Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj by bus which
takes about sixteen hours. You stay overnight at
hotel in Nepalgunj in the far south west of Nepal.
It is a busy crowded city which lies close to the
Indian border. You can also fly from Kathmandu to
Nepalgunj.
Day 02: Fly from Nepalgunj to Simikot (2,856 m.) and
this day you have to camp at Simikot. This morning
you fly north for about 50 minutes to Simikot, the
headquarters of Nepal's most remote district, Humla.
Day 03: Trek from Simikot to Darapani (2,507m.). The
landing at the tiny mountain airstrip at Simikot is
an unforgettable experience. There is an initial climb
above Simikot before descending towards the village
of Tuling and follow a level trail through walnut and
apricot trees to the village of Dharapani.
Day 04: Trek from Dharapani to Sali Khola (2,650m.).
Leaving your campsite, you cross a long scree slope
and follow the river to a waterfall near the shepherds'
camp at Chachera. You then climb over a ridge and bypass
the village of Kermi before entering a big valley with
walled fields of potato and buckwheat. After walking
through a sparse pine forest you descend from the ridge
to the Sali Khola and camp by the river.
Day 05: Trek from Sali Khola to Muchu (2,912m.). You
cross the river and climb over a rocky ridge before
descending to the grey waters of the Humla Karnali.
After crossing another ridge you come to a sandy meadow
where goat herders often camp by the river. Beyond
the meadow the valley narrows and you cross several
more ridges, passing the villages of Yalbang and Yangar.
The trail then winds its way precariously above the
river before you cross a suspension bridge to the village
of Muchu.
Day 06: Darchen-Dira Phuk Gompa (4909m, 6 hrs trekking)
Tarboche, marked by Tibetan flags is the starting point
for kora and is the site for Tibet's most important
annual Saga Dawa festival. Walk up the Lha Chu Valley
through beautiful green meadows and streams with Mt
Kailash towering above us. You follow the river, which
enters a narrow canyon with high, steep cliffs and
spectacular waterfalls. Continuing up the valley, the
north face of Kailash comes into view before you reach
the 13th century monastery at Dira-phuk. Stay overnight
at camp.
Day 07: Drira Phuk Monastery-Zuthul-Phuk (4790m, 7
hrs trekking) Bid farewell to Lha Chu Valley and prepare
to fight the toughest part of the kora. You will enter
the Drolma Chu Valley, heading up towards a high pass,
the Drolma La [5630m] that is marked Tibetan prayer
flags. The rest of the day's walk is mostly downhill
and flat land. On descent, you will pass by one of
the highest lakes in the world, Thukpe Dzingbu Lake,
known as the Lake of Compassion. Zuthulphuk monastery
is built at the site of a famous cave, which is believed
to have been created as a result of contest between
Milareppa (Buddhist Teacher) and Naro Bonchung (Bon
Saint). Stay overnight in a camp.
Day 08: Trek to Darchen (4560m, 3 hrs trekking) the
final day of the Kora is rather shorter and easier.
It takes merely 2 ½ to 3 hours that involves
crossing of several streams and also follows an impressive
gorge from where you would like to look back for fabulous
views. Stay overnight in a guesthouse.
Day 09: Drive from Hilsa to Purang.
Day 10: Drive from Purang to Lake Manasarovar (4,558m.).
From Paryang to Lake Mansorovar is a long drive of
10 hrs or more. There will be several river crossings
and you drive past Mayum la pass (4600m.). The scenery
is stunningly beautiful with panoramic views of the
Himalayas.
Day 11: Excursion at Lake Manasarovar. You climb a
short distance to Sher, a Tibetan salt trading post
at 3860m that is a windswept place of government buildings
where passports and day sacks will be inspected. At
Sher you meet our Tibetan guide and board our landcruisers
for the two hour drive to Purang, (Taklakot) at 3930m.
It is a rough fantastic drive that gives a taste of
what lies ahead.
You pass through Tibetan villages where prayer flags
flutter from the roofs of the whitewashed houses. You
will stop briefly at the village of Khojarnath where
there is a large red gompa of the Sakya sect of Buddhism.
This impressive building is flanked by whitewashed
chortens and at its base is a large wall made up of
mani stones and yak skulls. Inside there are many ornate
paintings and statues that escaped the destruction
of the Cultural Revolution. Inside the gompa are stuffed
carcasses of a snow leopard and wolf.
You stop briefly at Purang where the crew can purchase
any supplies needed for the remainder of our journey.
You then begin a four hour drive to Chiu Gompa on the
shores of Lake Manasaravar. It is an incredible drive
past the snow capped peak of Gurla Mandata (7728m)
as the road climbs higher onto the Tibetan Plateau.
