Tibet Pilgrimage Tour (Simikot - Kailash - Manasarovar Lake) – 16 Days

Day 1: Arrival Kathmandu (1300m): Pick up from the airport/ Drive to hotel. Dinner

Our vehicle & company escorts will be on standby at the airport to pick you up & transfer you to your hotel. After you’ve refreshed & relaxed, you can go for a stroll down the street to get familiar with your surroundings. You will be taken for the welcome dinner in the evening in a nice restaurant.

Day 2: Kathmandu / day for making permit for Hilsa and other preparation

Today our tour manager will meet you at your hotel to brief you about the pros and cons of your trip. There will also be a check & demonstration of equipment which will be essential to the trip. Should you need to buy any extra things or hire any items, our staff will be happy to help you with the same. You can then have dinner and go in for a good sleep so you can get up fresh the next morning to be ready for your flight that starts your religious journey. Your first overnight in the valley of the gods.

Day 3: Fly to Nepalgunj : (150M) 01 hrs flight

After breakfast, we go to the airport to board our ninety-minute flight to Nepalgunj in the far southwest of Nepal. This is a teeming crowded city with soaring temperatures in the summer and lies close to the Indian border. Overnight at our hotel in Nepalgunj.

Day 4: Fly to Simikot (2960m) 45 min flight then trek to Dhara Pokhari (2300m) Trek Time approx 4 hours

After breakfast, we board another flight and fly up north for about 45 minutes to Simikot, the headquarters of Nepal’s most remote district, Humla. After meeting up with our crew, we sort out our equipment and baggage and begin our trek, climbing up from the airstrip on a rock-strewn trail past fields of barley and wheat. We ascend a forested ridge above the town of Simikot, before making a long steep descent past Dandaphoya. The trail is then pretty level, through walnut and apricot trees, until we come to the speckled village of Dhara Pokhari which is divided by the Yakba Khola.

Day 5: Trek to Salli Khola (2700m) 04-05 hrs Trek

After an early morning breakfast, we clean up our campsite and begin our hike, crossing a long scree slope and follow by the banks of a river to a waterfall near the shepherds’ camp at Chachera. We then climb over a ridge and bypass the village of Kermi before entering a big valley with walled fields of potato and buckwheat. After walking through a bare pine forest we descend from the ridge to the Salli Khola and set up camp by the banks of the river.

Day 6: Trek to Muchu (2920m) 04-05 hrs Trek

We cross the river and climb over a rocky ridge before descending to the grey brackish waters of the Humla Karnali. After crossing another ridge we come to a sandy meadow where goat herders often camp by the river. Beyond the pasture, the valley narrows and we cross several more ridges, passing the villages of Yalbang and Yangar. The trail then winds its way precariously above the river before we cross a suspension bridge to the village of Muchu.

Day 7: Trek to Sipsip (4330m) 05-06 hrs Trek

From Muchu, we follow the trail over a ridge to the Tumkot Khola and then walk along the rocky stream bed for a short distance before beginning a steep climb through a rock-filled gully. We pass through Palbang and its bright yellow mustard fields to the small settlement of Yari and beyond here the route climbs up the valley towards a pass, the Nara Lagna. We camp below the pass in a meadow known as Sipsip.

Day 8: Trek to Hilsa (3720m) 06-07 hrs Trek

From Sipsip we ascend to a steep rock cairn marking the top of the Nara Lagna [4580m]. Descending from the pass, we get great views of the Tibetan Plateau before arriving at the village of Ranipauwa. Beyond here, we could slip and slide on a surface of loose pebbles down to the Humla Karnali.

Day 9: Trek to Taklakot (3930m), 03 hrs trek drive to Manasarovar (4560m) 130 km

Shortly after crossing the Nepal/Tibet border which is marked only by a single stone pillar, we meet our transport and drive about 130km, via the large trading center of Taklakot, the border near Tibet & on to Manasarovar, the most respected and considered sacred of Tibet’s many lakes.

Day 10: At Manasarovar

Today, more or less a day of rest, we will spend our time at Manasarovar, allowing our body to relax and acclimatize to the higher elevations but instead of being idle, we explore this interesting area of great significance. We will visit the picturesque Chiu Monastery on the North West shore of the lake with the daunting sights of Mt Kailash in the background.

Day 11: Drive to Darchen  (4560m) 30 km 01 hrs

Early in the morning after breakfast, we drive down to Darchen and then spend our night in the guest house.

Day 12:Drive Tarboche 20km ½ hrs  Trek to Dira-Puk (4909m) 13 km 06-07 hrs Walk

From Tarboche, we walk up the Lha Chu Valley through beautiful green hamlets and streams with clear blue skies & Mt Kailash towering in the shadows above us. We follow the river banks which enter a narrow canyon with high, cliffs and fabulous waterfalls. Continuing up the valley, the north face of Kailash peeks into view before we reach the 13th-century monastery at Dira-Puk.

Day 13: Trek to Zutulpuk (4790m) via Dolma La Pass(5750m) 22km 09-10 hrs Walk, this is the hardest but Holiest day of your pilgrimage Yatra with Drolma-La (pass) at 18600ft between two valleys

Our Kora continues as we now leave the Lha Chu Valley and enter the Drolma Chu Valley, heading up towards a high pass, the Drolma La at [5630m]. 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-punk, with views of one of the highest lakes in the world, Thukpe Dzingbu Lake, known as the Lake of Compassion. Besides the monastery at Zutulpuk {the cave of Miracles}, the great ascetic Milarepa is supposed to have performed miracles here); there are several meditation caves hereabouts and another cave containing an image of Milarepa.

Day 14: Trek to Darchen (4560m) 12 km 04-05 hrs, drive to Saga (3700m) 590 km 08 hrs drive.

This is the final day of your holy Kora as we cross several streams and follow a remarkable gorge. Along the way, we are once again treated to stunning views of Kailash. We then enter the Bharka plain and it’s about an hour’s walk through this desert-like landscape to Darchen. After hiking for a total of 3 hours, we drive to Saga and spend overnight in the guest house.

Day 15: Drive to Kerung (2600m) 232 km, 06 – 07 hrs drive

We drive back to Kerung from Saga and stay overnight in Kerung.

Day 16: Drive down to Kathmandu across the border (1300m)  145 km drive

From Kerung we drive down to the bustling border town of Zhangmu & on to the borders of Tibet & Nepal {Tatopani} where our vehicles & escorts will be on standby to drive us down to Kathmandu. At the border, we bid goodbye to our Tibetan staff & guide & proceed for a scenic drive down to ancient Kathmandu. And this officially ends our religious odyssey with the gods.

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 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.

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 very easy 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 to 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.