Kailash Yatra by Helicopter from Kathmandu
One of the toughest trails of the world, the holy trek to Mount Kailash can possibly be luxurious with the facilitation of an 11 days’ trip of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Helicopter. For those pilgrims who were not able to accomplish this expedition due to the presence of inadequate time can now be a part of the same through a chartered helicopter’s ride that is meant especially for those physically weak elders who are not in a condition to participate in this trek by foot. In this package, the pilgrims will be travelling from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj by flight, then from Nepalgunj to Simikot by a different flight and then finally from Simikot to Hilsa by a fascinating Helicopter ride.
Day-1– Arrive Kathmandu
Arrive at Tribhuvan International airport in Kathmandu to kick start your spiritual encounter. At the airport meet with Max Holidays company representative for assisted transfer to the hotel. Check-in at your hotel for night stay.
Note-
Visa for NRI and Foreigners : For entering into Nepal visa can be obtained on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu against the visa fee of approx US$35. In order to obtain Chinese visa, we need to submit the original passport with application form, coloured recent photograph and visa fee (included) to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu only. The Chinese Embassy takes 2-3 working days to issue such visa. Therefore non-indian travelers must plan their arrival in Kathmandu accordingly
Day-2– Kathmandu Sightseeing & Fly Nepalgunj
Start your day with breakfast at your hotel and then visit the renowned Pashupatinath Temple followed by a visit to Jal Narayan Temple and Guheshwari Temple. Later our representative will transfer the group to Kathmandu domestic airport terminal for boarding your flight to Nepalgunj. After one hour flight arrive at Nepalgunj and board a bus for taking you to your pre-booked hotel. Meet your fellow travellers in the hotel who started their journey from Lucknow to join this group. In the evening a short briefing session shall be organized for the group where our KailashYatra guide and expert will share their experiences with you and will answer to your queries related to KailashMansarovar travel. Dinner and night stay will be at the hotel in Nepalgunj.
Day-3– Fly Nepalgunj To Simikot
The flight between Nepalgunj to Simikot is a very complicated part of this trip as the operation of those small aircrafts completely depends on the weather conditions. The weather keeps changing very frequently on this route and it sometimes causes short or long delay in flight operation to and from Simikot. We shall reach Nepalgunj airport early in the morning as directed by the local guide to ensure that we can board the earliest possible flight to Simikot. As this 45 minutes flight lands the small airport of Simikot you will see our representative waiting for you to take you to the guesthouse booked for you. Our representative will coordinate with the airline for your check-in luggage and will ensure delivery of your luggage to your place of stay at Simikot. Rest of the time will be free at Simikot to acclimatize with the weather conditions.
Important Remark : Based on our past experience with weather problems, we have added a night stay at Simikot prior to reaching Tibet. If weather and situation permits, the local representative may organize helicopter trip to Hilsa or Taklakot today itself
Day-4-Fly Simikot To Hilsa By Helicopter. Drive To Taklakot
Take early breakfast (or packed snacks) and reach Simikot airport to board your Helicopter to Hilsa. At Hilsa we have to walk through the swinging bridge to cross the river and reach the other side where we will be completing formalities at Nepal immigration. Then we cross the border by walk and board our Chinese bus which takes us to China immigration office situated just 5 minute drive away. A short 22 kms drive will take you to your hotel at Taklakot. Before reaching Taklakot we have to again go through customs check at Burang custom office. After a tiring day you have reached to Taklakot situated at a height of 4025 meters. If you suffer feel breathlessness or any other symptoms of high altitude sickness, please do not panic and contact our tour guide for seeking his suggestions. Health issues among the travelers are quite common here. Please eat properly, drink good amount of water and juices, follow the instructions of the guide and do not expose yourself to strong wind. Dinner and stay will be at the hotel in Taklakot.
Important Remark :Hilsa is a deserted border village of Nepal with extreme inhospitable climatic conditions. It is compulsory for the group members to cross Nepal-China border together as all will be travelling under a group permit & visa. In the event of delay in crossing the border due to any reason one must spend time relaxing, doing yoga meditation or in other personal activities. The delay in crossing the border, if takes place, might cause health issues as the dusty air, scorching heat or cold winds here are tough to bear. Stay at Hilsa is not planned but if occur for longer than a day, we might face shortage of eatables and other living facilities. Please carry your water bottles, light eatables, dry fruits, energy bars etc with you and remain patient. Cooperate with the crew members as they try their best to offer you best possible comfort in such inhospitable place.
