Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Helicopter Tour – 14 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

Following your arrival time at Tribhuwan International Airport, our company representatives will be there for your warm welcome and to shift you towards the hotel. In the evening we plan on gathering at our office to discuss the upcoming trek. and transfer to Hotel.

Day 02: Visa processing day

Today you will visit our office for the further Visa Process (max 1 to 2 hrs in our office for paperwork) after that you can visit the Thamel (center of the tourist industry) 

Day 03: Leisure Day in Kathmandu 

Day 04: Visit Pashupatinath Temple, and Budhanilkantha Temple, and fly to Nepalgunj (55 min flight)

Morning visit to Pashupatinath Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva and is also one of the 8 UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites of the Kathmandu Valley. We then visit Budhanilkantha Temple - The House of the Sleeping Lord Vishnu located on the north of Kathmandu Valley situated at the base of  Shivapuri Hills. It is a remarkable huge statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on a bed of coiled snakes which is said to be sculpted from a single block of black stone. After lunch, we depart to the airport and fly to Nepalgunj. Overnight in hotel.

Day 05: Morning fly to Simikot(3000m) afternoon visit Shiva Mandir

We fly to Simikot early in the morning and visit SHiva Mandir in the afternoon. It is located on the southeastern edge of the Simkot ledge – literally on the edge of town. It is not a big or fancy site as such, but a very pleasant goal for an afternoon or early evening stroll. You have a view to the north of the 5-Peak Peak (for lack of a better name), above 6000 meters, and a view down to Humla Karnali river a thousand meters below. Overnight in Hotel

Day 04: Fly to Hilsa(3640m) and drive to Puran(4755m)and rest (By Helicopter 20 min fly & drive 1hr)

After breakfast we fly to Hilsa by Helicopter and from the Hilsa border of Nepal to Tibet, we drive to the Tibetan terrain after crossing the bridge at the border. There will be a guide from the Tibetan side who will lead us to Purang, where we can explore the monasteries. This is a different experience to walk in this high altitude land. Overnight at Purang.

Day 05: Drive to Manasarovar Lake (4590m), Start Parikrama of Mansarovar ( 3hrs drive)

After breakfast and a brief halt, we will head on the way to the shore of Lake Rakhash Tal from where you get the first Darshan of Mt. Kailash. After the holy bath, puja, etc we will then continue to drive to Lake Manasarovar (4573m) and take Parikrama of the Lake by bus. Stay in the guesthouse.

Day 06: Drive to Darchen (45 min drive)

After morning Puja and all we head towards Darchen(Kailash Base Camp 4575m) after Lunch. We will take a short evening walk around Darchen town and stay overnight in the Hotel.

Day 07: Drive to Yam Dwar (4750m)and trek to Diraphuk (5210m) 25 min drive and 5-6hrs trek

Early morning drive to Tarboche (4606 m), visit Yam Dwar. We will meet yaks (to carry food & necessary equipment) and horse (if you have booked one for yourself) and proceed trekking to Diraphuk. At the same time, you will see the north face of Mt. Kailash. The distance from Yam Dwar to Diraphuk (4920 m) is about 9 km and it requires approximately 5 to 6 hours. The trail is flat and reasonably easy. Stay in the guesthouse.

Day 08: Diraphuk - Dolma-La Pass (5600m) Gaurikund Zutulphuk (4780m) trek 10-12hrs

Today is the toughest and longest day of this journey to the Dolma Pass (5600 m.), you have to go uphill (at least 4 hours). However, in between, there is a flat portion of the trail. After reaching Dolma Pass, the trail descends to another side of the mountain via Gauri Kunda (also called Parvati Kunda). It is believed that the consort of Lord Shiva, Parvati, takes a bath here. The trail further down from here is rocky. So, you need to be very careful while descending. After reaching down to the valley base (another side), the trail becomes wider and flatter. You will walk for another 6 hours or so to reach Zutulphuk (4790m). Stay in guesthouse

Day 09: Zongdo - Darchen (3hrs trek and 4 hrs drive)

We trek to Zongdo and drive to Darchen, continuing to drive back to the border via Purang. Overnight stay in a guesthouse at Hilsa.

Day 10: Early morning Fly to Simikot– Nepalgunj – Kathmandu

After early morning breakfast we fly back from Simikot– Nepalgunj – Kathmandu and stay overnight in a standard hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 11: Departure Day

On the last day focusing your time, you can go shopping to collect some gifts for your friends or family members.  We help you with your necessary arrangements and pack-ups along with our private vehicle to transfer you to the airport focusing on your departure time. Our representatives will be there to wish you a safe flight and successful steps ahead.

Visa Information

Flying out to Tibet requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit which can both be acquired in Kathmandu with the help of a travel company (Tibet via Nepal). A valid visa for China isn't the same as a Tibet Travel Permit. Those with a Chinese traveler visa will at present need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. The permit is still required for remote foreign travelers traveling to Tibet from the territory of China. To obtain the permit you have to book a guide for your whole trip and pre-organize private transport for trips outside Lhasa. The trip outside Lhasa likewise requires extra permits which are arranged by the travel agent you are going with.

