A marvelous and interesting adventure to Mt. Kailash from Simikot leading you with fascinating views and unique sceneries from green woodland to windswept dry terrain as the walk leads to world highest and largest Tibetan plateau.
View Nepal treks takes pride offering an adventure where you can experience a journey of life time, trekking from Far West Nepal to Mt. Kailash and holy Manasarover Lake in Tibet.
Starting this unique journey with flight to Nepalgunj on warm semi-tropical temperature city, where we take another short flight to reach Mugu and Humla area at Simikot town to start our adventurous walk into South West Tibet around Mt. Kailash.
Trekking is enjoyable on least visited area by other westerners or trekkers exploring traditional remote Thakuri people villages to enter area of strong Tibetan Buddhism and ancient Bonpa culture areas.
After an interesting trek for a week then entering Tibetan soil at Taklakot and heading towards great windswept country around Kailash and Lake Manasarover, after a holy pilgrimage walk and kora our journey concludes with a drive back to Kathmandu via an alternative route through Saga and Kyirong.
Mt. Kailash from Simikot one of the finest and incredible journeys in all Himalaya on an ancient caravan route to Tibet, which leads you to explore hidden valley of Humla to holy Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarover with great guidance and services of View Nepal Trek.
On arrival at Kathmandu international airport received by View Nepal Treks guides / staff for short drive to respective hotels around Thamel area, a tourist hub of Kathmandu. After rest and getting refresh our guide briefs you regarding hotel, Kathmandu and Mt. Kailash from Simikot Trekking with evening welcome dinner in an authentic Nepalese restaurant with culture programs.
Morning optional tour around Kathmandu at places of interest full of World Heritage Sites, the Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, old Royal Palaces courtyard; after the tour back to hotel for afternoon flight to Nepal Far South West at Nepalgunj city. Nepalgunj located close to UP state of India border, during 50 mins flight excellent views of Mountains, at Nepalgunj in a nice hotel for overnight halt.
Starting after having early breakfast with connecting flight to Simikot, on reaching Simikot received by our trekking and camping staff, Simikot headquarter town of Mugu / Humla district around far North West Nepal offering stunning views of Mt Api and Saipal peaks. From Simikot begin our first day walk to overnight camp at Dharapuri village, leading to a climb through farm fields of barley into forested ridge then downhill towards farm villages to reach Dharapuri for first overnight camping of this trip. Around far west region villages inhabited mostly by Thakuri people of Hindu religion, people around Mugu and Humla been in trade with Tibet for hundreds of years using same trail to Tibet border of 5-6 days walks.
After Dharapuri village, journey continues leading to a climb and crossing a stream reaching the last village of Thakuri people and the end of rice fields. From here on ups and down path around grazing area and crossing Sally- Khola (stream) nearby beautiful waterfalls to our overnight camp a short distance from Kermi village, this place with hot springs of an hour walk.
Morning starts with an uphill through Yangar village on paved path built with rocks and woods and then crossing suspension bridge over Humla Karnali River, and then climb to a stream past apricot garden area and finally reaching Muchu village to our overnight camp, this small village with an old monastery and a border Police Check Post.
After a nice stop at Muchu, our journey descend towards Thumkot village, after a break then climbing away from Humla-Karnali River walking on a steep-sided narrow gorge. From here a long hour trek leads slowly to a climb reaching at Torea village for overnight camp, with afternoon free at leisure to catch up with your dairy and explore this village.
As the walk progress altitude gains with morning climb to reach a small ridge at 3,500 meters high, from here countering on ridge top, offers grand vista of Yari valley area and high snowcapped peaks, after a short stop walk leads by an irrigation canal to a large wide valley of Jhyakthang chu this place marked with prayer walls entering into Buddhist culture villages of Tibetan influence. After a good walk reaching a moderate size Yari village built with stones, this village has another police post, with government custom office and a school. Farmlands with terraces yielding sufficient crops growing millets, barley, amaranth (Marcia) wheat, buckwheat’s, potatoes and radishes. After a nice stop walk continues with a climb on a wide valley encountering group of traders, pilgrims and pack animals-goats, sheep’s and yaks, then reaching at Sip-Sip a small place of cattle herders with few shops. Our camp is made near a stream at the bottom of Nara Lagna pass.
From this camp morning walk leads to a climb on a ridge with huge rock atop at Nara Lagna pass at 5,000 m / 15,030ft, the highest spot of this walk on Nepal side. The pass offers grand panorama of Tibetan plateau with Humla Karnali River down below and green barley fields of Sher or Sera, distance views of Api and Saiphal peaks. After a pleasant stop walk downhill on dusty trail to Humla Karnali River to reach Nepal border at Hilsa village, a frontier post with few tents and stone houses surrounded with barley fields, just across the bridge a stone pillar marks Nepal-Tibet border.
