Kailash Trekking and Overland Tour via Simikot

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu at TIA, a representative of Himalayan Wander Walkers will warmly welcome you to Nepal and will escort you towards your hotel. If your arrival time is in the morning you can do a short tour or you can just relax and walk around the town. Sometimes you have come a few days earlier for a permit. For that, we will let you know when to arrive in Kathmandu and need your original passport.

Overnight: at the hotel set with BB plan.

Visit the world’s heritage sites. Which is the oldest of the three major cities in Kathmandu Valley – famous for its Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples, and you can catch the traditional artisans working with woods, stones, and metals? Today after breakfast we will start the city tour to most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu valley. These landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites; including the historic Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swyambhunath), and the world's largest Buddhists stupa, Bouddhanath. Briefing regarding the trek with two-way question-answer with the trip leader (The Guide).

Overnight: at the hotel set with BB plan.

From Kathmandu, we fly on any domestic carrier to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj, a town in the western Terai, is very close to the Indian border and the Bardia National Park. It is a major transport hub for the western, mid-western, and far-western regions of Nepal. Possibly, on the same day flight to Simikot 2,910 m. If no flight to Simikot on this day, sleep in a hotel in Nepalgunj.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Take the early morning flight 135 miles (218 km.) north to Simikot, the district headquarters of Humla. The town is situated on a ridge overlooking the Humla Karnali River. The flight is spectacular, cruising just over the tops of a mass of snow-covered peaks. If the flight is on-time, arrive before lunch and be met by your friendly trekking crew. Simikot is an atmospheric village, a mix of local Humla and Tibetan culture, and provides endless fascinating opportunities for exploring. It's likely that you will feel the jump in altitude, so take it easy today, making sure you drink plenty of water. After lunch, slowly we shall explore Simikot and the surrounding valley.

Overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Today we start our first day of this beautiful trek with a short climb of about an hour to a little pass just over 3000m. After the pass it’s a long and steep descent to Dharapori; another beautiful town. The trail goes high above the Karnali River, partly through pine forests, passing a few villages. Along the way, you meet local people, both Hindu and Buddhist, sometimes carrying their heavy loads all the way up the steep trail. People from these regions can be really friendly.

Overnight stay will be at Tented Camp.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

It is a rather short walk today. The trail keeps on following the Karnali River, sometimes high on the slope, with the river far below you and sometimes almost level with it. The river finds its way through narrow gorges with high rocky slopes. You pass along fields with mainly barley, buckwheat, rice, and potatoes.

In the afternoon you can relax your muscles in one of the two natural hot springs close to the village. It’s a 30-minute walk, passing Kermi village. Kermi is a small agricultural village and is the first completely Buddhist village on the trail. From Kermi onwards, all the villages are Buddhist. There are two interesting Buddhist monasteries close to Kermi: Laikyo Gompa, a few hundred years old, is about 45 minutes from the campsite and Lhundrup Choeling Gompa, less than half a century old, is about 30 minutes from the campsite. Both are seldom visited by tourists.

Overnight stay will be at Tented Camp.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Today the trail is flat or slightly uphill, passing alongside fields planted with barley and buckwheat. You can see beautiful lizards sunning themselves on rocks. After 2 hours you cross a small pass, after which it is a steep descend of about 20 minutes until you reach a big iron suspension bridge over the Sali River. The walk goes through beautiful pine forests now. Below you, you see the emerald green Karnali river.

Once and a while you meet caravans of mules and Zopke´s (a crossbreed of yak and cow). These are mostly villagers from Simikot and the Nyinba Valley to the east of Simikot. They are going to (or are coming back from) Taklakot, just across the border with Tibet, to buy goods for trading or for personal use.

In and around Yalbang there are so many interesting things to see that it is easy to spend an extra day here. Above the village, there is a beautiful monastery: the Namkha Khyung Dzong Monastery. You notice you are getting near the monastery by a huge stone, with a Tibetan mantra carved on it. The Namkha Khyung Dzong is the biggest monastery in the region, with around 130 monks living there. It belongs to the Nyingmapa lineage, the oldest Buddhist lineage, which is founded by Guru Rinpoche, an important magician of the 7th century. Inside the monastery, you can see a big statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and some smaller statues, among which a statue of Guru Rinpoche. The monastery has a school and a clinic, which you can visit as well. A Buddhist monk will be happy to show you around, after which you will be invited for tea upstairs. At 7 am and 4 pm there is a daily puja (a Buddhist prayer ceremony) that you can attend (please remain silent and sit down along one of the sidewalls, behind the monks)

Overnight stay will be at Tented Camp.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Leaving Yalbang the path goes high above the Karnali River again. After about 20 minutes you pass the little village Yangsar. The path is mostly Nepali Flat; flat parts and sometimes going up, sometimes down. In some parts the path is spectacular and you find yourself walking in a kind of three-sided tunnel. you will notice the environment changing as it is getting rockier and the big pine trees make way for smaller bushes. You cross the Karnali river by a big wooden suspension bridge. The path climbs high above the Karnali River and goes along the upper side of a deep gorge. You see the emerald green Karnali River far below you. Along the way you may meet big flocks of sheep carrying salt, an old trade still existing today. After 3 to 4 hours, you arrive in the charming village of Muchu.