In places the road is no more than the tracks of vehicles
that have passed this way before.
From the Gurla La at 4590m you get our first glimpse
of Mt Kailas or Gang Rimpoche in Tibetan, (meaning ‘Precious
Jewel of Snow’). The dark waters of Rakshas Tal
can be whipped up by the afternoon winds and dust devils
dance along the shoreline. You cross the dividing ridge
between the lakes to camp at Chiu Gompa on the shores
of Manasarovar, looking out at the Sacred Mountain.
The sunset views from our camp are spectacular and
many pilgrims come to this spot to bathe and camp before
beginning their kora. Below the gompa there is a small
hot spring and tea shop where it is possible to wash
the dirt of the trail from our clothes and bodies.
Day 12: Drive to Darchen (4700m.). Get prepared for
Mt. Kailash Parikrama. About 30 km north of Lake Manasarovar
is Darchen, the main gateway and the village. The monastery
at Darchen, Darchen Gon, is a part of the Drukpa sect.
The two-story monastery structure in the center of
the town serves as a trading post and shelter for pilgrims.
Within the Dukhang assembly hall are new and old thangka
paintings and some statues, the main image being Sakyamuni.
West of the gompa is the Mani Lhakhang that has a large,
new mani prayer wheel. This is the site where the original
old flagpole (a darchen is a flagpole for prayer flags)
of Darchen was located. When beginning their kora pilgrimage
around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate
the Darchen Gon monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before
setting out.
Day 13: Start Kailash Parikrama. Trek to Dira Puk
(4909m.). This Kailash circuit covers 53 km and can
be done in 3 days. You head west in clockwise direction
and after a few kilometers the trail climbs up to a
cairn at 4730 m from where the southern face of Mt.
Kailash comes to view. En route you visit Tarboche
where annual flagpole raising ceremony takes place
during Saga Dawa.
Day 14: Continue Kailash Parikrama over Dromala Pass
(5650m.) to Zuthul Puk. Yamasthal should be crossed
to reach the Shiva-sthal while your steps go closer
to the pass. Once you reach the top, just do the holiest
offering and sit down for meditation to forget you.
Once your steps go down, Parvati-stal and Gauri Kunda
are on the way. By the late afternoon you will reach
Zuthul Puk (the cave of Miracles. The great ascetic
Milerappa is supposed to have performed miracles here).
Day 15: End Kailash Parikrama near Darchen (4700m.).
Your final day on the Kora is an easy three hours walking
as you exit the Zhong Chu Valley on a trail that contours
high above a narrow gorge. The hills become less vegetated
and more desert like as you approach the Bharka Plain
with seemingly limitless views towards the Indian Himalaya.
At one point pilgrims stop and scoop out of the hillside
the precious white clay called Ghang Rimpoche ku-sha
or the flesh of Kailash. It is believed to have medicinal
properties and is spread on foreheads to ease headaches
and colds.
Day 16: Drive from Darchen to Paryang (4540m.). The
road is rough and there are some rivers to cross. Wild
antelope and kiang (the Tibetan wild ass) are a common
sight. This is the land of the drogpa nomads and you
will pass many encampments with large herds of sheep
and goats. The drives are long, bumpy and often dusty
but the scenery is magnificent. Photo stops are a must!
Day 17: Drive from Paryang to Saga (4840m.). You continue
driving for another 255km to Saga passing through dusty
town of Zhongba and a few smaller passes.
Day 18: Drive from Saga to Paigutso (4850m.). Leaving
Saga, you cross the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River)
by ferry and continue our journey for 110km across
the vast open plains. Stunning Himalayan views, particularly
of Shishapangma, accompany us as you head towards a
huge lake, the Paigutso.
Day 19: Drive from Paigutso to Nyalam (3800m.). Today
you drive 180km south towards the Nepalese border,
joining the Friendship Highway. You cross a high pass,
the Lalung La [5200m], and come to the small town of
Nyalam
Day 20: Drive from Nyalam to Kathmandu. From Nyalam,
you drive down to the border town of Zhangmu. From
Zhangmu, it’s a short drive to the Friendship
Bridge which spans the Bhote Kosi River and marks the
Chinese - Nepalese border where you part with your
Tibetan guide and driver and walk to Nepalese Immigration
Control in Kodari where you will be met by your Nepalese
staff. After completing the re-entry formalities you
continue the drive to Kathmandu which depending on
road and weather conditions, should take about 5-6
hours.
The beauty of the 6700 meter high Mount
Kailash, that looks like a symmetrical cone shaped rock capped
by pure crystalline ice all the time, is echoed in various
mythological and literary works.