The Kailash Charansparsh tour is a Hindu pilgrimage to Kailash. It is a top-selling pilgrimage tour in Tibet. Every year, thousands of Hindu followers come from the USA, Canada, England, Singapore, etc.
We are the local Tibetan travel agency operating a Hindu pilgrimage tour to Kailash for people who hold a foreign rather than an Indian passport.
Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar have deep roots in Hindu mythology and are believed to be sacred. The clockwise circumambulation of Mt. Kailash’s 52km yatra is supposed to bring purity to one life and is the destination for many Hindus for pilgrimage. This unique pilgrimage itinerary to Kailash includes the Charansparsh – to touch the north face of Kailash.
The trip begins from Lhasa with two days in the city for acclimatising to sightseeing. The tour includes visits to cultural heritage sites such as the Potala Palace, Norbulingka Palace, and other monasteries. The tour then travels westward to Saga to reach the holy lake Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash. After three days of circumambulation, you will drive back to Lhasa and fly home.
Lhasa Gongkar Airport (Google Map)
Upon arrival at the Lhasa Gongkar airport / Lhasa train station, our client will be warmly welcomed by our Tibetan local tour guide and the driver with the traditional Tibetan white scarf. Our Kailash Charansparsh tour starts today for the next 12 days.
Driving for about an hour from the airport to Lhasa and half an hour from the train station to the hotel. After check-in at the hotel, the guide will be briefing the tour itineraries for the next day. Then the rest of the day will be your own to relax in the hotel to acclimatize to the high altitude.
Today we visit the stunning Potala Palace – the landmark of Lhasa and Norbu Lingka Palace. Potala is the winter palace that was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. Provides amazing views of the entire city, and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand staterooms, and chapels.
Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama. During the Shoton Festival, there are crowds of people celebrating the festival and picnicking lasts long for a week.
Today is the scenic drive for 5hours along the Brahmaputra river till Shigatse – the second largest city in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Today is the first long drive on this Hindu pilgrimage tour to Kailash. We will cover 275km.
At Shigatse, we will visit the Tashi Lhunpo monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama. Nowadays is the spiritual seat for the successive Panchen Lamas. We recommend doing Kora around Tashi Lhunpo Monastery if times allow because of having an incredible panorama view of the valley and impressive Dzong (fortress) and also a good practice hiking at this altitude.
It’s a whole day drive from Shigatse to Saga crossing 9 passes at the elevation around 5000m. Most of the road we drive through nomad areas because we are gaining altitude and wonderful great natural mountains and rivers from western Tibet along the way.
Driving along the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) and the Himalayan chain continues over the 5100m high pass Mayum La to the holy lake Manasarovar. Manasarovar is one of the sacred lakes where the Hindu pilgrims usually take depth in the water before the Kailash kora because it is said that will purify the sins after depth in the lake.
Crossing Mayum La pass, you will see for the first time – The summit pyramid of Mt. Kailash after the long drive from Lhasa. We will be doing the Mansarovar Parikrama by the local bus before we reach Chiu Town.
Today we have almost half a day of free time at Lake Mansarovar for Poja and enjoying the view of Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash. Just 30 minutes hike up to the Chiu monastery, where the master Padmasambhava meditated for 7 days and 7 nights in the 8th century.
This visit is impossible to miss because this hike is ideal preparation for the strenuous Kailash Kora exceeding the 5627m high Dolma La pass. After lunch, we drive about an hour to Darchen and start to prepare for the big day.
The Highlight of the trip is three days of conversion (52km) of the sacred Mt. Kailash. The trek start from today and 8kms after leaving the Darchen we reach the spot Tarpoche, the large flag pole in honour of Buddha at the entrance to Kora where the potters and Yaks waiting for the guest too. The walk for today is easy as ascend up to the altitude of 4800m – Dirapuk Monastery from there we have the best and most beautiful stunning view of the north face of Mt. Kailash.
Today is the special day of our Kailash Charansparsh tour. It is the most blissful day of this Hindu pilgrimage tour to Kailash. We are trekking up to the North Face of Kailash as close as possible. Though the day is the holiest day of our trip, the walk is a bit tough with ice and snow close to the Kailash. So our team will take those who are suitable to walk.
Today we set out from Dirapuk monastery early morning to reach the top the Dolma La pass before the sunrise, 6km ascending up to the Dolma La pass and decent 4km is the toughest part out of the whole trek. After that, the trek route is more or less flat and down for 10km to reach Zutrulpuk Monastery, the cave where the Milarepa reside.
After breakfast, we visit the Zutrulpuk monastery – the cave of wonders where the Yogi Milarepa once meditated. The distance is only 12km till Darchen and is the easiest part of the trek. Having lunch in Darchen and we drive back to Saga.
Today we drive to Kyirong crossing the Gongtang La pass (5230m) about 4hours. After the pass, we will drive continuously down to town with the elevation of 2700m. The town was established as a port of entry from Rasuwa Fort in Nepal by the Government of China in 1961 and now the Kyirong is an important town in the cross border trade between China and Nepal.
In the morning your Guide Driver will drop you off at the border bridge between Nepal and Tibet. After the border formalities, you need to request to walk for 50m to Nepal side. From then our Kailash Charansparsh Tour in Tibet officially end. Have a safe journey after that
I had gone to Tibet twice withe the company The guide Mr. Migma helped me alot with my trekk in those 2 years, August 2016 & August 2017. He helped me recover from my mountain sickness in 2016 and guided me by my side in the Kora walk to Mt Kailash. In 2017 , he guided me with advises and instructions. Even he was not my guide in 2017, his adviced guided me through out the Kora in Mt Kailash. Today , when I reflect back those two trips to Tibet and Mt Kailash . It was not about God Shiva or Lord Padmasambhava. Tibetians believe , the Kora no matter how hard it is , it is done for the benefit and peace of others . We endure during the walk, we see beautiful scenery along the way . All is only possible with the help of the guide whom is able to motivate us and guide us with emotional happiness during the entire Kora . Mr.Migma is a wonderful guide , whom is sincere and hardworking . He ensures we save money and get the best out of the trip . I would like to thank the Tibetan company for providing me with the life changing experience , which changed my life .