Trip Overview
Simikot Kailash Lhasa Tour of 22 days is a spiritual journey to Mount Kailash, one of the holiest mountains in the world. Hundreds of Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Bon pilgrims visit Mount Kailash in western Tibet each year. Join us on this holy once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.
You cover the journey to Mount Kailash on foot from Simikot, a mountainous town in Nepal’s remote far-west region. This is a pilgrimage to the sacred mountain in its purest form. The inner peace of setting eyes on the summit of Mount Kailash after trekking for several days is worth experiencing.
Your trip starts after you arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city. From Kathmandu, you fly to Simikot via Nepalgunj. Leaving Simikot you trek through remote villages of the Khaas and Bhotia communities in the Humla region. The trail meanders above Karnali, Nepal’s longest river. At Hilsa you cross the Friendship Bridge and reach the Tibetan side. Your local Tibetan guide and driver will be waiting for you on the other side ready to drive you to Mansarovar Lake.
Hindus believe the sacred lake of Mansarovar was formed in Lord Brahma’s (the creator of the universe) mind. Buddhists and Jains regard this lake as a holy site as their saints Milarepa and Rishabha meditated here. You can pray and meditate at the shore of the lake before driving on to Darchen.
You begin your kora or circumambulation of Mount Kailash from Tarboche by walking through the ‘Yam Dwar’ (the gate of salvation). For Hindus walking around Mount Kailash is like attaining a new life. Each step they take around the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati helps them get rid of sins and bad karma they have accumulated in their lifetime. By the time they complete their parikrama, their souls are renewed and their spirits refreshed.
Buddhists complete the kora to receive blessings from their saint Milarepa, who they believe is still meditating on the mountain. Ashtapad the holy mountain of the Jains is located in Mount Kailash. It was at Ashtapad that Rishaba, the first Guru of the Jains, received enlightenment. Bons consider Mount Kailash as the center of the universe and walk around it counterclockwise.
It takes three days to complete the kora. You get clear views of the mountain’s four faces while trekking around it. After completing the kora, you will be driven to Saga via Mansarovar Lake. From Saga, you proceed to Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. At Shigatse, you explore the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the local market. Leaving Shigatse you drive towards Lhasa. Our guide will take you on a tour of Lhasa’s iconic landmarks – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka, Barkhor Street, and Drepung Monastery. Your trip ends with a scenic Himalayan flight from Lhasa to Kathmandu.
The best seasons for this trip are spring and autumn. The weather conditions during these seasons remain ideal for trekking. The days remain warm and the skies clear with occasional clouds and rain. Since this trip involves trekking at a high altitude one needs to be physically fit and possess a high endurance level.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime journey to one of the holiest mountains in the world. Join us in this sacred pilgrimage through some of the dramatic and wildest landscapes in the Himalayas.