Mount Kailash Tour Package from Nepal By Helicopter - 14 Nights 15 Days

You will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, where a representative from our team will facilitate you to get through immigration and luggage retrieval. You will transfer straight to your hotel from the airport, driving through the city of Kathmandu Valley.

The drive is through a multi-layered cityscape of old temples, shrines on the roadside, new shops and crammed blocks. You’re guaranteed to leave with an authentic feel for local life as the buzz of motorbikes, rickshaws and pedestrians passes around you.

This afternoon, you will have a brief orientation walk around your hotel. You will pass by old Newari houses, prayer flags, a small grocery store and a local tea shop where you find locals chatting. You’ll also pass courtyards featuring stone water spouts still in use by residents.

In the evening, you will have a thorough briefing on various aspects of your trek (pilgrimage protocol, altitude consciousness, helicopter/airplane logistics and cultural sensitivities in Nepal and Tibet). You are going to carry out the checks of verification and packing. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

You'll start your day early with a guided tour of Pashupatinath Temple, the holiest Hindu site in Nepal, dedicated to Lord Shiva. You will be driven in the morning after breakfast, following the Bagmati River corridor. In the temple grounds, you can see some traditional rituals, such as cremation near the riverbank and chanting from a priest. You will attend a formal darshan and puja with temple priests, in the traditional manner and procedure.

The environment around the temple will expose you to old spiritual practices and the cycle of life and death in Hindu philosophy. You'll see ascetics in saffron robes, families making offerings to ancestors and pilgrims from Nepal and India.

At the end of the ceremonies, you will proceed back to your hotel for lunch and subsequent arrangements for departure on your next flight. You will fly to Pokhara in the afternoon, where you can return to your hotel and enjoy a night. A scenic, short flight will provide stunning views of terraced hills, river valleys and, on clear days, the Himalayan range. Once you're there, you'll check-in to your lakeside hotel and spend the night in Pokhara.

You will leave after breakfast for an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. It's a short mountain flight along the Kali Gandaki River gorge, revealing the spectacular key views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range, including deep canyons. As you land at Jomsom, it is like stepping into a different world with gushing winds, a broad river bed and stone houses.

You will then drive to Muktinath. The drive will be around two or three hours on mountain roads. You'll traverse through the traditional Mustang villages with white-washed houses, prayer walls and rotating praying wheels. You can see locals in Tibetan fashion, driving yaks and goats or working small fields.

Vegetation will become sparse as you ascend, and you'll see nothing but soaring cliffs and snow-laden peaks. You will check into your lodge and sleep upon reaching Muktinath. The evening is for acclimatization, a short walk and experiencing the beauty of Mountainside. Overnight stay at a local teahouse at Muktinath.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will trek to the Muktinath Temple for darshan and a puja. The ritual will be led by a priest in the Hindu custom, and you need prayers at the main shrine of Lord Vishnu. You will also walk through the 108 spring water spouts, where pilgrims supposedly bathe despite the cold. Here, you will see that the undying natural flame has great significance for the Hindus and Buddhists.

Acclimatization will be the next thing scheduled in the late morning. You will walk slowly and stay close to the settlement, giving your body some time to adapt to the height. The region will provide clear vistas of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and other arid ridges of the Himalaya. Tibetan influenced ways of life, solid houses of stone and fields of barley can be seen with thatch striped roofs, while prayer flags flap in the high wind.

In the afternoon, you will drive to the Mustang viewpoint. From here, you get a bird's-eye view of the Kali Gandaki Valley with all its barren, raging grandeur and whitewashed snow peaks in the distance. In the evening, you will drive down to Jomsom. You will stay overnight in Jomsom after checking in.

You will start your day early by catching a short flight from Jomsom Airport to Pokhara after breakfast today. During the flight, you retrace your path following the incredible Kali Gandaki Gorge. You will once more see dramatic differences in weather, since the terrain to your left is dry trans-Himalayan and then green, more hospitable hills below. You will head straight to the domestic terminal once landed from Pokhara for your flight back to Kathmandu.

Pokhara to Kathmandu takes you over terraced hills, river systems and scattered hill towns. As you near Kathmandu Valley, expanding urban developed areas are surrounded by green ridgelines. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

The rest of the afternoon is free to relax, re-pack your bags and get ready for the Tibet tour. The guide will double-check the permits, travel documents and altitude medication schedule. In the evening, you will receive a comprehensive briefing on the helicopter transfer process, border formalities and high altitude journey in Tibet. You will sleep in Kathmandu so you can rest before going into the hills.