 Passport

All who intend to enter Tibet must hold at least 6 months' valid passport.

Passport - valid for 6 months

Chinese Visa — you can apply for one from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights (who entry from China)

Group Visa — entry from Nepal to Tibet after the Tibet tour traveler can visit China mainland with a valid group visa.

Individual Visa will be canceled when we apply for group visa (if a visa is in the passport)

Tibet Entry Permit — it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is an absolute necessity for outsiders entering Tibet.

A few people who wish to travel to specific areas in Tibet must also obtain:

Travel Permit — it is required when you are planning to move to closed areas in Tibet. These are issued after you land in Tibet.

Military Permit — it is acquired to travel to some militarily sensitive regions.

Weather Information

The weather in Tibet is similar to that of Mainland China, though with lower temperatures due to higher altitudes. Summers have warm days with strong sunshine and cool nights, but summer days can even be chilly at higher elevations. Winters are cold but there isn't all that much snow. Lhasa enjoys a lot of sunshine even in winter. Most Tibet experiences frost at least 6 months of the year. Some high lakes are frozen from October to March. The weather varies a lot from region to region. Lhasa is an ideal destination because it is in a valley area of lower elevation.

Safety Guidelines

We recommend you go through our following safety guidelines and stay tuned with the latest happening.

• Have at least 2 copies of the Tibet Permit.
• Keep your belongings properly.
• When you feel uncomfortable due to altitude change or have any troubles, report to your guide promptly.
• Never rush to visit attractions shortly after you arrive in Lhasa.
• Shop around but avoid undue bargaining with street vendors and never buy wildlife and unknown Tibetan herbal medicine and fake products.
• Take your money and important belongings with you all the time.
• Spend a few days in Lhasa for acclimation and always follow a gradual ascent when traveling to higher places to avoid altitude sickness.
• Refrain from heavy drinking and smoking.
• Respect the religion, and customs and avoid taboos in Tibet.
• Pay special attention to the unique alpine climate (such as sunburn, dramatic temperature change, etc.)
• Keep necessary medicines at the consult of your doctor.
• Never travel alone at night or venture into unknown places without informing your guide.
• In most places, cash is only accepted. Do prepare enough and small changes.
• If an emergency arises, report it to your guide promptly.
• Don’t carry any documents or papers related to Dalai Lama or free Tibet.
• We also recommend not carrying any guidebook to Tibet.

1. Where is Tibet?

Tibet is situated toward the southwest of China, likewise bordering India, Nepal, Burma, and Bhutan. Tibet's three original provinces are U-Tsang, Kham, and Amdo. The general population in these locales all thinks about themselves as Tibetan, although everyone has a solid identity and diverse tongues of Tibetan is used.

Under China's occupation, Tibet has been partitioned up, renamed, and joined into Chinese territories, with little reference to the original borders between Tibet's areas. At the point when China refers to Tibet, it implies the Tibet Autonomous Region or TAR, which incorporates just U-Tsang and part of Kham. The rest of Kham was isolated amongst Sichuan and Yunnan Chinese areas. Amdo was partitioned between Gansu, Sichuan, and Qinghai territories. The region covers a region of around 1.22 million km2, which represents 12.8% of the aggregate of China. The pristine snow-capped view and inescapable Tibetan Buddhism environment and simple access to its neighboring nation Nepal make Tibet rank high on the movement travel bucket list. Its unmistakable geography and land area enable it to share the world's most amazing mountaineering and trekking asset with its neighbor nation Nepal.

2. What is the time difference in Tibet?

Tibet  Standard Time ( IST ) is 0800 hours (6 hours) ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8).

3. How can I obtain a Visa?

Flying out to Tibet requires a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit which can both be acquired in Kathmandu with the help of a travel company (Tibet via Nepal). A valid passport for China isn't the same as a Tibet Travel Permit. Those with a Chinese traveler visa will at present need to apply for a Tibet travel permit. The permit is still required for remote foreign travelers traveling to Tibet from the territory of China. To obtain the permit you have to book a guide for your whole trip and pre-organize private transport for trips outside Lhasa. The trip outside Lhasa likewise requires extra permits which are arranged by the travel agent you are going with.

 Passport

All who intend to enter Tibet must hold at least 6 months' valid passport.

China Visa or Tibet Group Visa

To enter Tibet using Mainland China, right off the bat, you have to apply China visa for entry to China. Tibet is a part of China, under the Chinese Central Government's Sovereignty. Therefore to travel from China to Tibet, you need to acquire a China Visa at the first stage before all are followed up. Visas for individual travel in China are very easy to get from most Chinese embassies. Most Chinese embassies and consulates will issue a standard 30-day, single-passage visitor visa in three to five working days (an 'L' Visa means to travel). If you are lucky, some embassies abroad may give you 60 or even 90 days. However, in Hong Kong it is straightforward to get a 90-day visa; most agencies can organize it in one day. If you need greater adaptability to enter and leave China a few times, most Chinese embassies will issue a double-entry visa. Indeed, for individuals who are to work, study or live temporarily in China, you may require other related China Visa, for example, an "F" Visa, "X" Visa, or "Z" Visa, and so on. All these sorts of visa holders can go to Tibet with Tibet entry permits and other travel permits which can be obtained by a neighborhood travel agency in Tibet with strict and serious procedures.

