Kaylash - the center of the universe18 days

Destination

Tanzania

Guide

Сергей Вертелов

Duration

18 days

Cost

Choose travel dates
  • 5 - 21 june

From Nepal to Tibet. Kailash and Nam-Tso

Сергей Вертелов

Действительный член Русского Географического общества (Московское отделение), известный путешественник, гуру отечественного экотуризма, горный гид, альпинист, специалист по культуре Южной Азии.

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Schedule

  • Day 1. Arrival in Kathmandu

    Departure from Moscow.

  • Day 2. Kathmandu (1300 m)

    Arrival to Tribhuvan International Airport, named after the former king of Nepal. Shortly before landing, the velvety green hilly valley of the Kathmandu valley opens to the gaze, framed from the north by glittering glaciers of the Himalayan ranges. Time difference with Moscow is 2 h 45 min.

    The first thing you will hear in Nepal is the traditional Namaste greeting, literally meaning “I greet God in your person.”

    Nepalese entry visa is issued at Kathmandu Airport ($ 55 and 4 photos 3 × 4).

    Accommodation in Samsara Resort.

  • Day 3. Kathmandu - Bhaktapur - Baltali

    Transfer to Baltali.

    On the way we’ll visit the ancient city of Bhaktapur. It is also known as Badgaon, or «holy city.» It is the third largest city in the Kathmandu valley, the cluster of unique historical and aesthetic value monuments of ancient architecture.

    It is difficult to list all the masterpieces of art awaiting you in Bhaktapur. The Lion Gate and the Palace of the 17th century with its 55 windows, the Bell of the Barking Dogs, made in 1737, erotic scenes on the bas-reliefs of the temples, are just some of them.

    Accommodation in a lodge in Baltali.

  • Day 4. Балтали – Катманду

    The valley of Baltali is picturesquely located in the zone of a authentic subtropical microclimate, which allows its residents not only to shoot several harvests a year, but also to grow citrus fruits, which aroma surrounds the area.

    It is also may be considered as the “ethnographic valley”, due to the fact that several ethnic groups live there. Acquaintance with the life and traditions of the Newar people, tamangs and sannyasis.

    Return to Kathmandu. Accommodation in Samsara Resort.

  • Day 5. Kathmandu – Kerung (2900 m)

    Early jeep transfer to Nepal-Tibetan border, customs and border control. Moving to Kerung. Overnight at a 3 * hotel.

  • Day 6. Kerung - Darchen (4670 m)

    Transfer to Darchen located at the footstep of the sacred mountain Kailash.

    Accommodation at Darchen hotel.

  • Day 7. Starting the three-day outer Kora

    Kora – the Tibetan word for pilgrimage, expressed in a clockwise roundabout of a holy place, be it a monastery, a stupa, a temple or a mountain.

    Trek from Darchen to Dirapukh (4900 m), 6-7 hours.

    The first day of the detour of the sacred mountain. Slow climb into the gorge. From the sightseeing plot a panorama of the northern slope of Kailash opens.

    Accommodation in a guesthouse.

  • Day 8. Continuation of the outer Kora

    Trekking over Dolma La pass (5630 m) to Zutrulpukh (4790 m), 7-8 hours.

    The day begins with a steep ascend to the pass, then a more gentle descent follows.

    Accommodation in a guesthouse.

  • Day 9. Completion of the outer Kora

    Completion of the Kora in Darchen (apprx. 3 hours).

    Accommodation in Darchen Hotel.

  • Day 10. Transfer to Chiu Gompa on the shore of Manasarovar lake (4590 m)

    At a distance of about thirty kilometers south of Mount Kailash, there is Lake Manasarovar, or, as it is called in Tibetan, Mapam Yum Tso, which means “Lake Victorious”. This is the most revered among the other lakes of Tibet, the source of the 4 greatest rivers of Asia (the Ganges, the Indus, the Brahmaputra and the Sutlej). Separated from Manasarovar by a narrow isthmus, another lake is located very close — Rakshes Tal (4520 m), or in Tibetan, Lhanag Tso, “Lake of the Demon”. The lakes are connected by a canal, and when it happens that the waters of Manasarovar flow into Rakshes Tal, the Tibetans rejoice, considering it a good sign. It is believed that the water balance in these lakes symbolizes the energy balance throughout the world, therefore, the water level in Manasarovar is always higher.

    Accommodation in a guesthouse.

  • Day 11. Chiu Gompa - Sagha

    Transfer from Manasarovar to Sagha.

    Accommodation in Sagha Norling.

  • Day 12. Sagha - Giantse (3900 m)

    On the way, sightseeing of the Tashilumpo Monastery, one of the 6 main monasteries of the reformed Geluk School, which ruled the last centuries in Tibet. The monastery was founded in 1447 by the First Dalai Lama. It became the residence of the Panchen Lamas, considered incarnations of the Buddha Amitabha and occupying an important place in the spiritual hierarchy of Tibet. The largest bronze statue in the world is located in the Tashi Lungpo monastery — a gilded image of the future Buddha Maitreya, 26 meters high. Lingkor around Tashi Lungpo is approx. 3 km.

    Accommodation in a hotel.

