

Days 9-10: We now start the truly adventurous part of our journey, as we make our away across the vast expanses of the Western Tibetan Plateau. Along the way, we will find the most propitious sites in which to pitch our tents and enjoy the quiet and solitude of the Tibetan wilderness.

Day 11:  As a reward for our long journey across Western Tibet, we will at last be treated to a vision of the sacred Mount Kailash and the holy waters of Manasarovar, our camp for two nights.

Day 12: Manasarovar, which translates as “Lake of the Mind,” is said to have been the created by the “mind” of Lord Brahma.  While at Manasarovar, you can bathe in its waters, or hike along a portion of the kora route, visiting the nearby Chiu Monastery.

Day 13:  We will be treated to awe-inspiring views of the south face of Kailash, as well as Gurla Mandhata, Manasarovar as we take the short drive to the base of Kailash at Tarboche where our yaks will be waiting for us. Our first day's hike is to the meadow below the towering west face of Kailash. 

Days 14 & 15:  Our camp for these two days is at Dirapuk, below the powerful presence of Kailash’s north face. We will have the opportunity to hike up to the Kangkyam Glacier for close-up views of Kailash.

Days 16 & 17:  We will establish our high camp below Drolma La. From here, the climb to the high pass will take a couple of hours, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the vantage point. We will continue down the pass and set up camp in the grassy meadows beneath Kailash’s reclusive east face.

Day 18: On the final day of our Kailash kora, before meeting up with our vehicles, we will see Zutulpuk Monastery, where Milarepa performed his astounding miracles. A short drive brings us to a lodge at Darchen.

Day 19: Our last day in the presence of Kailash will allow us to put a final feather in our cap, as we hike up from Darchen towards the south face of Kailash (see banner photo above.)

Days 20-21: We depart from the hallowed sanctuary of Kailash and Manasarovar, blessed by having been in their presence. We head back across the rugged and scenic Tibetan Plateau, camping overnight en route.

Day 22: After our final day of driving, we will check into our hotel in Shigatse, where we have time to refresh ourselves and relax before convening for our "Farewell" dinner.

Day 23: After driving from Shigatse to Gongkar, on the much-anticipated "new road", we catch our flight to Beijing, via Chengdu.

Day 24: Depart Beijing, arriving in the USA the same day.

Call us toll free at 1-800 MY INDIA (1-800-694-6342) or email us to request a detailed day-to-day itinerary.