Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Drive for Indians

Your Arrival Time (?) Our office representative will meet and greet you at Kathmandu Airport and transfer you to your hotel.

At. 06:00 PM: We will meet for a briefing about your tour program. If you are arriving late (after 4 PM), then we will have a briefing the next morning at 09:00 AM. You can ask all your related questions during the trip briefing meeting.

Note: The visa application procedure is to be completed in Delhi beforehand. We will ask you for the necessary documents to apply for the visa.

At. 10:00 AM: After your breakfast at the hotel, you will participate in a full day of sightseeing of Kathmandu Vallley. Your transportation will arrive at the hotel to pick you up for sightseeing.

Firstly, you will start with Pashupatinath Temple, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. You will wander through the maze of the temple, surrounded by small shrines, each with its own religious significance. You will also visit the Guhyeshwari Temple near Pashupatinath, which is one of the Sakti Peethas. Here, you can observe the beautiful architecture of the temple and also witness other religious ceremonies. Then, you will drive towards Jal Narayan Temple. Take your time to appreciate the intricate details of the reclining statue of Lord Vishnu, its size, and the open air settings. You can have your lunch in between the sightseeing, according to your timing and nearby places of interest.

Later in the afternoon, your next exploration will be at Patan Durbar Square, one of the three Durbar squares, where you will travel through the historical lane. After that, the final destination today will be Shree Banglamukhi Temple, which is about 600 m from Patan Dhoka and a few minutes of walking from there. You can learn more about the temple’s history and significance while you observe the rituals and offerings made by the devotees.

Once your sightseeing is complete, you will be dropped off at your hotel. In the evening, you can go shopping around the Thamel tourist market.

Pashupatinath Temple is the largest and holiest shrine for Hindus. This temple, situated on the bank of the Bagmati River, was built in the 5th century. There are around 492 temples, 15 Shivalayas (shrines of Lord Shiva) and 12 Jyotirlingas (phallic shrines) to explore. No entrance fee is charged for SAARC nationals to enter the temple. Although only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed in the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River.

Guhyeshwari Temple is a renowned Hindu temple located in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. It is located about 1 km east of the famous Pashupatinath Temple and is an important part of Nepal's religious and cultural history. It is considered to be a Shakti Peetha, which is a place where parts of the goddess Sati's body fell. 

The Jal Narayan Temple, also known as the Budhanilkantha Temple, is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is around 8 km north of Kathmandu at the base of Shivapuri Hill. The temple is famous for its large, reclining statue of Lord Vishnu resting on a bed of stone serpents in a pool of water. The temple is religiously significant for both Hindus and Buddhists. Unlike other Hindu temples, Budhanilkantha is an open-air shrine offering a unique and serene atmosphere.

Patan Durbar Square is 5 km southeast of Kathmandu. Major temples are Krishna Temple, Taleju Temple, and Bhimsen Temple. Some places to explore there are Patan Museum, Mahaboudha, Kumbeshwor, Keshave Naryan, Vishwanath, Chyasin Dewal, and Sundari Chowk.

Baglamukhi is one of the famous temples of Devi (Goddess) in Kathmandu. The temple of Baglamukhi is situated in Patan (Lalitpur). There are various other small temples inside the Baglamukhi temple premises. People visit this temple mainly on Thursdays, as it is considered the day of Bhagwati.

At. 08:00 PM: After breakfast, check out of the hotel. You will start your drive towards Dhunche (98 KM/5 hrs) or Syabrubesi (118 KM/6 hrs) or Timure (124 KM/7 hours), where you can spend the night depending on how long it takes to get there. On the way to Trishuli Bazar, you will stop for lunch at a highway restaurant before continuing your journey. The entire ride takes you along the Trishuli River, which offers stunning scenery.

At. 08:00 AM: After breakfast, first we need to complete the immigration process (the departure stamp) on the Nepal side in Timure. Then you will walk towards Rasuwagadhi (Nepal-China Border), which is about 1.7 KM from Timure. You need to settle some customs formalities in Nepal before crossing the border into China, where our Tibetan guide will meet you. The guide will assist you to complete the immigration formalities. Once the Chinese immigration process is over, start driving towards Kyirong. Kyirong is 40 KM from the border and takes around one and a half hours to reach. You will stay the night at the hotel in Kyirong.

At. 08:00 AM: Have your breakfast at your hotel prepared by your kitchen crew. Today you can visit the attractions and markets around Kyirong and observe their day-to-day life. You can go outside and walk around, as it will help you adjust to walking at high altitude. Acclimatization is the process in which an individual adjusts to a change in its environment. As it's not compulsory, you can stay in the hotel and have some rest as well.

At. 07:30 AM: After breakfast, you will drive 155 kilometers from Kyirong to Saga, which will take around 3-4 hours. En route, you will have the opportunity to go to Ganesh Parbat and Lake Peiku Tso, then eventually cross the bridge built over the River Brahmaputra (also called Yarlung Tsangpo in Chinese) in Saga. You will stay the night at the hotel in Saga.

At. 08:00 AM: Enjoy a delicious morning breakfast, and today you will drive towards the holy and beautiful Lake Mansarovar (4650 m). The distance from Saga to Mansarovar is about 450 KM and will take you around 8 to 9 hours. On the way, you will get a glimpse of Mount Kailash as well as the potent Rakshas Tal. Once you arrive at Mansarovar, you will take a rest at the guest house. You will stay the night at the guesthouse in Mansarovar. 

