12 DAYS KATHMANDU TO KAILASH TOUR
Day 1 - Arrival in Dram (Zhangmu) [2300m]
After you cross the Sino-Nepal Friendship bridge you will be greeted by our local guide. You will then clear Chinese immigration and will be transferred to your hotel where you can relax.
Day 2 - Dram-Nyalam [3780m] 30km, approx 1.5hrs.
Drive through beautiful forest with great views of waterfalls from snow-melt water flowing from the Himalayas into Nepal. Overnight in Nyalam guesthouse or hotel.
Day 3 - Nyalam
Day trekking up to Dara Tso, 3hrs up and 2.5hrs down (approx 5.5hrs day trek). Overnight in Nyalam.
Day 4 - Nyalam-Saga [4700m] 280km, approx 5hrs.
Drive to Saga across the Himalayas through passes reaching 5100m. You will have great views of Mt Shisha Pangma [8012m], the Himalayan range and Pieku Tso lake. Overnight in Saga guesthouse.
Day 5 - Saga-Lake Manasarovar [4600m] 560km, approx 8hrs.
Drive through yak and sheep grazing lands and a wide valley alongside the scenic Yarlung Tsangpo river. Here you will have great views of the Himalayas and sand dunes. Towards late afternoon you will see your first views of Holy Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. Overnight in Manasarovar guesthouse.
Day 6 - Lake Manasarovar-Tirthapuri monastery-Gurugyam Bon Monastery-Garuda Valley-Darchen [4610m] 130km, 5hrs.
Visit Tirthapuri monastery, which is considered a sacred monastery of western Tibet. You will see a footprint of Guru Padmasambhava. Afterwards see Gurugyam Bon Monastery which was built before the 7th century. Continue the drive to Garuda Valley through Elephant river. There you will see a small Gelukpa monastery and the ruins of an ancient Shangshung kingdom. Arrive in Darchen and prepare Mt Kailash trek. Overnight in Darchen.
Day 7 - Darchen-Dirapuk [5000m] 21 km, approx 7.6hrs.
Commence 1st day of Kailash trek at 8 am. Overnight in Dirapuk at north face of Mt Kailash.
Day 8 - Dirapuk-Dolma la pass [5672m]-Zultulpuk [4630m] 18 km, approx 6hrs.
At 5.30am start 2nd days trek to Mt Kailash.
Day 9 - Zultulpuk-Darchen, 13km, 3.30hrs.
At 8am start 3rd day of trek to Mt Kailash. Continue drive to Lake Manasarovar [4600m] 60km, about 1hr. Here you can bathe in hot springs and in the lake. Overnight in guesthouse.
Day 10 - Lake Manasarovar-Saga [4700m] 560km, approx 8hrs.
Morning drive from Lake Manasarovar to Saga through Paryany and Zhongba. Overnight in Saga guesthouse.
Day 11 - Saga-Dram [2300m] 310km, approx 6hrs.
Drive from Saga to Dram following the same road back to Dram with views of Peiku Tso Lake, the Himalayan ranges and Mt Shisha Pangma [8012m]. Overnight at Dram border.
Day 12 - Depart from Tibet to Kathmandu - cross Tibet-Nepal border (Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge).
After breakfast, go through Chinese immigration, cross the border and say good-bye to your Tibetan guide and driver. Continue your journey to Kathmandu (own arrangements).