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Burang county in Tibet
Burang county in Tibet

Mount Kailash from Nepal by Flight & Helicopter

Nepal Map Kathmandu to Purong Tibet via flights and helicopter

KEY FACTS

Main Attractions: Kathmandu, Hilsa, Manasarovar Lake, Chiu Monastery, Mount Kailash

Duration: 14 days

Included: round trip flights from Kathmandu to to Nepalgunj and from Nepalgunj to Simikot and back, Heli ride from Simikot to Hilsa, all necessary permits to travel in Tibet, accommodation by Manasarovar lake and  during the trek around Mount Kailash, English speaking Tibetan guide in Tibet, ground transportation in Tibet, oxygen cylinders.

Maximum Elevation: 5,640 m/ 18,600 ft

Mount Kailash from Nepal by Heli Itinerary

Kathmandu's Durbar Square, Nepal

Day 1 – Arrival in Kathmandu

Depending on the time of the arrival, you can visit Durbar square or simply walk in the central part of Kathmandu (in case you arrive late).

Durbar square is the Palace square showcasing some of the finest architecture in Nepal.

Kathmandu Boudhanath Stupa

Day 2 – 4 – Sightseeing in Kathmandu

Free days in Kathmandu while we are processing your Chinese group visa in the Embassy.

You can enjoy your free time in Nepal exploring Kathmandu, or you can arrange additional tours with us to visit the highlights of Kathmandu. We recommend visiting: Boudhanath, Swayambhunath Temple, Pashupatinath, Kopan monastery, Pullahari Monastery. If you wish to explore other places outside of Kathmandu, we recommend considering Bhaktapur, Durbar Square in Patan, and Nagarkot.

In the next two days you will take two incredibly beautiful flights in Nepal and a heli flight from Simikot to Hilsa.

Information about what to do in Kathmandu, where to stay and how to travel around are in the article Kathmandu

Please, let us kow if you wish to arrange private guided tours in Kathmandu during your stay.

Day 5 – Fly to Nepalgunj (150m) – Overnight in Nepalgunj

Day 6 – Fly Nepalgunj – Simikot (2900m) & Helicopter to Hilsa (3700m) & Drive to Taklakot (3900m) – Overnight in Taklakot

Today is the most exciting part of the tour. First, you will fly to Simikot, and from there you will take a heli ride to the Nepal-Tibet border. The ride is incredibly scenic. You will see the view on the magestic mountain ranges, river canyon, and forests.

Day 7 – Free day in Purang: resting and acclimatizing

When traveling to Mount Kailash from Nepal, we need to take some time to acclimatize to high elevation in Tibet. That’s why today we will spend all day in Purang resting and acclimatizing to high altitude. You can relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Burang county in Tibet

Day 8 – Driving to Manasarovar Lake (4550m). Overnight by Manasarovar lake

Day 9 – Driving from Lake Manasarover to Darchen

In the morning we will visit 8th century Chui monastery. The monastery houses an important meditation cave where Padma Sambhava was meditating. Unlike most of the monasteries that we visited earlier, Chui monastery belongs to the Red Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism and the statue of Padma Sambhava is the main one there.

After the visit, we are driving to Darchen. It is a short drive (approximately 40 minutes). From Darchen you can see the Southern side of Mount Kailash. We have enough time to walk around the city and take photos of Kailash and prepare for the trek.

We have to pack for the 3-day trek, and we are leaving everything else in the hotel.

There is a company in Darchen that can arrange porters if needed for some fee.

Staying in the hotel (a hot shower is available for a fee).

Day 10 – Trek, 1st day: Darchen-Dira Puk (20km/ 12.4 miles)

We will start our trek to Mount Kailash very early in the morning. We will be walking around the Kailash in a clockwise direction. From Darchen we will head west towards the area with the main prayer poll and the sky burial place. It is the area where Tibetans celebrate the Saga Dawa Festival, commemorating the day of Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment, and death.

Later we will reach the first tea shop on the trek where we will stop for lunch.

In the afternoon we will continue to the Dira Puk Monastery and stop there for the night (at a guesthouse). From the guesthouse you will get a spectacular view of the north face of the Kailash Mountain.

Day 11 – Trek 2nd day: Dira Puk – Zultiul Puk (22 km/ 13.6 miles)

On the second day we will start the trek very early to go through the highest pass. First we will walk to the tea house to have breakfast and prepare for crossing the pass. After we are done eating, we will start ascending the pass. The Dolma La Pass is 5,630 meters/ 18,600 ft. high.

Once you reach it, you can see the stunning views of the mountains and the lakes below. There are many colorful prayer flags that people hang there to spread their prayers with every gust of wind.

On the way down, we will cross the river and continue to the next tea shop for lunch and a short break.

After that, we will walk to the Zutiul Puk Monastery where we will be staying overnight (in a guesthouse).

Day 12 – Trek 3rd day: Zultiul Puk-Darchen (14 km/ 8.7 miles). Drive back to Hilsa.

oday will be our shortest and easiest day. We will be walking through a gorgeous valley following the mountain river. Throughout the day we will see the east side of Mt. Kailash.

We will be staying overnight in the hotel in Darchen. (A hot shower available for an additional fee).

At the end of the trek, we will drive to the Tibet-Nepal border and then further to Hilsa.

Overnight in Hilsa.

Day 13 – Fly Hilsa – Simikot – Nepalgunj & Fly back to Kathmandu – Overnight in Kathmandu

Today we will return back to Kathmandu the same way as we traveled to Kailash from Nepal. First, we will return to Hilsa. After that, we will take flights back to Simikot and Nepalgunj and finally, to Kathmandu.

Day 14 – Transfer to Kathmandu Airport

Today you will depart to Kathamndu airport to take a flight back home.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

INCLUDED

  • Two round trip flights in Nepal: from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and from Nepalgunj to Simikot and back
  • Helicopter round trip ride from Simikot to Hilsa and back
  • All necessary Travel Permits to travel in Tibet
  • All accommodations based on double occupancy. Contact us for a quote on a single room supplement
  • Airport pick up and drop off
  • Ground transportation in a clean and comfortable vehicle or taxi
  • English speaking Tibetan guide
  • All entrance fees, tickets to the attraction sites and monasteries outlined in the itinerary

EXCLUDED

  • Passport and Chinese visa fees
  • International airfare to and from China or Nepal
  • Hotel in Kathmandu
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Travel insurance
  • Medical expenses
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Personal expenses: laundry, shopping, phone calls, etc.

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