Lake Mansarovar, also known as Mapam Yumtso in Tibetan, is one of the world’s highest-altitude freshwater lakes and is located at an elevation of 4650 m. It is revered as a holy site of purity, attracting Hindu pilgrims across the world. It is revered as a sacred lake in Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon, and Jainism. According to Hindu mythology, bathing in the lake can cleanse one's sins and bring good luck.

At. 08:00 AM: Today you can perform Puja/Havan at the shore of Lake Manasarovar. After lunch, you will drive to Darchen, which is 35 KM from Mansarovar and takes around 1 and a half hours to drive. After reaching Darchen, you can rest your bags and relax. You can stroll around the small market in Darchen town in the late afternoon. Overnight at the guest house.

Darchen is a small village/town located at an altitude of 4700 m, which is a significant gateway to Kailash Yatra. It is the starting and ending point for the pilgrimage circumambulation (Kora) around Mount Kailash. The village itself is a small but important hub for pilgrims and travelers visiting the region. The vibrant market in this town hosts various restaurants serving basic Tibetan fare, hotels and guesthouses for accommodation, and shops selling supplies for the trek.

At. 07:00 AM: After having your breakfast, drive towards Yama Dwar (Tarboche), which is the starting point of Kailash Parikrama. Once you reach, carry your bags and head towards the gate of Yama Dwar. Passing through the gate of Yamadwar is believed to remove your evil deed from the book of judgement, and you will get a place in heaven.
Your 3-day-long trekking journey begins and your stop for today will be at Derapuk, which is about a 10-12 KM trek from Yamadwar. You will walk along the beautiful rocky cliffs and waterfalls with some clouds in the clear blue sky, which makes you feel the omnipotence of Lord Shiva with tons of blessings. As you walk on, time and again, the north face of Kailash Parbat will keep appearing. Once you reach your accommodation, you can rest your bags and relax. Overnight at a guest house in Derapuk.

Note: If you are not doing Parikrama, then you will be waiting at Darchen till the group returns from Parikrama, with arrangements for accommodation and meals.

Yama Dwar, also known as Tarboche in Tibetan, is a gateway located near Mount Kailash. It literally translates to "Gateway of Death," as "Yam" refers to Yama, the Hindu God of Death, and "Dwar" means gate. It is considered an auspicious place and the main starting point for the spiritual circumambulation (parikrama) around Mount Kailash. Passing through the Yam Dwar signifies leaving behind worldly attachments and joining on a journey of spiritual purification.

At. 07:00 AM: After breakfast, you will trek to the highest point of the yatra, Dolma La Pass (5600 m) and then descend gradually to Zuthulpuk (4800 m), witnessing the Gauri Kunda on the way. By late afternoon, you will arrive in Zuthulpuk, the cave of miracles. The great ascetic Milerappa is supposed to have performed miracles here. Overnight at the guest house in Zuthulpuk.

Gauri Kunda is a sacred lake located at the foot of Mount Kailash in Tibet at an altitude of approximately 5600 m. It is a revered place in Hinduism and Buddhism where Goddess Parvati used to bathe. It is believed that the waters of the kund are purified by her touch and thus possess immense spiritual power. It can be seen on the way down towards Zuthulpuk.

At. 07:00 AM: Today you will walk about 8 KM and drive towards today's final destination, Saga. Have your breakfast and go to the ending point near Darchen, where you will meet our vehicle and drive to Darchen, merge with the group who didn’t go for parikrama, and then drive towards Saga together. The driving distance will be around 480 KM and take about 8–9 hours. As it will be a long drive today, once you reach the hotel, check in and rest. You will stay the night at the hotel in Darchen.

At. 09:00 AM: Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning. Today, you will return to Kyirong following the same route back, which will cover around 155 KM and take about 2-3 hours. As you will reach there in the afternoon, you can take a rest or walk around the town and refresh yourself. You will stay the night at the hotel in Kyirong.

At. 07:00 AM: Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning. Today, you will return back to Kathmandu. To reach the border, you will need approximately 1 hour of driving, covering 40 KM. Then, after completing the immigration formalities on both sides, start driving towards Kathmandu. The distance is the same, 130 KM, and takes 5-6 hours. Once you reach Kathmandu, you can check in and rest. As today is the last day here, in the evening, you can shop around the local market, Thamel.

As you enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel, the time to go back is already here. You can have some time of your own or add some additional activities until your flight time. Our company representative will escort you to the Kathmandu airport 3 hours before your flight. We hope you have enjoyed the holy tour and will be back for another tour in Nepal. Have a safe journey back! It will be our pleasure to be part of your journey if you want to extend your stay in Nepal.

Optional Activity: You can also take part in the thrilling Everest Mountain Flight. It is a sightseeing adventure flight that departs at 06:30 AM from Kathmandu airport to Kathmandu airport, a 1 hour flight that takes you to the stunning aerial view of Mt. Everest (8848 m) and several other mountains such as Lhotse (8516 m), Kanchenjunga (8586 m), Shishapangma (8027 m), Nuptse (7881 m), Ganesh (7422 m), and Chamlang (7319 m).