Itʼs an hour's walk to Tumkot. Actually, the main trail doesnʼt pass through Tumkot Village, but some small teahouses and a campsite. The actual village is some 20 minutes south of the trail. Close to the campsite and village lies a very interesting monastery of the Sakya lineage, the Dhungkar Choezom Monastery, one of the most important Sakya monasteries in the Tibetan region.

The monastery lies on a hill, itʼs a 20-30 minutes climb to get there. It is the only Sakya Monastery in Humla, and one of the few monasteries of this lineage in Nepal.

Overnight stay will be at Tented Camp.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

The trail climbs slowly but steadily, with a few steep climbs in between. Pretty soon after leaving Tumkot, you can see the landscape changing: itʼs getting more and more rocky and desolate. The few trees left are low junipers. Part of the trail goes over the dirt road that is being built at the moment. It is still uncertain when and if the road will ever be finished. You cross the small village Pani Palwang, a couple of teahouses along the road, which makes a nice place for a cup of tea or a lunch Yari Valley break. Itʼs another 1 ½ hour to Yari or Thado Dunga, just after Yari.

Overnight stay will be at Tented Camp.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Today you cross the Nara La pass at 4620 meters. Itʼs a long and tiring climb, but the views are your reward! As the trail climbs, the landscape gets more desolate. Trees disappear completely and the landscape looks more and more like Tibet. Sometimes you meet big caravans of mules, Zopke or yaks. The bigger yaks are an especially impressive sight. You pass a few teahouses at Tado Dunga; from here the trail becomes steeper. Itʼs still 2 hours climbing to the pass, if there happens to be snow it will take a bit longer. At about half an hour from the pass, you cross a few big tents (tent hotels, serving foods and drinks). You can see the Nara La pass in the distance, but due to the altitude, it is still a hard climb to get there. You recognize the pass by the pile of stones (it brings good luck to add one!) and the strings of Tibetan prayer flags, carrying the prayers far away with the strong wind. You have breathtaking views ahead into Tibet and back towards Yari far below. On the other side of the pass, it looks like you are in Tibet.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Today we drive for about 3 hours to the Toyo Village and with views to the stunning Mt Kailash, we pass between the fearsome Rakshas Tal and sacred Lake Manasarovar. The two lakes are linked by a channel called Ganga chu. On rare occasions water flows through this channel from Lake Manasavor to Rakshas Tal; this is said to augur well for the Tibetan people. The two bodies of water are associated with the conjoined sun and moon a power symbol of Tantric Buddhism.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Explore around Manasrover lake and rest.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

This morning we set off toward Mt Kailash for Tarboche the base for the saga Dawa festival and the starting point of our kora around Mt. Kailash. Tarboche is marked by a tall flagpole adorned with thousands of multi-colored prayer flags and Khata ( white scarf) strung out in radiating lines from the pole. This morning we meet our team of yaks and Tibetan Yak herders who will escort us around the Kora. From Tarboche we walk up the Lha Chu Valley through beautiful green meadows and streams with Mt. Kailash towering above us. We follow the beautiful turquoise 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 we reach the 13th-century monastery at Dira-Puk.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

We now leave the Lha Chu Valley and enter the Drolma Chu Valley, heading up towards a high pass, the Drolma La (5630m) which is the highest point in our trek. It's a tough climb to the summit which is festooned with prayer flags but from there it is all downhill or flat to Zutul-Phuk, with views of one of the highest lakes in the world, the breathtaking Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion.

Our trail descends to the flat fields of Zutul-Puk which houses a monastery and several fascinating caves. These caves are popular for meditation, with Milarepaʼs cave being one of them with Milarepaʼs footprints and elbow prints believed to be imprinted in its walls. We camp tonight at Zutul-Puk.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Drive along the Tsang Po river (Brahmaputra} the tour show you views on the Dolpo,  Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri massive and on the north side of the Kingdom of Mustang of Nepal Himalaya ranges.

Overnight at tented camp.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

After breakfast Drive to Kerung. Enjoy Grandview of Mt Shishapangma(8021mt High) Gauri Shankar and other high mountains from Gurung La Pass(5050mt.high) Dongpa. Overnight at the hotel.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

Overnight stay will be at Guest House.

Meal: full-board, three times a day.

From Kerung, you cruise down to the border town Rasuwagadi Nepalese border where you bid farewell to your Tibetan guide and driver and hike down to the Nepalese Immigration Control where you will be met by your Nepalese escorts. After completing the re-entry formalities you continue the scenic drive to Kathmandu which, depending on road and weather conditions, should take about 7-8 hours.

Overnight at Hotel.

Meal: Breakfast and lunch.

A day for shopping and relaxation after a long journey.

Overnight at hotel with Breakfast.

Farewell dinner.

We are saying goodbye as your journey to Nepal comes to an end today. If you have more time you can do some shopping or sightseeing. Approximately 3-4 hours before your scheduled flight a representative from Himalayan Wander walkers will take you to the airport. On your way home you'll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.

Meal: Breakfast.