Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Helicopter

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Duration :- 07 Nights / 08 Days
Destinations Covered :- Taklakot, Simikot, Chui Gompa ,Manasarovar, Tarboche ,Dirapuk, Zuthulphuk , Darchen

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Day 01 FlyNepalgunj - Simikot (2870 m)
Hilsa, walk uphill to Sher and drive to Taklakot (3700 m) 40 km / 90 minutes After early breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your scheduled flight Simikot on Fixed Wing Aircraft. From Simikot, the chartered helicopter will ferry the group to Hilsa which has an unmettalic air-strip. Our sherpa team will assist the group for a short 45 minutes uphill walk to the Tibetan Border city called Sher. Here, our landcruisers would be waiting for us to take the group to Taklakot. Overnight at local guest house in Taklakot.

Day 02 Drive from Taklakot to Chui Gompa, Mansarovar (4560 m) 90 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. drive
After breakfast, drive to to Chui Gompa (4560 m) through a rough terrain. Today is the day of lifetime, as we will have the first sight (darshan) of Holy Mt. Kailash and Holy Lake Manasarovar. Camp on the bank of Holy Mansarover Lake. Overnight in Camp.

Day 03 Mansarovar Parikarma (4520 m) 115 km/ 4 - 5 hrs.
After breakfast, it is a day for Puja & Holy bath in the holy lake. We will be doing Mansarover Parikarma by Jeep (4520 m) 115 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. On the way, we will stop near Trugu Gompa for Holy Bath in Holy Lake Mansarovar. We will be setting seperate bathing tents for changing your clothes. During this parikarma, we will have a picnic lunch on the bank of Holy Lake Mansarovar. Time Permitting visit Chui Gompa.

Day 04 Drive to Tarboche (13 km) and trek to Dirapuk (4860 m) 7 km/ 5 - 6 hrs.
After breakfast, drive approx. 13 Kms. to Tarboche, the trek starting point of Kailash Parikrama. Tarboche is also known as the outer "Asthapath". The first day of our Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail leads us to few ups and downs till we reach our camp/guest house at Dirapuk (4860 m) 7 km/ 5 - 6 hours trek. Camping on the nice grassy meadows with a view of Kailash, north west face. Those not feeling themselves fit to continue parikarma will drive back to Darchen and wait for the Parikarma group to return. Overnight in Camp.

Day 05 Trek to Zuthulphuk (4760 m) 18 km/ 9 - 10 hrs.
Today our circumbulation (Kora) leads to much higher side of the holy path just beneath the Holy Mount Kailash. The walk will bring us to one of the highest point at Drolma La, 5,200 m. before descending to the gradual field towards Zuthulphuk for the overnight stay after 5-6 hours walk. Zuthulphuk (4760 m) 18 km/ 9 - 10 hrs. After early breakfast, group will set off as the sun's rays break over the ridges above. After the footbridge the trail rises up a rocky slope. Take this gently but steadily. It soon reaches a level walk. The peak of Mount Kailash rises to the right and can now be seen linked to a long spur, which joins the eastern ridge. This is the top edge of the glacial valley from which the Lhachu ("Divine River") flows. This day is the climax of this holy journey & is the most difficult day of our journey.

One has to pass through Drolma La Pass - 5680m - highest altitude on this tour. Physically it is the most arduous day. At the pass is a large boulder depicting Tara, festooned with prayer flags. Here too Tibetans leave a memento of themselves such as a tooth, a lock of hair or even a personal snapshot. After perhaps 30 minutes, we descend a steep, rock-strewn path to the valley below. Just below the pass is Lake Tu-je Chenpo Dzingbu (Gauri Kund) i.e. "The Pool of Great Compassion". Take great care now because it is easy to sprain your ankle or worse. You must negotiate steep staircases down to a snowfield. The only way down is to jump from boulder to boulder across a large rock fall. On the ridge above is a formations known as the Lekyi Ta-ra ("Axe of Karma"), as though one's moment ripen in an accident, suffering or death. A final steep descending staircase brings you to the valley floor.

From here it is still about 5 hours to the day's destination with no shelter in between. It is vitally important to remain on the right hand side of the river, the West bank. If not, you will get trapped, unable to cross it. The walk now becomes very pleasant and relaxing (as long as the weather is clear and there is no howling gale.) The path follows the gentle slope of the valley over grassy fields and clear brooks for several Kilometers before it narrows and turns further south to merge with another valley before reaching Zuthulphuk, the "Miracle Cave" of Milarepa. Overnight stay in the Second Camp. Overnight in Camp.

Day 06 Zuthulphuk to Darchen trek 10 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. & drive to Mansarovar
The morning can be spent exploring the caves and visiting the temples and shrine that has been built around Milarepa's cave. A married elderly couple supervises the temple, which is usually an active residence for over half a dozen Tibetan devotees, helpers, or relatives who continuously busy themselves with the tasks of maintaining the buildings. One imagines Milarepa's disciples meditating here.

Many of the caves contain meditation platforms, self-contained by dry stonewalls which divide them from their cooking partitions and entrance areas. It is well worth the short climb up to these caves before beginning the final stage of the trek. The winding gradual tracks finally ends our holy pilgrimage walk 10 km/ 4 - 5 hrs. Once we reach at the trek end point near Darchen. (Those who could not do parikarma would be waiting to welcome other group members at this point). Our land cruisers will be waiting to take the group to the guest house in Darchen or at Holy Lake Mansarovar for overnight camping. Drive to Manasarovar. Overnight at Guest House Or Camp.

DAY 07 Drive Mansarovar to Taklakot (3700 m) 90 km / 4 - 5 hrs.
Take a final dip in Holy Lake Mansarovar and drive to Taklakot through undulating terrain. Overnight at Guest House.

DAY 08 Drive Taklakot to Sher (40 km / 90 minutes drive), Trek down till Hilsa (30 minutes trek) and fly to Simikot - Nepalganj - Kathmandu Drive to Sher and descend down to Hilsa (30 minutes trek). The Helicopter will ferry the group to Simikot (or to Nepalgunj depending upon the availability) and from there we will be taking scheduled flight to Nepalganj. Upon arrival at Nepalganj, you are at your own.