4. How to enter Tibet?

By Road: There are five main highways in Tibet, to be specific:

Sichuan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, and Lhasa.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway – it runs between Xining, the capital city of Qinghai, to Lhasa.

Yunnan-Tibet Highway – it runs between Yunnan territory and Tibet.

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway – it runs crosswise over boundless deserts and lofty and steep peaks.

The China-Nepal Highway – it is the main international highway in Tibet

By Air: Flying to Lhasa dependably requires a stopover in either China or Nepal. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is situated around 98 kilometers (around 61 miles) toward the south of Lhasa City. The main international trip to and from Tibet is between Lhasa and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

By Rail: The Gormo to Lhasa railway extends for 1,142 kilometers (710 miles) and serves as a connection between the territory of China and Tibet.

5. How is the weather in Tibet?

Since the country expands at high elevations, usually difficult to predict the climate. It is cold for the most part. Lhasa and around it is a cool, bright day during the day time however evening, night, and morning will be cold. Need to bring sufficiently warm clothes.

6. When is the best time to visit Tibet?

The Tibetan atmosphere isn't as harsh as we imagine it to be. Tibet's climate is ideal for travel from April to the start of November, and most perfect in August and September. In any case, Lhasa's climate is more clement than the rest of Tibet and is suitable to travel year-round. The sun radiation in Tibet is extremely strong. It's not for nothing that Lhasa is known as the Sunlight City. The months of May, June, and September are the primary tourist season in eastern Tibet.

7. What are the documents necessary for visiting Tibet?

Passport - valid for 6 months

Chinese Visa — you can apply for one from a Chinese Embassy or through China Highlights (who entry from China)

Group Visa —entry from Nepal to Tibet after the Tibet tour traveler can visit China mainland with a valid group visa.

Individual Visa will be canceled when we apply for group visa (if a visa is in the passport)

Tibet Entry Permit — it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is an absolute necessity for outsiders entering Tibet.

A few people who wish to travel to specific areas in Tibet must also obtain:

Travel Permit — it is required when you are planning to move to closed areas in Tibet. These are issued after you land in Tibet.

Military Permit — it is acquired to travel to some militarily sensitive regions.

8. Can I organize a Tibet visa myself? Can I travel alone in Tibet?

Sadly, because of China's extremely strict tourism policy for Tibet, you can't get a visa independent from anyone else and it isn't conceivable to not possible to travel Tibet on your own. As an authorized travel company we can organize everything; visa, allow to permit, and all other paperwork.

9. Is altitude sickness a problem?

As Tibet is known as the Roof of the World it is one of the highest places on the earth. Due to this many visitors from lower altitude areas may suffer from altitude sickness. Most people endure minor effects of altitude sickness only including loss of appetite, headache, and a propensity to have no vitality until the point when their bodies conform to the high landscape. This adjustment can take place for a few hours and in rare cases for a few days. If visitors do some simple preparations before going to Tibet, most of the symptoms of altitude sickness can be avoided. We recommend you talk to your local physician about AMS pills to help combat altitude sickness. Your guide will be there to assist you and help you throughout the trip.

10. Are there ATM counters in Tibet?

There are ATM facilities easily available in Lhasa and Shigatse; however, it might be difficult to find one in other small towns.

11. What currency do I have to use in Tibet?

The unit of currency is the Chinese Yuan. The Bank of China can exchange all foreign currencies. The bank in Tibet /China is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Traveler’s cheques and credit cards are very difficult to be cashed outside the banks, especially outside Lhasa.

12. Is politics a problem? 

Most tourists, who stay with their tour and avoid getting engaged in the politics of the country, will not encounter issues.

13. What vaccination is recommended for Tibet travelers?

The suggested vaccination you should consider for this trip includes the following:

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria & Tetanus Vaccinations
• Hepatitis A The vaccine for Hepatitis A (eg Avaxim, Havrix 1440, or VAQTA)
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza The flu vaccine
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
• Pneumonia A vaccine
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

14.  Will the language barrier be there are problem?

Visitors to Tibet don't have to worry about the language barrier at all. Every visitor will have an English-talking visit guide, and most of the front work area staff in the big hotels can communicate in English. The main languages used in a part of Tibet are Chinese, Tibetan, English, and Nepali.

15. Is there internet access in Tibet for foreign travelers?

Certainly, there is web access for foreign travelers in Tibet yet just in limited areas like Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse, and Tsedang where some bistro gives web offices. Moreover, hotels in some cities like Lhasa and Shigatse also provide internet facilities to their customers.