Itinerary
DETAILED ITINERARY:
DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU.
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu. You will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to Hotel.
DAY 02: MORNING, SIGHTSEEING TOUR - AFTERNOON: FLY TO NEPALGUNJ.
Morning: Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. Visit Pashupatinath temple & Budhanil Kantha Vishnu temple (sleeping Bishnu).
Afternoon: Transfer to domestic airport for your flight to Nepalgunj.The flight takes about an hour to reach Nepalgunj. Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer to Hotel.
• Kathmandu to Nepalgunj: 1 hour flight
• A very basic transport (non-ac Bus) will be available in Nepalgunj
DAY 03: MORNING, FLY TO SIMIKOT (BY AIRCRAFT) - ACCLIMATIZATION
Very early morning (at 5 am) you should be ready to go to the airport for your flight to Simikot.Normally,the flight leaves for Simikot at around 6.00 am, if there is a clear weather in all places (Nepalgunj, en route and Simikot). Delay by an hour OR two is quite normal in this sector. So, passengers are requested not be panic.
The flight requires about an hour to reach Simikot. Our representative will receive you at the airport and take you to the Hotel. Our representative will do some immigration formalities whereas you will be having rest in hotel.
• Nepalgunj to Simikot: 1 hour (by Twin otter aircraft with 15 seats OR Dronier aircraft with 15 seats)
• The flight can be delayed by an hour OR two, which is normal.
• If the weather is not good in Simikot OR en route to Simikot, the flight will be canceled
DAY 04: FLY TO HILSA BY HELICOPTER - THEN DRIVE TO PURANG (TAKLAKOT – 3400 M.).
Early morning, you will be escorted to Hilsa (Nepal/China border) by our Helicopter. The flight takes about 25 minutes to reach Hilsa from Simikot. You will be met by our local representative in Hilsa and escorted to tea shop.Here,you have to halt until all group members arrive.
Hilsa border is not officially opened for trading purpose; so there still are some certain restrictions and rules to follow while traveling through this border. We can’t just travel to Purang (Taklakot) with our guide and vehicles, we should have a military escort from the border to Purang(Taklakot) and it takes some time to manage this. So, at this point, it can be delayed to cross the border. Passengers are requested to have patience and let us arrange everything smoothly.From Sher, it takes another an hour to reach Taklakot (Purang -3700 m.) by drive.
• Simikot to Hilsa: 25 minutes by KAWASAKI 117 Helicopter - 9 seats and B2 (Euro copter) Helicopter with 5 seats
• Hilsa to Sher trek: 10 minutes
• Sher to Taklakot drive: 1 hour by 4WD Land Cruiser
DAY 05: DRIVE, PURANG TO LAKE MANSAROVAR (CHIU GOMPA – 4550 M.)
Early morning (after breakfast) you will depart for Lake Manasarovar (4560 m- Chui Gompa). The drive takes about 2 to 2 & 1/2 hours. On the way, we will take a short break to see the breathtaking views of Rakshas Taal with back ground view of holy Mount Kailash.
After having holy dip and lunch, you will depart for a circumambulation around the lake Manasarovar on jeep.The journey around the lake requires approximately 2 hours.
• The distance of Mansarovar circumambulation: 72 km
• Taklakot to Lake Manasarovar: 2 hours by Land Cruiser
• Jeep tour around Lake Manasarovar: 2 hours by Land Cruiser
DAY 06: ASTHAPAD & YAMA DWARA DARSHAN - THEN START PARIKRAMA TO DERAPHUK(4920 M).
Morning drive to Asthapad via Darchen. After spending some time in Asthapad, you will continue drive to Yama Dwar (10 kms / 4750m), the auspicious gateway to the Parikrama (circuit) around the Mt. Kailash.
Yama Dwar is the place, from where the group, normally, splits in two parts. Some members will start attempting Parikrama and some will return back to Darchen and wait for those members who have gone for Parikrama.
MEMBERS WHO JOINED PARIKRAMA: You will start trekking from “Yama Dwar” to Deraphuk.The trail is quite easy & flat.You have to cross the river a couple of time, other than this, it is quite easy day today. Roughly, you will be crossing 10 km today and it takes around 5 hours.
MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T JOIN THE PARIKRAMA: After having Darshan from Yamadwar, you will be returning back to Darchen and wait for those who have gone for Parikrama.
• Lake Manasarovar to Asthapad: 1 hour drive
• Asthapad to Yam Dwar: 45 minutes drive
• Yama Dwar to Deraphuk trek: 5 hrs (approximately 10 km)
DAY 07: TREK TO ZUTULPHUK (4780 M). VIA DOLMA PASS (5600 M.)
