Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Helicopter for NRI

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 trip briefing about your tour program. If you are arriving late (after 4:00 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: Make sure that the arrival day is Sunday, so the next day we can apply for your visa immediately.

At. 09:30 AM: After your breakfast, you may need to visit the Chinese Embassy to apply for your visa to Tibet. Most of the time, the visit isn't required, but if needed, we will arrange a visit. Later, you will go for a full day of sightseeing in Kathmandu. 

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. 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. Your final destination today will be Patan Durbar Square, one of the three Durbar squares, where you will travel through the historical lane.

At. 04:00 PM: Once your sightseeing is complete, we will drop you off at your hotel. In the evening, you can go shopping around Thamel, a tourist market in Kathmandu.

Pashupatinath Temple is the largest and holiest shrine for Hindus, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple, situated on the bank of the Bagmati River, was built in the 5th century. It is represented by a four-faced Shiva-lingam housed in the main temple. There are around 492 temples, 15 Shivalayas (shrines of Lord Shiva), and 12 Jyotirlingas (phallic shrines) to explore. Although only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed on the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. A center for Hindu pilgrimage, this temple hosts different major festivals such as Maha Shivaratri and pujas such as Rudra Abhishek and evening Aarti. Additionally, no entrance fee is charged for Indian nationals to enter the temple.

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, one of the three durbar squares in the Kathmandu Valley, is 6 KM southeast of Kathmandu. The square is an important example of Newari architecture, surrounded by prominent temples, palaces, courtyards, and statues. The Keshav Narayan Temple, which was built in the 17th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, is a masterpiece of pagoda architecture. The temple is known for its nine roofed pagodas and its richly decorated interior. Other notable key attractions on the square are the Krishna Temple, the Taleju Temple, the Bhimsen Temple, and the Patan Museum.

At. 09:00 AM: Have your breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you will visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square for sightseeing, which is at a distance of 16 KM from Kathmandu and takes around 45 minutes to reach.

Explore around the square and appreciate the unique historical and cultural heritage of the square. You will have various restaurants suitable for you to have your lunch at. You can have your lunch around the square, which provides a variety of restaurants and eateries with authentic Newari cuisines and other national/continental cuisines catering to your needs. 

Optional Activity: You can also participate in pottery activities in the pottery square of Bhaktapur. Here, local shops let you create your own pottery items and take them home at a cheap price. Involving yourself in this activity will be a unique experience for you.

Next, you will visit the Kailashnath Shiva Statue (the second tallest Mahadev Statue), which is about 8 KM from Bhaktapur and offers a breathtaking view of Kathmandu Valley with a leisurely stroll through the well maintained garden surrounding the statue. Then, you will visit Doleshwor Mahadev, which is at a distance of 7.5 KM from Kailashnath. There, you can witness the spiritual aura of the temple and, if you wish, participate in the Hindu worship rituals. 

Once your sightseeing is complete, you will be dropped back at your hotel. You can utilize the evening time by visiting the local markets. 

Bhaktapur, also known as Khwopa, is approximately 13 KM east of Kathmandu. The major highlights of Bhaktapur Durbar Square include Nyatapola Temple, 55-Window Palace, Golden Temple, and Dattatreya Temple, demonstrating the artistic and architectural talent of the Malla era. The Pokharis, such as Siddha Pokhari, Napukhu, and Kamalpokhari, add charm to this site. Moreover, it is famous for its pottery and handicrafts, and the surrounding area of the durbar soiree is dotted with local shops selling traditional pottery, wood carvings, and handicrafts.

The Kailashnath Mahadev Statue is the tallest statue of Lord Shiva and is located in Sanga, 20 KM from Kathmandu. The statue is 144 feet (44 m) in height and was made using copper, zinc, concrete, and steel. The statue depicts Lord Shiva in a standing posture, holding a trishul and damaru in his hands.

Doleshwor Mahadev is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the south eastern part of Bhaktapur district, which is also believed to be the head part of Kedarnath, located in Uttarakhand, India.

At. 10:00 AM: Have your breakfast and drive towards Chandragiri Hill, a vantage point located at a distance of about 14 km from central Kathmandu. You will reach the top of the hill by a 9-minute cable car ride. You will feel the religious significance amidst the serene atmosphere as the hill features a Hindu temple, the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, at the top. It will be around lunchtime after your exploration up there. You can also have your lunch at the nearest resort (1 km from Bhaleshwar Temple), Chandragiri Hills Resort, while you enjoy the panoramic view. Later in the afternoon, you will visit the Swayambhunath Stupa, famously known as the Monkey Temple, a religious site with Hindu and Buddhist harmony. You must climb certain steps to reach the top of the hill, where the stupa is located.