Your day will start early in Kathmandu as you head over to the heliport for an onward helicopter flight toward the northern border. The flight to Kodari takes you across deep river valleys, forested hills and small mountain villages. You can expect rocky landscape, suspension bridges and landslide-inducing slopes that serve to reinforce the remoteness of the area.

After landing at the Kodari border point, our ground team provides support to finish up Nepal's exit formalities. Upon entering the Tibet Autonomous Region, entry formalities will be presided over by Chinese immigration authorities. You will then drive to Zhangmu, Nyalam or Kerung, depending on the road conditions.

Your drive will take you higher and higher. Traffic is nonexistent as your route takes you up through narrow mountain roads with deep gorges and high cliffs. Prayer flags, mani walls and grazing yaks are what you will see in this part of Tibet. Upon reaching your designated town, you will check into the hotel and stay overnight.

You will start the next day, following an early breakfast and health check to ensure that you have acclimatized. The drive to Saga will lead you further into the Tibetan Plateau, over wide highways snaking through enormous open spaces. 

As you trek back on rising ridges to Nyalam or Kerung, the views will change from the sharp valleys of these mountains to open, high ground. In the distance, you'll see snow-tipped peaks, braided rivers and long stretches of desolate land molded by wind and cold.

During the drive, you will visit small settlement camps of nomadic Tibetan who blue tents made from yak hair or low houses. You will also see yaks and sheep grazing on the grasslands tended by nomadic shepherds whose traditional dress is of wool. You will notice little roadside monasteries and colourful prayer flags at passes in the mountains, evidence of the long-established Buddhist culture of the area.

You'll take breaks at resting, drinking and photo opportunities. Check into the hotel upon reaching the small but significant transportation hub of Saga. Keep it easy the night as well, to allow your body to acclimate to this higher elevation. You'll have dinner and spend the night in Saga.

You will leave Saga in the morning today, as you are looking at one of the longest driving days of your trip. The road stretches west over an empty Tibetan plateau, with open plains stretching out to far-off mountain ranges and salt lakes sparkling in the high-altitude sun. And the vast distances of the landscape provide a deep feeling of solitude and inner peace.

You will cross several high passes enroute adorned with prayer flags and stone cairns. You’ll meet Tibetan truck drivers, pilgrims journeying by car and nomads shuffling livestock across the steppe. The life here seems basic and strong, forged by altitude, weather and centuries-old traditions.

Near here, the sacred land of Mount Kailash will come into sight as you approach Darchen. On clear days, you will have your first far-off sighting of the mountain’s special pyramid-shaped summit. This will be a significant experience on the spiritual portion of our trip.

At Darchen, you will check into a guesthouse or hotel, where you will stay at a hotel overnight.

You will rise early and take a drive to the sacred Lake Mansarovar -only a short distance away from Darchen. On the way to the lake, the views will open up into a broad basin ringed by snowy peaks. Mansarovar's water is so clear that it mirrors the sky and mountains to give a highly spiritual feeling.

Upon your arrival, you'll be accompanied by the priests for puja and havan as per Hindu tradition. You'll make prayers on the side of the lake while Buddhist pilgrims chant and meditate in nearby monasteries, underscoring the fact that this area is a shared place of reverence. There will be an atmosphere of quiet meditation and contemplation.

After your rituals, you will take a parikrama of Mansarovar Lake by surface, and it is about 32 Kms. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Darchen, about 80 km in total and stay overnight at a hotel.

You will start your day early in the morning in Darchen after breakfast, followed by one last trekking briefing. From here, you will drive a short way to Yam Dwar, the ancient entrance to Mount Kailash. Here you will see devout pilgrims praying before they embark on the holy circumambulation.

Then, you will hike from Yam Dwar to Dirapuk Monastery on a clearly marked path. The route traverses glacial streams and rocky terrain with continuing vistas of Mount Kailash's north face. You will walk at a moderate speed to ensure good acclimatization. Along the path, you will encounter pilgrims from Tibet, India, Nepal and Bhutan; a large proportion of them doing so with full-body prostrations as a form of religious worship.