  • Day 13. Giantse – Lhasa (3600 m)

    In the morning we’ll contemplate the ancient temple Pelkor. The walls of this impressive building are painted in red. In it you can see beautiful examples of Tibetan art from its heyday. Nearby is Kumbum — a huge (35 m high) octahedral stupa, one of the greatest monuments of Tibetan art. On 9 floors there are 75 prayer halls, which houses the most complete collection of the Tibetan pantheon — hundreds of statues of deities. A small ascent to the fortress (dzong) will provide a panoramic view of the whole city from above.

    After lunch transfer to the capital of Tibet — Lhasa. Part of our route runs along the lake Yamdrok Yumtso (which means «turquoise»). This sacred lake, located at an altitude of 4410 m, is considered a talisman, the keeper of the life force of the Tibetan nation. It is said that if its waters will dry, Tibet would become uninhabitable. Lake area of 754 square km is of an amazing beauty. It is crooked in the shape of a hook. It has 9 islands on which yogis lived in ancient times, seeking solitude from worldly vanity.

    Accommodation in Manasarovar Hotel.

  • Day 14. Lhasa

    Excursion to Potala and Norbulinka palaces — the winter and summer residences of the Dalai Lama. Barkor — a traditional detour around the circle of the holy city.

    The legendary Potala Palace is truly one of the wonders of the world, surmounting the valley. Its history began in the VII century with a small fortress. In the XVII century, the Fifth Dalai Lama completed it to its actual size, and since then it has become the habitat of all the Dalai Lamas and a symbol of Tibet. Now its 13 floors and more than 1000 rooms are turned into a museum. You can explore the living rooms of the Dalai Lama, the regent, teachers, servants, ceremonial halls, treasuries and internal temples.

    Sightseeing of the central temple Jokhang (which means «House of Buddha»). It was built in the 7th century by Emperor Songtsen Gampo to accommodate the precious Buddha statue, which was brought to Tibet by one of his wives, a Chinese princess. The statue became the greatest religious relic of Tibet. Few more ancient temples and a colorful oriental market are located around the temple in Barkor district.

    Accommodation in Manasarovar Hotel.

  • Day 15. Lhasa – Nam-tso lake (4627 m)

    Transfer to the lake Nam-tso — the heavenly lake. This is one of the four sacred lakes of Tibet and the world’s tallest lake-sea.

    Lake Nam-tso is sacred and, according to legends, can bestow the relief and blessings of heaven, and also may allow the pilgrim to see its future. In order to receive such a blessing, it is necessary to make a ritual walk around the lake. It may take a week for some, or a whole month for some, it all depends on how much time the pilgrim spends on prayers. For those who are limited in time or unable to withstand the burden of such travel, another option is provided — a small trip around the sacred stone, standing on the shore of the lake.

    Locals associate this lake with the story of two lovers — Nam-tso and Nyenchen-Tangla, who are connected with each other not only with love, but also with obligations — every year Nam-tso hopes for melting ice from the mountains of Nyenchen-Tangla, which will provide it with clean water, giving life to all living things. And every year Nyenchen-Tangla does not break its promise.

    Accommodation in a guesthouse.

  • Day 16. Kora around Nam-tso - Lhasa (3650 m)

    Climbing to meet the dawn in the sacred mountains of Nam-tso; visit to the rock monastery and trekking Kora around the sacred lake.

    Return to Lhasa.

    Accommodaion in Manasarovar Hotel.

  • Day 17. Lhasa - Kathmandu

    Flight to Kathmandu.

    The second half of the day will be dedicated to a visit to the main Hindu temple of Nepal — Pashupatinat, dedicated to Shiva and located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. Here we will witness the rituals of ablution and cremation, which are performed on Bagmati almost continuously. Bagmati is water, ashes and flowers: garlands thrown into the river along with dust and remain lying on the surface of the water like a a colored carpet.

    Pashupatinat was built at the end of the 17th century, but long before that there were buildings in its place, the importance of which from the point of view of holiness only emphasizes that this place for the temple was not chosen by chance and has a prehistory. When Shiva got tired of living on Mount Kailash, he decided to move to the valley of Kathmandu, where he soon gained fame as the Lord of the Animals — Pashupati. Since then, for the past 15 centuries, the habitat of Shiva (on which Pashupatinat now stands) has been the object of pilgrimage and worship of Hindus.

    Here we will see the holy hermits (“sadu”) — the followers of Shiva, who have transformed their mortal life into a conscious gradual mortification of the flesh and the development of the spirit.

    Leisure time can be used to purchase products of traditional handicrafts, which the Nepalese capital abounds in.

    Accommodation in Samsara Resort.

  • Day 18. Kathmandu - Moscow

    Kathmandu - Moscow

Cost

  • flight Lhasa — Kathmandu;
  • accommodation at the Samsara Hotel in Kathmandu;
  • the best possible accommodation in Tibet — (Hotel Manasarovar 4 * in Lhasa);
  • breakfasts along the whole route (during Kora — full board);
  • all transfers in Tibet and Nepal, including moving to the border with China;
  • PRC visa;
  • permission to stay in the Tibet Autonomous Region;
  • all necessary permits for the route (including the inner Kora, if applicable);
  • yak / horse rent and drovers services (during external / internal Kora);
  • excursion programs in Nepal and Tibet;
  • services of a qualified English / Russian speaking guide in Nepal and Tibet.
  • Flight Moscow — Kathmandu — Moscow;
  • Nepal’s visa ($55, double entry) — at the airport upon arrival
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