MEMBERS WHO JOINED PARIKRAMA: Early morning start uphill trekking to Dolma-La (5600 m).Today is the toughest day of this journey. The Entire trail up to Dolma-La rapidly up. The holiest water pool ( glacial lake – Gauri kunda) is just situated beyond the Dolma-La.This is the lake, people believe, where Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva takes bath. From Dolma-La the trail rapidly drops down to the valley floor (Zutulphuk).
After making down hill trek to the valley (the next side of the high pass), the trek up to Zutulphuk Gomba requires another two hours.From the valley floor, the trail is flat all the way to Darchen. Today, you will be crossing approximately 22 to 24 km in 8 to 9 hours time.
• MEMBERS WHO DIDN'T JOIN THE PARIKRAMA: Waiting in Darchen.
• Deraphuk to Zutulphuk Gomba: 8 to 9 hours trek (approximately)
DAY 08: FINISH TREK NEAR DARCHEN - DRIVE BACK TO HILSA.
MEMBERS WHO JOINED PARIKRAMA: Today, you will complete your trekking (Parikrama), near Darchen, where you will find our vehicles waiting to fetch you and transfer to Hilsa (3 hours journey). Today,you will trek for another 8 km in 3 to 4 hours time.
After finishing Parikrama, the whole group will merge together & drive to Hilsa.
Despite of a very basic facility in Hilsa, we will take you there & keep overnight stay because the next day you will be picked up by Helicopter early morning,so you can catch your onward scheduled flights without any problem.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR GROUP NOT TO FORCE US TO CHANGE THIS. IF WE ARE FORCED CHANGE, GROUP MEMBERS HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISSING FLIGHT OF ONWARD DESTINATION.
Instead of staying in Hilsa, if you stay in Purang, there is 90% chance of missing your flights from Simikot onward, some times, you even miss International flights.
• Zutulphuk to trek ending point: 4 hours walk - 8 km (approx.)
• Trek ending point to Hilsa: 3 hours drive by Land Cruiser
DAY 09: FLY, HILSA – SIMIKOT (HELI) THEN CONTINUE FLY TO KATHMANDU BY AIRCRAFT
Early morning, you will be picked up by our Helicopter from Hilsa then brought back to Simikot. From Simikot airport, you will be continue fly to Nepalgunj then onward to Kathmandu.
• Hilsa to Simikot: 25 minutes flight by Helicopter
• Simikot to Nepalgunj: 1 hour flight by aircraft
• Nepalgunj to Kathmandu: 1 hour flight by aircraft
DAY 10: DEPARTURE FROM KATHMANDU
Breakfast: Transfers to Kathmandu International Airport for flights onward.
** End of Arrangements **
What's Included
Service Includes:
✓2 nights Hotel (twin sharing) in Kathmandu with vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
✓One night hotel in Nepalgunj with vegetarian meals (twin sharing)
✓One night Hotel in Simikot in Sun Valley Resort (dormitory room with common bathroom)
✓One night hotel in Hilsa (very very basic dormitory room) with all meals
✓Pick up & drop transfers in Kathmandu
✓One half-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
✓Necessary arrival / departure transfers in Nepalgunj (very normal vehicle available here)
✓Kathmandu - Nepalgunj – Kathmandu air ticket (fixed wing – Yeti Air OR Buddha Air)
✓Nepalgunj - Simikot – Nepalgunj air ticket (fixed wing – Twin otter aircraft OR dronier)
✓Simikot - Hilsa – Simikot by Helicopter (only 4 OR 5 persons can be carried at a time)
✓Domestic airport taxes (all sectors)
✓Tibet group visa and travel/trekking permits
✓Tent/Guesthouse in Tibet (for the entire journey) – except in Taklakot all places have dormitory Guesthouse with Tibetan common toilet
✓All Indian vegetarian meals in Tibet (breakfast, lunch & dinner) while on the tour
✓Transportation in Tibet in Land cruiser 4500 CC with supporting truck
✓Tour around Lake Manasarovar on land cruiser
✓Asthapad Darshan
✓English speaking Tibetan guide
✓One tour Manager from Kathmandu to Kathmandu
✓Necessary supporting crew (Cook, Sherpas, tour Manager from Nepal)
✓All necessary Kitchen & camping equipments
✓Yaks & Yak men during the Parikrama to carry foods and baggage
✓Oxygen for emergency use
✓Medical kit bag / First Aid kit
✓Humla region restricted area permit & royalties
✓Porter cost in Hilsa (while going and coming back)
✓All applicable taxes & service charges