You'll pass plain tea shops run by local Tibetans with basic food and a place to stay. In the late afternoon, you'll arrive in Dirapuk (below the north face of Mount Kailash). The stunning vertical cliffs and the icy ridges will become part of its skyline. Overnight stay at Dirapuk; you will have dinner and rest there.

Today is going to be the toughest day of your trek. Following the light meal, you will begin to ascend towards Dolma La Pass. The route can become steep, taking you through the rocky and icy terrain. You will hike slowly and patiently, making sure to drink and take in electrolytes to avoid the risks of altitude sickness. As you reach the pass, you can see prayer flags, frozen streams and the Gauri Kund Lake far below.

You will have a brief rest for prayers and descents at the highest point of Kailash Kora, Dolma La. From here, you will descend all the way back down to the floor of the valley. There, the landscape will gently incline, as paths widen and open fields replace some of the steeper slopes. You will then continue hiking to Zuthul Puk ('the cave of miracles'), the meditation site of Milarepa.

You will reach your vehicle near Zuthul Puk, the second tea shop area on return and drive back to Darchen. Upon reaching there, you can settle in at your accommodation for the night with a hot meal and a good night's sleep.

After breakfast at Darchen, you will drive towards Serlung Monastery, situated in a secluded valley of Mt. Kailash. The pass will traverse harsh terrain, with few human inhabitants, to evoke isolation and profound spiritual presence.

In Serlung Monastery, you will see ancient murals, prayer halls and monastic inhabitants following the exact old monastic schedules. The monastery will provide close views of Mount Kailash from its seldom-visited sides. After sightseeing, you will drive to Asthapad, considered to be where Jain Tirthankara Rishabhdeo attained moksha. This area will afford a panorama of Kailash's western and northern sides.

Throughout the day, you'll pass pilgrims performing inner kora rituals. gestures; some in silence or prayer. There will be an experience of rawness, sacredness; it's a world defined by belief rather than tourism. In the afternoon, you will trek back to Darchen and stay overnight there.

After breakfast in Darchen, you depart for Saga for the long drive. The journey is a return to the dramatic Tibetan highlands with one final chance to witness the open lands that this area is known for. There will be your last glimpse of Mt Kailash as you drive back to Darchen.

The drive will involve crossing high-altitude plains, dry riverbeds and isolated villages. Once more, you will meet nomadic Tibetan families in their yak hair tent homes, looking after herds and moving with the seasons. 

Their way of life will be one by which they make the most of living 4 miles high in a barren environment. Prayer flags, chortens and roadside mani walls will never be far off, giving testament to the spiritual nature of much of the country.

You'll take breaks to eat, rest and hydrate. After arriving at Saga in the evening, you will check into your hotel, where you will stay overnight.

After breakfast, you will leave Saga and start descending toward Nyalam or Kerung, depending on the road status & border conditions. The drive will progress from a relatively flat high plateau to increasingly narrow valleys with steeper sides. It will be evident that things are becoming more oxygen-rich, with shrubs and alpine grass appearing by the road.

The journey provides snowcapped peaks, deep ravines and rushing rivers slicing through the mountains. You will pass quaint little Tibetan towns which are dominated by the rhythm of trade, transport and monastic life. Local folks taking kora around temples, wheels spinning, trading on the road.

By late afternoon, you will reach Nyalam or Kerung Town. The rest of the day will be for hotel check-in, rest, packing and last-minute border crossing preparation. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

You will start the day early and drive towards the Zhangmu or Kerung border. Descending steeply for the time to come, you can see the road passing through heavy forested slopes and deep ravines, finally leaving behind peaks of Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse. Once at the border, with help from your support crew, you will complete Chinese exit procedures.

Upon entering Nepal, you will be transferred by vehicle to the helicopter landing site at Kodari. You will ride in a helicopter through the rugged countryside and valleys with deep river gorges to the mountain city of Kathmandu.

After arriving at Kathmandu, you will transfer to the hotel and check in. You will have the option to have a farewell meal in the evening. You will stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Your last day will be spent in preparedness for the departure. You'll have free time after breakfast until before the time of your flight. You can also take a small walk around the hotel or do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs like handicrafts, prayer beads or local cloths.

You will be transferred to Tribhuvan Airport on time. The team will help you with the check-in and the check-out. Finally, you will leave Nepal with the memories of varied terrains, revered sites and cultural experiences from Nepal and Tibet.