Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m, 4592 ft)
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), our office representative will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, there will be a briefing about your program. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Morning Sightseeing Tour; Afternoon Flight to Nepalgunj (150m, 492 ft)
Early morning visit to Pashupatinath Temple and Guheswari Temple (Shaktipith). After lunch at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Nepalgunj by fixed-wing airplane. Upon arrival in Nepalgunj, you will be met by our representative and transferred to a 3-star hotel. Stay at the hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Sightseeing: 3 hours
Kathmandu - Nepalgunj flight: 1 hour
Day 3: Nepalgunj to Simikot Flight (2950m, 9676 ft)
Early morning breakfast or carry a packed breakfast, and leave the hotel at about 5-5:30 AM for your flight to Simikot. The flights from Nepalgunj to Simikot operate only in the morning by fixed-wing airplane. From 10 a.m. onward, the weather en-route may not be favorable due to heavy wind and clouds. Upon arrival at the Simikot airport, our staff will receive you and escort you to the hotel/guesthouse. Today, you will either visit the Shiva Temple or relax to get acclimatized. Stay at the hotel/guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Nepalgunj - Simikot flight: 50 minutes to 1 hour depending on weather conditions.
Day 4: Simikot to Hilsa by Helicopter – Then Drive to Taklakot (Purang) (3400m, 11152 ft)
If the weather is clear, we leave the hotel/guesthouse at 5 AM to fly to Hilsa (3100m, 10168 ft) by chartered helicopter around 6 AM. This scenic flight takes about 20 minutes to reach Hilsa. Since our helicopter can carry only 5 to 6 (maximum) passengers at a time, we may have to make some extra shuttle flights depending on the group size to bring all passengers to Hilsa. As per the rule of the Chinese government, the entry and exit of the group should be together. It is not possible to cross the border for those who have flown to Hilsa by the earlier flights. They should wait until the whole group gathers at Hilsa, then cross the Nepal-China border together. From the helipad, you walk for about 10 minutes to the Chinese immigration. Chinese guides and vehicles will be waiting across the border with a bus to drive to Purang, also called Taklakot. After crossing the border, immigration formalities are done on the Chinese side. Rest of the time at Purang is for acclimatization. Stay at the hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Simikot - Hilsa: 20 minutes by Helicopter
Hilsa to Chinese immigration: 10 minutes’ walk (flat road)
Driving time 1 – 2 hours to Purang (depending on the time consumed at immigration). 35 km
Day 5: Purang to Lake Manasarovar (Chiu Gompa) (4550m, 14924 ft)
After breakfast, drive to Manasarovar. A brief halt will be taken on the shore of Lake Rakhash Tal from where you get the first Darshan of Mt. Kailash. You will then continue the drive to Lake Manasarovar (4573m) and take parikram (circumambulation) of the Lake by coach. Take a dip in the Lake. Stay at a guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Purang to Manasarovar: 90 km, 2 hours
The entire parikrama is about 105 km and will take 3 - 4 hours.
Day 6: Morning: Pooja, Homa, Rituals; Afternoon Drive to Darchen
In the morning, perform Pooja, Homa, and other rituals. After lunch, drive to Darchen. Stay at a hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Chiu Gompa to Darchen: 36 km, 1 hour.
Day 7: Darchen - Yam Dwar, Then Trek to Deraphuk (4920m, 16138 ft)
Early morning drive to Tarboche (4606m, 15110 ft) and visit Yam Dwar. Those willing to do the parikrama of Kailash will start walking from here, while those not doing the parikrama will return to Darchen to wait for the rest of the group. Yaks will be used to carry food and necessary equipment. The distance from Yam Dwar to Diraphuk is about 9 km and it requires approximately 6 hours on foot. The trail is flat and reasonably easy. Stay at a guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Darchen to Yam Dwar: 8 km, 30 minutes.
Walking Yam Dwar to Deraphuk: 9 km, 6 - 8 hours trek.
Day 8: Diraphuk - Dolma-La Pass (5650m, 18532 ft) – Gaurikund - Zutulphuk (4780m, 15700 ft)
Today is the toughest and longest day of this journey. You must wake up and start your journey to the next destination around 4-5 AM with light food. The trek from the beginning to Dolma Pass (5600m, 18368 ft) is uphill (at least 4 hours). However, in between, there are flat portions of the trail. After reaching Dolma Pass, the trail descends to the other side of the mountain via Gauri Kunda (also called Parvati Kunda). It is believed that Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, 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 (on the other side), the trail becomes wider and flatter. You will walk for another 6 hours or so to reach Zutulphuk. Stay at a guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Diraphuk to Zutulphuk: 22 km, 10 - 12 hours trek.
Day 9: End Parikrama on Foot and Drive to Purang
The trek approximately takes about 3-4 hours to reach the pick-up point, and the trail is quite easy and flat. From the pick-up point, drive to Purang. Stay at a hotel. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Zutulphuk to pick-up point walk: 3 – 4 hours.
Drive to Darchen: 6 km, 20 minutes.
Pick-up point to Purang: 115 km, 3 – 4 hours drive.
Day 10: Purang - Hilsa – Simikot - Nepalgunj
Drive from Purang to Hilsa (45 km, 1 hour), then fly to Simikot by chartered helicopter shuttle flights. From Simikot, fly back to Nepalgunj by fixed-wing airplane (50 minutes) and connect the flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel. Breakfast and Lunch included.
Drive Purang – Hilsa: 45 km, 1 hour.
Fly Simikot: 20 minutes by Helicopter.
Simikot to Nepalgunj: 50 minutes to 1 hour depending on the weather condition.
Nepalgunj to Kathmandu: 1 hour flight.
Day 11: Departure from Kathmandu
Your wonderful adventure in Nepal comes to an end today. A representative from Aarohi Holiday Pvt Ltd will take you to the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight.