Morning an hour climb to Sher in Tibet, on leaving Nepal, where our Tibetan guides and driver will receive for an interesting drive to Taklakot also known as Purang in Tibetan. Taklakot an important major market town for Tibetans, Nepali and as well for Indian traders with a separate bazaar areas, during summer months an important wool trade takes place between nomadic Drogpa herdsmen and Nepali traders our overnight stop in local guest house.
After Taklakot / Punrang in Tibet with complete change in environment of people, town and way of living, from Taklakot a scenic drive to Lake Manasarover on leaving Karnali River valley; as the drive continues gaining much heights reaching a flat area to cross barren arid country beneath massive Mt. Gurla Mandhata at 7,728 meters, from here drive leads over Thalladong pass 5,050 meters high with views of Rakshesh Lake and holy Mt. Kailash. After the pass downhill to Chu Gompa located by shore of west Lake Manasarover for overnight stop in a guest house or camping (depending upon the season for Indian and Tibetan pilgrims)
Rest day for acclimatization with optional short walk around Manasarover, a holy lake located between Mt. Kailash 6,714m and the Gurla Mandhata mountain range at 7,694 m. Manasarover floats beneath the shadow of holy Kailash as the lake formed in the mind of Gods. The best time for circuit Manasarover Lake is in late autumn and early spring when streams and rivers flowing into the lake are shallow and low. It is then possible to walk very near the shoreline. An optional circuit or parikrama on drive trip around Manasarover Lake can be done on request which takes about 3-4 hrs covering 110 k.m distance of round trip.
After a wonderful rest at holy Lake Manasarover, a short drive to Darchen town with many hotels and guesthouses, a busy small town with pilgrims during auspicious time for parikrama / kora (circumambulation). Darchen located South Face of Mt. Kailash where holy walk / kora start and ends, our drive leads North West at holy spot of Tarboche where walk starts with view of Mt. Kailash West Face. Kailash (6,714m.), the heart of ancient Shangshung kingdom supposed country of pre-Buddhist Bonpos origin. After 4 hrs walks brings you at Diraphuk Gompa for overnight stop in a simple lodge.
After Dhiraphuk, morning walk on gradual path for an hour then climb to reach top at Dromo-la the highest point of the journey and a holy spot at 5,470m /18,525ft. A big boulder represents the goddess Dolma or Dromo (Tara) festooned with prayer flags. This spot is the physical and spiritual high point of pilgrimage. From here descend to the bottoms of the hill and walk to Zutul-Puk Gompa for overnight stop, Zuthul means cave. The place is named after a cave in which the poet, saint Milarepa stayed meditating. His footprint still remains on the roof.
Last day of holy trekking ‘kora’ or parikrama, starting with a leisurely walk of 3 hours on a broad plain passing many Mani walls, and then reaching a narrow valley with short section of gorge as the route diverts west to Darchen. The last leg of the walk make a dramatic exit from the river valley on to the plain, walk passes Mani walls decorated of carved yak skulls. A short walk from to reach near Darchen on completing this great walk and taking a drive back near Maium-la or around Lake Manasarover for overnight stop.
A long drive today to reach Saga town through Paryang, driving along vast Tibetan plateau plain of about 6-7 hours dive to Saga for overnight stops. Saga town located on route Kailash-Shigatse and towards Nepal via Kyirong or Zhangmu, a moderate size town slowly growing into a city in few years time just close to Yalrung Tsangpo or Bhrmaputra River.
Morning drive leading due south to Kyirong County near Nepal border, after driving past at the end of vast Tibetan plateau, following the route to Kyirong for last overnight stop in Tibetan soil.
Morning drive to frontier post of Tibet / China at Rasuwagadhi after visa and custom formalities bidding farewell to our Tibetan guide and drivers, then walk towards Nepal border at Rasuwagadhi for final immigration process, from here drive on rough road for few hours to reach Syabrubesi village. After a short rest continue drive up hill to Dhunche town for overnight stop. Dhunche the main and district headquarter town of Langtang and Rasuwa.
After a wonderful time and experience on holy journey to Mt. Kailash, morning drive to Kathmandu taking a long winding downhill ride to warmer area of Trisuli bazaar, and continue drive passing many farm villages and town to reach Kathmandu.
Last day in Nepal as per your flight time transfer to Kathmandu international departure for flight back to own countries after a great adventure and experience to Mt. Kailash & Holy Lake Manasarover from Simikot Wild West of Nepal.