Day-5-Rest At Taklakot
This day is scheduled to be free at Taklakot (Burang) to acclimatize. Do nothing beside rest at Taklakot and stay at your hotel. For some short walk you may also go outside to visit nearby markets. If someone wish to buy stick, gloves, cap/hat, shoes, empty water bottles, fruits or other stuff like this for the trip, Taklakot market has few shops available. The shops get close by the time it gets dark, therefore if you want to visit the market, please organize your schedule accordingly
Day-6– Taklakot To Lake Manasarovar
We have very important day today as we are heading to the holiest place at Lake Manasarovar. After breakfast start drive in the bus to Lake Mansarovar. Approx one and a half hours drive through beautiful mountains and terrains will bring you to Lake Rakshas Taal which is situated just near to Lake Mansarovar. Rakashs Taal is also known as the ‘Lake of Demons’ or ‘Ravan Taal’. From here you will get the glimpse of Mount Kailash standing tall and strong among the other nearby mountains. We will stop here at Rakshas Taal to capture the beauty of nature in our eyes and camera and then again head to Lake Mansarovar. A short drive brings us to Chui Gompa, our destination for the night near Lake Mansarovar. Rest of the time free to explore the beautiful Mansarovar Lake, taking holy bath, performing rituals and prayers on the bank of the river and other personal activities. We shall organize for a shower tent for the ladies on the bank of the lake. You may find a good place near the lake for puja/havan and performing rituals as per your customs. Meals and stay will be at the guesthouse.
Important Remark : Kindly take a note that here the only source for water is the holy lake Manasarovar. This is one of the highest fresh water lakes in the world and its water is considered to be good for the purification of body and soul. This natural water is used in cooking, bathing, washing clothes etc and boiled / hot water of the lake is served for drinking in the event when we have shortage of packaged water . If you are not comfortable with this you should use water purifier tablets.
Mansarovar Lake in the night :Mansarovar Lake is just few minute walk away from your guesthouse. You may go to the lake in the night to explore its beauty under the moon. There are many myths and stories associated with the night view of the holy lake which the travelers may experience by themselves. Though it is safe to go out late in the night but it is advisable to remain in a group and take one of your guides/sherpas with you for help.
Day-7-1st Day Kora/Parikrama of Mt. Kailash, 12 Kms Trek To Dirapuk
Today morning, we will wake up early freshen up and take drive to Darchen which is just 35 kms away from Chiu Gompa. Darchen is the major administrative hub of Kailash region with basic development in infrastructure and facility and also considered as the base camp of Mt. Kailash from where the circumambulation (parikrama) around Mt. Kailash begins. Don’t forget to fill your bottle with hot water and carry your snacks packet made available by our crew in the morning. All pilgrims have opportunity to pass through Yama Dwar before the trek commences. After visiting Yam Dwar continue trekking on foot or hire a horse/pony to ride. (those who wish to hire horse/pony and porter may do it directly with the help of the Tibetan guide on direct payment basis. They will be given name coupon to choose the horse & porter and the same horse or porter will accompany you throughout the trek). After completing the 12 kms gradual trek, passing through beautiful rivers and grassland you will find a huge majestic black colour mountain standing high, on the right side of your trek. This is the North Face of Mount Kailash. Don’t miss to take some photographs and selfie and capture this great sight in your eyes and camera. On reaching Dirapuk check into the guesthouse where stay and dinner is organized for this night. The night is going to be very cold and oxygen level will be low, therefore it is advisable that you take rest as much as possible to maintain good health for next day trek.
Note : Those who wish to change their schedule and do not want to go for trekking will stay at Darchen and pay directly for their accommodation, food and other additional expences. However if health permits they should visit Yam Dwar and have close darshan of Mt. Kailash.
Optional visit :CharanSparsh (5475 m is 3 kms trek from Dirapuk. One can consult with tour guide to take this short trek to touch feet of Mt. Kailash. This is not a part of the package and depends on guide’s decision. (Distance 3 kms / 01 hour / tough trek)
Day-8– 2nd Day Parikrama, 22 Kms Trek To Zuthulpukh Via Gauri Kund
Wake up very early morning before dawn and if the weather is clear don’t miss to witness the glory of ‘Golden Kailash’ as the first sunlight kisses the top of the mount. After this unforgettable experience now time to move ahead and start our trek to Zuthulpuk. The 22 kms long trek is the longest and toughest day of the entire Yatra as you will have to pass through the highest point (5630m) at Dolma La pass. On the way before Dolma La you will see site showing footprints of Milarepa and Shiva Tsal (The place where pilgrims leave behind their belongings, donate a drop of blood or a lock of hair to represent the act of leaving this life behind and wishing for the end of a miserable life. In Tibetan Buddhist religion it is said that you will get it (whatever you offered here at Shia Tsal) in heaven after your death. Continue to climb up towards Dolma-La pass (5630m) and then steep down to reach GauriKund. We should cross the high pass as early as possible before strong wind starts.