Note: The two way cable car ride to Chandragiri Hills is NPR 1280. You can purchase it from the base station of the Chandragiri Hills once you reach there, which is not included in the package. 

At. 04:00 PM: Once you finish your sightseeing for the day, you will be dropped off at the hotel. You can either rest at the hotel or use the evening time on your own. 

Optional: If you need proper preparation for the Yatra, you can also choose to go for a hike to Chandragiri Hills instead of using a cable car. The hike will assist you in your upcoming trek during the yatra. Or you can take a short hike around Kathmandu in the Shivapuri area to places such as Jamacho Gumba, Bishnudwar, and Bagdwar. These places are inside Shivapuri National Park, so park fees must be paid to enter the area. 

Chandragiri is a popular hill station located in the Kathmandu Valley at an altitude of 2551 metres, offering stunning mountain and valley views. To reach the top, one needs to take a cable car ride for about 9 minutes. The cable car runs over lush green forests, giving an adrenaline rush. Mountains from Annapurna to Everest can be seen from here. At the top is Bhaleshwar Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This site also features cafes, restaurants, local shops, and a kind of playing section.

Believed to be the oldest Buddhist shrine in Nepal, the history of the Swayambhunath Stupa dates back 2500 years. Also known as a Monkey temple, it is a hilltop pilgrimage site surrounded by smaller temples, stupas, and monasteries. This site shows the perfect harmony of Hindu and Buddhist religions with the combination of Buddhist stupas and Hindu shrines.

At. 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you will have some leisure time at the hotel and prepare for a flight to Nepalgunj. You will drive to the airport and fly to Nepalgunj, which is about 1 hour of flight distance. Our vehicle will pick you up from the Nepalgunj airport and drive you to the hotel.

At. 06:00 AM: Early morning after breakfast, our vehicle will pick you up from the hotel to take you to Nepalgunj Airport to catch a morning flight to Simikot. The flight time is about 1 hour. Simikot (2971 m) is the district headquarters of Humla, a mountain district of Nepal. At Simikot, you will walk up to your hotel. Once you reach there, you will spend the rest of the day acclimatizing, and if you have a little more time, you will do a short hike around Simikot.

At. 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you will walk from your hotel to Simikot Airport and take a helicopter to Hilsa. It takes 20 minutes of flight time to reach Hilsa. You will see the scenic view of green hills and snow-capped mountains along with the deep river gorge of the River Karnali from the helicopter.

Once you reach Hilsa, after a 30-minute walk from there, you will reach the immigration office and complete your immigration procedures. Our vehicle will be waiting for you on the Tibet side. Then, a 30-minute drive from the border will take you to your accommodation at Taklakot/Purang (3880 m).

This day is designed for rest and acclimatization to adjust to the high altitude, ensuring you are physically prepared for the upcoming trek. Taklakot, also known as Purang town, at an altitude of 3880 m, serves as a great acclimatizing point in this yatra for you. Enjoy a warm breakfast and you can take a leisurely stroll around the Taklakot market. After lunch, you can also walk around nearby areas to familiarize your body with the altitude.

At. 09:00 AM: After breakfast, you’ll drive from Taklakot to the sacred Lake Mansarovar (4650 m), covering approximately 80 KM through the breathtaking Tibetan landscapes. In about a 30-45 minute drive, you slowly approach Lake Mansarovar, where you will also notice Rakshas Taal on the other side. 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. 07:00 AM: Today you can perform Puja/Havan at the shore of Lake Manasarovar. After breakfast, drive through Darchen to get to Yama Dwara. Darchen, which is 35 KM from Mansarovar, takes around 1 hour to drive. After reaching Darchen, you will further 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 it 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. 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.

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 travellers 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.

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 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: After an early morning breakfast, you will walk 3 hours to catch the vehicle near Darchen, which will take you to the Nepal border. Our staff will prepare lunch in Darchen (on the way to Hilsa). After lunch, you will continue to drive to the Nepal border. After completing the immigration procedures to exit Tibet, you will have a short walk towards Hilsa from the border. If you reach early, you’ll be able to catch a helicopter to Simikot; otherwise, you will need to stay in Hilsa overnight.

At. 07:00 AM: Today, if you stayed in Hilsa, then you have to take an early morning Heli flight to Simikot. Instantly, you will catch another flight to Nepalgunj. Our representative will pick you up from Nepalgunj airport and take you to the hotel in Nepalgunj, where you will have lunch and take a rest for a while.

At. 04:00 PM: Later in the evening, proceed to Nepalgunj airport and then catch a flight to Kathmandu. Our local representative will pick you up from Kathmandu airport and drop you off at the hotel. You can visit the Pashupatinath temple on the way back for evening aarti if you’re interested.

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).