After crossing Dolma-La, you will see Gauri Kund (also referred sometimes as Parvati Kund) at downhill in the right side of your path. Then further walking down for a while, we will take break for pack lunch near a tea stall. The downhill trail from the top of Dolma La is not easy due to rocky & loose stones all around so we should walk very carefully and remain with the group for any help we may need. Then after, you will catch soon flat trail that reach to Zuthulphuk Gompa (4790m). In Zuthulphuk, we will stay at the lodge or fixed tent with bed, bed sheet & warm blanket. We will take quick dinner at and go to warm bed to relax.
Important Remarks : Those who do not wish to continue trek further to Zuthulpuk from Dirapuk will trek back to Darchen. At Darchen their extra expense for accommodation, food etc is to be taken care by themselves. Our guide may assist them in organizing their stay at Darchen in hotel, subject to availability. are not doing parikrama will still wait at Darchen and relax or meditate.
Important Note : About 3-4 kms trek (ascend and descend) near Dolma La pass is steep and rocky and it is the toughest part of this trip. Also it is not advisable to go down to touch GauriKund as it may be risky. While starting the trek to Zuthulpuk, don’t forget to fill up your flask with hot water made ready by our kitchen team in the morning.
Day-9– 3rd Day Trek 06 Kms To Darchen, Drive To Taklakot
Breakfast will be served near the guesthouse/camp and one can enjoy the morning time in exploring the caves, visiting the temples and shrine built around. Here you will see a married old couple supervising the temple. The temple is a residence for over half a dozen Tibetan devotees, helpers or relatives who keep themselves busy with the maintenance of the buildings. The cave also contains meditation platforms. Climbing up to these caves before ending the final trek of the holy Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is worth. We will trek for about 06 kms from Zuthulpuk and reach Chongdo where our vehicles are here other group members (who did not attempted the trek or came back from Dirapuk) are waiting. Continue drive to Taklakot for night stay.
Day-10- Taklakot To Nepalgunj Via Simikot, Connect With Kathmandu Flight
After early breakfast 45 kms drive towards China-Nepal border. Cross the border by walk and after completing immigration formalities reach Hilsa, Nepal side. Take 25 minutes helicopter flight to Simikot and then connect with flight to Nepalgunj. On reaching Nepalgunj get a connecting flight to Kathmandu
Optional Trip : The air sectors Hilsa-Simikot-Nepalgunj is very complicated and totally weather permitted. Delay or rescheduling or interruption in flights on this sector is a well- known problem of this route. If, due to climatic conditions, shortage or rescheduling of flights or any other reason, you get stuck at Hilsa please note that we have backcountry accommodation here, natural water, limited food and limited living facilities. Health issue, especially with old age people are quite possible, therefore it is advisable to stay with the group so that help may reach you in the event of necessity.
Additional night stay at Hilsa/Simikot/Nepalgunj on return are not paid or included in the above tour package and if need occur, additional stay and food will be payable directly by the travelers to Nepalese leader. There is no refund or adjustment possible for any unutilized stay, food or any other service. We provide first aid facilities but all other additional medical expenses in the event of hospitalization and/or emergency evacuation charges are to be paid by the pilgrim/traveler only.
Day-11– Depart From Kathmandu
Intime you will be transferred to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International airport to board your flight back to your hotel/next destination.
•INCLUSIONS :
1. Transport during the tour as per itinerary.
2. All pickup & drop at one point.
3. All accommodation on double/triple/quad sharing.
4. Accommodation for as per itinerary.
5. Driver’s TADA.
6. All fuel charges.
7. All state taxes.
8. Complimentary use of recreational activities.
9. Hot and Cold Water.
10. Doctor on call in the hotel. (Charge Payable)
11. 10% Discount on Laundry services.
12. Assistance provided by the driver throughout the tour.
•EXCLUSIONS :
1. Camera fees, alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages, bottled water and starters.
2. Services of the vehicle on leisure days and for sightseeing not included in the itinerary.
3. Entrance fees at all tourist attractions or any activities fees apart from inclusions.
4. Peak Season Charges.
5. Medical and Travel Insurance.
6. All personal expenses, optional tours and extra meals.
7. Anything not mentioned under “Inclusions”.
8. GST 5%.
9. The company shall not be responsible for any death(i.e import of dead body or anything
accident, natural calamity , delay, or any kind of theft, During the tour.
10. Any increase in Govt. Taxes, fuel prices and any new applicability of new taxes from the
Government.
11. Any upgradation in the hotel room category.